Apr 01 ' 22 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

7 Ways To Turn Heads With Your Press Releases It takes a lot to turn heads with your news these days. News and media sites are saturated with press releases that, while all relevant and interesting in their own right, make it difficult to rise above the chatter. The reality is that when you publish online press releases, you're dealing with a lot of competition for attention.   The solution? A little planning and creativity goes a long way in taking your news from bland to brilliant. Use these 7 strategies to write and share a press release that gets noticed!

Jan 14 ' 22 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

How To Use A Press Release To Announce An Upcoming Contest Business owners have been using contests to get consumers excited about their products for as long as they've had products to sell. Holding a contest is a great way to generate buzz, drive traffic to your site, build an email list, and inspire goodwill among your customers. One of the easiest ways to get the word out to your audience is to use press releases to announce your contest.   Why? Because people LOVE TO WIN FREE STUFF. It's simple human nature.   And great news! We've made the job simple for you by creating a Press Release Template for announcing a contest. Simply copy the template below into a clean doc, follow the prompts for the details to include in each section, and drop in the information relevant to your business's contest.

Aug 01 ' 21 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

Press Release Template: Announcing A Sale Or Promotion It's Q4 and the holiday shopping season is upon us! While consumers may need to get through trick or treating before getting serious about shopping, for retailers the time to start planning for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the entire month of December is now.   Once you have your holiday sales strategy in place, a press release is a great way to help get the word out. And we've made it simple for you to quickly whip up something with a Press Release Template specifically for announcing a sale or promotion. Use this any time of the year when you have an upcoming special.   

Is Your Sale Newsworthy?

  In short, YES! Many retailers don't think press releases fit into their marketing strategy because their sales or promotions don't seem newsworthy enough. This is where it's important to keep your target audience in mind: shoppers. You're not writing this particular press release for journalists or your board; you're hoping potential shoppers read it. And the types of media sites and publications that are going to pick it up also cater to consumers, not business execs and investors.   So yes, announcing your sale or promotion via a press release is absolutely appropriate!   Also keep in mind that a press release makes your announcement feel more important. If a consumer reads your news as a press releases versus seeing it on social media, they may think it's a big deal. A can't miss sale. Especially if you use the release to announce exclusive offers (in store, online, members only, etc.).   

Don't Stop With A Press Release

  A news release should be a part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. We always recommend promoting your press release on social media and your own website, but you should also use additional channels to promote the sale, including:  

• Your website
• Popup offers on your website
• Retargeting and display ads
• Social media
• Email marketing
• Direct mail and newspaper circulars
• In-store signage and fliers 

 

Find This Template And More On OnlinePRMedia.com

  We've created a dozen Press Release Templates to make writing press releases a snap. Simply log into your Online PR Media account - or create a new account for free - and click the Resources link from your dashboard.   This is also a great place to start if you want to drum up some news but are stumped on a topic. Whether you've recently released a new product, hired a new manager, or added a user-friendly feature to your website, you can find a press release template for your news on Online PR Media.    Now let's dig into the template for announcing a sale or promotion.   __________________________________________________________________  

Template

  Enter your 3 primary keywords below. You may choose to add longtail keywords as well. Use this area to keep track of your keywords as you use them. Use at least one in the title and at 1-2 in the summary. Use each keyword at least once in the body.   Keyword #1         Keyword #2         Keyword #3         Title – 100 Characters or Less (use 1 keyword, as close to the beginning as possible)   Summary – 175 characters or less (use 1-2 additional keywords)   Paragraph 1 – Announce the sale or promotion in the very first sentence. Clearly state what the offer is (i.e. discount on purchase, free shipping, price match, limited time offer, gift with purchase, etc.) This is your chance to grab your reader's attention, so make the offer sound as exciting and valuable as possible. Use an anchor text link to link your company name to your website’s homepage   Paragraph 2 – Tell readers exactly how to take advantage of the promotion or sale. What dates can they take advantage of the sale? Is it online, in-store, or both? Provide links, codes or instructions, if necessary. Use a bulleted list if step-by-step instructions are necessary.    Paragraph 3 – Describe your products or services being promoted. Clarify whether you're having a storewide sale or if only certain items are on sale. If certain items are being promoted, explain how they benefit your target audience (i.e. you're offering the lowest price of the season on the latest 4K televisions and every purchase comes with a price match guarantee through December 24th).    Paragraph 4 – Include a quote that explains why you’re offering this promotion and the value being provided to customers. (Example: "Holiday window shopping is time-consuming and when you wait too long, inventory may be gone. We're so confident that this is the lowest price you'll find on a 4K TV that we're offering a price match guarantee through December 24th. Find it cheaper and we'll pay you the difference!")   Use the following format for the quote:   “     ,” said [Name of person being quoted], [Title of person being quoted] of [company name] (http://website URL). Make the person’s name an anchor text link linking to their LinkedIn profile, if applicable.   Paragraph 5 – Tell what your company does, what products and services you offer, and any relevant background.    Paragraph 6 – Conclude with a quote that talks about how much you appreciate customers. Emphasize that if there is a favorable response to the promotion, your company will have more sales in the future.    “     ,” said [Last name of person being quoted].   About [Name of Your Company]: [Company name] (http://www. website URL)…. This is your About Us section. This should be your best written “elevator pitch.”   Media Contact: Name Email Address Phone number Website   Anchor Text & Links:   Company name – http://www.link.com   Keyword phrase – http://www.link.com   Keyword phrase – http://www.link.com   Name of person quoted – http://www.link.com   Facebook:   link   Twitter:   Link   Video to embed:   Link   Pull Quote:   Select a powerful part of one of your quotes and copy/paste it here. When published it will be “pulled out” into a box and highlighted.  

