Hey guys, I asked in this board how to start promoting a social network and most of you agreed that a PR is needed! I am not new to web marketing but I must admit I've never written a Press Release before. Do you guys have any pointers? Also, since this is a social network, should I write it as if the 'company' has launched it, or as if I have launched it (as one person)? And should it be in third person? Any advice will be appreciated Marc
I actually write press releases and articles and could help youget up and running. press releases are an art. I've got a special running $20 per release including submission. The key is to write it as though the company is releasing it not you personally. You also want to include benefits and what problem your site solves. If PR sites don't think it is newsworthy or if it is too spammy they will deny you.
Thanks, I will ask in the copywriting forum. Also, I'm at an early stage, right now I wish to have a few number of users so I can have more control over the situation and fix any problems now rather than later. Should I still consider a press release? Thanks, Marc
Here are some articles you might find helpful: How to Write a Press Release - http://www.developer-resource.com/how-to-write-a-press-release.htm How to Send a Press Release - http://www.developer-resource.com/how-to-send-press-releases.htm How to Setup a Press Archive - http://www.developer-resource.com/how-to-setup-a-press-archive.htm The articles are specific to software but should still apply to any business release. Goodluck!
What are some of the best PR media channels to distribute a PR? I used PR web an go no return for using their service.
Think about it as writing a news paper article. Have a good heading, and make the body news worthy. If you write it well enough it will be picked up by reporters and you will get a huge amount of free marketing. One thing I recommend is to go to google and type how to write a press release.
Check out Self Made Chick! She's well-known for the quality press releases she writes and how highly they get ranked in Google! Here's a link to her results and her free eBook: http://selfmadechick.com/2008/02/11/press-release/
Thank you all for your advice A question to those who have done PR's before: do you get a sudden surge of traffic? Or is it gradual? Thanks Marc
I have a degree in PR, and used to run a PR firm, so I can definitely help you out. Start with my free e-book here. Press Release Made Easy. It's specifically tailored to writing press releases for online distribution. It includes a template to get you started. I also have several posts in the press releases section of www.NakedPR.com that will help you avoid many of the common mistakes thrown around on DP and similar forums. Just about any press release will rank highly in Google if you choose the right distribution method (there's nothing special about that), so pay attention to the posts on distribution. You need the right mix. Distribute too aggressively and what you get in traffic you can lose in reputation for being known as a press release spammer (which are often exposed negatively on popular blogs and media outlet sites these days by journalists). As for traffic, you generally get a surge, and then trickle down traffic (if you've done it right) as people pick up the story and link to your site.