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Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

Press Releases

this thread is normally found in the help tab

I use press releases for my Our Arts Magazine and I have seen many of the discussion members using the press releases which is good. What is not good is the way they are doing it.

A press release is just that, a release to the press.

I cannot stress this enough, you MUST remember that the press will not use a release that just says, 'UPDATE', or one that talks in the first person unless it has all the details of what on earth you are talking about.

The press does not know you. Saying things like 'I have uploaded a new image to my gallery, take a look' is NOT going to get your press release spread around the www.

You must say who you are.
What the release is about.
Name names,
give addresses,
give dates,
give ALL details needed for someone that has NO idea who on earth you are.. or what you are talking about.


Here is a recap of a post I put on a few weeks ago

-----------------------------------

Press releases.

Press Releases are an huge asset to anyone marketing work.

A press release is the first thing a site like mine, for instance, looks for to bring news to its readers. Here at FAA you have the option to write a Press Release of your own.

ALWAYS include.

Title
Description
Place
Date and Time
Address
Contact details
Image if you are given an area for one.

Never write a press release like this...and never in the first person (I)

Hi. Im having an art show and you may like to come. Its only small but you may like it. If you do want to come then you can. Thanks.

Hopefully I do not have to explain why that is NOT a press release.

A good press release is always in the third person and would run more like this...

Title Gallery holds Impression Show by Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards is pleased to announce the showing of 17 impressionism paintings, including the popular Blue Farm at the Title Gallery in City

Internationally known Elizabeth Edwards has received acclaim for this style of work which she has been working on for the last 5 years.

'I am thrilled that Title Gallery is showing my work' said Edwards.

Works to be exhibited are...

List

Any other blah blah here

September 30 2009 - September 30 2010
7pm - 8pm Mon - Fri
6pm - 7pm Sat
Sun closed

Address Here


The reason that press releases in the third person receive better feedback and result in more sales, or visitors, is that people who place these releases on their sites or in their papers, quite often copy and paste them as you have written them to remain true (and to save time), only editing spelling and grammar.

They very often will miss off any that use 'I' in them as they are quite useless for someone else to place.

------------------------------------------------

If you are not going to do this and am just going to say 'hi guys, updated work in my gallery', then use your blog area instead.

Reply Order

Post Reply
 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

Just now I saw a press release with no name, no link, nothing to say who or where the person was. So am bumping this.

 

Frank Wilson

13 Years Ago

Thanks for addressing this problem Beth. It has been huge problem for quite sometime now with about half of the new releases being real bad with no contact information. Hopefully your excellent advice will be read and acted upon my some. Thanks!

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

You are welcome Frank. I have also been contacting a couple of them (when I can find out who on earth they are) and letting them know that press releases are NOT for the way they have been using them.

I am hoping that Sean will address this problem which is actually a larger one than some others due to the fact that people in the media will come expressly for a proper press release to use in their issues. I have been watching them carefully recently for the magazine and out of 10, only one will be usable!



 

Marlene Burns

13 Years Ago

beth, i use several press release services, and they have parameters that must be followed..including number of words.
not that i want more work for you, but if they don't fit the bill, they don't post. there's a 24 hour waiting period for review.....problem here is that they are up immediately...and then grabbed by the search engines within an hour or so....

 

Erika Swartzkopf

13 Years Ago

Thanks, Beth ;)

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

Yes Marlene, that is a big problem here. This is one side of the site that the media may be watching and, as it is, is being abused terribly. Not on purpose I am sure. The people I have contacted so far did not know how to use this area. It must be addressed I feel.

 

Joe Kozlowski

13 Years Ago

My fear is that the misuse of press releases could harm FAA's credibility with the press and with galleries and art dealers you pick up FAA originated releases via RSS. My experience with press releases is that if you get enough garbage from a source, you stop looking at that source altogether.

Perhaps a press release "template" could be added along with "pop up" instructions on how to fill out the template?

