Tips to Create a Press Release That Optimizes Social Sharing
Social media gives press releases all new mileage, offering greater traffic and a wider impact. The press release distribution services make it easy to share with the top social sites like Facebook and Twitter. You should also publish your press release at you own website, so you can drive traffic to your site and press release and get more shares in this way, too. The main issue is to create a press release so compelling, people will want to share.
There are several ways to do this. Use this formula to help.
Create a great headline
Everyone reads the headline and then decides whether or not to read the rest of the press release. The headline should be interesting, informative, contain keywords that let people know what the press release is about, and pique their curiosity. This may sound like a tall order, but it is possible. You’ll probably spend as much, if not more, time writing the headline as you will the entire press release, but the effort will be well worth it if it boosts your traffic and builds your brand.
Create an accurate and tantalizing summary
Most of the press release distribution services have a section for a summary of the press release. This is another opportunity for you to entice readers to read through your press release. It can also help you get shares because the Facebook and Twitter will share the title and part of the content, giving anyone who sees your share more information that can help them decide to Like, read, comment or share.
Add an image
Images encourage sharing. They also give you 3 times more chance of getting media pickups for your press releases.
Video
Video also encourages sharing and media pickups. Make the videos relevant, but also interesting and perhaps a bit quirky and fun.
Infographics
Infographics are highly shareable, so including them in your press release, or using them as part of the social media link to your press release can grab a lot of attention. Pick 5 important facts and illustrate them.
Lists
People love lists, such as Top 10s, or checklists on how to perform a particular task. Create one as text, or as an infographic, and see how many shares you can get.
A call to action
In your meme or your post content, be sure to include a call to action. Tell them what you want them to do, such as Like, Comment, or Share. Don’t make them guess.
Give away a great free item
Building an email marketing list is an important online business strategy. Create a landing page with a great free offer related to your press release and your niche. It could be an ebook, fact sheet, cheat sheet, FAQs and so on. Add a sign-up form to the page. Your visitor will have to give their name and email address to get the free item. But chances are if it is a really exciting item, such as a 7-day ecourse, they will not only sign up themselves, they will tell others.