Press Releases 101: A Guide to Using Press Releases to Promote Your Small Business

Presented by the Virtual Assistant Hub

Do you use press releases to promote your business? If not, you're missing out on an easy and low-cost way to market your services. This guide will:

• Walk you through the various uses of press releases
• Explain how to get the most mileage out of every announcement
• Teach you the proper formatting for your releases and explain exactly what elements you should include
• Show you how and where to distribute your press releases
• Help prepare you to present a calm, cool and collected image when you are contacted by the media

The most important thing to remember is that you can't wait for news to happen; you need make it happen. And this guide will help you create newsworthy stories for your business and will show you how to write them in a way that will interest the media and your target audience.

See Table of Contents below.

Also available in printed format for $25. Please contact us to request a copy.

Table of Contents

What is a Press Release

     Press Releases in Traditional Media
     Press Releases in New Media

Why Use Press Releases to Promote Your Business

Getting Your Website Ready 

     Resources for Building Your Website

When to Send Out a Press Release

How to Format Your Press Release

     The Six Essential Pieces of a Press Release
     More Press Release Formatting Tips

How to Build Your Distribution List

     Traditional Media
     New Media

Creative Ways to Get Publicity

What to Do When a Reporter Calls

     The Initial Contact
     During the Interview
     After the Interview

Attachments

     Attachment A: Example of a Press Release
     Attachment B: Press Release Template