How to find a legit and quality PR writer?

[b34nz]

Anyone know of a good PR writer? I see lots of people advertising their services in the marketplace, but do they REALLY know how to write PRs?

Any of you had great success with a company? If so, please mention them.

[TeddyP]

I had luck with a local college. They happened to have a PR course (as well as journalism) and since my brother was in that school - he approached a student who did it for real cheap and it was great quality.

[weblover50]

You can find on the different forums.Like on this forum and on DP you can find the writers very easily on many forums.

[bauger]

Yes there are a few good forums like DP and warrior forum that have great writers for cheap.

[livetech]

TeddyP hit the nail on the head with the best idea on a budget.

I wouldn't trust half the writers on DP as far as I could kick them. Even if you get a great PR WRITER, will they be a good PR DISTRIBUTOR?

We use a local company to us, who know the area, know the decision makers in the area and are experienced in pushing PR's. It suits us as we only target a local market. You may be different, but I'd be incredibly wary of people off some webmaster forums.

(and no - PR distribution isn't about submitting it to as many sites as possible, it needs to be about establishing rapport with media agencies to help push your PR stories. Can't tell you too much but, trust me, working with this PR agency has opened my eyes!)

[Ami1]

Can't you find someone at rentacoder or elance?

[dekree2]

I don't know any good writer.

But if I'm you I will start searching among bloggers. Some are really good in writing articles (and perhaps PRs) that sell!

[dekree2]

Can't you find someone at rentacoder or elance?

Elance is a good idea too. Make sure you visited their websites & blogs - to check on the quality of their writings.

[jeffvdovjak]

Ask a copywriter for previous work or a sample (if they don't have anything in your field ask them to create one). That should help you weed out the poor copywriters but that assumes there's a good one in the batch!

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[Shyflower]

TeddyP hit the nail on the head with the best idea on a budget.

I wouldn't trust half the writers on DP as far as I could kick them. Even if you get a great PR WRITER, will they be a good PR DISTRIBUTOR?

We use a local company to us, who know the area, know the decision makers in the area and are experienced in pushing PR's. It suits us as we only target a local market. You may be different, but I'd be incredibly wary of people off some webmaster forums.

(and no - PR distribution isn't about submitting it to as many sites as possible, it needs to be about establishing rapport with media agencies to help push your PR stories. Can't tell you too much but, trust me, working with this PR agency has opened my eyes!)

Actually, there are many excellent press release distribution services on the Web who distribute to local, national, and International media. PRWeb is the most popular.

[jeffvdovjak]

(and no - PR distribution isn't about submitting it to as many sites as possible, it needs to be about establishing rapport with media agencies to help push your PR stories. Can't tell you too much but, trust me, working with this PR agency has opened my eyes!)

No, the number isn't the most important factor (though it is important). I used to work in radio as Promotions Director (which meant everything dealing with the public, incoming or outgoing) and I used to get literally hundreds of Press Releases a month (depending on the time of year, it could even be inside of a week!).
There are a couple of things you need to keep in mind.

1. Keep it brief -- too long and it won't get read (imagine reading 14-25 three page PRs today? (And then again every single day) Would you do it? I didn't.
2. Keep it "active" - use an active voice to keep it interesting - and don't go into all the background detail - just what is necessary
3. Clearly mark a contact person
4. Best idea is to have more information available on a web page (and don't forget to put that down on the sheet!)
5. Offer an interview or something (if you can provide it). It helps because it generates content. If we're going to talk about subject X, why not with someone!
6. Make it relevant to the audience!!! If you're talking about how you have a new grand opening/location - so what? Relate it back to the audience... You could title it "Hope in the recession" or "Small Business Tips to Not Just Surviving but Prospering in the Downturn" or "Looking for Lunch?" <-- if you're offering a Free BBQ or something
7. Use bullets
8. Use 2-3 paragrahps
9. Use titles (bold) if it helps to organize the information
10. Time it properly - don't do it too far in advance of the event (or whatever you're using a PR for) but don't leave it until the day of or the day before.
11. Send a maximum of 2! One far in advance (a week or a week and a half), and then a follow up the day prior (thank them in it).
12. Time it properly - (I know I said that) but... Don't send it on a Friday unless you have to (it's Friday - who wants to read them all today? plus if it's not FOR the weekend it will get FORGOTTEN after the weekend) -- Monday is also a busy day for PRs

Anyone can actually write a good PR. The goal is to make it simple enough to be read, and interesting enough to be caught.

