USING A PRESS RELEASE TO PROMOTE YOUR HOME BASED BUSINESS

Publicity for your product or service is the secret to your home business success. In simple terms, product publicity is advertising that costs you nothing, yet brings in the orders for you.

Regardless of what kind of business you are operating, you should strive for as much publicity for your home based business as possible, including your products or services. After all, its "free advertising" that is essential to the growth of your home business. However, your publicity efforts should be well
thought out, and pre-planned for maximum results.

Another basic form of obtaining publicity is through what is known as the press or news release. This is generally a one page story about your business, your product/service, or an event/happening related to your home business that is about to, or has recently occurred.
The word "Press Release" seems to scare most people to death. On top of that not many people take the time to even think of writing their own Press Release. We hope this brief article will help clear up some of the mysteries surrounding this simple form of marketing.
Problem number one is getting the people to whom you've sent these publicity stories, to submit them. This leads us back to the "right way” of writing and presenting them.

Now you need the actual publicity release, which also must be "properly" written, if you expect it to be used by the media. There is a proper form or style to use, plus the fact that it must be typed, double-spaced, and short - about a half page in total length.

Type in capital letters, PRESS RELEASE. Immediately following the colon, but not in all capital letters, put in the date. Skip a couple of spaces, then in all capital letters – centered between the margins - type a story headline, and underline it. Skip a couple of spaces, and from the left hand margin, all in capital letters, type the words, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: From there on, it's the news or publicity story itself.

You can then write the headline, followed by a story to fit the headline Suffice it to say that your headline, and the story you present to the editor, must sell him on the benefits of your product or service to his readers. Unless it specifically does this, he will not use it. You must sell the first person receiving your materials. Keep this fact uppermost in your mind as you write it. The person you send your press or publicity release to, must quickly see and understand how your product or service will benefit his readers, and he must be assured it will do what you promise in your headline.

Come right to the point and say your product is lower in price, more convenient to use, or in what way your product or service is useful to the people in general. They want only "a flag" that alerts them
to something new and of probable real interest to their viewers. Sell the editor first. Convince him that you've found the better mousetrap. Show him that your product or service, fills a need and/or will interest a large segment of his viewers.
If your first effort is not used, then you should review the story itself; perhaps write it from a different angle - and try again! Your material has to stand out, and in some way, fit with the information they -
the editors - want to pass along to their viewers. Regardless of your business, product, or service,
you must write your press release around that particular angle or feature, that makes it beneficial or interesting to the viewer of the media you want to run your press release. Without this special ingredient, you're lost before you begin!

IN SUMMARY

Be sure your press release is letter perfect - no typo's or misspelled words.
What you have to remember is that a Press Release is a "news” item. It needs to "inform" people, NOT sell them something. Press Releases come in many forms due to the product you are writing about.
However, the basic rule of thumb still applies. If you've never written one before - it may be a little difficult. Don't despair. Grab the latest daily newspaper and read some of their informational articles. Notice how each article is written and pattern yours after the same format. After you do a few of them - you'll be able to "get the picture."
Judy Hawes is a consultant for Global Cash Flow Network a continuing education and business Development Company showing people how to build business success. Free tips and training are available at www.newhomebusinessadvice.com or call 1-800-719-8268 ext. 35790, for more information on the certification course.