Chapter 3: Advanced Guide to
Writing Powerful Press Releases
So you have the headline – now what?
Now it’s time to fulfill the promise you made with your headline and deliver a lead and body that keeps the attention of the reading reporter to the very bottom, right through your Call To Action, boilerplate, and contact info.
We are going to cover the following topics in this chapter: defining leads, the inverted pyramid with examples, general rules for writing the body, and some helpful tips to keep in mind while you’re writing.
1. What is a Lead
Before we do anything else, it is critical to go back to the basics for just a second and define… what is a lead?
the story you are sharing. The lead instantly tells a reporter the
important facts of your story.
A “lead” in press release writing, also known as a “lede,” is the opening section of the press release. It plays a crucial role in grabbing the reader’s attention and providing a clear idea of what the rest of the release will be about. Here are key characteristics and purposes of a good press release lead:
Attention-Grabbing:
The lead is designed to catch the reader’s interest and encourage them to keep reading. It often contains the most compelling, important, or interesting piece of information.
Summarizing the Main Points:
In a press release, like any type of news writing, the lead summarizes the main points of the story, answering the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions.
Setting the Tone:
The lead sets the tone for the rest of the article or story. It can be serious, humorous, formal, informal, etc., depending on the subject matter and intended audience.
Providing Context:
A good lead provides enough background information to help the reader understand the context of the story or article.
Establishing Relevance:
It often explains why the story or topic is relevant or significant to the reader.
to get them to keep reading.
Alright, check! Let’s see how it fits into the perfect press release formula with the inverted pyramid.
2. The Inverted Pyramid
The “inverted pyramid” is an important structure in press release writing, as well as in news reporting. It refers to organizing the content in a way that the most important and newsworthy information is presented at the beginning, followed by details of decreasing importance. This structure resembles an inverted pyramid when visualized, with the broadest, most significant information at the top tapering down to lesser details. Here’s how it typically works:
The Lead:
At the top of the inverted pyramid is the lead. This section contains the most critical information of the press release. It answers the key questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Important Details:
Following the lead, the next section provides important details that support and expand upon the information introduced in the lead. This may include additional facts, background information, quotes from key figures, and other relevant data.
Additional Information:
Further down, the press release includes less essential information. This part might contain background about the company, general industry information, or other context that is useful but not critical for understanding the main message of the release.
Least Important Details:
At the bottom of the inverted pyramid, the least important details are placed. This might include standard company information, boilerplate text, contact information, or any other additional material that is least likely to be used by the media.
The inverted pyramid style is particularly effective in press releases because it aligns with how journalists typically write and edit news stories. It ensures that the most important information is read first, which is crucial in a media environment where editors might trim articles from the bottom, or readers might not read the entire text. This format also allows busy journalists and readers to quickly grasp the essential points of the release without needing to read through the entire document.
The most effective press releases are written in inverted pyramid this style.
You start with the most important information at the top of your release, your 5W Content. Take the New York Times newspaper as an example. The average edition (excluding Sunday) has about 140,000 words. For reasons of interest and time, not many people will sit down and read the newspaper cover-to-cover.
So what do you do as a reader? You check out the headlines first. If it grabs you, you will likely read the first sentence or two (the lead). You get the basics of the story and you can either 1) move on, or 2) continue reading for more details – but already you have the gist of the story.
To make this a little more clear, let’s break the inverted pyramid into three main steps:
- 5W Content
- Less Important Information (KISS)
- Least Important information
Who: What person or organization is responsible for this release?
What: Get to the point of the story. What is it all about?
Where: Is there a specific region/state/town involved? Which organizations/homes/families might be affected?
When: Aside from the time stamp at the top of the release, there are many other questions that can be answered by ‘When’. When will a book signing be? When will the new policy be implemented?
Why: Why, indeed, should we care? Why do other readers need to be invested in your story?
Because of how critical the 5W content is, we are going to do a little activity. Remember the fictional press release from Chapter 1?
