Press Releases - geek/talk: Signature-free discourse for serious web publishers

Magic2K2 · 10-01-2001, 01:17 PM

I am considering writing a press release for my new website and e-mailing it to many magazines and newspapers that may appreciate my content. I was wondering if this is a good strategy and if anyone has any tips. Is e-mail a good medium or should I opt for snail mail? If anyone has released a press release before, especially for a content-based site (ie. no product), please reply.

Thanks in advance.

Marty Winston · 10-02-2001, 07:53 AM

I have created more than a thousand press releases. They are terrible at getting press coverage - and mine are among the most effective in the profession (when I do them, which isn't often any more).

What's the news hook? What is it about your site that makes it more than just one more Web site among 12 million others, that makes it important to cover now?

When a visitor comes, how are you going to make his or her life better, what will you cure, how will you make them feel enough of a sense of value to get them to come back again?

You have decided on a communications tool without really thinking through the most compelling message you can communicate.

Many journalists, by the way, delete on receipt anything that smells like a press release. A brief note (sentence or two) and contact info are often more compelling.

Magic2K2 · 10-02-2001, 11:05 AM

My site cures cancer.

No, but really, my site is the only legit basketball site that offers NBA news and rumors, plus fantasy basketball and member contests\games.

The corporate sites don't publish rumors and the big time personal sites don't have the programmers to do fantasy leagues and games and such.

Is that newsworthy? The site is new, so I'd be announcing the site in general.

Marty Winston · 10-02-2001, 11:10 AM

Are the rumors first-hand, not "inherited"?

Then develop e-mail notes to sprotscasters and sports reporters giving a couple of the hottest rumors and inviting them to your site. Skip the release.

10-01-2001, 01:17 PM	#1
Magic2K2 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 99	Press Releases I am considering writing a press release for my new website and e-mailing it to many magazines and newspapers that may appreciate my content. I was wondering if this is a good strategy and if anyone has any tips. Is e-mail a good medium or should I opt for snail mail? If anyone has released a press release before, especially for a content-based site (ie. no product), please reply. Thanks in advance.

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10-02-2001, 07:53 AM	#2
Marty Winston Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 50	I have created more than a thousand press releases. They are terrible at getting press coverage - and mine are among the most effective in the profession (when I do them, which isn't often any more). What's the news hook? What is it about your site that makes it more than just one more Web site among 12 million others, that makes it important to cover now? When a visitor comes, how are you going to make his or her life better, what will you cure, how will you make them feel enough of a sense of value to get them to come back again? You have decided on a communications tool without really thinking through the most compelling message you can communicate. Many journalists, by the way, delete on receipt anything that smells like a press release. A brief note (sentence or two) and contact info are often more compelling.

10-02-2001, 11:05 AM	#3
Magic2K2 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 99	My site cures cancer. No, but really, my site is the only legit basketball site that offers NBA news and rumors, plus fantasy basketball and member contests\games. The corporate sites don't publish rumors and the big time personal sites don't have the programmers to do fantasy leagues and games and such. Is that newsworthy? The site is new, so I'd be announcing the site in general.

10-02-2001, 11:10 AM	#4
Marty Winston Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 50	Are the rumors first-hand, not "inherited"? Then develop e-mail notes to sprotscasters and sports reporters giving a couple of the hottest rumors and inviting them to your site. Skip the release.