Press releases have changed drastically over the last few decades with the rise of social media and technology advances. Writing a social media press release takes a different skill set then it used to for normal print releases. Here are some pointers to help formulate the perfect press release.
Press Release Adaptations
“Press releases used to be written by public relations professionals exclusively for the media,” (PR Web, https://www.prnewsonline.com/Assets/OnlineNewsReleaseIN.pdf). They would then decide if it was worthy of being printed and for their viewers. Now with social media and how popular it is in today’s society, news is released in a matter of minutes.
Media Consumption Has Changed
PR Web did research over 16 years ago and it stated that around 25% of people don’t read newspapers or view local TV stations for news, and more recent research states that that 25& has increased drastically.
Social media makes the press breaking news interactable and instant. You can share news with your closest friends and family in just a tap or two on your screen. It also makes the news extremely accessible. Most major news organizations have Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts that you can easily follow online.
How to Write a Press Release
Tim Donnelly listed steps on how to create the perfect press release https://www.inc.com/guides/2010/09/how-to-write-a-press-release.html. He starts by saying you must have a message that has meaning, or something your readers and viewers will want to continue to read.
He then goes on to say you should be seeking out examples. Use resources and hat is already on the internet. Make sure to not just copy but use it for inspiration.
Lastly, master how you are going to compile it all together. You have to have your most important information go at the top, and have it go in order of importance and relevance. Make sure to include quotes, contact information, and a boilerplate.
Catherine's Take 