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FREE Color Display Ads Boost Sales Using Very Low Cost New Product Releases |
Back when I was in manufacturing our most effective advertising came from New Product news releases!
Magazine editors love them, for they are what turn on their technical readers, so accept them free! The great part is you write them, just as you would write an effective display ad and mail the one page News Release with color photo to as many editors as you can find that may have an interest.
Our business was very specialized, making high voltage test equipment, so only found (42) magazines that might have an interest in publishing our news releases but at least one out of (42) always did and usually 2-3 took each one! Being National Magazines we could count on getting $5,000 - $10,000 in new orders from each release published!
Once you get a few published you can even offer the next one to the best magazine in your field as an exclusive, as they like to "scoop" a new product introduction! The is nothing stopping you from sending the same release to others after they have published their "exclusive".
Magazines will allow a old product that has been updated to be released as new, such as: "PII Announces Improved 100,000 Volt Model AP100". After all, their goal is to let their readers know about the latest and greatest products on the market, to maintain high reader interest. Their money is made from advertisers who must "pay per millions of page views" so more reader interest means more revenue for them.
Respect the editors and do not spam them but limit releases to one a month (after all they only publish once a month) or split your list if you have a need to release them more often. Becoming blacklisted destroys your "free cash cow" as one publisher may own dozens of magazines!
Headline - Most editors scan headlines to decide what should read so make it effective. Include your Company name (but never Co., Div. or Inc. unless essential) and a tantalizing snapshot of the news release BUT you must limit it to one line so choose carefully - decisions are often made by editors and readers solely on headline content!
Most typically it would be like:
GE Announces Improved Fuel Efficient Gas Engine for Ethanol - Cutting Emissions by 80%!
Content must be newsworthy and written in a journalistic style, never a sales pitch!
Writing Style - Get to the point quickly and backup with quotes or facts. Be objective, as if not affiliated with the company and do not use I, Our, We, Me - write as a third part only. Do not use puffery but you may mention your industry status, if experts.
The last paragraph is labelled ABOUT ...(your name) and thus may contain boilerplate about your company.
Check for typos and grammar - it must be professional or is rejected, as they will not be your spell checker. Double check phone numbers and web links before submitting!
At the bottom you must have Contact name, release date, dateline, web site URL and phone number where you can be reached as they may want to call for added information.
Generally keep below 400 words (you are taking space they could sell) but maximum may be up to 800 if very important content to the readers.
You may also submit Feature Stories - non-dated (good for ever) news that may be picked up as a feature article. They are often about how we work, learn, live, travel, food, etc. While popular as fillers in newspapers some magazines also use them if they tell a compelling story and do not read like an advertisement - information, not promotion!
You must find a feature angle that will interest readers, keep most paragraphs under 30 words and write in laymans terms with no jargon, superlatives or excessive branding!
Headline may up to be two lines and again be sure to be specific and structure to capture the editors eyes.
First paragraph expands on headline content but with less then 30 words
Second paragraph backs up story with supporting info, identify who is telling the story, add free telephone number, price and web links here.
Assume the third and later paragraphs may be cut, if needing a short filler but you may have many!
Fourth and later paragraphs include a compelling quote from someone you want interviewed, details and how product works, tips, etc. For a guide see PRNEWSwire.com and their TOOLKIT for fuller details.
Mailings with a 5X7 color photo will be addressed to New Product Editor.
Lists of publications are available at your local library or on the web , where you should collect your custom mail list of publications or you could use a PR service like Send2press.com, who will send your releases for a fee of $80/release to online news sites, networks and RSS feeds but figure on $140/release with web photo, if to be sent very broadly to consumer and trade mags, your State TV, State newspapers, online, etc.
I have not done any lately as at age 72 I am not very aggressive about growth for my health portal health2us.com or many other other web assets that keep me busy enough.
Fred Peschel is a graduate Mechanical Engineer with 40 years experience in custom electronic design and manufacture in the high voltage test equipment area. Upon retirement he started studying self healing and in the last 10 years has become a world class expert on colloidal silver manufacture and applications. His http://www.ColloidalSilverResearch.com is the only manufacturer of commercial ionic colloidal silver generators, with extensive installations world wide.
http://health2us.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Peschel
Article source http://w4rum.com/1326.t
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| [By Kimber Fulcher] [04/Apr/07] |
