Tips on how to write press releases for the web, acquire interviews in trade publications, and write copy that attracts editors and journalists. This presentation was created for the Raleigh Public Relations Society's March 2014 Luncheon.
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1. Tara Lynne Groth @writenaked Writing Words that Work March
2014 Member Lunch
2. About Me Originally from Long Island, lived in Rhode Island,
now Pittsboro Freelancing for 5 years in May 2014 (4 years
full-time), TW & AW PR director 4 years in NY, Marketing
Manager 2 years in NC VP of Marketing, Atlanta Writers Club 2 years
Memberships: Freelancers Union, ASJA. Former: AWC, NCPS, Authors
Guild. Academia: Career Writing, Advertising/Marketing
Communications; B.A. Cinema & Cultural Studies at SUNY Stony
Brook Non-writing: New moto rider, kayaking
3. Five times as many people read the headline as read the body
copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty
cents out of your dollar. David Ogilvy
4. Press Releases in Print Structure Reverse pyramid, include a
quote, boilerplate. Why? Hires, partnerships, products,
distribution, surveys Transmission Print, radio, television
contacts via email, phone, online wires. What do editors look for?
Timing Relevancy Editorial calendars Title/copy problems:
Proud/excited/delighted, reads like a commercial, free, long, not
relevant to actual copy. (Oscar Finally Awarded to Miley) Title
tips: Present tense, quantify, subject+verb+object (Miley Receives
First Oscar)
5. Press Releases Online How are algorithms for online press
release distribution changing? Stock Images Link Building Anchor
Text Penalties What can writers do to make sure press releases are
found? MorgueFile or Pixabay Links for Journalists (Media Kit)
No-Follow Links Anchor Text Natural and Meaningful
6. Far more thought and care go into the composition of any
prominent ad in a newspaper or magazine than go into the writing of
their features and editorials. Marshall McLuhan
7. Magazine Publication Process Aside from press releases, how
can you secure interviews or features in trade and consumer
magazines? Process: Query Acceptance Deadline Submit Print
8. Title, word count, department. Quotes? This usually becomes
the first lines of article. Further develop your idea, include a
statistic. Why you are the best person to write it. Query Structure
Hook 2nd Par Structure Why?
9. How to Contact Magazine Editors? Email Check editorial
calendars before pitching Customize query to their market Plan far
in advance: 6-8 months Higher chances of getting published:
Interviews Surveys New research Innovations FOB items
10. Mondo Times Wooden Horse Publishing Writers Market Online
Wires Journalists Bloggers
11. Upcoming Events Online Connect @writenaked Facebook,
LinkedIn, G+ writenaked.wordpress.com Resources for Writers on
taralynnegroth.com Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/taralynne0
Sat 3/29 RALEIGH Aromas & Creativity Thurs 4/17 RALEIGH Poetry
on Demand Sat 5/3 ASHEVILLE Wordfest Sat 5/17 WINSTON-SALEM Query
Clinic Sat 6/7 PITTSBORO Poetry on Demand Tues 7/29 RALEIGH Author
Marketing