Press releases are a free and easy way to get more customers and more sales through internet marketing.

Just doing a local press release in your surrounding area will get you recognition, customers, and more sales. It’s not rocket science, and it doesn’t have to cost you anything at all. It’s really as simple as a 1-2 hit: (1) write the release and (2) publish the release.

FIRST, WRITE THE PRESS RELEASE.

Of course, you must have information of some value to tell people. It may be the opening of a new business. It may be a new product in your business, or a new service. It may be a new way of doing things that is unique. It can even be a new employee, if you have special experience. Be inventive here.

Technically speaking, use the standard 12 point font and keep the release to one page unless it’s impossible to do so. Brevity is important, but don’t be so short that you don’t cover your topic. Use wide margins and at least 1.5 spaces, if not double space (the latter is preferred).

(1) Write: “Press Release – For Immediate Release” at the top and choose an eye-catching and interesting headline that will grab attention. Press releases can be ‘sold’ on the title alone.

(2) Create a short summary just below the title, no more than 7-10 words. If you know how to find and use keywords, use them in both the title and the abstract. I talk about keywords in other places, but the impact of this article would be diminished if I did it again here.

(3) Start strong and use your most powerful thoughts first. You often lose readers after 15 seconds, so use your best stuff first. Also show any benefits to the reader early on. WIIFM (what’s in it for me) radio station broadcasts loud and clear to everyone. People keep reading when they see (A) powerful thoughts, (B) brevity, and (C) benefits. It’s something I’ve had to learn as a lawyer. We are known for being wordy.

(4) After this first paragraph, tell your story and provide your facts – practical and beneficial information. Increase the knowledge and awareness of the reader in some way. Use short statements or even “bulleted statements” for easier reading.

(5) Tell the reader what to do and make it sound important: “Go to this website: ___” “Visit this store: ___” “Call this phone number: ___”

(6) Close with your personal contact information: name, telephone, email, website, etc.

If you want to see a press release, to copy someone else’s example, just type “Press Release Examples” into a search engine. The first page will give you 5-7 options to follow.

SECOND, PUBLISH THE PRESS RELEASE.

Submit your release to press release publishers. I don’t need to give you a list to send to. Just type “Press Release Publisher List” into the search engine and you’ll have anywhere from 50 to 100 to choose from. Send them all, or choose from 10 to 25 if you’re short on time.

You will be surprised at how easy it is to do and the response it will bring. If you have something of value to talk about, people will do what you tell them in #5 above. Here’s the sum: (1) Prick their HEART in some way, (2) Direct their HAND as to what to do, and (3) They will respond. “Build it and they will come!” This doesn’t work for everything, but it does work for press releases, as long as it’s in an area of ​​interest to you. In general: Don’t discuss baseball with a chemist, unless you know he likes baseball.

PRESS RELEASE is one of the easiest and fastest ways to get exposure. You can get a sample of how to write a release at Publicity Insider dot com, and then you can submit them for free. Just Goggle: “Free distribution of press releases.” If you don’t mind spending $20, Web Wire dot com will do it for you.