Writing Press Releases

Writing Press Releases Writing Press Releases Writing Press Releases By Sharon Writing press releases is big business for freelance writers and it’s easy to learn the basic skills. Press releases inform people about the products and services that individuals and companies wish to promote. Their purpose is to make the news and they’re easy to write if you learn the basic techniques. The two key elements to consider are structure and content. Structure The structure of a press release is identical to that of a news story. It follows the inverted pyramid, leading with the most important information and ending with the least important information. The lead of your press release contains the six W’s – who, what, where, why, when and how. These six elements form the basis of your story. The rest of the press release expands on these by providing background information and quotes. Press releases are short and usually fit on one page. The top of the press release usually contains either the words â€Å"For immediate release† or an embargo date that tells editors when it’s okay to publish the news in the release. The end of the release usually includes contact details so people can get more information if they need it. Content So what do you put in a press release? The key to writing a good press release is to emphasize the people aspect of your story. News is about people and that’s what other people are interested in. Another important aspect is the what’s in it for me factor. When writing a press release, emphasize how people will benefit from the product or service being promoted. These tips will get you started with press release writing. A useful and detailed example can be found here. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What is the Difference Between "These" and "Those"?Story Writing 101Educational vs. Educative

How To Make An Infographic In 7 Easy Steps

How To Make An Infographic In 7 Easy Steps Infographics are 30 times more likely to be read than a purely textual article. Love them or hate them, they are a rising content type for reaching your audience. Infographics are also the highest shared content type and therefore, one of the best and quickest ways to communicate data to your audience. As a designer who loves numbers, I personally fall into the ‘love’ category with infographics, but I realize that not everyone has been taught how to make this popular content type. While infographics are easy to digest, they’re not necessarily easy to create, so I hope to enlighten you in how to make an infographic in 7 easy steps from research all the way to publishing. Alright, lets do this! #Infographics are 30 times more likely to be read than a purely textual article. via @ashtonwirrenga 1. Find A Topic Before beginning any project, we must begin with two questions: ‘What?' and ‘Why?' We should know exactly what the goal of each project is, and exactly why it’s important. If you skip these two questions, two outcomes are bound to happen. Either you'll start working and get lost somewhere in the middle of the project, or you’ll create something awesome that has no purpose, which is quite sad. Personally, I’d rather make something awesome AND have it reach a goal. Then it's a win-win for everyone! In order to do that, every great infographic must begin with a good topic. Ask Yourself: What are people asking about? What problem does my audience have? What current ideas could be better explored and communicated? For example, at , we noticed that everyone was asking, "What's the best time to post on social media?" and so we turned that very question into a blog post and then an  infographic. Use the three questions above to  help you narrow in on a topic that will engage your audience and guide you through the creation process. Want to know how to make an infographic from a post you've already written? Skip to step #3 Pro Tip: Create a survey or engage with your audience on social media to see what problems you could solve with your infographic. 2. Do Your Research Now that you have a stellar topic, it’s time to do  research. This step might take some time, but it’s absolutely critical so embrace it and dig in. Find absolutely everything you can around that concept by beginning with the large resources, and then move onto the small bits and pieces that may be hiding. Again, don't be scared to invest significant time into this stage. Research is the very core of an infographic, so it's worth it in the long run. Research is the very core of an #infographic, so it's worth it in the long run. #contentmarketingGet Perspective Search for similar counterparts and find out why your topic is essential to what you’re trying to prove. Then, explore the ideas that completely oppose it. This will give you a wholesome perspective, and might even surprise or counter your initial idea. Let the data shape your topic and adjust when necessary. Remember, infographics are first and foremost research; however, boring data designed nicely  will still end up as a boring infographic. While it might seem tedious, take the time to find interesting data so you can set yourself up for one heck of an infographic.