Online Press Releases, Local Press Releases, and Where to Submit Them

For the absolute beginner, writing press releases can be a bit daunting, but with a little self-education, writing your own press releases can really pay off in the long run. They can result in increased visits to your store or website, leading to a bigger customer base.

If you have a brick and mortar business, find out who handles press releases at your local newspaper office and at local television and radio stations, and send them out marked "Attn: so and so". Having a grand opening or sponsoring some type of event? That’s a great opportunity to issue a press release to your local media. Usually, they want to know about the local goings-on. While it’s not guaranteed that your information will be published, there is a chance, as most media do publish things about local events on a regular basis.

If you’re announcing an online business (or something related to an existing one), you may want to consider a press release service. While some press release services do charge, others will offer the service for free. An article by Margie Z. Fisher offers advice for issuing online press releases. The article offers some suggestions for finding free press release services, as well as suggestions for other places to send your press releases to.

To learn more about writing press releases, I would recommend the books, The Copywriter’s Handbook, and The Online Copywriter’s Handbook, both by Robert W. Bly. While both books may offer some information that entrepreneurs don’t necessarily need (such as copywriting career info), they do an excellent job of covering the basics. As an added bonus, they also include information on writing other types of copy (such as ads, direct mail, and brochures).