Your brain is hardwired for stories.
When you hear a story, you get a chance to imagine a situation, and how you’d deal with it. Humanity loves stories so much that the oldest work of literature has been around for 4,000 years!
Every press release is a story, but not all stories are created equal. Different types of press releases can be used for various purposes and in different industries. In this blog post, we will help you navigate your options to select the best press release template for you or your company.
What are the different types of press releases? Read on to find out!
Biography Press Release Template
Let’s start by reviewing the biography template. This type of press release is used to promote the life and legacy of someone from a personal perspective.
It typically includes quotes about their character, accomplishments, passions, or philosophies. For example, after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 some groups wrote biographies that were published as pamphlets for fundraising efforts by his widow Mary Todd Lincoln on behalf of the National Memorial Fund Committee to erect a monument at his burial site.
When to Go Biographical
When could a company benefit from a biographical template? A company may use this type of press release template to highlight the accomplishments and motivations of its CEO or founder. For instance, the company may have a new CEO who is replacing the outgoing one, or it may be celebrating its founder’s birthday.
Here’s a press release sample:
Your Name” is an author and artist from California, serving as president of company ABC. He has contributed his time to many organizations including charity organization DEF, where he serves on the board. His hobbies include hiking and playing tennis with friends at home or volunteering abroad during vacations.”
After generating a short bio, proofread for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes before emailing it out to local media outlets. You can also post on social media sites like Facebook if desired. Be sure not to spam them with too many updates as they will stop reading your posts after a while.
Company History Template
Moving on, another template you could use is the company history press release form. This type of press release template can be helpful if you are launching your company with an announcement such as new staff members hires or changes in management structure within your organization. However, it also works well when you are celebrating milestones like being listed on the top list of startups.
Remember, a press release is an announcement in the form of a media statement about some event or topic that was made public and it’s meant to be distributed as widely as possible. The goal is for this type of content to be seen by many people from different backgrounds so you can get feedback on what they think your company should do next.
Tips for Using Templates
Using a template will help save time when formatting. Being efficient allows you more opportunities to focus on writing something compelling. Compelling enough for any reporter who might want to cover your story. Did you know that press releases are basically blog posts without visuals? Written in a journalistic style, press releases should never be opinion pieces.
To make the best company history press release, you’ll want to make sure it’s clear and easy to read. It should include information about what the company does, how long they’ve been in business, current employees or team members, and any awards or recognitions that have come their way. You can also list anything interesting about the founders of your company as well as some fun facts like memorable moments from past years.
Video Press Release
Instead of telling your customers about your company, why not show them? A video press release is a great way to do this! Video or animated press releases are very popular and you can get your message across quickly. You don’t even have to talk if you want because the video does it for you.
It’s also easy to create these videos with many free software programs out there on the internet like Microsoft PowerPoint, Windows Movie Maker, Adobe Premiere Elements 12, VideoPad Video Editor Pro with YouTube upload capability (which will automatically convert your files), etc.
There isn’t any excuse not to make one of these when they take so little time and resources plus people love them!
Adding Audio
When you add a voice track to your video, it makes it easier for customers to connect with what they’re seeing. Instead of hearing a robotic voice, they’ll hear a real human (you), who cares about the message at hand. How can you record your voice tracks for videos?
First, record your voice tracks in a quiet, comfortable place. Next, edit out any pauses or stops to make the finished product more natural-sounding (e.g., “uh” or “um”). Third, have someone else listen to it and give feedback on how you sound before posting it online.
The more practice you get recording voice tracks, the easier it’ll get. But for the first few times, you’ll want to avoid doing it in a sound booth. You don’t need anywhere that pristine if your audio quality is going to be mediocre at best. Your living room or bedroom will work just fine as long as there’s someplace without too much background noise (especially air conditioning).
Infographic press release
Next, on our list of press release templates, let’s look at the infographic press release. The infographic template is ideal if you want to include graphs or charts with information about how your product has grown over time (or dipped). It can also work when pitching consulting projects where visual data would be useful, which means infographics even have applications outside of marketing efforts. So next time you’re looking for a way to get noticed by publishers who’ve maybe overlooked you before, try an infographic approach.
Top Infographic Tips
The first thing to consider when making an infographic press release is what you want it to accomplish. Do you need the attention of the media, or do you simply want your message to go viral? For reporters to pick up your press releases, they need something that resonates with them and their audience. Consider writing about topics in which journalists have shown interest in recent months (e.g., changes at work) or tie in to current events if possible (e.g., ISIS).
