It’s “Get the Word Out” week here at the Get Fully Funded blog.  Today’s edition focuses on writing a press release that will get attention.

When writing a good press release, keep your writing simple and clear. Cover the “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, and “why” questions.  Send the release in plenty of time for reporters to contact you and have time to prepare.  Put your press release on letterhead whenever you can. Spend time building relationships with reporters and assignment editors.  To really make friends fast, take them a plate of homemade cookies!

Over the years, I’ve written lots of press releases and pitched lots of stories to the media.  Here’s a formula that I’ve used for creating a press release:

Date

For more information, contact (your name) at (your phone) or (your email)

For immediate release

Attention-Getting Headline

One-line subhead explaining the headline

(Your city, state).  Main paragraph to answer all the main questions.

Second paragraph with more details.

“qu0te from you or your Executive Director about the content of the release.”

Any remaining details.

For more information about (this content) or (your organization), contact…..

  # # #

Here are some tips for writing good headlines.  Click here.

Here’s another good set of tips for creating a press release and working with the media.  Click here.

Here’s some good info from my friend Nancy Schwartz at Getting Attention, including a link to a downloadable guide to creating press releases  Click here.

Here’s an episode of Magic Keys Radio that talks about what works and what doesn’t with press releases.  Click here.

Got a specific question about getting the word out?  Click on the comments link below and post.