Press releases are the best way to disseminate news to the public.

The most common approach is the written format, but today, in the digital era, they can also be in audio or video format.

The primary goal of a press release is to get the media’s attention effectively and in quick time.

But is it easy to get media’s attention?

No, the task is pretty hard.

The job is harder for editors. They are flooded with mails from all directions with requests to publish their stories.

They must filter and curate them so that only the most relevant and well-written sees the light of the day.

A good bet for you is to post your story on one of the popular press release submission sites where reporters and publishers make a beeline to find interesting topics.

One of the things that could bother you is whether press releases help in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

The answer is yes, they do.

When you get visibility from news publishers, not only will you get backlinks from the publishers’ sites, but you also stand to get huge number of backlinks from other entities who read the news.

Publishers are always on the lookout for newsworthy stories - so unless you make use of a press release submission service, your chances of gaining popularity is thin.

Which story is deemed newsworthy?

At first this query may look like a puzzle.

Yet, remember that any event if it needs publicity must compete for space.

How it is chosen depends on several factors.

It can be the relationship between the journalist and you, social and cultural factors, and of course the value and importance of the news itself.

Your story must be noteworthy information, chiefly about recent and important events.

This is not all.

Your story must follow some of the best practices that can make a press release submission service get you real traffic.

Stick to good journalism

That means adhere to the standards that apply to all stories.

These, in brief are:

·        Answers to the 5 Ws – Who, What, When, Why, and How.

·        Accuracy – support your story with facts and figures

·        Clarity – your narrative must be lucid and honest

Compelling headline

The headline is the first impression of your announcement.

Ask yourself, “Does it sound interesting?” or “Will it make me keep reading?”

A good lead

The lead or the first paragraph of your story is the most important part of your release.

With people facing a glut of information via social media, TV and the internet, readers simply do not go beyond the first paragraph unless it grabs their interest.

Other things to take note are including supporting quotes and a clear call to action.

Do not lose the opportunity to grab attention. Let the public know about your company’s developments.