"89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases"

Lesson #13:  Hyperlinks (or links)

The sixth part of a press release? The hyperlinks, or links. They can be scattered throughout the press release, and I've highlighted the links in the press release below in yellow. I'm devoting an entire lesson to these because they're so important.

Here's why:

1.  The search engines consider inbound links to your website one of the most
     important factors in determining the "importance" of your site and where on
     the list it will place your website when somebody does a search. So the
     more links back to your own website, the better. When you post press
     releases online and include a link back to your own website, it helps your
     website's ranking. But when many of other people either reprint your
     press release or write about it, and include the link back to your website,
     that improves your ranking even further.        

2.  Links take people where you want them to go. You can link to things like
    your bio, product pages at your website, free articles at your website, or
    any other place that includes information that's too long or in-depth to
    include in the press release.

3.  Links can also bring people directly into your sales funnel.

Include no more than about a half-dozen links in each press release because you don't want your readers to get sidetracked and miss the call to action.

Also, be sure every link opens in a new window so your readers are able to return to the press release and continue reading each time they click on a link. 

  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 CONTACT: Joan Stewart at 262-284-7451 (days) or 262-284-2222 (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 lure the best workers, then keep them, 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, employee nap rooms and even lactation 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 choosing 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

*     *     *    

Opportunity #13: A controversial topic

If you or your company or organization has an opinion on a controversial topic, issue a press release, and include a quote from someone in your organization. Controversial topics can include everything from national issues such as abortion and gun control to local issues such as proposed zoning laws.


P.S. When you're done with the press release, also write letters to the editor or your local and national newspapers. "How to Use Newspaper & Magazine Editorial Pages" shows you all the ways you can rally support for your cause or issue by using editorial pages, from writing letters to asking for a meeting with the newspaper editorial board.

Tomorrow: The optional part of the press release and the
                     Safe Harbor Statement for public companies
 

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     Lesson 10    Lesson 11    Lesson 12