How to Write a Press Release Headline that Will Get Read
When writing a press release for your company or latest product or service, one of the most important steps is to develop a headline that people and journalists will want to read. As easy as this sounds, it can be one of the most difficult steps in creating a great press release. What seems like an obviously amazing product or upgrade to a person who lives and breathes these types of products every day, it may not spark the interest of a journalist or the consumer in the same way. You really need to step back and look for a great angle for your press release, not just a great story.
Finding a great angle means thinking more like a reporter than a business owner. Once you come up with the subject of your press release, take a step back and ask yourself some key questions to create the perfect headline. What is the purpose of the new product? What makes it different than other similar products on the market? How does this product impact its users? Remember, as a reporter it is your job to create a story that educates your readers and makes them think they just learned something that they may not have known before, not just to promote a product.
Press releases need to really wow their readers. A press release has to be newsworthy; the ordinary is not going to make the cut. Talking about how low your prices are or how great your service is, is not what a great press release is about. A great press release headline tells the reader something very special about your product or service, something that no other competitor has already claimed as their own. You must come up with your very own angle that grabs the interest of the reader and keeps them reading. Then, you will have really sparked their interest and convinced them that, no matter what the price, your product is exactly what they are looking for and journalists will want to post your press release.
When writing your press release headline it is important to keep it short and accurate. A good rule of thumb is to keep your headline to 12 words or less. It is also important to make sure that your headline isn’t simply a teas
er, but it accurately depicts the body of the press release. Keeping your press release headline short ensures that people will be able to read it in totality when they receive it in their inbox. Some readers will simply delete an email if they are unable to see exactly what it is about in the subject line. It is also important to make sure that your headline clearly exemplifies what your press release is about. Send your headline to a few of your friends or colleagues and ask them to write a quick summary of what they think your writing about. If they get it right, you can rest easy knowing that you have a great headline.
Thinking of journalists as your main audience is a key concept when writing a press release. Making your press release relevant and informative will help you accomplish exactly what you need your press release to do. Remember, don’t get too cute or clever, your press release should be packed with accurate facts and your press release headline should be an accurate representation of your press release.