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

That is the type of line I was heading down idea-wise, Joe. As I said in the top post, this is business and I also wish to use peoples press releases on my magazine BUT, I cannot and I have been tempted to stop even looking. That's me, the person that works here and really wants to promote the site so, if even I am turned off, imagine what the other press feels like who is not biased towards the site.

I have let FAA know about this post and I hope that it is taken seriously as this is a a HUGE problem to people that do wish to market their work properly.

I cannot state this enough, a press release can make or break a person wishing to market. It is very serious that people do them properly.

 

Marlene Burns

13 Years Ago

i must agree with joe...fill in the blanks template AND if you cannot fill in all of the blanks, one's 'press release' doesn't qualify and will not post.
there's got to be software available...when i fill in forms online and leave one line blank, they return to that page with a note in red to fill it in!

i experienced this last year with a grant application...."ALL areas must be filled in. If anything is left blank, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed."

 

Frank Wilson

13 Years Ago

WOW! I just went through 10 pages on the "Fine Art News & Press Releases" and things have really become worse than just a few months ago! Typical of the emptiness in press releases is this one;

New here at FAA.. I love it here and the work of others has inspired me! Hope that you all will take a minute to look at my work. Feel free to critique and comment. Thanks

No contact; no information just taking up some 0's and 1's in cyberspace as are thousands more like it. Time to plug in the shredder and clean out the wastebasket that "Fine Art News & Press Releases" has become!

 

Mark James Perry

13 Years Ago

Then why not moderate press releases?

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

With some form of template it would show people also what a press release actually is. So many people use it as though they wee posting here that I truly believe they think it is some sort of forum area where everyone sees it and can go and congratulate them, (eg I just won a contest, that was it, no other link, description, anything!).

A template would make people stop and give proper details.

And they should DEFINITELY be linked to when they post as finding these people to inform them what they are doing is impossible. I have no idea who on earth they are.

Another thing I find annoying is to see zazzle and other sites being promoted with NO link to the artist here at FAA.

 

Marlene Burns

13 Years Ago

beth, i think that should not be allowed...promoting oneself on another site when there is no connection to faa?
faa is not like fb where anything goes...it is a site that promotes the SALE of your work and faa makes the profit for doing so. it isn't free advertising.
bad form to use it to promote sales elsewhere.

 

Joe Kozlowski

13 Years Ago

This (or some variation of it) might be useful:

How to Write a Press Release

 

Sandra Bronstein

13 Years Ago

Agree with all about a template! I won't use the press release feature because of all the issues and garbage I see. It could prove to be an effective tool and I think a template will certainly weed out those who wish to abuse the feature. As Beth said, it isn't a forum! Let's all try to remember: GIGO - garbage in - garbage out. It could hurt all of us!

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

Great link, Joe, thank you!

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

Here is an excellent press release just gone up here at FAA

Raleigh Photographer Jamie Starling Named Earth Fare Artist Of The Month

Spot the title, mini description of the article, then the date, and a full description including a bit about the photographer.

Finished with links.

Absolutely perfect and already published in my magazine.

Always include, if you are allowed, a photo for the newspaper or magazine.

 

Sandra Bronstein

13 Years Ago

Great example Beth! Thank you!

 

Thanks Beth for spreading our Press Releases on your site and helping us gain public views. I noticed a couple my FAA Press Release's on your site by accident via google and that is much appreciated!

-W

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

You are very welcome :) If they are good (which yours were) then I am happy to publish them.

 

Suzanne McClendon

13 Years Ago

Beth, this is the first that I've seen of this particular discussion and I am very glad to have come across it. I've never done a press release and had no clue how to do one. I appreciate your explanation of how to properly create a press release and look forward to doing so very soon.

Have a great day!

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

I am so glad Suzanne :)

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

I have spoken to Sean about this and he is going to make a template for the press releases and the job section. This will not be before February though.

:)

 

Erminio Biandolino

13 Years Ago

Thank you, Beth, for your interesting anf useful advices.
May I ask you what do you think of my article?
You will find it here: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/erminio-biandolino.html?tab=press
Why, according to you, I wasn't able to up-load the related event in the event slot?
What have I to do in order to do it in the right manner?


