If you want a job at the White House, you’ll need to learn how to write a press release. While this may seem like an easy task at first glance, it’s quite difficult. There are so many things that can go wrong and make your job look unprofessional if you don’t know how to write one properly!
That’s why I’ve put together a list of tips for writing press releases that will help you succeed in getting your foot in the door at any company – including ours.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Mastering press release writing can enhance job prospects. |
| Effective press releases can capture White House attention. |
| Learning to craft compelling headlines is crucial for success. |
| Attention to detail and clarity are essential in press releases. |
| A well-written press release can set you apart in competitive roles. |
1. Think About The Audience You Are Trying To Reach
If you’re writing a press release about your company, you need to know who is reading it and what they want. That might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people make this mistake.
They write a press release with no thought of who will read it or what they want in it. Then they wonder why their press releases don’t get picked up by media outlets or shared on social media because they weren’t written with an audience in mind!
Know what kind of information your target audience needs
Another thing that can help you write better press releases is thinking carefully about the information most relevant for potential customers/clients/employees before putting pen (or keyboard) to paper (or fingers).
If your target reader doesn’t care about certain details, then leave them out! You don’t have time for filler when there’s so much great stuff happening at your organization—they’re going to love hearing all about it!
Building a compelling news release is an art that can lead to widespread media coverage. Discover valuable insights in our guide on writing news releases that get published and enhance your chances of making an impact in the media landscape.
2. Emphasize Your Job Duties
When you’re writing about your job duties, keep in mind that this is one of the most important parts of your press release. You want to use a variety of verbs so as not to bore the reader with too much passive language, and be specific when possible.
Do not just say “performed a variety of tasks” or “managed budgets.” Instead, use concrete examples such as “conducted statistical analyses,” “created daily reports,” or even just plain old numbers: “analyzed 3,500+ customer complaints last year.”
Also include percentages whenever possible: increased client satisfaction by 20% during the fiscal year 2016.” It’s also good practice for you to include a summary of your employment history at each company you’ve worked for this will help demonstrate how far along in your career path you’ve come since graduating from college or graduate school.
3. Keep It Short & Sweet – Not A Novel
You might be tempted to share every piece of information you have about the topic at hand. You’d like to list every person involved and detail every aspect of the story. Trust us, it’s not necessary. Be brief! In this case, shorter is better.
For example: Instead of “The president will travel to New York City on July 29th and meet with leaders from the business community before speaking at an event celebrating entrepreneurs who use technology in innovative ways,” write something like this: “
President Obama will travel to NYC on July 29th & meet w/ leaders from biz community before speaking at an event celebrating entrepreneurs who use tech in innovative ways.”
4. Be Brief But Be Detailed – Not Vague
You want to give enough detail, but not so much that you get lost in the weeds. The point of a press release is to get your message out there and have it be understood by your target audience.
If you’re too brief, people might not understand what you’re saying or why they should care about it. Too vague, and there’s no way for the reader to know what’s going on or why they should care about it even if they do have time to read everything in depth!
Example 1: “The White House announces today that President Trump will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore next week.”
Example 2: “The White House announced today that President Donald J Trump would meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in Singapore next week.”
The first example is too brief it doesn’t tell us anything! The second example uses context clues (the word “today”) as well as specifics on location (Singapore) and event type (meeting).
You don’t want people wondering whether this event has happened yet or where/when it’s happening; give them enough information so they feel confident knowing what’s going on without having to do extra research.
Crafting a press release that guarantees an interview is a skill every aspiring communicator should master. Dive into our comprehensive tips for writing press releases that secure interviews to elevate your media outreach strategy and establish meaningful connections.
5. Add Personality, Humor, And Positivity
In addition to adding personality and humor, you should also add positivity. Don’t be afraid to use positive words like “love,” “best,” and “greatest.” Sprinkle them throughout your writing. It may seem weird at first but it will make a huge difference in how people perceive your press release.
You can also find quotes from other people that fit well with what you are trying to say in the press release and include those too! For example: If I were writing a press release about my new job working for the White House, I would want some quotes from President Trump himself saying he loved me and was happy I had gotten hired!
6. Don’t Embellish Or Exaggerate
There is a difference between being honest and being honest in a way that doesn’t invite scrutiny or doubt. It’s important to be truthful about what you’ve accomplished, but it’s equally important to avoid embellishing your achievements especially when you’re applying for a job with the White House.
When writing a press release, don’t exaggerate your accomplishments or fabricate any part of them. If you want to get hired by the White House, be as straightforward and transparent as possible in telling your story so they’ll know they can trust you!
8. Write In Active Voice, Not Passive Voice
You probably already know that passive voice is wordy and indirect, but here’s the best way to think of it:
Active voice is direct
Passive voice is indirect
Passive voice is formal
Passive voice is harder to understand. For example, here’s a sentence in active voice: “The White House released a press release.” It tells us what happened (the White House released a press release) and who did it (the White House).
It says what we need to know in two simple words rather than three long ones. But if you write this same sentence in passive voice, it doesn’t tell us anything useful at all: “A press release was released by the White House.”
We don’t know who did what or why they did it. The reader has no idea what’s happening here! Of course, there are times when using passive sentences makes sense; for example, if you’re writing about historical events that happened without any human intervention involved: “The American Revolution occurred.”
