Power of Press Releases

Are press releases a viable form of marketing? The answer is an astounding, “yes”! The power of press releases is unmatched and will remain so for decades to come. As a media relations company in California, CSM is committed to helping our clients increase their brand presence using every possible marketing tools. One of those tools is press releases. Press releases help grow businesses by increasing visibility, building credibility, and attracting attention from media, investors, and customers. The reach of a press release can often exceed the reach that social media offers. Thanks to the ability for multiple media channels to see and share a press release, the value is unmatched. CSM, a top-rated PR agency, is has a solid history of using press releases to increase sales for our clients due to positive press. Here’s are just a few ways press releases contribute to business growth:

1. They build brand visibility thanks to their wide reach. Press releases are distributed through newswires, websites, and media outlets which expose your business to a broader audience.
2. Online press releases improve your SEO and help your business show up in search engine results.
3. Press releases increase 3rd party validation when media outlets pick up your story. This gives your brand credibility that you can’t buy via social media or google ads.
4. The positive media coverage generated from a press release can have a lasting impact on your company’s reputation.
5. Using press releases to introduce new products, services or partnerships, generates traffic to your website.
6. Press releases with calls to action guide the reader to learn more about your brand or make a purchase.
7. You can create momentum by consistently submitting new press releases that show growth and stability. This helps encourage investors or customers to show their support.

You may be asking yourself, “when is the right time to submit and press release and how exactly do I go about it.” Press releases should be created whenever your business has a milestone. A new product launch, a new partner, or team member or when you are hosting an event. Anything your company thinks is newsworthy deserves a press release. The important thing about press releases is that they need to follow some guidelines in order for them to be impactful. Check out these tips that I keep in mind whenever I write a press release.

Newsworthy

• Timely: Announce something happening now or very soon.
• Relevant: Connect to current events, trends, or issues.
• Impactful: Show how the news affects a wide audience.
• Unique: Highlight what makes your story different or innovative.

Clear and Concise

• Strong Headline: Grab attention and summarize the main news.
• Inverted Pyramid Structure: Start with the most important information and then add supporting details.
• Concise Language: Use clear, simple language; avoid jargon and excessive adjectives.
• Key Messages: Clearly state the main points you want to convey.

Well-Structured

• Dateline: Include the city, state, and date of release.
• Compelling Lead Paragraph: Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
• Quotes: Provide insights and add a human element from key spokespeople.
• Boilerplate: A brief description of your organization.
• Media Contact Information: Make it easy for journalists to follow up.
• Call to Action (Optional): Guide readers to a specific next step (e.g., visit a website, download a report).

Strategic

• Targeted Audience: Tailor the content to the specific media outlets and their readers.
• Supporting Materials: Include links to high-resolution images, videos, or additional resources.
• Distribution: Send to relevant journalists and media databases.

Once your press release is written, it’s time to send it off to the proper news outlets. If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry, this is where Creative Stories Media comes in. We are a full-service marketing agency and public relations firm with a team of PR specialists. As a top PR company in California, we are experts in both writing press releases that cover all the guidelines for making them as impactful as possible and getting them out to the right audience based on your business. We work with dozens of news outlets, magazines and blogs and can help you get your news to the right audience. Creative Stories Media is your reputation management company, and we look forward to working with you.