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Real World Hypnotherapy
14th January 2006, 18:00
Hello people.

One thing I do a lot of is press releases, this activity can result in a lot of free publicity and can really raise your profile within a certain market or geographical area.

Firstly what is a press release? My definition is that it is an article or piece of information that you want the public to read through the medium of the media. The subjects the press releases are on are only limited by your imagination. The more creative they are they more they will stand out. For example I offered to do Santa free business cards, that got a lot of local press coverage and turned into about 20 orders off the back of it!

Press released are often used as back ups for when another story falls through and the editor needs something to fill the gap. As a press release is practically a written article, it needs little work to fill sometimes half a page of a paper. To get an advert the size of half a page in a paper you are talking £100’s of pounds, press releases are free 

So how do you structure a press release and where can you get them done? I structure mine slightly different to what other people may recommend but I find that they work very well. I send out a 3 page press release, page 1 is the content and story, page 2 is my biog and the history of my company explaining why I can give such information, page 3 is a list of questions that the editor can ask me if they wish to do so. The questions on page 3 I already have answers for and can answer at the drop of a hat.

For example I did a press release recently about how important the quality of your business cards are because this is how people perceive you company to be. I did some research in the area and published my findings, it is very true, low quality business cards make your company look cheap and gives off an impression of unreliability. The second page was my biog and it explains that I am in position to make such a press release as I run and own MK Printing and we do business cards. The third page was the questions and these included “what evidence do you have to support your claims”, “why do you litho print instead of digital”, “why should someone pay £50 for business cards and not £2.99” and “what cards do you recommend for new businesses”. There were about 10 more questions but you get the idea.

You can always get a copywriter to do your press release, they cost about £25 an hour but will do a great job of it for you. My suggestion is to keep it topical, for example if you sell scented oils you could do a press release along the lines of “A lavender oil would calm the big brother house down”, if you see what I mean. The more current your press releases are the more likely they will get instant and larger exposure.

The best thing to do is start reading other people’s press releases to start to get an idea of how they are done. It is a great way to advertise and media people may even start to contact you regarding certain things. This has happened to me on a number of occasions, because I worked with bands for a long time radio station that have phone in shows regularly asked me to take part. I have done numerous interviews for radio stations and also interviews for magazines.

Good luck and start writing your press releases!

Matt, MK Printing

fastfences
14th January 2006, 19:35
“A lavender oil would calm the big brother house down”,

Good luck and start writing your press releases!

Matt, MK Printing

Hi all,
This is clear evidence of why some things are best left to professionals. The above quote is grammatically incorrect. It should read (retaining those words): 'A lavender oil would calm down the Big Brother house.'

To submit a Press Release containing incorrect grammar, is, in my view, demeaning to both the business and the writer.

Cheers, Nigel

10 Yetis
14th January 2006, 19:40
Is something going on between you two?
:shock:

Anyway, in the wise words of Mr Mckay... "press releases are good, nnnnkay"

Real World Hypnotherapy
14th January 2006, 19:53
It was just a suggestion of a current topic.

Matt

Admiral Collections
14th January 2006, 19:55
Can everyone stop picking on Matt and leave that to me please?


Nic :wink:

bwglaw
14th January 2006, 20:11
I don't think Matt is claiming to be a professional in the post but merely give his own experience. I give credit to him for giving his own methods of working some thought. I am glad it is in the correct forum, which will be well received and responded to.

Nic, once upon a time you were telling me 'to stop picking on Matt' in another thread when you have criticised him in other threads also. You will find I have commented impartially and have given both negative and positive comments and have not taken a biased view in several threads. Bossy boots! ;)

Real World Hypnotherapy
14th January 2006, 20:24
To be honest I thin regardless what I do I will always get people making comments of some sort. I can handle them and each post I try to give people less and less ammo.

It is in the right topic, it is not a sales pitch, I don't even print these.

Matt

Admiral Collections
14th January 2006, 20:27
Jonathan, please dont try and be clever its boring and annoying

Matt, I was teasing, you carry on with your marketing help, I feel a bit bad now 'picking on you'.


Nic :wink:

bwglaw
14th January 2006, 20:31
Nic, get lost!

Hotelexpert
14th January 2006, 20:32
Below are a few places to submit your press releases once you've done them.

http://101publicrelations.com/latestissue.html

http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=member&mode=hints

http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk

http://www.webwire.com/FormatGuidelines.asp?gclid=CJGGsPiilYICFRtMQgodtRV Law

Lawrence

Cornish Steve
14th January 2006, 20:35
Below are a few places to submit your press releases once you've done them.

http://101publicrelations.com/latestissue.html

http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=member&mode=hints

http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk

http://www.webwire.com/FormatGuidelines.asp?gclid=CJGGsPiilYICFRtMQgodtRV Law


Thanks, Lawrence. This is very useful info.

bwglaw
14th January 2006, 20:36
http://www.prweb.com is a good one - have my press release exposed several times for $30

Hotelexpert
14th January 2006, 20:46
http://www.prweb.com is a good one - have my press release exposed several times for $30

Thanks, that's good to know too.

Real World Hypnotherapy
14th January 2006, 20:49
This is what I like about the forums, people helping each other. This is why I joined and write my marketing stuff for people.

I will be checking out all the above links, cheers.

Matt

Admiral Collections
14th January 2006, 20:54
Below are a few places to submit your press releases once you've done them.

http://101publicrelations.com/latestissue.html

http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=member&mode=hints

http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk

http://www.webwire.com/FormatGuidelines.asp?gclid=CJGGsPiilYICFRtMQgodtRV Law

Lawrence


Thanks for that Lawrence.

Where have you been? Missed ya!

Nic :wink:

Hotelexpert
14th January 2006, 21:08
Below are a few places to submit your press releases once you've done them.

http://101publicrelations.com/latestissue.html

http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=member&mode=hints

http://www.freepressreleases.co.uk

http://www.webwire.com/FormatGuidelines.asp?gclid=CJGGsPiilYICFRtMQgodtRV Law

Lawrence


Thanks for that Lawrence.

Where have you been? Missed ya!

Nic :wink:

Nic, I've missed ya too!

Been snowed under networking in various places.
My main marketing strategy (I think I've said this
before) is to focus on word of mouth and word of
mouse. I spend a lot of time trying to make friends.
That's why I like the travel hospitality business it's
a people business.

Actually an interesting new networking site I joined
is 12 Questions - www.12questions.com . Its members
tend to be London company people, it already has over
800 members. Definitely worth a look!

Lawrence

Admiral Collections
14th January 2006, 23:47
Cheers Lawrence, will take a look.

I hope everything is going well for you.


Take care

Nic :wink: