3 Reasons to Never Use a Press Release Template
Writing a press release can be tricky, and certainly writing a good press release is often better left to the experts. An effective press release is a balance of journalism and creative writing. You want the piece to grab attention, and yet it has to be factual. Many people turn to templates to make writing a press release just a little bit easier. However, that choice can be a mistake.
#1 Templates are Restrictive
Many templates are fill-in-the-blank type templates – think Mad Libs, but without the innuendo. Fill in the templates with your information, links, and keywords and voila! Instant press release. The problem with this type of approach is that it limits what you can say and how you can say it.
Sure, it makes writing a press release a ten minute project. Chances are, however, that you’re not going to get the results you want from the quick and easy approach. You’ll have much more flexibility and creativity when you learn the format and structure for a press release and practice writing them yourself.
#2 Templates Don’t Know Your Audience
Your audience is unique, and there’s a very good chance that you’re not writing a press release for the media. Instead, you’re writing and publishing it for your audience. You may want to drive traffic to an opt-in page, a sales page or to build your brand. Most templates aren’t designed for these alternative goals. They’re created to reach out to the media and that’s fine. And even if you’re using a more flexible template, the structure and wording of the template may not appeal to your audience.
#3 You Just Don’t Need One
The structure of a press release isn’t that complicated. You don’t need to use a template. Learn the basic structure of a press release and keep your goals and your audience in mind. Most importantly, test and track your press release results. You can use your successful press releases as a guideline for what works with your audience.
A little patience, time, and a commitment to writing a good press release are all that you need. While press releases aren’t the easiest content to create, it’s only one page long and the results are easy to track. When you distribute your press release, make sure to use a press release distribution service that provides analytics so you can measure your results. Learn what your audience responds to and then repeat that style and format in your future press releases.
