10 Critical Points To Get Your Press Release Accepted Publicity is one of the best ways and most cost effective ways to drive traffic to your site. You already know it is an excellent marketing tool for your business overall. Because it is very cost effective it makes a great tool for small business owners and entrepreneurs. The key to success is understanding when, where, and how to submit press releases so they get accepted. Many of our clients use press releases on PR wire and PR Web as a way to drive serious traffic ( 1000’s of new visitors) to their sites, promote upcoming events, and they never even talk to the editors. Others send releases to the media (not online sites) and end up with the governor coming to their event. That is the power of publicity from the media. If you seek printing in publications, here’s an important fact -  publications with under 30,000 subscribers – local publications  - are THRIVING as the rest of the bigger boys are seriously struggling to stay in business. Keep your local focus, use your local publications, and build your local presence. You never know where that will lead since the A/P picks up lots of local stories for national coverage. Join us at our workshop Aug 31, 2011 and find out the Insider Secrets to Getting Publicity on a Shoestring Budget. Getting started:

1. At the top f your press release give the instructions about what the release is for. FOR RELEASE AUGUST 28^th, 2011 or FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Also include the type of release:  News Release above the instructions .Submit releases about 1-2 weeks before an event if you want to attract media coverage. Submit them within the week for shorter turn times and if you have some relationship with the editor or reporter(s)
2. Type ,don’t hand write releases. Use double spacing and a large margin. Editors use the margin for their notes and get huffy if you use “their” space.  Huffy means they easily may toss your release. They get hundreds per day for significant publications.
3. Use your logo and header above the actual press release.  Send in as a .pdf attachment, submitted to the editors site online, or sent in by snail mail – not my favorite, but can work.
4. Use a headline that grabs attention and invites the reader to want more. Some examples: (Name of Company) launches new website for Your Target Market Free Information Available at Type of (Critical Business Resource, etc) Taylor Made Small Biz launches new website for Military Entrepreneurs Online
5. Start with the place the story originates as the first two words. Looks like this (City, State)…in parentheses and three dots or 3 dashes  after. Denver, Colorado---August 28^th, 2011- A new website launched this week to help our soldiers coming home realize the benefits and ease of starting their own business. MilitaryEntrepreneursOnline.com offers free training to our veterans on how to start their business using online marketing strategies that are low cost, high tech, and very effective at getting more customers in the door.
6. KISS – Keep It Simple Sweetheart – Most of us struggle a little here, so get a good editor. Make sure your first paragraph answers who, what, when and why. ( See above example)
7. At the bottom include your short paragraph about your company About Your Company (Company Website)
8. Below the about the company provide the contact’s name.  Include the first and last name of your contact person to call for more information. Show the email and if you really want to get contacted include home phone (or cell phone), as well as the business number.
9. Keep the release to a single page. If you have more than 1 page, number the rest at the bottom. Put  “more”-centered at the bottom of each page. Don’t add another subject reference or headline on the other pages.
10. And most critical - At the end of the release, add –END- or three # signs centered on the page. Who knew                  ###                  could be so vital !

Best of luck as you present your grammy award winning story. So .. .Do you have a great or horrible PR story to share ? We love your comments so tell us your story. Join us at our workshop Aug 31, 2011 and find out the Insider Secrets to Getting Publicity on a Shoestring Budget. To get more information and assistance on creating your press releases and even launching a simple PR campaign check here.