Read the section of the press release below and identify each of the following: What? Who? Where? When? Why?
What: Dinner event
Who: Davidson County Humane Society
Where: Hilton Hotel at 123 Main Street in Nashville
When: Saturday, December 20th from 5-9 PM
Why: Raise money
…and all in one punchy sentence!
Step #2
Less Important
Information
and KISS
Every word of your press release is important, so I hesitate to use the words “less important.” However, I simply mean that the middle of your press release should include additional information that merely expands on the core information, further enhancing its value.
Look at the middle of our fictional release.
All proceeds will go to support the Davidson County Humane Society, which is a no-kill shelter supporting Middle Tennessee. The menu includes spaghetti, vegetarian no-balls, and gluten free options. Salad and dessert will be served and there will be a cash bar.
The evening will include a pet fashion show featuring dogs who have recently been adopted and a variety of vendors will be selling crafts to raise money for the cause. It will be the perfect stop to pick up last minute holiday gifts.
You can see the details that guests would need to know: Food options, cash bar, what the event will include.
It goes back to our earlier New York Times example. Readers check out the lead and get the main point of the article before they continue reading for more information. So give them what’s important first.
A phrase you want to keep at the forefront of your mind when working on the lead and body of your release is KISS.
Always KISS your press release!
Short & Simple
Step #3
Quote & Least
Important
Information
This part is still important to the story; the information here, however, is ancillary, details that support the larger questions taken care of by your lead and the supporting paragraphs above it.
Executive Director, Rex Labradoodle said, “Last year, we raised over $12,000 and the support we get from the community touches us beyond words. We have a few surprises in store for our guests this year and we are appreciative to have a community that is passionate about putting homeless cats and dogs in loving homes.”
Tickets for the Spay-ghetti and No-Balls Dinner are ten dollars and may be purchased on the humane society’s website or at the door. To find out more how the shelter, how to volunteer, and adoptable pets, please visit the Davidson County Humane society at dchumane.org.
Although your press release will vary in content and storyline from the one above, all releases have this inverted pyramid formula in common.
The most relevant, interesting 5W Content sits at the top, and all supporting quotes and details follow afterward, in order of descending importance.
Inverted Pyramid Press Release Example
Check out the following press release to see how the writer used the inverted pyramid in his writing. The green box is the most important, followed by less important information in the blue box, and the least important information in the grey box.
Is Online Holiday Shopping OK At Work? Survey Shows More Companies Are ‘Buying It’
Unrestricted Internet Access to Shopping Sites Climbs 17 Percentage Points Since 2012
MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — As Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, a new Robert Half Technology survey suggests companies are becoming more lenient when it comes to letting employees shop online during business hours. More than one-quarter (27 percent) of chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed said their companies allow unrestricted access to shopping sites – an increase of 17 percentage points since 2012. Another 42 percent said they allow access but monitor activity for excessive use. Less than one-third (30 percent) of CIOs said their firms block access to online shopping sites.
The annual survey, developed by Robert Half Technology, is based on more than 2,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees in 24 major metropolitan areas. Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis.
The survey asked CIOs, “Which one of the following best describes your company’s policy regarding employees shopping online while at work?” Their responses over the past three years:
| 20xx | 20xx | 20xx | |
| Allow unrestricted access | 10% | 16% | 27% |
| Allow access, but monitor for excessive use | 55% | 54% | 42% |
| Block access to online shopping sites | 33% | 29% | 30% |
| Block access to online shopping sites | 2% | 1% | 1% |
“Employers recognize that some flexibility is needed to help workers successfully manage their time during the hectic holiday season,” said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. “Allowing professionals to attend to the occasional personal errand at work, like holiday shopping, can make all the difference to them during this busy time of year.”
However, Reed advised professionals not to abuse work policies that allow online holiday shopping. “Employees should still limit their shopping time on the job,” he said. “It doesn’t reflect well on any professional to be seen bargain-hunting rather than attending to business at hand.”
