Press Releases

[magenta321]

Do any of you have any experience with writing press releases?

I've written two, and both were picked up by local media so I'm feeling a little confident for the moment.

Is this a niche one could carve in freelance writing? How would you know what to charge for something like this, and what guarentee does anyone (the writer, the company/event/service being promoted) have that it will be picked up?

[phoenixx]

Margaret,

Unless you plan on taking the time and energy to focus on becoming a writer, I would not bother. Lately you have seemed distracted in your career choices, discussing at least eight major career moves here in the last year. One of these involved moving to another state, and all of them have been completely unrelated to each other, as far as I can tell.

You are doing yourself a disservice with this lack of focus. Perhaps shifting your focus to your current career, excelling in it and saving money to get your own place would increase your happiness in a way that dreaming about different jobs than the one you have does not.

To answer your question more directly: no, two press releases does not a career as a writer make.

Wishing you every happiness,

Leslie

[magenta321]

Heh, yeah I know it doesn't make a career writer. It seemed like something I could do around my day job. I like my dayjob. I want to keep that. I need to bring in more money if I want to do what you mention, saving more for my own place. Part of looking for a job in another state was that I could get housing for a lot less money there. It's still in the back of my head because it's more possible for me to afford things there.

All of the careers I've looked at had something in common with the job I'm doing now, a skill I was willing to take crap money to develop, or, what I went to school to do.

The part time job I did work got me almost half way to a downpayment. I'd like to get the rest of the way there by the time I pay off my car, or relatively soon after. Then my car payment money could become mortgage money and I'd have the down-payment and live on milkcrates for a while But probably not in CT... it would prolly have to be in another state, as previously mentioned. I don't think I could pay for all of it on my sallary here.

So, if I seem scattered, it's cause I am. I used to hate my dayjob. It's a new job with the same company now, and I'm much happier. So, no, for sanity reasons, I don't need to change my day job. But... if I want to own a home, I do need to figure something out.

Call me silly, distracted, crazy, whatever, but, it's cause I want something.

[phoenixx]

Well, I wish you luck getting there, but writing is not your ticket on the train of success.

[pippadaisy[$]]

Margaret, I can tell you my experience freelancing.

Since I have to work around the kids' schedules (since being a mom is really my fuol-time job), I find it hard to get a lot of work. I don't have the time to search out gigs, submit bids, etc. as much as it takes to get work. There are tons of people out there trying it, and about half of them are offshore non-English speakers who undercut bids right and left.

I'm someone with a decent amount of marketing experience. I've written more press releases than I care to remember and it was never a favorite part of my marketing job. Now trade shows? LOVED setting those up and getting all the logistics stuff in order.

Anyway, I digress. It's a tough market to break into, and it's not something that is going to provide a steady income without a lot of legwork and a lot of time invested in it. And I'll also admit that it's a little off-putting when someone thinks it's so often seen as a one-off "something to make a few extra bucks at" when it's a craft that I work on and put a lot of time into.

[yogagirl]

magenta321 said

Do any of you have any experience with writing press releases?

I've written two, and both were picked up by local media so I'm feeling a little confident for the moment.

Is this a niche one could carve in freelance writing? How would you know what to charge for something like this, and what guarentee does anyone (the writer, the company/event/service being promoted) have that it will be picked up?

How "large" is your local media? Small market?

I'm a freelance writer and marketing consultant and charge big bucks for my press releases (have a background in PR and marketing). I'm curious to know a) what are you promoting and b) did you directly send your releases to local media?

News releases are a part of my copy writing services. If you can write good news releases, you can add them to your services of what you can provide to your clients.

It sounds like you're new in the freelance writing arena. Freelance writing is very broad. What exactly do you write? Content? Articles? Copy?

In public relations/media relations, there isn't a guarantee that your release will even be read let alone a story written about the company or product. That's when strategy and media relations comes into play.

It's not as simple as sending out a release. Most editors and producers trash most releases and don't read them (especially the poorly written releases that don't follow specific guidelines/formats for releases).

I'd suggest you read more about media relations and public relations to get a grasp of what it entails. PR is not just about sending out press releases.

I actually offer PR services because that's my background and I know how to pitch stories. I have written releases but they didn't need my media relations services (they just needed a writer). I also work with clients who need both my writing and PR services, and hired me because of my PR background and my expertise with health and fitness.

[yogagirl]

pippadaisy said

Margaret, I can tell you my experience freelancing.

Since I have to work around the kids' schedules (since being a mom is really my fuol-time job), I find it hard to get a lot of work. I don't have the time to search out gigs, submit bids, etc. as much as it takes to get work. There are tons of people out there trying it, and about half of them are offshore non-English speakers who undercut bids right and left.

I'm someone with a decent amount of marketing experience. I've written more press releases than I care to remember and it was never a favorite part of my marketing job. Now trade shows? LOVED setting those up and getting all the logistics stuff in order.

Anyway, I digress. It's a tough market to break into, and it's not something that is going to provide a steady income without a lot of legwork and a lot of time invested in it. And I'll also admit that it's a little off-putting when someone thinks it's so often seen as a one-off "something to make a few extra bucks at" when it's a craft that I work on and put a lot of time into.

Pippa, I absolutely agree. It's funny because you and I are the opposite. I used to be a fundraiser and I don't want to see another golf tournament or event EVER again. I have ten years plus in marketing, PR and fundraising/special events. I loved writing releases and that's why I've returned to my roots of writing, PR and marketing and said ADIOS to event planning.

I absolutely agree that it is very annoying and frustrating when people think freelancing is just another easy way to make a quick buck here and there. Don't even get me started on the non-English speaking bidding sites with those scammer companies who are trying to pimp out people for $1/article. Actually, most of the people who crank out those articles are more than likely stealing content from other sites, and these companies don't care because they are greedy and just want the content ASAP.

It also bothers me that people can think they can "consult" and offer marketing and PR advice, when they have absolutely no clue what they are talking about to a client. I've also had to pick up the pieces when clients have been dissatisfied with sloppy writers or writers who disappear and don't produce the project (or steal content).

It's a tough gig and I went off on my own to pursue freelance writing and PR/marketing consulting. I can't believe how many posts I've seen on other sites where people ask: "How can I make a lot of money copy writing when I don't have any experience?" It blows me away.