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Write a press release for your blog!  No, really.  Okay, you’re saying, why?  To increase traffic, of course, and to reach the people who would be interested in your blog only they don’t know about it.  A press release is a “pseudo” news story, designed to show reporters and newspaper editors “the story” they could write.  In other words, it’s a marketing pitch.  And if you aren’t marketing your blog, why not?  Your blog is the number one draw to your website.  Market it!  A press release about your blog can be used alone, and it can also be part of your full press kit.  Don’t limit yourself to people and publications who might be interested in your books.  Market outside the box.  Local media might be interested in the “local” angle if your blog includes tidbits about life in your area.  If you blog on various topics, think about each topic and what type of publication might be interested in a blog about that topic. Think regionally and nationally, too. Send the press release not only to your local newspaper but to regional newspapers, national newspapers–and magazines. Don’t forget to send it to television stations, too.

Recently, I wrote a press release for my blog and sent it to several publications.  As a result, so far I’ve been featured in two publications and have enjoyed the traffic increase as a result.  My press release was geared toward country living, marketing outside the box of my “writer” angle.  Think about your blog from different perspectives and market it outside the box, too.

Here is a sample press release template:

At the top (centered)–your name or the name of your blog.

Below, on the left:

Contact:  Your Name
Address
Phone number
Email address
Blog address

Opposite the above, put the words, capitalized, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

Then, write a title summing up the slant of your press release in FULL CAPS.

Below, the first paragraph is your short pitch introducing your blog.  Get the who, what, where, when, why, how journalistic questions into this short pitch.

The remainder of your ONE-PAGE press release should be divided into a few more paragraphs expanding on your pitch.

The final paragraph should state something like this:

If you’d like more information or to schedule an interview with Your Name, call Your Phone Number.

Remember that the entire release should be written in third-person.

Also remember to think like a reporter.  You need a hook!  Something that sounds newsworthy.  Promotional puffery won’t get you anywhere.  Think about what the reporter needs–the reporter needs a story that will serve his readers.  So stop thinking about yourself for a minute and think about what the reporter’s readers want or need.

So get busy–write a press release for your blog!  Let me know what you think.

See my blog post about one of my interviews here and the newspaper article here.

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Tags: How to Blog, Marketing //