Faa Press Releases: How To Use These?

Maybe an admin can suggest some good ways to take our press releases as far as possible.

Hi Miriam, Abbie has bumped up a really good thread on this:

http://pixels.com/showmessages.php?messageid=351404

http://pixels.com/pressreleases/a-new-look-from-the-old-digital-fine-artist-david-bridburg.html

Gave it a go.

Dorothy I like your release on Mario's book. Nice.

Just reread my release. I used the word "world' three times. Woops.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I used some words that Mario had prepared for his press release and gave it my own spin including a quote. I know from experience in my day job that the press like it when you include quotes. Abbies thread is good on this.

Yep I read most of Abbie's thread. i got a huge amount of information on how to do this from that thread.

I wish I only used 'World' twice, not three times. But other than that I prefer short. If it is fit in anywhere it is easy for plenty of people to read.

Dave

Dave you can go back and edit them.

Oh yeah!!!

TY

I may have overlooked it in Abbie's thread, but I did not see anything about distribution. What FAA does to distribute the press releases.

Dan,

I do not know at all. But anything from the AP to the RSS feeds. I do not know.

I am going to look under the join and get these benefits to see what it says.

Dave

I think bottom line is that faa doesnt distribute them..but they provide all the tools (with verything) for you to do it ..at least that is my take on the faa business model

Dan,

This is what I found......

Each week, Pixels.com sends out an e-mail newsletter to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. The newsletter includes a list of press releases from the previous week.

you issue a press release on Pixels.com, it will automatically appear in the Pixels.com e-newsletter, as well!

I think producing your own version that you send to your local or relevant press is a good idea as well as using the FAA facility. We know our own local newspapers and journals or perhaps specialist magazines that the press release should be sent to.

Dorothy great point. May come in very handy.

Dave

Thanks for these great thoughts ...

Do you know how to find out where to send our press releases?
I guess we could google a list of our local papers, but how do we know exactly to where to send them specifically, at the papers?
Is there a "local events" editor or something like that? Who is the proper person, at these papers?

And do you know if they would be more likely to print our own press releases, or those that come with the FAA signature up top? (Sorry, FAA!:)
Is there a way to send the FAA press releases so that they don't look just like a web page, or does that not matter to newspapers?

I've often wanted to know how to do a "proper" press release and to know where and to whom they should be sent, if you have any guidance on this.

And that was an awesome article that Abbie wrote on structuring the press release - thanks Abbie, and thanks for re-posting the link, Dorothy!

David,

Thanks for taking the time to research and provide the answers you have.

A few questions:

- When listed in the weekly pixels newsletter, how are they listed? I.e., by title, artist name, etc.?

when you say: "you issue a press release on Pixels.com, it will automatically appear in the Pixels.com e-newsletter, as well!"

- Are you saying that if you prepare a PR on FAA and another on pixels that two separate listings will be in the pixels newsletter?

"I may have overlooked it in Abbie's thread, but I did not see anything about distribution. What FAA does to distribute the press releases."

I have asked several time and not ever gotten a real answer.

There are several "free" press release services out there that you can use but they are not as good as they once were.

I still use them from time to time but I also pay to have the service stepped up a bit.

I have also posted one or two of them in my press releases here but I don't think they get circulated other than relying on Google finding them.

Search on "free press releases".

Couple of things you have to know about using those free or paid circulation services.

They will not run a blatant product pitch. It does have to be news worthy. The will reject the obviously commercial advertising in text form as fast as you send them in. The they black ball you and close your account.

Here is something else that you can do with your press releases. You can send the to the free content suppliers, the article circulation sites that are still around.

These people make articles available for free, to people that write blogs or have web pages that are looking for content. I have a blog on it. Marketing on the Cheap Write? Right! http://fineartamerica.com/blogs/marketing-on-the-cheap-write-right.html

I ran the largest daytrading news service on the net for several years and I wrote about a hundred article and circulated them via these services. I got tens of thousands of clicks on my TraderAide.com web page. When I sold out, I tried to get all of those articles taken downbut some of them are still out there and I still get calls from daytraders.

