A successful press release should be newsworthy - but sometimes you'll have to generate the news yourself. Fortunately, half the battle is the presentation: find the right "angle", and even ordinary events can come to life.
Here are ideas that you could use to create newsworthy press releases (we've divided the ideas into categories for easy reading, but feel free to combine ideas together too).
- Tie in with current news events.
- Adapting a national survey or report for local use.
- Stage an event to tie with a holiday or special occassion.
- Making an analysis or prediction.
- Publish a summary of facts.
- Taking part in a controversy.
- Attending a trade show or exhibition.
- Publish results of a poll or survey.
- Publish a report.
- Studies you've completed.
- Seminars.
- Speaking engagements.
- Make a public appearance.
- Reprints of speeches.
- Holding a competition or contest.
- New products or services.
- Changes in pricing, especially reductions.
- New trademarks.
- New publications.
- Available hand-outs.
- New uses for your products or services.
- Unusual products or services that you offer.
- New contracts that you've won, clients you've obtained, etc.
- Your customers success stories.
- Awards given to customers.
- Testimonials received from customers.
- Office move or expansion.
- Visits by a celebrity.
- An interview or meeting with a celebrity.
- Certification of your organization.
- Awards won by your organization.
- Memberships in associations.
- Company anniversies.
- Projections and forecasts.
- Your company's contributions to the community.
- Employees volunteering time to help the community.
- Civic activities.
- Fund-raising or other events for the local community.
- Sponsoring local programs or events.
- Available internships with local schools.
- Scholarships.
- Open days and community exhibits.
- Organize a tour.
- Honor an institution.
- Appearing before a public body.
- Stage a debate.
- Staging a special event.
- Making a trip, or travel for assignments
- Write a letter.
- Release a letter you received.
- Inspect or report on a project.
- Issue a commendation.
- Issue a protest.
- Awards won by employees.
- New training programs for employees.
- Qualifications received by employees.
- Appointments.
- Retirements.
- Long-term employees, including anniversaries.
- Staff promotions.
- Form committees, or announce membership for committees.
- Work with another publicity person.
- Work with the media on a joint project.