Robert Half Technology offers these tips for employees who are considering online holiday shopping at the office:
Learn the rules. Before you shop, make sure you’re familiar with your company’s web policy. Most employers have rules about sites or hours to avoid. If the policy is unclear, play it safe and save your shopping for before or after work.
Limit surfing. Unrestricted access to the Internet doesn’t mean you should spend all of Cyber Monday searching for deals at your desk. If you plan to do the majority of your holiday shopping online and want to snag deals that day, take a personal day off. Or conduct your browsing away from the office and limit your shopping activity to quick transactions when at work.
Log out of accounts. After you’ve completed your online holiday purchases at work, remember to log out of your merchant accounts on your computer to protect your personal information.
Creating an Effective Press Release
If you’re stuck for a direction in which to take your release, check out this handy list of story ideas that can be applied to almost any niche.
Otherwise, here are some hints that will help make the body of your release even more stellar:
- If applicable, make it relevant/timely to current events
- Share how a national event affects the local/regional community, or vice-versa
- Spark human interest – people love to read about other people
- Keep your lead punchy, interesting, and brief
- Get to the point quickly
- Avoid starting your press release with a quote
- Make sure that none of your information contradicts itself
- More is not better – keep your press release body to 3-5 paragraphs (350-500 words)
- Eliminate fluff
- Avoid jargon and slang
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Inverted Pyramid Style?
When you write a press release, you don’t want to save the most critical information for last. The chances are likely that an editor or journalist will make their decision about whether to engage with you before they read the final word.
Therefore, prioritize the essentials. Start your press release with them. Doing this will give you the most bang for your buck.
To write with the inverted pyramid in mind, structure the release with the most crucial and newsworthy information at the top.
These include:
- A compelling hook
- Reliable facts, statistics, and proof
- Detail the who, what, when, why and how of the topic
- Highlight the benefits for your audience
- Share how your news affects the community and spark human interest
- Write using punchy, powerful words
Think about specifics. Capture attention from the start.
The next chunk of information in the inverted pyramid structure in the body and should provide supporting details for the top-level material. This section is where you can add relevant background or the facts that you want your audience to know.
Some elements that you can include in the body are:
- Arguments or controversy
- A story that expands on the topic
- A relevant quote
- Background information
- Practical facts and logistics
Finally, include the tail. This part should be the least important information. However, don’t fill it with fluff. It should still be exciting and relevant to the press release. You might include alternative explanations, extra facts or resources that provide additional information.
What is Fluff Content?
If we haven’t made it clear enough, journalists don’t have time to read every word of your press release. They want the meat, not fluffy mashed potatoes.
You’re probably familiar with fluff if you’ve ever tried to add words to fill the minimum word count while writing an essay. You might have included sentences that duplicate what you’ve already said or added modifying words that aren’t necessary. For example, we could have said, “added words that aren’t really necessary,” but the word “really” would have been fluff.
Fluff makes your writing murky. It’s like adding fog in front of your main points, and it takes away from the clarity and punchiness of your message. It will also slow down the reader. If a journalist finds it hard to get through your press release, the odds that they’re going to pick it up are slim.
One of the best ways to eliminate fluff from your content is to reread every sentence and think about how you can remove words and still get your point across.
Look out for the following:
- Strings of two or three words that mean the same thing, such as this useful, meaningful and valuable sentence
- Significant words that can be replaced with more commonplace ones, such as numerous/many, facilitate/ease, assistance/help, attempt/try
- Questions followed by an answer, which you can consolidate into one concise sentence
- Redundant phrases, such as dark night, slow snail’s pace and hot sun
If you have to pull out a thesaurus, you’re probably adding fluff. Your reader shouldn’t have to refer to a dictionary to get through your press release.
How do I Know if My Story Idea is Good Enough to Use in My Press Release?
Maybe you’re opening a new location for your franchise or self-publishing a hot new novel. Businesses come out with new products and services every day. How can you be sure that your idea is newsworthy?