This sentence would be fine because we aren’t interested in pointing fingers at anyone responsible we just want an overview of the event itself but most of the time writing should follow active principles so readers can understand exactly what’s going on without getting lost along their journey through your prose.
Proper distribution is key to amplifying the reach of your press release effectively. Navigate the intricacies of press release distribution with our 15-step guide to distributing your press release correctly and ensure your message reaches the right audience at the right time.
9. Make Sure It Is Legible And Correct – Typos, Grammatical Errors, And Misspellings Should Not Exist
Make sure the text is clear and easy to read. There’s nothing worse than reading a press release that’s full of errors and typos. The White House has an army of people proofreading its releases, but you shouldn’t even have to worry about this if you take care in writing your press release from the start.
Use a spell checker before publishing your release. Grammarly is my favorite online grammar checker, but there are many other good ones out there too (Grammarly has free versions for students).
Have someone else proofread it for you before publishing it! This can be done by asking friends or family members for help (they might even offer) or hiring a professional editor ($20-$40 per hour).
10. Avoid Using Jargon Or Abbreviations That Only Those In Your Industry Will Understand
This is a great rule to follow when you’re writing a press release. The last thing you want to do is confuse potential employers or clients with your use of industry jargon or abbreviations that they don’t understand. If there’s something you think only those in your industry would know, assume the rest of us won’t know it either.
It doesn’t matter if it’s an acronym (like MMA for mixed martial arts), a word that means something else entirely outside of your field (like “cerebral”), or an actual word with its definition unrelated to what you do (like “sales”).
It’s better to err on the side of caution and just avoid using those terms altogether rather than risk confusing someone who might be reading over their shoulder — especially if they’re looking at your resume because they think they need someone like YOU! But wait… maybe not?
11. Emphasize The Most Important Accomplishments Of Your Career
The most important part of a press release is the section where you talk about your accomplishments. You want to make sure that you are as specific as possible, and provide numbers and statistics wherever possible. The more concrete examples you can give, the better.
You can also use anecdotes to drive home your point or emphasize how much value you bring to the White House staff. You should also quote people who have worked with or for you in some capacity over the years again, this will make them seem more believable than just saying things like “I know how hard I work” or “I am an amazing person! Everyone says so!”
Unveil the secrets behind crafting press releases that demand the media’s attention. Explore our insights on writing press releases the media can’t avoid to learn techniques that captivate journalists and boost the visibility of your news.
12. Be Creative But Be Brief
- Be Creative But Be Brief
A well-written press release is concise, but it should also be creative. Don’t bore the reader with overused phrases and words that can be easily replaced with more innovative alternatives.
For example, instead of saying “the president’s spokesperson,” you could say something like “the president’s spokesperson said.” Instead of “, Mr. Smith was killed,” you could write something like: “Mr. Smith was murdered.”
The point here is to give yourself some freedom when writing so that your press releases have personality as well as substance and don’t sound like every other one out there. It’s not hard to do this with some simple editing; just take a look at what other news outlets are doing and see what works for them!
13. Try To Keep Each Press Release Focused On One Main Idea
While many press releases tend to be long and rambling, it’s best if you can keep each release focused on one main idea.
This will help readers quickly understand the purpose of your release, which makes it easier for them to decide whether or not they want to share the information with others. Try putting this main idea in the first paragraph so people know what they are getting into before they read any further:
If you want more tips on how to write an effective press release, check out our professional writing guide!
Harness the power of press releases to fuel the growth of your PR campaign. Discover the compelling reasons why press releases are the best way to elevate your PR campaign and unlock the potential for increased awareness and engagement with your brand’s message.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope that these tips have helped you in your quest to write the best press release possible. We know that it can be a daunting task and if you’re feeling stuck on where to start or what content should go into your next press release then don’t worry!
We have provided examples of what not to do so that you can avoid those mistakes when crafting your releases.
Further Reading
How to Get Your Startup Covered in the News: Learn effective strategies to secure media coverage for your startup and gain valuable exposure.
Steve Jobs Archive: Delve into the life and legacy of Steve Jobs through this comprehensive archive, offering unique insights into his journey and contributions.
Get Into Publishing: Explore the world of publishing and gain insights into various career paths and opportunities within the industry.
FAQs
How can I increase media coverage for my startup?
Securing media coverage for your startup requires a strategic approach. Consider crafting a compelling narrative, building relationships with journalists, and leveraging your unique value proposition to attract media attention.
What can I find in the Steve Jobs Archive?
The Steve Jobs Archive offers a treasure trove of information about the iconic figure. You can explore his speeches, writings, and interviews, gaining a deeper understanding of his vision and impact on technology.
How can I enter the publishing industry?
If you’re interested in a career in publishing, there are various paths to consider. You can explore roles in editing, marketing, design, and more. Networking, gaining relevant skills, and pursuing internships are great ways to enter the field.
How can I write a compelling press release?
Crafting a compelling press release involves focusing on a newsworthy angle, using clear and concise language, and highlighting the most important information in the beginning. Including quotes and relevant details can also enhance its impact.
What skills are important for a successful career in publishing?
A successful publishing career often requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, creativity, and adaptability. Additionally, knowledge of industry trends and the ability to work collaboratively are valuable assets in this field.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.