Press Release Section on UKBF

[ebonybailey]

Is there a call for something like this. We are mostly small business's who either can't afford a PR Agency or do not have the skills to write one, in my case both. Yet I would like to get my good news out there like most people. There could be a section just for this, and could have restrictions.

For example " We've Moved!!!" is'nt news.
A big deal / name is!!!

OZZY what's your thoughts on this. We can all share our good news, and therefore build word of mouth through small Press Releases on the UKBF, therefore having a positive effect on the UKBF name.

What's everyones thoughts?

Michael

[Ozzy]

There does seem to be a tendance for people to fill different sections of these forums with what is effectively a "Press Release" or similar. What is "you the readers" throughts? Would you like to see a dedicated forum section where anyone can post their press releases, latest news, I'm wonderful, type messages?

Let me know,

[Alpha]

It would certainly free up the forums for there correct functions.

Does it actually benefit anyone by putting their press releases on here?

[ebonybailey]

I think so, even if its small at first, you might pick up on a PR that i post, then have a conversation with your client who mentions that he is looking at this area, and you might refer, I think if the press release is worthy i think it should have a place here. It should not be a dumping ground for advertising though, if the story is good, important and relevant then it should stand, you may have just one a contract with a large corp and for a small one bamd thats impressive! - these kinda things will work.

[ebonybailey]

Could'nt the admin team set up a poll, it would give it more weight and more people would respond

[10 Yetis]

In my humble opinion, I think it is a good idea as people can not only put info out there but also, it will give total PR newbies an opportunity to see the varying styles of press releases and see which ones they can adapt to their own businesses.

A small bit of general guidance, always a good idea to have a "media" or "news" page on your own site where you can place all your press releases for journo's to browse to if they are looking for info to back up a story they are writing about you.

[coxadmin]

I think it's a good idea, too.

[Rob Holmes]

Well I'll play devils advocate and say that I'm wondering what use it would really be ? Would the PR's be of any quality or would they be typically amateur 'look at me' posts that can be quite exhausting to read and basically non-beneficial for all but the person posting them.

Disclaimer: I don't necessarily agree with my own opinions :) :)

Rob

[Richard Conyard]

I think you may have hit on a benefit there Matrixx - whilst it might be a pain to read them, placing them in one area would mean you wouldn't have to read them published elsewhere on the board.

[keirms]

I think it's a good idea for all the reasons expressed above. I always struggle to find "interesting" angles for press releases and to see other people's attempts (good and bad) would help me.

[epiphany]

Have it if you want, I know that I wouldn't read it so it makes no difference to me :)

[Rob Holmes]

I have heard (read) that people's businesses have received off-line media attention after joining UKBF. That said, would a journo visit and read through loads of Press releases on a forum? Maybe? I'm not a journo so I don't know but my gut feeling is that they probably have alot sent to them anyway without having to go and find them..

Rob

[Amber]

but my gut feeling is that they probably have alot sent to them anyway without having to go and find them..

Rob

I think you're right. I don't know any journalists who regularly use forums as a source of new stories - most journalists don't have either the time or the need to trawl through the internet looking for new stories, and as Matrixx says, they receive more than enough press releases every day to make it unnecessary for them to do that.

I would probably check out a press releases forum every now and again, but only because I have an interest in press release writing. If I was in another line of business, I don't think a press release forum would interest me.

[ebonybailey]

See I know that Journalist do look through places like this. Yes they do get loads of stories sent to them, but if they are on a "project" they sometimes have the need to look for work and visit sites like this. I think that the overwhelming suggestion so far is to have one, so why dont we trial it for a month. It was my suggestion in the first place but trust me when I say I am no expert I would find it very useful, also I think most people will read them, if for nothing else then to get a more indepth look at what their fellow UKBF members are doing.

[epiphany]

[quote="ebonybailey"]See I know that Journalist do look through places like this. quote]

Insert "some" before Journalists :)

[daveashton]

A simple point

What harm can it do? If the journalists look great, if not it will not harm anyone and it will keep them all in the same place.

I hope the press releases it will also get constructive comments from forum members and hence help people write better releases, which again is no bad thing.

PS Eboney , daft as this may sound but we put a PR release on saying we were moving to a bigger office and we get a write up in the Herald which is a big paper in Scotland! So maybe you are right, moving office is not news, but moving to bigger office is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ebonybailey]

True. it means that your building a successful business. Never looked at it like that before. So Matrixx,Ozzy when are we going to get a PR section???