Thank you again.

Erminio Biandolino

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

I did answer in the email but will quickly recap here :)

The two languages is great, however one language release at the top and then another at the bottom is preferable to paragraphed, the way it is there.

You should use your language at the top for your local networks and have the other language beneath for the other country.

Your contact details should be at the very bottom of each language release or at the very bottom of the total release.

Hope that helps :)

 

Jamie Starling

13 Years Ago

Beth,

Just came across this discussion. Thanks for using my press release in you magazine.

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

You are very welcome, Jamie :)

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

am bumping this up as the releases are still awful

 

Diane Daigle

13 Years Ago

Thanks Beth {{hug}},,,, I have an unannounced show coming up in Feb and one in March..... I will write one. :>)

 

Kay Sawyer

13 Years Ago

Thanks Beth I certainly did not know how to use the press release. Glad you posted this!

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

So glad it is helping. :)

 

Andy Mathis

13 Years Ago

well crud. I have used prweb for press releases in the past, but that was one reason that I upgraded my Fine Art America account. To be able to send out a press release.

I didn't realize a release would get lost amongst what appears to be Facebook status updates. Boooooo.

A template of who? what? why? and where? sounds like a good idea.

 

Andy Mathis

13 Years Ago

If people sign up for a prweb account, there are lots of guides and information under their tools tab.

Here's a screen shot-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andymathis/5414046256/

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

Facebook status updates? No idea what you mean. Also the press releases are for all here not just premium members.

 

Andy Mathis

13 Years Ago

I mean when a press release is written like one would write a status update.

NEW WORK UP!!!!! COME CHECK OUT MY PAINTINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of images.... FEEL FREE TO COMMENT

 

Abbie Shores

13 Years Ago

They are really annoying (half of them dont even have a link!) and Sean is making proper press release templates and changes next week :)

This should, not only change things there drastically, but also help people when they go to set one up :)

I use press releases regularly as I have said but not from here I am afraid.

 

Abbie Shores

12 Years Ago

bump :)

 

DENIS SHAH

12 Years Ago

Really very good advice i appreciate Beth thank you so much now i will take care of my press realease. thank you so much.

 

Michael Peychich

12 Years Ago

FAA provides some excellent tools for marketing our work, if used in conjunction with our own efforts outside FAA some great results can be achieved. I use the news release feature for different events. Often I have the information of the location and their contact numbers rather then mine. Last year I ended up with two front page news stories and one full page story on page three of a local paper. Many places also pick these up and add the event to their community calendars. The main problem I see with the news release on FAA is that many artists are just using them in a desperate attempt to get other artists to look at their work. Sure we all want our work seen but it needs to be by the right people. When used to get attention of other artists it waters down the overall effectiveness of releases on FAA. I know mine releases are not ideal but here is a sample of one.

http://fineartamerica.com/pressreleases/photography-of-michael-peychich.html

 

Abbie Shores

12 Years Ago

Michael that is very nice. Contact details, how to get there and where. Lovely.

I dont remember saying that Marlene. I was showing how to use a press release. Most releases are for events of some kind. Even a new image is an event if written about properly. You have a place to find that image so there is your address. You must always have contact details etc.

 

Abbie Shores

11 Years Ago

bump up for new members

 

Old member question....where on faa does the press release turn up?

 
 

Abbie Shores

11 Years Ago

 

Sarah Vernon

11 Years Ago

I was all ready to write a press release via FAA but after reading all this, I'm wondering if it's worth it. Unless I'm missing a link (no comments, please!), FAA have not yet provided a set template, let alone one that will not publish unless it's completed correctly. What would you advise?

 

Abbie Shores

11 Years Ago

Just read back before posting and ask, would you read this in a magazine or in a paper? If not then rewrite it

 

This was very helpful for me. Thanks!

