"89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases"

Lesson #10:  The dateline

The third part of the press release is called the dateline, and I've highlighted it for you in yellow, below.

It offers perspective for the reader because it shows where the press release originated and the date it was written. In the old days, many of us never included datelines on our press releases. But datelines should include a city and state since press releases are now posted online, and people in other countries might not be familiar with all the states and provinces in countries other than theirs. If you prefer to follow the dateline style used by the Associated Press wire service, buy an AP Stylebook and read the lengthy instructions it offers.

It's a good idea to get into the habit of including a dateline because it's a standard part of the template provided by the press release distribution services, which you'll learn more about in Week 11.

Here's the press release:

CONTACT: Joan Stewart at 262-284-7451 (days) or 414-284-2222 (evenings)
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
jstewart@publicityhound.com 
http://www.PublicityHound.com 

Employee Recruitment, Retention Booklets
Offer Helpful Tips During Labor Shortage

Finding and keeping workers is easier with these 220 ideas
that include onsite day care centers, espresso bars,
 employee nap rooms

PORT WASHINGTON, Wisconsin -- July 1, 2006 -- Employers struggling with the worst labor shortage in three decades can find dozens of ideas for finding and keeping workers in the booklets “113 Tips for Finding Valuable Employees” and “107 Tips for Keeping Valuable Employees.”

Proactive companies that want to keep valuable employees and lure other qualified workers away from the competition are using recruiting and retention strategies that would have been unheard of 20 years ago. They include offering employees flexible work schedules, career counseling, onsite day care centers, espresso bars in the company cafeteria, and employee nap rooms.

The two 16-page booklets were written by Joan Stewart, a publicity expert and management consultant who is also known as The Publicity Hound.

The booklets are $5 each. Order at http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/tips.html or by sending your business card and a check (U.S. funds only) payable to The Publicity Hound to 3434 County KK, Port Washington, WI 53074. Or call 262-284-7451.

– END –

Permission to Reprint:

Journalists, newsletter publishers, bloggers and others: You may reprint any 10 tips of your choice from each of the two booklets as long as you include ordering information. Email me at JStewart@PublicityHound.com for all the tips.

Need an illustration? GIF images of both booklets are available at http://www.publicityhound.com/images/113tips.gif  and http://www.publicityhound.com/images/107tips.gif

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Opportunity #10: Classes you are offering or teaching, or
                               classes you've attended

If you offer a class for free or a fee, write a press release. Include the time, date, location, name of the instructor, and the cost.

Provide details on what students will learn--something that's missing from most of the press releases I read. Stating the learning outcomes also gives you a chance to include keywords that the search engine spiders can find. If this is a class that was held before and is being repeated--like a cooking class, for example--and you have a good-quality photo of students or the instructor, include it with the press release. You'll learn more about photos in Week 9.  

Also write press releases for classes you're teaching, or those you've attended. If you've earned a professional designation, mention that, too.    

A class isn't only an event in which you speak before a live audience. It includes a free or paid teleseminar, an in-person seminar, retreat, workshop, podcast, webinar, group coaching program, book signing or author event, a membership site or support group.

Speakers, authors, coaches, facilitators, teleseminar hosts and anyone who wants to fill the room can learn how to do it by signing up for a free 7-part audio mini-course, courtesy of Suzanne Falter-Barnes and Travis Greenlee, authors of the home study course "Fill Your Groups Now!" Don't make costly mistakes trying to fill your groups, only to find yourself in front of lots of empty seats on the the big day.
 

Tomorrow: Now tell 'em what they need to know


Please help spread the word about this tutorial

If you like this tutorial, let your business associates know about it--even your trade associations and chambers of commerce. Also, bloggers, ezine publishers, newsletter editors and speakers can spread the word to their audiences. Just give them this link where they can visit my blog, take my press release quiz, and sign up for the free tutorial:

http://tinyurl.com/pwnu7

Need help with publicity?

The Publicity Hound's Resources List includes products and vendors that can help with many aspects of your publicity campaign. You'll find press release writers, publicists, audio experts, ghostwriters and more.  

***Have you missed previous lessons in this tutorial?
       You can find them below:

Lesson 1     Lesson 2     Lesson 3     Lesson 4     Lesson 5     Lesson 6      Lesson 7     Lesson 8     Lesson 9