Do you have some exciting news to share? What better way to do it than with an engaging press release? Whether you are launching a new product, hiring an important executive to lead your company, or announcing your new music album, a press release is the best way to grab media attention and create traction for your big news.
Press Release 101: What You Need to Know
A press release is basically an official communication that is sent out to journalists and media outlets about any update that you want to share.
Press releases are the most common and universally acceptable means of communication with the media. They provide a clear and professional way to share your news and make it visible to the right people at the right place.
While there might be variations in the content of a press release according to the subject they are about, there is no dispute that a standard press release must have the following format and content:
- Headline: The “title” of your news. An engaging statement that announces your news in a few words
- Dateline: The location and date of the news
- Lead paragraph: The lead or opening paragraph answers the 5Ws of a press release: what, who, when, where, and why. Basically, the opening paragraph should provide key details of your news, such as what it is about, who the news is about, the logistic details of the news, such as venue and dates, and the impact of the news
- Body: The following section of the press release must address the 5Ws in detail. It should not go into too much detail but shed light on the significance of your announcement. Think of this section as demonstrating the newsworthiness of your story and persuading the media to take notice. This part of your press release should also include a clear CTA, such as providing links to your website or a contact number or email address, and encourage readers to get involved and enhance engagement.
- Quotes: A press release must have some direct insights from someone important in the company to give more weight to the significance of the news. It not only adds a more personal touch to the statement but also makes it more credible. Moreover, bonus points if that person is someone well-known because then the news is going to get more attention
- Boilerplate: The last section of a press release is called the “boilerplate,” and this should be seen as an “About Us” section. You should add information about your company, such as the historical background, the key achievements, and your values and goals. The purpose of this information is to link your news with the overall mission of your company to make your announcement more credible and authentic.
- Media information: The purpose of a press release is, after all, to get the attention of the media. To do so, you should include clear and accurate details about your spokesperson for handling questions by the press. This person can be someone from your PR department or anyone who is knowledgeable about the news you are sharing.
Remember that media houses and journalists receive many press releases and pitches, and to make sure that your announcement gets picked up by them depends upon how you present it. A well-written press release that follows a standard format and contains all key details is more likely to be noticed than something that is vague and looks unprofessional.
Standard Press Release Template for Your Next Big News
This standard press release template by WordLayouts was developed with the best practices in media communication in mind. You can rely on this straightforward and easy-to-use template for writing a polished and clear press release for various types of announcements.
Let’s explore this template a bit more in detail to see how it can make your news reach the right audience.
First of all, the pre-defined structure of the template makes it easy to develop a coherent flow for sharing your news. The headline, lead paragraph, body, quotes, boilerplate, and media contact details provide a clear structure that you can easily follow without having to worry about overlooking any information.
Another important aspect to focus on is that this template follows industry standards and is optimized for getting the media’s attention. A press release that does not follow a familiar format and content details is most likely to be ignored by media outlets. But thanks to the professional format of this template, you stand a good chance of being noticed among the many emails received by journalists.
The use of this template is not limited to any certain type of news. We have developed this template to be versatile and suitable for any industry. Whether you have won a prestigious award, are launching a new album, announcing the launch of a new product, or sharing news about a company’s environmental initiative, this template can easily accommodate all kinds of news. Moreover, whether you are a larger corporation or a small company, you can make use of this template because of its universal format and present an engaging press release.
The press release template will be great for you if you are writing one for the first time. It will be your guide and you can use it easily with minimal adjustments. On the other hand, for a seasoned professional, this template will save you time and improve your efficiency. Instead of writing one from scratch, you get a pre-formatted document, which you can customize for your news in no time.
The best way to publicize your big news is by contacting media outlets and journalists. Their reach is much greater and the chance that your news becomes the talk of the town is greatly increased when some reputable media outlet shares it.
A professionally drafted press release is a great marketing strategy to approach the press and announce your news. With this standard press release template, you can quickly draft your press release and make sure all relevant details are included in it and that it is presented in a media-friendly format.
Download this template today and increase your visibility by drafting an impactful press release today!