Your Turn!

  Have you used a press release to announce an upcoming sale or promotion? How effective was it?      

Jun 01 ' 21 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

How To Use Images And Photos To Make Your Press Releases POP Most press releases are little more than text. They're published without the important bells and whistles that draw readers' attention. Lacking photos or graphics, they merely convey information, leaving the reader to decide whether the story is engaging enough to actually read.   That's leaving a huge opportunity on the table. Our eyes tend to gravitate toward images in a way that text cannot match. Whether real-life photos or computer-generated graphics, images attract our attention and help us connect with and remember the content.   Ask yourself: have you ever seen an effective marketing brochure that didn't use photos? Have you ever seen a high-converting sales page online that lacked them? Probably not. And neither should you distribute press releases without including some type of image that supports your story.

May 01 ' 21 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

Publicity Ideas For Insurance Agents: 6 Creative Ways To Promote Your Services According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 400,000 insurance agents nationwide. To say the field is competitive is an understatement, and as an agent, you know firsthand that it takes more than hard work and dedication to be successful. You need a way to stand apart from the pack so people in your city will notice you.    That's where generating publicity comes in. It ensures your name is on prospects' minds. When the time comes for them to purchase an insurance product, they'll think of you and pick up the phone.   How do create buzz around your services? Read on for 6 ideas that are simple, cost-effective, and even fun!

Apr 07 ' 21 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

Press Release Template: Announcing The Launch Of A Website Whenever possible, you should work from a template when creating a press release. Having a model to follow, no matter what type of press release you need to write, saves time and increases your productivity.

Oct 01 ' 20 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

Holiday Publicity Ideas For Any Business The end of the year is jam-packed with holiday happenings. Is your business leveraging them to gain publicity? You should! From Halloween through Christmas, there are no shortage of ways to get in front of potential customers that are preparing for the holiday shopping season.    Let's take a look at each month in the fourth quarter and give you some ideas for both online and in-store publicity ideas. Take what works for your business and incorporate the ideas into your holiday marketing strategy!   

October 

  The fall season technically runs until almost Christmas, but October is the month that gets all the attention. Here's how to get on board with the autumnal festivities to drum up some publicity for your business:   Host a contest and give away a pair of football tickets. Americans lovvvvve their fall football. If you can snag some tickets and get the word out about the contest, you will get a slew of entries. This works well for local businesses - real estate agents, insurance agents, attorneys, etc. - where there is a strong college football following or an NFL team that plays nearby. This works for online brands, too! As a prize, just change it up to be a football related item, like a season subscription to the NFL Ticket.    What you get: The contact information of everyone that entered. Add them to your email marketing, direct mail, and other strategies for the upcoming holiday shopping season.    Sponsor a fall festival. Whether a community event or a school's fall festival, there is almost always an option to be a sponsor. Most festival committees offer various levels of sponsorship so that you can select one that fits your marketing budget.    What you get: Your name/logo appears on the festival's website, brochure, signage, etc. Go a step further and host a booth at the festival with fun games where you give out branded prizes or coupons for your upcoming holiday promotions.   Host a trunk-or-treat. Today's parents love the convenient new trunk-or-treat concept. Host an event in your business's parking lot. In addition to candy for the kiddos, create a goodie bag for adults with coupons or an invitation to your holiday sale. For online brands, use offer pop-ups to give visitors a special "treat," or even schedule a trick-or-treat weekend where visitors can find surprise offers throughout your site for X% off, free shipping, etc. Hype it up on social and email beforehand for a good turn out!   What you get: Face-to-face relationship building with parents and an opportunity to put marketing materials in their hands.  

