Using Press Releases on Your Web Site

Press Releases are an easy way to add credibility to your web site and a great method to keep the site fresh with new content. They are also an excellent technique to keep search engines interested in your site.

If you don’t have a dedicated area on your web site for “News/Press” you can still link to them as PDF files, but the best way to do it for Search Engine Optimization is to create a dedicated area for them so the press releases are search engine friendly. This marketing strategy is a great way to build new pages into your site, which benefits you in the organic search listings because search engines see greater value in larger websites.

What is a press release?

In terms of marketing, it's basically just a story that may interest the general public or a market segment relating to your business or organization. A press release tends to be more objective than promotional copy
Items that would be considered newsworthy include:

• Your business sponsoring a charity event.
• Implementing/developing/carrying a new product that addresses a specific need.
• Gaining a contract with a large company.
• Awards and industry/community recognition.
• New hire or addition to your team

Press release content

The format and pitch of a news release is different than traditional promotional copy.
Some especially effective items you should include in a press release are:

• Quotes from a company representative - interview style is very effective.
• Statistics - people love stats!
• Information relating to how, what, when, where and why.

Press release format

The format of a press release is quite straightforward:

• Contact information 
   Include: Contact Person, Company Name, Phone
• Headline 
  Short, attention grabbing line. Do not use exclamation marks, marketing hype or references to selling.
• Body 
  Always start the first sentence in the following format:
  City, State, Month, Day, Year - 
  Then launch into the story itself. Keep your sentences short and use paragraphs every 5-6 lines if possible. The body should not exceed 300 words.
• Further information 
  Where readers of the press release can gain further details e.g. your web site.
• About 
  Include a sentence about your company.

To see some examples visit our site. We hope you enjoyed this MJU Training Tips and Tricks!
Please contact us with any questions you may have about using press releases on your web site.

- The MJ team

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