How to Start a Press Release Writing Business

Business Overview:

Attention writers: learning how to start a press release writing business is one of the smartest business ideas you can pursue in today’s media rich culture. A press release is a communication aimed at news media outlets designed to make an announcement about something newsworthy. Press releases can be issued for a number of topics including upcoming events, sporting news, products and services, etc. For example, the Centers for Disease Control issued a press release about a new study on adult obesity. A press release writer created that press release, then issued it to various media outlets (newspapers, national television networks, etc.) and the story was then carried on the national news, local news and in newspapers around the world. A press release business can also be similar to public relations business if you are, for example, promoting a company’s new product. And national news outlets are not the only places you’ll find press releases; more and more, press releases are being posted on company websites as well. If you’re not familiar with the standard format and writing style of a press release, it’s simple to find a great number of examples online. Read high-circulation newspapers (with high online subscription numbers) like the New York Times and Washington Post to get a feel for how a press release should “sound.” If you are not comfortable with your writing skills but are still interested in this business idea, you can always hire a staff of press release writers to work for you. The best part is you can run this business entirely online if you want to. Decide what types of organizations you will target as potential clients and place ads on various websites and blogs to spread the word about your new business. Create a website that explains what your business does as well as a price list and include some samples of your work. You can charge by the word or offer a flat rate for a press release up to a certain number of words. A press release writing business is among the most attractive online business ideas because you can operate this business from home and in your spare time. As word spreads in your target market about the quality of your press releases, you may find yourself in need of additional staff to handle the work.

A Day in the Life of a Press Release Business Owner:

This article brought to you by Business Ideas! If you enjoyed this article, make sure to subscribe to the Business Ideas Newsletter to get ideas sent straight to your email inbox.Your day will begin with a check of your email and voicemail to see if any new requests have come in. You will contact potential clients to discuss what they need covered in the release and to whom they would like it to be distributed. You will spend a portion of your day marketing your business by placing ads online and following up with previous clients to see if they have anything new to report. If you have a staff working for you, you will coordinate with them, assigning them each a number of press releases to write and distribute.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be various businesses, associations and individuals who need high quality press release writing services to make an announcement of some kind.

What You Need to Start:

• Press release writing skills or a staff of experienced writers
• Marketing plan
• Target market
• Computer with high-speed Internet access and financial software

The Good:

• Press releases will always be necessary to make announcements.
• Startup costs are extremely low.
• You can charge a great deal for high quality press releases.
• If you offer a great product at a reasonable price, you will get repeat business.
• You can run this business part-time.
• As long as deadlines are met, you can work any time of the day or night.

The Bad:

• It can take a while to get your name out there and get your first few clients.
• Some clients and deadlines can be difficult to work with.

Resources:

• Public Relations Society of America
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Public Relations Specialists
• Wikipedia on Press Releases

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