How to Write A Press Release: 10 Tips To Drive More Traffic

28DecMay 27, 2015 By Tatyana Gann

By Tatyana Gann

Nashville TN

How many times have you thought of writing a press release for your business but then decided to turn to something you considered more effective? You considered it old fashioned method and looked for something more fancy! How many times have you gone online to do research and found newstories about your product that someone has written that got a lot of reviews and applause.. You thought, “Oh well, next time ”

Now you are ready to write a press release to promote your business but stuck where to go?

Writing a press release is a very creative way to add more online exposure.. While back ago I did a training on and articles, and I wanted to discuss with you the importance of press release in your personal branding and as one of the best attraction marketing methods that is forgotten and not used by many owners. I shared my story of generating few million views to my press release in 8 months. Of course not every press release I wrote got so many hits but press releases are still my favorite method. I have used press releases to promote my previous business. My current clients love press release method as their promotional approach. It gives them stability, credibility, instant traffic, long term traffic and solid buyers who share their story with their inner circle.

When you are ready to write a press release you have to be prepared. You must get your kit together of information ..Top press release submission firms charge up to 1000 dollars just to write and submit one press release.

Press releases marketing is considered one of the most forgotten marketing methods. The online marketers are looking for more sophisticated methods (ppc, seo methods) or trendy marketing such as youtube, twitter and facebook. It is all good but not enough in my opinion. Press releases can be a good addition to what an online marketer does on a daily basis. The excuse I hear so often, “Tatyana, I do not know how to write”. Well, it is a pretty lame excuse. Everyone can write. WHY? Because every day we share news, announcements or even gossips with our friends, family, church members and our business collegues. We forget how natural it is for us to share the news or events that occured in the past few days or months. Google loves rich content that is natural and has good flow and it will crawl its content with its powerful spiders.

How can we write a press release that are not only good content rich editorials but also bring quality traffic and buyers for our product or a business?

First of all, you need to understand that press release is about 4 words: Where, Why, Who and What. Once you understand that press release is not about selling but it is more of announcement of event, news, sharing testimonials and real stories. Press release is about presenting solutions to a reader and grabbing their attention in the headline and then two paragraphs.. Remember stories sell not facts.

Here are few little tips to help you to write simple and quite effective press release.

1. Voice of your company: Determine what you are going to write about. It could be event with your company, your personal achievements, announcement of the partnership with a particular company and etc.

Better way- bring solutions to the clients with your company services, products. Do not focus on your company and products. People do not care. they care if you can deliver solutions!

2. Keyword research: Research keywords you want to target. Make sure they are buying keywords not some generic keywords. You want to use keywords that a customer or a business seeker would be looking for on google or other search engine. I recommend to use services such WebCeo.com. I think it is the best keyword research software. I love to use Spyfu.com

3. The length of press release: Make sure you write a press release is about 5-6 paragraphs with 4-5 sentences each to make it easier for you than counting words.

4. Only 2 keywords and 72 characters in headline: Use important two keywords in the title or headline then summary of your press release. Repeat headline sentence in the summary then in the first paragraph.

5. SEO: distribute keywords you plan to use to the left of each paragraph and if you have an option to hyperlink that keyword to your personal site or a blog then do it. That will help with optimization. Do not overuse your keywords. Create natural flow of keywords without too much repetition and relevant to what you say. 2-3 main keywords max per each release that you want to focus on..

6. Include your website address in round brackets in the beginning of the first paragraph to help with SEO and make sure include information with your link in the end of the press release.

Make sure you include free report, free ebook, free resources, free training video series and link them to your sites. It is a great way to build your list.

7. Where to submit? After you write your press release, you need to submit your press release to online press release distribution sites such as PRWEB and Pitchengine.

Some are free and some will cost you money. I do not recommend free press release sites and I will explain why later in my next newsletter

We have put together special PRWeb and media press release writing and submission services packages for our clients and they really love

8. Social bookmarking– submit to social bookmarking sites such as digg, technorati, stumbleupon and more. I recommend to use services called “Social Marker”

9. Sharing is caring. Ask and it will be given. Bring value. Share with your friends, collegues via twitter, facebook or forums. Ask them to repost it for you and leave comments on the press release. Remember comments are very important for search engines to crawl your press release and get more exposure! The press release that got a lot of traffic had many comments that turned into heated debates and it was actually fun because it allowed me to post my answers and create more interest among my viewers. I was receiving calls about my business every day just from my press releases that they saw online.

Use social media such as Facebook to spread news!

10. One press release a week can keep bad reputation a way: Write at least one press release a week if your time allows you. Just imagine you will collect over 50 press releaeses in one year. Talk about online presence!

