5 Signs You Need a Press Release

Press releases and Public Relations go so hand in hand that sometimes new clients will call press releases ‘PRs’ for short (a phenomenon that is not at all confusing for us) but any good PR practitioner will be quick to advise their clients to employ their press releases strategically. A constant flow of iterative updates from your brand is likely to sour in the inbox of discerning editors. 

But how are you to know if you’re sitting on the next big headline?

Here are five signs that you might be!

Dibs!

Have you got some kind of ‘first’ on the way? People (and the media) love a first. Think about the way we put stock into first words, first steps, first times… If you’re about to launch a ‘first’, you might want to attach a press release before you hit the button!

It’s Tea Time

It’s time to spill, Gill! It’s not just gossips and busybodies who love a juicy piece of news! If you have a never-before-heard tidbit to share, a well-timed press release could make you the talk of the town!

That’s Actionable

Upcoming events have a fixed window in which to garner attention. A good press release that covers the unique and exciting aspects of your event is a great way to generate interest and inspire those scrummy ticket purchases. 

This Could Be Huge…

As the flutter of a butterfly’s wings in the forest can lead to a typhoon in the city, a small piece of news can be spring-loaded with a massive ripple effect. If you think what you have to share will have significant consequences for the future, it’s worth considering getting loud about it now!

Mayday! Mayday!

No one hopes to have a PR crisis on their hands but if one ever comes along, a press release could make or break the situation. Crafting a good press statement requires a few key elements: an understanding of your brand’s values, a willingness to be honest about what happened, and a clear path forward. Do it right and all may not be lost yet.

In many ways, press releases are the building blocks of a public relations practice. They come with the territory. But just because they’re a given, doesn’t mean any old regurgitation of information will do. 

There is no shortage of news being pushed to the media. Everyone who has something to say is trying to be the loudest voice in the room. That’s why your approach matters. You need to consider your angles and tailor them carefully to meet the needs of your intended audience. Using brute force and pulling favours to get a leg up on the competition might work in the short term but that usually has no staying power. You won’t be able to tell if there’s any actual interest.

A good release has all the pertinent facts. It knows its audience. Its timing is impeccable. 

That’s a release that can fly.

Will that release be yours?