Got Milk? No, no, no ... Got The 5 Ws?

Posted in Online Press Release (PR) by Click Consult on 4th of November, 2008

There is no black art in press release writing and the main point of concentration should always be on the writing of solid, factual, and newsworthy press release content. Including the 5 Ws, that's Who, What, Where, When, and Why, helps ensure that a press release is well rounded providing all of the necessary information to create a good press release that is compelling to readers as well as to publishers and other websites. The press release is not directly used as a marketing tool, in so far as the content should be entirely factual rather than a thinly veiled attempt at delivering a marketing message. Most PR directories will refuse to publish those pieces that are too sales orientated so getting it right is vital; even if the directories accept the submission and subsequently publish a marketing based press release readers will not be interested and other websites will fail to publish it. From the headline to the content body and even through to the contact details the point of a press release is to inform readers of something newsworthy that has occurred. As a part of this process it is necessary to inform them of who you are writing about, what has occurred, where and when it occurred and some of the reasoning behind why it happened. These 5 Ws crop up in journalism and the writing of good website content regularly but only in press releases do they form such an integral part.