The last tip: Take your press release and distribute offline. Find local companies that can include your editorials in their local news papers or magazines. You can even find good national publications that will accept your articles as contribution to their community. Do your own research and discover targeted publications. If you write about real estate crisis, find popular real estate publications. If you want to promote your business, find magazines like “Who is Who In Nashville” as good example and it will give an option to submit article about you and what you do.

Tatyana Gann is the founder of Smokin’ Hot PR Ezine, and SmokinHotPR Boutique, providing publicity, online PR services and even private VIP coaching. Tatyana is a published writer, a mompreneur, a lover of international cuisine and red wine! Grab her free publicity and promotion tips via her newsletter at http://www.smokinhotpr.com/

Are you truly listening…Late night PR geek chat, SEO and Cabernet

11OctMay 27, 2015 By Tatyana Gann

Writing SEO press releases for your business and products can be time consuming and challenging, especially if you have to understand SEO guidelines and how to push your story through social media channels. Last week I was staying late and was talking to my new Twitter friends.

While I was enjoying glass of Cabernet, researching keywords for my new lessons, I engaged into the conversation with few people who were interested to know about PR. Some questioned the PR model and some loved it. My fun tweet about Cabernet made an impact!

I honestly did not expect that my tweet about Cabernet and SEO would turn into the late night PR chat. We talked about SEO press releases, an online PR tool to share stories and create history for your company business. Later one I connected with my ideal clients who wanted to know how to get the publicity on the web. I did not have to convince anyone about the benefits and importance of PR campaign.

What I realized I was being REAL with my audience. I was listening. Listening from my heart and was clear about what ideal prospects were talking and their feelings. I was also passionate about what I was sharing. I was using some elements of humor in my conversation. Social media is all about being SOCIAL. It is about putting effort and answering questions, adding comments, bringing more value. We must go extra mile!

Are you listening or come to social media platforms with your agenda and wearing ear muffs ?

When it comes to writing a press release for your business, we seek to bring solutions to problems. Press release story now becomes social platform. Your customers share your story because they know it will benefit their circle of friends. It is not any longer one way street. It is no longer fax press release, or a press release announcement that is dry and boring. We can share our stories and exciting news without being boring or too enthusiastic!

I think so many biz owners still think that Twitter or Facebook platform is all about advertising. They see people who automate every tweet and get discouraged. They use cheap pitches. No wonder, business owners loose the hope in the social media and how it can help them. They focus on buying Twitter followers or have someone manage social media profiles. I think they are missing the main POINT- it is about listening others, listening from their heart and responding in the same manner. If you automate everything, who listens whom?

Social media is about showing real you, even when you have a glass of red wine and trying to figure out keywords, write ideas for your business. It may sound silly to you but it is REAL for viewers. Many business owners act so sterile. They are dry, without any emotions.

What happened with people? Did they remove the emotions and become robots who post and answer with no personal touch? Do they even show real them? How do they write? Where do they go? What is their life like today? Are they real? Public relations is about people, interacting with people even if it is on sofa late at night with a glass of red wine!

Today writing PR stories are becoming more and more effective for several reasons:

Business owners are forced to be REAL to get the targeted buyers
It allows to bring visibility to the content of a website
It allows to share a story via social media networks
It generates instant feedback from the followers, fans
It is viral tool
Low cost comparing to traditional advertising
It allows to gain credibility
Awesome tool for online reputation
List Building Method To Bring Fresh Leads
Low cost method to connect with other business owners and form partnerships
SEO friendly: more stories more inbound links

What do you think about writing press releases or pitches- stories for your business and products? How do you see it can benefit your business? It is time to write, share stories, gain visibility? Videos are not enough. You cannot be a slave to old marketing methods..In my video about using social media releases I shared my views on the old marketing methods and how we are still slaves to old ways instead of embracing the social media and PR trends.

Writing press releases can give you the missing piece you have been seeking for! It will make you stand out and give you authority. Today when we face daily competition we must stand out!

When you combine PR and SEO then add social media you can reach buyers, get media attention, share your radio interviews, videos and set up a newsroom to establish your brand..

Are you ready for a major change in your business? If you feel like you are ready for massive exposure, PR campaigns is the way to go of course along your marketing campaign.

Love to hear your feedback.

