Comments on: Social Media Press Release Hell and Advice

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:40:25 +0000

I agree with that preferred format, Eric — I get a lot of press releases each day — maybe 30 on average (?), although I never actually counted — and I prefer a quick email with the highlights, and a link to a full press release on a Web page. NEVER as Word attachments! Or — WORSE — PDFs!
Now back to the really important issue — how well do you know Annie Lennox? Can you tell her I absolutely love her stuff?! (lol)

By: Eric Ward

Eric Ward — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:46:33 +0000

True story: I have roughly 5,000 private contacts on my URLwire media list. These are the true A-list site reviewers, like Yahoo Picks editors, FORBERS Best of the Web, Yahooligans for Kids, BOTW librarians, etc. A while back I sent an email to ask what format they preferred I send them URLwire in.
Least preferred format: The press release
Most preferred format: A couple lines with links to the site I’m announcing and if possible, a link to a full text press release
version on site.
Still, people insist on polluting my inbox daily. I especially love the MS word attachments I didn’t ask for…

By: B.L. Ochman

B.L. Ochman — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:45:01 +0000

The press release format I proposed in 1995 is still the most simple and direct. You can find it here:
http://whatsnextonline.com/wno/newsletter9.html
The change I’d make is to say to put it into 250 words or less.
Who has time to read more?

By: Lewis Green

Lewis Green — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 12:24:02 +0000

Eric,
I can barely program my alarm clock, so I’m not of much use. However, I do know a thing or two about press releases.
From where I sit, if a public relations specialist needs more that two or three paragraphs to share news and provoke interest, perhaps the press release should never have been written.
Keep it simple: who, what, when, where, why and how, and why I should care.