21 Reasons For Publishing A Press Release And How To Position Your Story

If you’ve ever thought that you don’t have anything newsworthy to share about your business, this handy reference guide will provide you with plenty of ideas.
Every company has newsworthy information to share and it’s just a matter of positioning that information so it’s of interest to the media.
1. The opening of your business. Local media is particularly interested in new businesses, especially when they offer a helpful product or service for the community.
Write your press release showing the benefits to your community and target market. You can even include a special offer or free gift to encourage people to visit your business.
2. The launch of your website. The launch of a helpful website is newsworthy, just like the launch of a business. Make sure your release includes the useful features of your website.
Invite readers to visit your website for a free gift. It could be a white paper, report, coupon, software, tool, etc.
3. Change in product offering. If you’re launching a new product that will help or if you’re lowering your prices, this might just be very newsworthy.
Just keep in mind how your target market benefits and make that the focus of your release.
4. Joint ventures. If you’re combining forces with another company or individual and it benefits your target market, share that information in a press release.
5. Association membership. Join your local Chamber of Commerce or another business association.
Include information on how your contributing to the group. Don’t know what association to join? Create your own.
6. A business move. If you’re moving to a new location that offers benefit to your customers, write a release.
For example, if you’re getting a larger location for more inventory, moving to a location with improved technology, etc.
7. Share your expertise. A release that provides consumer tips, time-saving tips, money-saving tips, etc. that are relevant to your own business and show your expertise.
8. Make a prediction. Make a prediction that relates to your niche. Include supporting evidence, facts and statistics for credibility.
9. Solve a problem. If your target customers have a typical problem, create a release that includes solution.
For example, if you provide skin treatments that help with dry winter skin, you can explain how the treatment works and provides release from pain and itch.
10. “Celebrities” that use your product. If a respected individual in your community or niche uses your product, share that news – with their permission, of course.
Include quotes from the “celebrity” that share why they came to you and the results they’ve received.
11. Capitalize on current events. A popular news story is the perfect tie into your release. If you can relate the story to your business, it is quite likely the media will be interested.
For example, if there is an increase in home break-ins in the area and you sell home security systems, you can write a release that includes tips for securing a home that refers to your products.
12. Capitalize on pop culture. Popular TV shows, movies and music are great fodder for a press release. For example, if you teach music lessons a tie-in to the popular TV show Glee might be an interesting angle.
13. Share your awards and accomplishments. If you’ve won an award or received some other type of recognition, this is perfect press release fodder. Show how this accomplishment serves your community/ target market.
14. Give awards. Not only can you share information about awards you receive, you can give out meaningful awards to your community as well.
15. Fundraisers. Spread awareness for your cause and your business, by making a donation or holding a fundraiser.
Be sure to follow-up the announcement of your upcoming fundraiser with the end results you achieved.
16. Be a sponsor. Sponsor a local team or organization and write a press release about it. It shows you contribution and support of the local community.
17. Have a contest. Whether it’s a sweepstakes, an essay or video contest, it’s fun and interesting. Make sure to send a follow-up when the winners are announced.
18. Host a special event. Put together an open house or customer appreciation day.
Offer refreshments, helpful information, etc. to attendees. Let the media know about the event with a press release.
19. Host a virtual event. Organize a teleseminar or webinar that provides valuable information to your target customer and announce this free event through your press release.
20. Create a useful publication. Are you putting together a helpful newsletter, white paper or report? Share it in a press release.
21. Create an internship or work experience program. If you’re going to hire some students for the summer, share the news.
Follow up with stories on the success of the program with some of your star participants.
As you can see, there’s always something to share in a press release and if you don’t currently have a newsworthy event, you can create one.
Keep this list handy to help establish your business in your community and to develop a relationship with the media.
Below is a Press Release template.
Feel free to use it as you see fit.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person’s Full Name
Company Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Precise Website Address / URL for More Information
Attention Getting Headline Here – Include a Benefit for the Reader
City, Town, Date – Summary that draws the reader in to learn more. Make sure you address who, what, where, when, why and when. Be succinct, but include enough information.
Provide some relevant background information about your product/event/announcement. Make sure you include information on why this is important to the target audience. Be factual and succinct.
Add a quotation from a customer or somebody who reinforces your expertise or the importance of your announcement. Include that person’s full name and if relevant, include their credentials.
Include a quotation from yourself that says why you created the products/put together the event, etc. Having a quotation from yourself makes it easier for you to assert an opinion, while still remaining newsworthy. Make sure to include your full name and position in the company.
Finish your press release with a company summary and what you do. Include a statement that says, “For more information, please contact…” and include a phone number and email. Also include the URL of where to get more information on the website.

