Announcing major milestones through a press release allows your company to share your news with the media and the public in a professional way. This generates interest and awareness about your company and builds credibility and trust with customers, partners, and other stakeholders.
But, to make sure your press release is effective, it's important to follow some best practices when writing it. Let’s take a look at press release outlines, examples and templates to help you create your own.
Table of contents
- Video tutorial: Increase brand awareness through press releases
- Types of press releases
- Writing a press release with AI
- Typical press release outline
- Press release template
- 3 examples of press releases
- How to distribute your press release
Video tutorial: Increase brand awareness through employee advocacy & press releases
Types of press releases
First, let’s clarify in what cases it's best suited to send out a press release. Here are some examples of milestones that a company or organization may want to announce to the public through a press release.
- The expansion of the company's operations, e.g. opening a new location or entering a new market
- The achievement of a major milestone, such as reaching a certain number of customers or completing a big project
- The hosting of a major event, such as a conference or workshop
- A partnership or collaboration with another company
- The appointment of a new CEO or other executives
- The receipt of a significant award or recognition
- A significant increase in sales or revenue
- The launch of a new product or service
- The acquisition of another company
Writing a press release with AI
Writing a press release can be a time-consuming and challenging task, but with the help of AI, the process can be streamlined and made more efficient.
To write a press release with AI, determine the main message you want to convey and the key points you want to highlight. Use an AI-powered writing tool, such as StoryChief’s AI Power Mode, to generate a draft of your press release. To finalize your press release, go in and add your own unique voice to the content.
Here’s an example of a press release written by AI Power Mode:
BTW: At StoryChief, we’re not just focused on writing. We help make content teams’ lives easier through content collaboration features, one-click publishing, and omni-channel promotion.
Press release outline
Press releases have a standard format that you should follow:
- Title
- Summary (4-5 sentences, in bold)
- Main text (2-3 paragraphs)
- Boilerplate(s) (a 4-5 sentence description of what your company does)
- Contact details (not for publication).
Title
Start with a catchy and attention-grabbing headline that clearly summarizes the main point of your press release. The headline should be concise and to the point, and it should be written in a way that will make readers want to learn more.
StoryChief launches an AI-driven Power Mode to help marketing teams scale content performance and drive better results.
Summary
Next, the first paragraph of your press release should provide a brief overview of the news or event that you are announcing. This should include all of the key details, such as the who, what, where, when, and why of the story.
Be sure to include any relevant quotes or statements from key individuals involved in the news or event. Put this section in bold to make sure it stands out.
Here’s an example of what your summary could look like:
Ghent-based startup StoryChief raises EUR 3.4M investment round, led by Capricorn Partners via their Capricorn Digital Growth Fund. StoryChief aims to scale its platform further for content agencies and marketers. Since launching in 2017, StoryChief has kept growing its customer base and tackling more complex challenges in the content marketing space.
Main text
In this section of 2-3 paragraphs, you go into details and background information about the news or event. Share inside perspective, bulleted facts and figures and have a couple of essential people share their views. This is a very personal and authentic way of presenting yourself, so go for it.
Boilerplate
Add a 4-5 sentence description of what your company does, your mission, and your vision for the future. What are the next steps for your company? Make sure that your readers understand the value or benefit that it has for them.
Closing
Last but not least, add your contact details: Name, title, email and phone number.
If you are publishing the article to your own website, include a call-to-action to guide your readers to your desired next step.
Template: Partnership press release
The hardest part of writing is getting started. That’s why we wrote this general template to announce a new partnership to the press. Customize it your way and make it as personal as possible by including info about your company, partnership and quotes.
XYZ Company Announces Partnership with ABC Corporation
Partnership to provide customers with enhanced [insert product/service]
XYZ Company, a leading provider of [insert product/service], announced today that it has entered into a partnership with ABC Corporation. The partnership will provide XYZ Company's customers with enhanced [insert product/service] and access to ABC Corporation's extensive network.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with ABC Corporation," said John Doe, CEO of XYZ Company. "This partnership will allow us to offer our customers even more value and provide them with access to ABC Corporation's impressive network."
ABC Corporation, a renowned [insert industry] company, will provide XYZ Company with [insert specific benefits of the partnership]. In return, XYZ Company will [insert specific benefits of the partnership].
"We are excited to be partnering with XYZ Company," said Jane Smith, CEO of ABC Corporation. "This partnership will allow us to offer our customers even more value and expand our reach in the [insert industry] space."
The partnership will go into effect immediately, and customers can expect to see the benefits of the partnership in the coming weeks.
For more information, please contact: [Name] [Title] [Email] [Phone]
About XYZ Company: XYZ Company is a leading provider of [insert product/service]. Founded in 20XX, the company has a reputation for [insert positive attributes of the company].
About ABC Corporation: ABC Corporation is a [insert industry] company that is known for its [insert positive attributes of the company]. The company has been in business for [insert number] years and has a strong track record of success.
3 examples of press releases
1. Dutch Fintech start-up Dyme announces investment from Peak Capital IV’s new 66M fund
2. StoryChief launches an AI-driven Power Mode to help marketing teams scale content performance and drive better results.
3. StoryChief raises a €3.4 million round led by Capricorn Partners to scale their digital platform for content marketing and AI
How to distribute a press release
Once you have written a press release, there are several steps you can take to distribute it and ensure that it reaches the right people.
Compile a list of media outlets, journalists, and other relevant individuals to who you want to send your press release. This list should include contact information for each person, such as their name, email address, and phone number.
In addition to sending out your press release, you can also distribute it through other channels. For example, you can post it on your company's website and social media channels, and you can also share it with any relevant online communities or forums.
You can send out your press list via email or via StoryChief. In this video, you can see how you can set up your ambassadors and press list in StoryChief so that you can directly publish it to your own media as well as distribute it to your press list.
💡 Tips to maximize results:
- Personalize your outreach by addressing each recipient by name, and tailoring the content of your press release to their specific interests and audience.
- Include a brief note at the beginning of the email explaining why you are sending the press release and why it is relevant to the recipient.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, writing a press release can be a great way to share news and information about your business, organization, or upcoming event with the media and the public. By following these best practices, you can create a press release that is well-written, informative, and likely to grab the attention of journalists and other members of the media.
