Submitting Information for Publication on BWE

    Press releases are the best starting place for a company that wants to get some good publicity. A typical press release is 600-800 words long and can be used to get exposure in many different media outlets, including newspapers, business journals, magazines, Internet web sites, and broadcast media outlets.

    Below are a couple of suggestions to consider if you are writing a release for the first time.

    1. Make sure the release is formatted properly.  All releases should have a headline, a dateline, an introductory paragraph, several body paragraphs that give details on information such as features, benefits, availability, pricing and the intended audience targeted for the product or service.  The release should close with a concluding paragraph and a company boilerplate, which provides a paragraph about the company that distributed the press release.  The bottom of the release should include a media contact for reporters and/or analysts to contact if they have any questions or want to write a story based on the release (this means name, company, phone, and an email address).  A good example of a recent release.  

    2. Another good tip is to see what the competition has been saying in their press releases.  Your release should be at least as good as the rest of your industry peers.  To find releases from your competitors, go to either BusinessWire or PR Newswire.  Type in key words related to your company or product such as "broadband wireless" in the Search Box.  This will retrieve lots of releases for you to research.  This strategy will give you a good perspective about what other companies are saying about their products and services and should give you a good idea of how you should position your company.

    3. Once a press release is written, you'll need to develop a list of reporters and industry analysts to send it to.  The first step is to release the press announcement over one of the business wires listed above. We recommend BusinessWire.  They are cheaper and most technology companies use this service, which means more technology reporters read this wire service.  However, PR Newswire is also a good wire service.  Sending a press release over a wire service will allow lots of websites to filter your release onto their news pages.  This is where BWE looks for news to publish every single day.

    4. In addition, to wire services, we strongly recommend using a media database company such as MediaMap or Bacon's Directories.  These companies maintain databases of journalists and analysts that you can sort in many different ways. These databases will help you find all the reporters that cover your particular product or service.  While the service may cost several thousand dollars for a subscription, one good story will more than provide a return on your investment.  

Helpful hint:  All reputable public relations agencies already subscribe to these services.  We recommend searching for a PR agency with broadband wireless experience. Hire one to write and distribute your releases. This will allow you to skip the large expense of buying your own database subscription and paying yearly membership dues for wire services.  If you need assistance finding a PR firm, BWE can help you.  Please contact Robert Hoskins at (480) 218-4441.