A good idea would be to create an Infographic-based post on how social media can help drive traffic back towards your site through web shares, blog post links, and so on.
Media Advisory Press Release
Next, let’s talk about how to create a media advisory press release, and when it’s the best option. What is a media advisory press release, exactly? A media advisory press release is a document that contains information about an event, including details and contact info.
The most important part of the document though, is the distribution method. How will you get your message out to members of the media (including journalists). This can happen in one of two ways: via email or by faxing it onto their desk. We suggest reaching out using both options.
Why Choose Media Advisory?
Why is it so important to create a media advisory press release? Press releases are an opportunity for you and your business to reach a large audience of potential customers, partners, or stakeholders who may not have found out about your company otherwise.
They’re also a great way to get the attention of journalists, bloggers, influencers, etc. because they know these sites often include them in their stories as sources. Creating awareness that you exist and being able to provide useful information when asked will help ensure that more people hear about what you do! This increased visibility can lead to opportunities like new partnerships, joint ventures or even sales leads just by having this document readily available on request.
Right Timing
How can you tell if it’s the right time to use a media advisory template, as opposed to another form? We suggest that companies use a media advisory press release when they want to share information about breaking news or announcements. Announcements such as new services and products will be available soon.
Companies should avoid using a media advisory when there is no need for public attention, such as routine updates on product lines or corporate events. If the company has an upcoming event but does not have breaking news or announcements yet, avoid the media.
For example, let’s say you’re hosting an annual conference next week. Sure, it’s great to announce this before the event so people know what to expect at the show (dates/times/location). However, there won’t be much of an ongoing conversation afterward.
As a general rule of thumb. the best time to send a press release is when there’s a message that needs immediate attention. This includes new services and products that will be available soon, as well as industry-related information such as acquisitions, partnerships, research findings, etc.
Facts Sheet Press Release
Next, it’s time to talk about facts sheet press releases. These templates are designed specifically for businesses looking to promote themselves or their products. In this type of template, the information is formatted in a way that’s easy to read and digest quickly.
There is an endless number of ways you can use these types of press releases, including:
- Introducing your business
- Announcing new services or promotions
- Explaining how you’re helping other people succeed
And much more! To find some great examples of facts sheet press releases online, just do a quick Google search using keywords like “factsheet PR.” You’ll be able to see what different companies have done with them so that you can get ideas for things yourself. All it takes is one look at the result and you’ll notice how profitable a facts sheet release can be.
Benefits of Facts Sheet Press Release
Why go with a facts sheet release? For starters, a facts sheet PR is easy to read and digest template that can be used for various purposes. Purposes such as introducing your company, announcing new services or promotions, or explaining how you are helping other people succeed can be shown in this type of content.
You will notice that this type of content is very profitable.It’s important to note that there are many different ways in which these types of templates can be utilized. However, if done right, facts sheet press releases are good for business!
Press Release Mistakes to Avoid
Last but not least, let’s talk about the top press release mistakes you’ll want to avoid. The first mistake to avoid is focusing on the wrong media. For example, if you are an artist, don’t send a press release about your art show to a health reporter at a local newspaper.
Next, avoid sending too much information in your first paragraph. Instead, have three paragraphs or less for maximal attention-grabbing and readability. It’s not a blog post, so don’t plan on including any visuals at all.
Some of the other mistakes that people make include: having too many typos or errors in grammar. Another press release mistake is not including enough information. With this, reporters/media outlets who are interested in your story may feel frustrated because they don’t have the necessary materials. Another mistake is sending mass email blasts without researching recipient lists first. These two factors can lead to confusion among recipients and mean that all communications will be ignored by those on the list.
Writing a Press Release as a Blogger
A lot of bloggers write press releases for themselves when that’s not necessarily what they should do. Instead, bloggers should have an experienced writer handle this task. If you’re not using a preset template, it’s even more crucial you reach out to a professional.
The person who writes your press release will likely have a lot more experience than you and they’ll know what to include in it. Where can you find a professional writer to craft your press release? There are tons of companies that offer this service, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find one in your area.
Send the Right Message
It’s important to consider what type of message you want to send with your press release. At the end of the day, the type of message you send will depend on what is happening. Are you sending out good news, such as an upcoming product release?
If it’s good, then you should use a positive announcement, such as a facts sheet. If there is an emergency, then use an emergency notification, like a media advisory.
Start exploring the different types of press release templates online. Take your time as you choose the perfect template style for the message you’re sending out! For more tips, read another guide!
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