 

Abbie Shores

11 Years Ago

I am glad Tim :)

 

Adam Jewell

10 Years Ago

In order to prevent people from posting absolutely anything in the press release area, how about a small charge for posing a press release? Not much, just $1.00 or so, so that someone has to go to at least a little bit of trouble to post one and can't just pull up the screen and drop anything in there.

 

Fran Riley

10 Years Ago

Bump! Take a look at the press releases if you want to see how this is abused / used in exactly the wrong way. What a waste of server space.

 

Abbie Shores

10 Years Ago

I know and I have tried to have something done

 

Janet Zeh

10 Years Ago

Thank you so much for writing this (and continually bumping it!) I recently joined and had absolutely NO idea what was supposed to go in the press release section or how it is used here.

So I started looking around for info and was very happy to find your post. There is so much possibility if used correctly - a template would be awesome, but even just more information that is easy to access would help.

Again, thank you!

 

Mary Ellen Anderson

10 Years Ago

thank you for taking the time to put this together. very helpful.

 

Joseph C Hinson

10 Years Ago

I used to work in TV and saw some of the press releases that came to our in box. Most were done very well and I have tried to remember some of what I liked about those when I do my own releases --

http://josephchinson.artistwebsites.com/pressreleases/photographer-joe-hinson-selling-prints-in-hometown-gallery.html

Not that they seem to have helped sales too much for me.

 

Abbie Shores

8 Years Ago

Bump up

 

Abbie Shores

8 Years Ago

Bump

 

Abbie Shores

8 Years Ago

I'm seeing some really, really bad press releases come to me recently.

Out of 10 I'm going to be using just one.

 

Vjay Ellis

8 Years Ago

Thanks a bunch Abbie, this info is greatly appreciated, thankfully mine had to be updated anyways since my Digital Artist pals will be doing another Gallery this fall if everything goes as planned.

Thanks

Vjay

 

Susan Maxwell Schmidt

8 Years Ago

Hmm... what do you think the effect of a humorous press release would be Abbie? Think it would fly?

 

Abbie Shores

8 Years Ago

Absolutely, if there was enough seriousness in it to let people know it was real

 

James McCormack

6 Years Ago

Bump

 

Abbie Shores

6 Years Ago

Thanks James :)

 

Jim Cook

6 Years Ago

After reading this I went back and edited the PR I had just submitted.
I think for the most part relevant information was included the first time but fleshed it out a bit more and wrote it in 3rd person this time.
I wasn't aware that you or anyone else actually would read it but will now treat it much more seriously.
Thank you for the nudge!
Jim Cook

 

Abbie Shores

6 Years Ago

Excellent :) (and congratulations)

 

Bill Posner

6 Years Ago

Hi
Been on this site for about a month. I tried to create a press release, using an article, that I cut and pasted text. However, the whole text doesn't show up, is there a character limit? I couldn't find any reference to it. When I go to "edit" the whole article is there, it just doesn't display it all

Thanks

 

Abbie Shores

6 Years Ago

Click on that title

 

Bill Posner

6 Years Ago

um...er... ok, duh! , (blush) thanks Abbie.

 

Cynthia Haase

6 Years Ago

Thanks for the great info! Something I need to do more of...

 

Darice Machel McGuire

6 Years Ago

Hi Abbie, I just posted a new press release. When you have a moment would you check it out. Please suggest any changes I should make, thank you.
https://fineartamerica.com/pressreleases/village-gallery-hosts-book-signing-with-artist-darice-machel-mcguire.html

 

Abbie Shores

6 Years Ago

Messaged you

 

Abbie Shores

5 Years Ago

bumped up as I have had a few queries about these recently

 

Edward Fielding

5 Years Ago

Why is this so hard to find? https://fineartamerica.com/pressreleasedirectory.html

Gotta love the half baked PR post announcing a discount with no link to the specific artists work or any explanation of how the discount only works on their art. Not even the artist's name!

MAJOR TIP: INCLUDE A LINK!


BTW - someone needs to update a bunch of links like "Announcements", "In the Press" and "Blog" The content is years old. At the very least take off the dates so they don't look so dusty.

 

This discussion is closed.