What should be expected from Press release

[OliverLuke]

Hi,
I sent a press release to the Manchester Evening News last night.
Spoke to a lady today and just had a photographer round, should be in tomorrow.

Anybody had any experience of a press release in a big newspaper and how did it change your business?

Many thanks
Oliver

 

[roberto-moretti1970]

this is good for your comapnys

 

[Edward Moss]

Well done, you have probably got a few hundred pounds of free advertising, just try and keep the momentum going.
At best you will see an increase in sales, at worst it will stay the same.
Find out when it is in and make sure you are contactable on the day, and few days afterwards.

 

[Dutchnick]

I have always had a total aversion to advertising as it seems to cost so much and has seldom been that effective. I have relied on press releases and have done very well in three successive businesses. There are several golden rules and remember every publication is actually looking for some thing a bit different. Most publications, especially trade versions will be pleased to receive good copy and good stories. Dog bites man is not a story man bites dog is! I was told to prepare a press release with covering letter on two pages of A4 double spaced. I used to place a photo on the top half of the first page (though now I transmit an image) but a good photo will get their interest. We always tried to find something of interest and a touch of humour is never amiss. One of my previous business was tourism and selling walking programmes. We had so many visitors from the Netherlands, (the main story of the press release) that we were now asking visitors to now walk on the right of the path. It obviously amused and was printed in 2 dailys, four regional papers and three walking magazines. Cost - very little, business generated several thousand pounds. Do not work harder- just work smarter!

 

[OliverLuke]

I have always had a total aversion to advertising as it seems to cost so much and has seldom been that effective. I have relied on press releases and have done very well in three successive businesses. There are several golden rules and remember every publication is actually looking for some thing a bit different. Most publications, especially trade versions will be pleased to receive good copy and good stories. Dog bites man is not a story man bites dog is! I was told to prepare a press release with covering letter on two pages of A4 double spaced. I used to place a photo on the top half of the first page (though now I transmit an image) but a good photo will get their interest. We always tried to find something of interest and a touch of humour is never amiss. One of my previous business was tourism and selling walking programmes. We had so many visitors from the Netherlands, (the main story of the press release) that we were now asking visitors to now walk on the right of the path. It obviously amused and was printed in 2 dailys, four regional papers and three walking magazines. Cost - very little, business generated several thousand pounds. Do not work harder- just work smarter!

Thankyou! thats very helpful

 

[gemd89]

What did you write a press release about? I have been in the local paper and that generated very little interest however I am in the Mirror in a couple of weeks and will see how that does, half a page

Gemma

 

[OliverLuke]

What did you write a press release about? I have been in the local paper and that generated very little interest however I am in the Mirror in a couple of weeks and will see how that does, half a page

Gemma

Hi Gemma,

I am 20 and couldnt find work so I decided to work for myself, I based my press release on this.

Thanks

 

[OliverLuke]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...young-north-west-entrepreneurs-by-23-per-cent

My press release! Hope this is okay mods

 

[90DC]

Hi Oliver,

Great! You managed to get an image of you infront of your computer and a couple of short paragraphs at the end of the page.

One thing I must ask is how well you're doing off the back of £50 investment two months on?

Press releases should be done at the right time and in the right context. It'd be useless telling people you've designed the new deck chair in November, but if you did it in mid-high holiday season and got an image and link to your website, you may do quite well off the back of it.

 

[OliverLuke]

Hi Oliver,

Great! You managed to get an image of you infront of your computer and a couple of short paragraphs at the end of the page.

One thing I must ask is how well you're doing off the back of £50 investment two months on?

Press releases should be done at the right time and in the right context. It'd be useless telling people you've designed the new deck chair in November, but if you did it in mid-high holiday season and got an image and link to your website, you may do quite well off the back of it.

I don't have much of a budget so £50 is all I can afford at the moment, Unless I need something I try not to spend. Marketing is difficult without a budget though.
The actual paper has a good sized article on me.
I don't think there is a time of year for leaflets design and printing. It is in use all year round

 

[gemd89]

Hi Gemma,

I am 20 and couldnt find work so I decided to work for myself, I based my press release on this.

Thanks

Would love to read the article once its out.

Gemma

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Well done you - that's fab. Follow it up with a "Can you start a business for £50?" piece ....... make it a bit punchier and more readable so that "real" readers (rather than just business people) will read it and become interested in you as a young person. Too many stats and to much "he said/she said" stuff for my liking and, I would say, for the average reader ...... but I'm probably being picky and tainted by my background in newspaper journalism which includes tabloid stuff, so I am definitely not highbrow!
Young people are getting a very bad press at the moment - the riots have not helped the cause of the average 25 year old who just wants a nice happy life with a reasonable job, a pay packet at the end of each month and a bit of self respect. Good A Level results/degress etc are scoffed at by older people (often those who are now the employers) who reckon they're easier than they used to be and therefore worth less - in fact everything about younger people is being called into question at the moment from their manners, their low slung trouser lines and their grammar.
If you can be clever with words you can capitalise on these negative attitudes and "campaign" to dispel some of this unwarranted stereotyping.

Make regular contact with the features editor(s) of those publications you want to gain exposure from, they're more likely to use copy from those they are already familiar with and they like to follow progress, especially if they feel they have played a part in any success. Good luck!

 

[gemd89]

I agree doodles - And any advice you can give me about getting a story into the nationals, local newspaper or other websites in the name of PR I would really appreciate the advice.

Gemma

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

I agree doodles - And any advice you can give me about getting a story into the nationals, local newspaper or other websites in the name of PR I would really appreciate the advice.

Gemma

I'd be happy to ...... what do you want to do? I know that sounds a bit vague but you gotta start somewhere .......... I know you're fancy dress and party supplies, great time of year for that with Christmas and the New Year coming up so you're already on to a winner really. Give me some clue though!

 

[OliverLuke]

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Brilliant . well done! Hope they managed to get your contact details in there somewhere too!!!!!!

 

[OliverLuke]

Brilliant . well done! Hope they managed to get your contact details in there somewhere too!!!!!!

They didnt, they got my name, so my website would be easy find!

 

[gemd89]

Shame they couldnt have got your website in there in the article.

Doodles - Ive email you

Gemma

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

They didnt, they got my name, so my website would be easy find!

That's a shame ..... in future make sure they do!!!! You can get round their reluctance to do this by calling your business OLG.com somewhere in the copy (or whatever your website is.....) but absolutely imperative that you get your name out there otherwise people just won't be able to find you!

 

[Deleted member 74679]

I agree doodles - And any advice you can give me about getting a story into the nationals, local newspaper or other websites in the name of PR I would really appreciate the advice.

Gemma

Appearing at a New Year's Eve Party near you

Local business reveals the top 10 fancy dress outfits ordered for New Year's eve...

Journalists love a list!