Hope some of those tips help if you decide to go it alone (or for anyone else who might need the budget version of PRs)

[jeffvdovjak]

Also (I know you're killing trees) but send paper copies. Don't send electronics. Holding it is better - and if they use it they can just pass it on. Emailing isn't as easy. So fax, mail or drop it off.

But, don't harass them if you drop it off! They'll read it, especially if you put it in there hands (and it's short). They'll do it on the way back to their office, or if they pull it from the stack of other stuff someone left on their desk, they'll do it as soon as they see it. Dropping it off can be the best idea.


As for rapport -- not always necessary. Generally we read everything*.

*Disclaimer: If it's long, we read the first sentence, maybe the first paragraph. And if it's from someone who sends us crap all the time - we don't read it. Or if we recognize it's the eleventh copy sent (or even if it's not a copy and contained more information -- we would never know. We aren't going to read 13 press releases about a grand opening!! - maximum 2 people!)

[Shyflower]

Actually, there is so much misinformation here, it's difficult to know where to start... and just so you know, I started my career as a radio copy director.
First of all, the optimal length of press release, according to PRWeb is between 300 and 800 words.

Offer an interview or something (if you can provide it). It helps because it generates content. If we're going to talk about subject X, why not with someone!

Press releases shouldn't contain interviews, although they should contain a quote or two from one of the principals involved with the business.

Use bullets

Don't use bullets. Because of the columnar layout of newspapers, they seldom print bulleted or numbered lists. Two many bullets in a press release make it look amateurish.

Use 2-3 paragrahps

Your press release should contain as many paragraphs as you need to get the focus of your story across to your audience. The PRWeb Template uses 7 short paragraphs plus a summary paragraph and a company backgrounder. Keep paragraphs short for easy reading.

Use titles (bold) if it helps to organize the information

The only Title on your press release should be your headline.

Send a maximum of 2! One far in advance (a week or a week and a half), and then a follow up the day prior (thank them in it).

Send one 48 to 72 hours before your preferred release date.

Anyone can actually write a good PR. The goal is to make it simple enough to be read, and interesting enough to be caught.

Press releases need to be both journalistically and grammatically correct. Editors are experts at weeding out professionally written news releases from those written by amateurs.

Also (I know you're killing trees) but send paper copies. Don't send electronics. Holding it is better - and if they use it they can just pass it on. Emailing isn't as easy. So fax, mail or drop it off.

But, don't harass them if you drop it off! They'll read it, especially if you put it in there hands (and it's short). They'll do it on the way back to their office, or if they pull it from the stack of other stuff someone left on their desk, they'll do it as soon as they see it. Dropping it off can be the best idea.

Don't drop off your press release! Most media has access to wire services and good press release distribution services subscribe to them. A good distribution service can make sure your release is visible in Internet media as well as local media and if warranted, national or even International media. Busy news editors really don't welcome a crowd of eager newshounds tromping through their offices.

If you do mail a press release in self-submission, be sure you mail it to the correct editor (usually NOT the managing editor) and send it to them, using their name. If you don't know their name, call your publication and ask the friendly receptionist for it and the department where it will most likely be read.

[streams500]

I agree, distribution is not all about distributing your releases to press release sites. That's why I don't offer distribution to my clients. However, should they opt for an online distribution, I'd point them to PRWeb, Webwire, and the most affordable, PRNine.

[MarketLeverage]

I don't know of anyone off-hand, but you can always ask for samples. Another idea is to ask for the links to see where the articles were picked up.

[MarbleHost.com]

I use sites like Rent a coder to hire PR writers. This way you can be sure you get what you have asked for (or you get your money back).

[AndyBlack]

I think the best thing for you to do is ask people for recommendations. Try a few forums and do a search for posts regarding this. Rather than make a mistake, find someone who is tried and tested.