The best stories for a press release include:
- Product announcements – Teasing a new product generates excitement and conversation about the offer. Send these out ahead of time to build anticipation.
- Event announcements – If a company is holding or attending an event, the media want to know. The press release will show that you’re active in the community and provide details for people who wish to attend the gathering.
- Rebranding – If you’re changing your logo or messaging, make sure that your customers know. Let them know how improving your company will enhance the services that you provide to your audience. Show readers that you’ve been listening to their feedback and are evolving to serve their needs better.
- You’re hiring – If you’ve recently hired someone with a stellar background or reputation for a senior position, share the news. You can also announce that you are ready to fill some job openings.
- Partnerships – Partnering or collaborating with another company often shows that you’re growing and becoming more efficient. Identify the benefits to the industry or consumer, and don’t miss the opportunity to highlight some of your company’s offerings.
- Celebrity endorsement – If someone famous has used your products or services, you can share the news with the world. This celebrity will give you some authority and get you noticed.
- Winning an award – Your story will be compelling if you’ve won a legitimate prize. Don’t share accolades that you had to pay for, though; it’s terrible form.
- Industry milestones – Any time you do something that goes above and beyond industry standards, shout it from the rooftops if it’s intriguing or an industry first.
- Research findings – Case studies and research that uncovers valuable data that other companies or consumers might like to know about are newsworthy. Don’t publish weak studies for the sake of media coverage, though.
Some stories are mundane, but you can always put a spin on them if you don’t exaggerate and remain truthful. Whatever the story is, think about how it benefits the target audience. If you can tell your readers what’s in it for them, they’ll hang onto your every word.
Every story needs an angle. Even if you’re announcing the launch of your startup, you should answer at least one of the following questions:
- What problem does your story solve?
- What market need does your story address?
- What goal have you achieved?
- What new insight do you have for your audience?
What does KISS Mean?
KISS is a mnemonic people use to keep their press release concise and compelling. It stands for “Keep it short and simple.” Repeat this to yourself as you write the opening and body of the statement. As you reread your content, ask yourself whether every sentence or concept is direct, streamlined, and straightforward.
Keeping KISS in mind will help you avoid using jargon that confuses readers and limit the use of fluff. You’ll write a press release that journalists want to read.
Many business owners and novice PR people think that they need to be intelligent and sophisticated with their writing. But writing press releases is different than writing those philosophy papers that you got A’s on in college.
You don’t have to be as eloquent as you think. The shorter the sentences are, the better they’ll be understood. Get your message across quickly. You don’t need to impress anyone. You need to express your newsworthiness so that the public can consume it.
What is a Lead as Far as My Press Release is Concerned?
The lead is like the hook. It’s the first portion of a paragraph, and it provides all the pertinent information while making the reader want to keep going.
Some people refer to it as a summary lead because it explains the basic facts objectively. A lead can be a sentence or a full paragraph. If necessary, you can split it into two sections.
A delayed lead doesn’t deliver the who, what, when, where, and why right away. Instead, it might begin with a narrative or question. We don’t often suggest that you start a press release in this manner, though. Unless the first sentence is extraordinarily engaging or very short, the reader might not continue.
A better option is to use a contrasting lead to create a friction that makes the reader curious. For example, you might write, “A year ago, 25 percent of New Hope residents were out of work. But today, the unemployment rate in the city is down to 10 percent.”
You must immediately flow into the nut graf, which is like the summary lead. The nut graf explains the point of the press release.
What is 5W Content?
Most journalists learned to answer the five W’s when creating content. You should do the same thing when writing your press release. You probably learned this in elementary school.
Ensure that your release includes the following:
- Who – Who is announcing the news or involved in the story?
- What – What is the news?
- Where – Where is the announcement taking place or the event occurring?
- When – When did the announcement happen?
- Why – Why is this occurring, and why should the reader care?
Answer the five W’s in the lead paragraph. You can incorporate more details throughout the body of the press release.