Top 4 Reasons Why Affiliates Prefer To Join An Affiliate Network To Individual Merchants

Affiliate programs can be categorized into three main classes, namely networks, specialized networks and individual affiliate programs.

Affiliates may choose to sign up with affiliate programs in any of these categories for several reasons.

First, let’s define these categories.

Affiliate networks is where merchants and the merchants’ products are listed in a database according to their categories, and affiliates go to these networks to select the affiliate programs which they want to promote.

Affiliate programs in such a network use network infrastructure for promotion and managing their affiliates.

Examples of major affiliate networks are ClickBank, Commission Junction and LinkShare among several others.

Specialized affiliate networks are networks that list affiliate programs and products in a specific niche or sub-niche.

One specialized affiliate network may have many affiliate programs that are in sub-niches that complement each other.

Individual affiliate programs are those programs owned by individual merchants or internet marketers, who use their own reporting and management systems.

These affiliate programs do not involve any third parties, and the individual merchant directly manages and pays his own affiliates.

Affiliates have various expectations from the affiliate programs they sign up with, and this influences the category of affiliate programs they choose.

While some affiliates want to join affiliate programs that belong to a network, other prefer being affiliates for individual affiliate program while others are indifferent – as long as they are paid their commission!

Affiliate programs networks offer many benefits to the member affiliate programs as well as affiliates.

For various reasons, there are some affiliates who don’t like to deal with programs outside major networks.

However, any individual affiliate program can be well planned and managed in such as way it provides high quality services, tools and commissions to its affiliates.

So, what are the main reasons why affiliates prefer to join affiliate programs that are part of an established network?

Can an individual merchant offer a competitive affiliate program that has first-class features without being part of a network?

1. Affiliates networks provide a wide range of affiliate programs and merchants all in one place so that affiliates can pick and choose what they want.

Affiliates who focus on several niches aim to promote several related and complementary products in one single niche, and affiliate networks are the best places to find the best.

The main advantage is that even if the affiliates are promoting many affiliate programs in many niches on numerous websites, they have a single network that manages their reporting and process their payment.

Established individual merchants that sell many related products in one or several niches can however offer multiple products to its affiliates.

2. Regardless of the different payment structures which individual programs may have, affiliates have one main merchant to deal with, namely the affiliate network.

The affiliate does not deal with each individual merchant, and solely deals with the affiliate merchant network who tracks all the sales and processing of all the payments for the various products being promoted by the affiliate.

An individual affiliate program owner with affiliate programs for several products can provide consolidated payment and reporting for those affiliates that are members of several of his affiliate program.

3. High quality real time tracking and reporting that allows affiliates to see their progress and performance.

Most affiliate networks provide the best tracking software and tools that allows affiliates to get all the information they want.

Such software may be pricey and some individual affiliate program owners can’t provide it.

This is an important investment for any internet marker who would like to recruit affiliates and provide them with good reporting and payment processing.

An individual merchant must look for the best sales and tracking and reporting tool that will make sure that affiliates can see their progress.

4. No risks of any payments.

Affiliate networks normally work professionally and will pay the affiliate correct commissions.

An affiliate therefore gets guaranteed payment of the accurate commissions processed by a third party, the affiliate network.

Some individual merchants don’t use top-notch payment processors, resulting in under-payment of the affiliates or delays in payments.

Affiliates are also very hesitant to deal with companies or merchants who may refuse to pay them or withhold their commission for some reason.

An individual merchant can still recruit affiliates by using a reliable payment processing system and making sure that affiliates are paid their correct commission and on time.

To easily recruit and maintain affiliates, an individual merchant must have an affiliate program that has features and solutions that match what is provided by affiliate networks.

Offer higher commission rates, provide personal attention to your affiliates to keep them motivated, and ask your affiliates what they want and provide that and more!