To learn about our consulting and coaching visit our OnlinePR Consulting for Small Business Owners

Tatyana Gann

Tatyana Gann is the founder of Smokin’ Hot PR Ezine and SmokinHotPR Boutique, providing publicity, online PR services and even private VIP consulting. Tatyana Gann is ready to bring you publicity tips, advice and PR services to help you gain more raving fans for your business and create smokin’ hot publicity! She has the simple formula for creating a publicity plan that brings results! Grab your FREE publicity weekly advice at: http://www.smokinhotpr.com/

How to Write A Press Release In 11 Easy Steps

17AugMay 27, 2015 By Tatyana Gann

Discover how you can write a press release for your home business, your brand info product, an your brand new published book in few steps and become “The TOP GUN” in your niche!

While back ago I did a marketing training on how to write a press release for a home business and I wanted to discuss with you the importance of internet press release in your personal branding and as one of the best lead generation methods.

I shared my story of generating 4.3 million hits to my press release in 8 months. Of course not every press release I wrote got so many hits but press releases are still my favorite method. I have used press releases to promote my previous business.

Press Releases is considered one of the most forgotten marketing methods by small business owners but considered to be the most proven marketing and lead generation method. The online marketers are looking for more sophisticated methods (ppc, seo methods) or trendy marketing such as youtube, twitter and facebook. It is all good but not enough in my opinion. Press releases can be a good addition to what an online marketer does on a daily basis. You can truly write a press release for your home business in less than hour and see results in the next few hours. Pretty Powerful!

The excuse I hear so often, “Tatyana, I do not know how to write press release”. Well, it is a pretty lame excuse. Everyone can write. WHY? Because every day we share news, announcements or even gossips with our friends, family, church members and our business collegues. We forget how natural it is for us to share the news or events that occured in the past few days or months. Google loves rich content that is natural and has good flow and it will crawl its content with its powerful spiders.

How can we write press release that are not only good content rich editorials but also bring quality traffic and buyers for our product or a business?

First of all, you need to understand how to write a press release using 5 Ws Principles: Where, Why, Who, When and What. Once you grasp the idea that press release is not about selling but it is more of announcement of events, products and people stories, you will be able to do it with ease as if you are telling or reading a story to your child. Press release is about presenting solutions to a reader and be enough compelling for them to contact you right away! Be a story teller and you will be more trusted!

Here is how you can write press release in 11 steps:

1. Determine what you are going to write about. It could be event with your company, your personal achievements, announcement of the partnership with a particular company and etc. Tell a story that is compelling!

2. Research keywords you want to target. Make sure they are buying keywords not some generic keywords. You want to use keywords that a customer or a business seeker would be looking for on google or other search engine. I recommend to use services such Web CEO, Marketing Samurai or WordTracker. I think they are great tools to use

3. Make sure your press release is about 5-6 paragraphs with 4-5 sentences each to make it easier for you than counting words. Keep close to 500 words!

4. Use important two keywords in the title or headline then summary of your press release. Repeat headline sentence in the summary then in the first paragraph.

5. Put the main keywords you plan to use to the left of each paragraph and if you have an option to hyperlink that keyword to your personal site or a blog then do it. That will help with optimization. Do not overuse your keywords. Create natural flow of keywords without too much repetition and relevant to what you say. Use ONLY 2 primary keywords per each press release.

6. Include your link to your website with a compelling offer to get your FREE report, free ebook, free consulting session and also include the information with your website for media contacts. Do not forget these two important sections in the press release, which I call “Magic Calls To Action”

7. After you write your press release, you need to review it and submit your press release to online press release distribution sites. Some sites are free press release distribution sites and some will be offer paid options.

8. Another important step- submit to social bookmarking sites such as digg, technorati, stumbleupon and more. I recommend to use services called “Social Marker”

9. Share with your friends, business collegues via Twitter, Facebook or forums. Ask them to share them with their friends and ask to leave comments after reading the press release. Remember comments are very important for search engines to crawl your press release and get more exposure! The press release that got a lot of traffic had many comments that turned into heated debates and it was actually fun because it allowed me to post my answers and create more curiousity among my viewers. I was receiving calls about my business every day just from my press releases that they saw online.

10. Write a press release at least once a week and if your time allows you write more. Just imagine you will collect over 50 press releases in one year just with one press release. Talk about incredible online presence!

11. Make sure share press release on Twitter and Facebook. Twitter loves news.. This is YOUR news.. Make sure share it. Plus it gives great traffic to your press release for FREE… Ask people to re-tweet and share with others…syndication is very important.. I personally recommend Katie Freiling’s The Unified Tribe social media platform to syndicate my content

Enjoy your week!

Tatyana Gann is an online PR consultant, a business coach, a professional business connector, a mom of two great boys and an amazing hostess. To get instant access to Tatyana’s free tips on Online PR methods, business and creative marketing ideas, subscribe to her “Online PR Traffic“ newsletter.