Extra Extra! Read all about how to write a terrific press release.
Image credit:http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/
There are many ways to entice a reader to want your client’s product or service. Press releases come in pretty handy when selling an idea, but it takes practice. The obvious skills of persuasive and descriptive writing are important to tell a story, however there are 10 more skills that I would like to share in order to effectively write a press release.
- Make sure the first 10 words of the press release are effective. These are the most important -(taken from this website)
- Always write in third person (taken from this website)
- (For the love of God) Be concise and grammatically correct (taken from this website)
- Do not publicize an event that happen a few weeks ago. News is NEW! (taken from this website)
- Write a strong headline. Try witty, spicy, daring, funny, or tastefully controversial. (taken from this website)
- Talk about the impact of this news on your company, location, employees, community or industry. (taken from this website)
- Keep the press release short and sweet by eliminating the fluff and hype words. (taken from this website)
- Use key words (not buzz words) at the beginning of the first paragraph.This makes your release search engine friendly. (taken from this website)
- If you have a small business that you are attempting to gain press for, try making major news stories a local spin. (taken from this website)
- Lastly, make sure that your release does not sound like a thinly veiled advertisement. You are writing to inform after all. “This will only get you a ticket to the trash” as this writer says it (on this website)
If you stick to these general rules, chances are you’ll knock the socks off of your audience. The goal is to hook, line, and then sink the readers to loving your product, or feeling informed on what is going on with your client.
The faster you drive…the quicker you get there
This video is a report on how Texas is increasing their speed limit to 85 miles per hour. Check out this video
I wanted to point out the fact at the end of the video. Assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon of gas. I don’t know about you, but in this economy I know that gas really adds up especially on long distance drives on a highway. Now imagine going 85 mph instead of the posted 70 mph that Florida regulates.
This also frightens me because I know that I drive alert and in control, but I do not trust other drivers to be like me. Safety is my number one concern on the road, (maybe because I drive a semi fuel-efficient compact car) and I have nightmares about being squashed by some big oil rigger or monster truck failing to break behind me.
If I lived in Texas, I would be thinking about hightailing it out of there with the rising insurance costs and the pressure to actually go 85 mph. Everyone knows that those few who go well under the speed limit cause danger to those who are flying by you. Ultimately, the cost of driving a vehicle is skyrocketing in this state, and its the scary truth of pretending as if we are all race car drivers.
Interviews turn…..virtual?
Photo credit: Skype
I stumbled across an interesting article of 10 tips on how to conduct yourself during a virtual interview. I’m not completely familiar with virtual interviewing techniques, and I found this to be interesting. I would agree with most of the tips, like how to set the room lighting, and practicing a mock interview before actually going through with the interview.
One tip that caught my eye and I don’t know if I particularly agree with is the tip on looking into the camera instead of looking at the screen in which the interviewer appears. This may seem like it makes the interviewer feel as if you have better communication skills because you are giving them “eye contact”, but it’s obvious that the interviewer is not your camera.
In all, this is an awkward situation. I don’t think that it is completely necessary to look into the camera to prove that you are a good candidate for the position, but then again what do I know? I have never even heard of anyone having a virtual interview before.
Most people who use virtual chats with their friends and family are used to the speaker to be looking off in a direction other than the camera. I feel like it has just become normal to not have complete eye contact. Body language and social skills are much harder to read virtually, thus making eye contact with an interviewer forced and distracting.
Check out this article with other tips on how to improve your virtual interviewing skills.
What do you think? Is it more important to stare into the camera, or the computer screen?