If you google Marketing On The Cheap by Floyd Snyder you will still see several marketing articles out and around the net as well and I did those years and years ago.

David, I did not know that. That is good to know. I guess I am going to have to stop deleting that email and take a look at it.

That is pretty good circulation and a good place to start. Keep in mind, once you have the article/press release, more is always better than less!

lol

I'm opening up my site to guest posters also and will be accepting press releases written by outsiders direct onto the site. However, I will probably be charging a couple of dollars per release for that if there is blatant advertising in them.

Floyd,

I have a somewhat related question for you, but different, I need a specific answer if you have for my art.

I will PM you.

Dave

Floyd, thanks for the info.

Abbie,

Could you answer the distribution question?

What distribution does FAA do, any and all, of press releases created by premium account artists?

http://pixels.com/pressreleases/a-new-look-from-the-old-digital-fine-artist-david-bridburg.html

Abbie is this over the line into blatant advertizing?

Dave

No I cannot I'm afraid. It goes to google and other search engines I know but that's all I know.

Abbie,

Thanks. In essence that answers it. FAA relies on organic distribution and apparently does not push it out to publications and so forth.

Floyd provided some good advice,

Miriam, the idea of the press release is not that they print them. They might lift some of the information from the press release for insertion - that is why you put a quote as well as a bit of detail, enough so that they can use that snippet, but hopefully they will get interested enough to contact you for more information, an interview or article. There is no easy answer when doing it yourself other than research and building your own circulation list. If you look in the papers/journals somewhere in the editorial section or near the front anyway, it tells you who to submit things to - if it doesn't then you have to phone and find out. For the online publications there is usually a contact us section that gives information. Personally I would do my own press release with my own contact details on a nice piece of letterhead/logo paper rather than try and do something with the FAA press release. You also have to think outside the box a bit. So, for me, a lot of my work is spiritual in nature which opens up a different potential press audience than just the local paper or just art-related. Floyd's point about being newsworthy is important. Why should they follow up your press release unless they think their audience might be interested in what you have to say.

Abbie that is very interesting about 1stAngel accepting press releases.

I do two kinds of pressers here -- the type I mainly write and leave on FAA with some possible social media promotion.

And also the type that I will write up and post here but will also send out to various news media in the area. I've gotten a few bites that way before on a gallery showing and another one on an old photograph of an old train in the area.

Do your own research in your own area on news media to reach out to. Most will have email addresses listed to send press releases to. If not, call the newsroom and ask

Dorothy and Joseph, very good advice! It gives me some direction, as well.
Also very, very interesting, Abbie - would love to hear more about your press release venture, as it unfolds.

Here is another tip or two in writing press releases or articles either one.

When an editor of a hard copy publication of an internet site is looking for "copy", the very often have an idea of how much space they want to fill.

The length the article will very often make a difference as to rather your article or release will be run not.

A good article will be long enough to be a feature article but will be written in such a fashion that it can be cut off at the end of nearly every paragraph to fit a smaller space like a side bar. Or just filler in the hard copy publication.

That is why you have to get the Who, What, When, Where and Why all in the fist paragraph or two.

The other think is, giving editorial control. If you indicate that the article has to be published or circulated exactly as written, you may be limiting your exposure. Editions like to rewrite things. They may like the article but hate your style of writing.

I have never had an editor butcher a piece and I have never have never had a problem with the rewrites. All I require is the article retains my name, the company name of website and the link to that website.

I agree with Joseph, do not overlook your local media. And I strongly suggest you do not limit your circulation to just you local area. Look into the free press release sites and the article circulation sites. As I said before, more is better.

Did I mention NOT to use embargo releases? Most editors hate them and they better be big news or they will start ignoring you submissions.

Embargo means putting a "do not release until" date on the article or press release.

Great suggestions, Floyd! Much to consider! Thanks!!