(1888PressRelease)
January 18, 2007 - Watch out for press release writers who promise too much and charge too little, warns a press release writing professional.
"There are many people who claim they can write but can't," says Glenn Selig of Tampa, Fla. based PressReleasePros.com (http://www.PressReleasePros.com). "Interview the person who'd be doing the writing for you. Treat it like a job interview after all you're hiring for the job of writing your company press release."
Business executives often turn to press releases as part of a marketing campaign. The hope is that the press release, a pitch of sorts that's sent to television, newspaper, magazine and new media reporters, will inspire a feature story on your company or product.
"There's no guarantee that you'll get publicity when you send a press release," says Selig, "but a poorly written press release is guaranteed to get you passed over for coverage."
Here are some tips on hiring a professional press release writer from PressReleasePros.com (http://www.PressReleasePros.com):
1. Be wary of big promises.
Steer clear of anyone who guarantees your company press coverage. Unless that person represents a news organization, that promise will no doubt be broken.
2. Watch out for offers that seem too good to be true.
If someone offers to write your press release for next to nothing then don't expect too much. The old adage is true: You get what you pay for. Writing a press release takes time and research. The standard rate is $199-$299.
3. Look for conversational writing styles.
Unless you're targeting a highly technical audience for your press release, look for someone who writes like people talk. Most reporters are regular people. And press releases that are easy to read will get attention from reporters who receive them.
4. Personalized service is best.
It's best to go with a person whom you can talk to one-on-one, rather than a team of people who might switch-off writing. One person is more likely to take an interest in your company or product.
5. Ask about experience.
Former journalists are usually best at writing press releases. After all, they have experience reading them. They know what journalists want because they've been there.
6. Hire a pro.
If you have no experience writing press releases, don't just assume you can tackle the job effectively. Your press release reflects on your company. A poorly written press release makes your company look bad.
About PressReleasePros.com: PressReleasePros.com (http://www.PressReleasePros.com) specializes in writing professional press releases for small and medium sized companies. Staffed by real journalists, the company produces captivating, conversational press releases that get reporters' attention. The cost is $169 for a standard press release.