November

  November is when shoppers really start thinking about holiday shopping. Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads and announcements start coming out at the beginning of the month, and consumers are on the lookout for them.    Black Friday pre-sale. This works for both in-store and online retailers. The idea is to entice shoppers in early to beat the rush. Of course, there needs to be a hook. You'll need to make sure your pre-sale prices will be the same as your Black Friday prices. Or, offer a price match guarantee. If shoppers know they won't be able to beat the price, they are more willing to start shopping early.   What you get: Sales instead of window shoppers. At a time when consumers are comparing pricing and preparing for the start of the season, you've convinced them to buy from you with a guarantee that they're getting the best price.   Cyber Monday preview all month long. Shoppers have a love affair with Cyber Monday and the ability to avoid the crowds and shop in their PJs. Start promoting your Cyber Monday deals at the beginning of the month. Each day, post a deal to your social sites, update the banner on your website's homepage, and even consider using popups on product pages letting shoppers know the item is going to be on sale.    What you get: Shoppers scheduling time on your website on Cyber Monday.    Show your customers you appreciate them. Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings, and your paying customers deserve a heartfelt thank you. Take this opportunity for a softer approach - a true gift of gratitude like a free surprise gift (don't promote it!) with every in-store purchase, chocolate or nuts in the mail, a virtual gift card to someplace other than your business (Starbucks, iTunes, etc).    What you get: Recognition as a brand doing right by their customers and increased loyalty. A true gift and note of appreciation will be more memorable than a coupon to spend more money in your store.   

December

  It's crunch time! December is THE busiest shopping season of the month. The National Retail Foundation's annual survey found that consumers planned to spend more than $1,000 during the 2018 holiday shopping season. How do you get a piece of that action?   Give stuff away. Yes, for free. 'Tis the season! People are already shopping in December, so make the incentives good so that they buy from you and not your competitors. Think free gift card when a customer refers a friend, a free gift with $X purchase, etc.    What you get: The sale. Shoppers are constantly looking for the best deal in December. That's not always the lowest price! Offset their cost with free stuff and they will perceive yours as the best deal.    Host another contest. Make this one fun, festive, and social! Create a branded holiday hashtag and have your social followers go on a themed photo scavenger hunt. The prize should obviously be a fabulous free item, gift card, or some other prize worth working for.    What you get: Social media engagement, contact information of contestants, and a holly jolly good time had by all!   Pictures with Santa. Same idea as your trunk-or-treat event. Get those families back out to your business, hire a (great) Santa, serve hot chocolate and cookies, and maybe even pump in some fake snow! This doesn't need to be a hard sell - it could just be another customer appreciation event to keep your brand in mind. Of course, you could go a step further and hire a photographer with instant print capabilities. The parents' free picture of their adorable kiddos would print with a tearaway coupon at the bottom… just sayin'!   Want to boost holiday sales? Start planning now and you could have more publicity than you know what to do with over the next three months!  

Your Turn!

  What promotions do you do around the holidays to increase sales? Do you start in the fall, or wait until the December shopping season hits?   

Jul 07 ' 20 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

The 5-Minute Guide To Creating A Press Release Call To Action That Converts Each time you publish a press release online, you do so in the hopes that it will accomplish a specific goal. You want to share your news, yes, but you should also want readers to take some action -- convert, contact, connect, share, sign up, and eventually even buy!   That's where a call to action comes in handy. When used the right way, it prompts your reader to do something after reading your press release. That can mean the difference between a reader who soon forgets about you, and one who takes the next step toward building a relationship.

Jun 01 ' 20 - by Kevin Petersen - Tutorials - 0

Father’s Day Promotions To Boost Your Bottom Line On June 16th, folks in the U.S. will be celebrating fatherhood and honoring their dads. Fathers Day gives us a chance to commemorate their contributions - not only to their families, but to their communities as well. For the sharp marketer, it's a great opportunity to host promotions that remind your customers about the value of their dads and husbands.

Mar 07 ' 20 - by Amber - Tutorials - 0

Smart Publicity Ideas For Attorneys: 4 Ways To Build Buzz Around Your Practice Running a law firm is hard work. Getting up to speed on your clients' cases and performing the work they need is only the beginning. You also need to market your practice to make sure new clients can find you.   That's the part most attorneys neglect.   Fortunately, there are numerous ways to promote your practice. From publishing a newsletter to organizing free seminars, a little effort and action can go a long way. The problem is, many of them are costly, either in terms of time or money (and sometimes both).   One of the most productive ways to get your name in front of prospective clients is to generate publicity for your firm. Unlike buying space in the Yellow Pages or time on television, good PR doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Nor does it have to monopolize your time. Sometimes, all you need is a little creativity. Read on for 4 simple and inexpensive ways to generate lasting buzz around your practice.