“Can you send a press release to your contacts? I need a little publicity for my racing activity.”
I have heard this sentence (or an equivalent) many times, but it baffles me every time. Simply, because I am not Harry Potter’s Hermione, and PR is not a magic wand that will make you famous with just one wave.
Planning and executing a bespoke communication strategy tailored to your specific situation takes time. To get the results you want takes time. To build an image takes time. After all, becoming a successful racing driver takes time, too, doesn’t it?
To press release or not to press release?
“One swallow does not a summer make,” (Aristotle, 384-322 BCE), and one press release doesn’t equal a communication strategy that will grow your reputation. Now, don’t get me wrong. A press release is a vital tool in media relations and remains relevant in today’s fast-paced news landscape. Some argue it is a tool on its way out, soon to be replaced by blogs and social media postings. I disagree. There are still situations when a well-written press release will get you a long way and make everybody’s life easier. There are also times when it is better to pitch a journalist individually or write a personal blog post. As always, it is the right timing and use of these tools that will make the difference.
The art of press releases in five steps
So, how do you write a good press release? Here are five essential points that will make sure that your releases are not only read but also used to write an article:
1. Have something to say
Sounds obvious? Well, look at the first sentence of this article again… So, think twice before issuing a press release, and only do so when you have something relevant to say. This could be the standard news release before or after a race, a contract renewal, the arrival of a new sponsor, or your reaction to a situation that involved you in one way or another.
2. Tailored contact lists
It is better to send a release to 20 journalists who follow your series and, more importantly, with whom you have a good relationship than to 200 random media representatives who have never heard of you. You might get the odd article as some journalists were desperate for a story at that very moment your release arrived, but that’s just a stroke of luck.
It takes time to develop a tailored contact list, as you need to find out who is already writing about you and who is likely to have an interest in you. Then establish a personal contact, or ask your PR manager to do it for you. Next time this journalist receives your press release, he is much more likely to write about you because he can actually put a face to your name.
3. Timing
Sometimes you have no choice but to send out a release, for example, on a Sunday night after your race. Still, there are good and bad times to send a press release. A bad time for a publication is the time it goes to press, as a) the journalist won’t have time to read your release, and b) even if he does, it will usually be too late to include the information in the next edition.
There is also the ‘external timing’, meaning that it is not a good idea to issue a release when another important (motorsport) event is taking place simultaneously. Chances are that the bigger event will get the coverage, as there is only so much space in a publication or time in a journalist’s day.
Of course, things are a little different regarding online publications, as timing is less important for them, and space is usually not an issue either. However, sending your release at the wrong time might still result in it being overlooked.
4. Layout and structure
A press release is not a newsletter or a glossy magazine. Its only purpose is to provide information. So the layout and structure should be as clear and easy-to-use as possible.
The basic structure of a press release is title, short summary of main points, elaboration of main points, contact information, plus, if necessary, some additional information to the editor about yourself or the series. The layout should be functional. There is no room for fancy designs, just your logo and those of your sponsors, plus a few (light) photos. End of story.
Why? Because you don’t want the journalist to download heavy documents that are long to open and difficult to copy and paste from (even more so from a mobile device). If you overcomplicate the simple task of reading a press release and extracting the main information in more than a couple of minutes, the journalist will move on to the next email, and there goes your article.
5. Regularity
There is absolutely no point in sending out a press release one day and then sending nothing at all for six months. True, the first rule, ‘only send a release when you have something to say,’ still applies. However, there are numerous other ways to remind a journalist of your existence, such as blog posts, vlogs, or invitations to an event. The only issue here is to strike the right balance. You don’t want the journalist to forget all about you but you don’t want to pester him either…
I said it at the beginning, and I’ll say it again. It takes time to build and carry out a communication strategy that brings results. It also requires persistence, knowledge, and a budget. A press release is only one small element of your media and PR strategy. You will need a mix of tools, both online and offline, to grow your public profile and to get to the top of your sport. And it is only when you have a reputation to offer that you will become more interesting to sponsors or teams than your equally talented competitor…
