Mar 17, 2015
Grammar Hammer: It’s vs. Its
It’s just three letters (with or without an apostrophe). It’s one way of saying “it is.” “Its” is a simple possessive of a pronoun. It’s also one of the biggest grammar errors according to the Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. To quickly check which word you should use, replace your version of the three […]
Feb 17, 2015
The 8 Golden Rules of Writing Great Press Releases
The news release has evolved greatly over the last 20 years since the advent of the online world; it is no longer just the domain of journalists, but also consumers who are looking for trusted sources of data to inform their purchase decisions. These tips and guidelines are designed to help you reach the various […]
Feb 13, 2015
Content We Love: Grabbing Attention Above the Fold
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in Visual Storytelling
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A study by Chartbeat which looked at user behavior across 2 million web visits over a one-month period found that most people who clicked on a link did not read the content, and that 55% of web-surfers spent less than 15 seconds on the page. The key takeaway for PR and marketing pros is that […]
Feb 10, 2015
Grammar Hammer: Apostrophes After “-S”
My boss and I had a discussion earlier this week on the proper use of the apostrophe when the word you’re adding the apostrophe to ends in “-s” or “-es” (for the record, his last name ends in -es). To my surprise, I was unable to find a single resource willing to make a definitive […]
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in media relations
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Beyoncé recently surprised fans by announcing the launch of a new vegan home delivery meal service based on her own experience with trying a vegan diet. Given the magnitude of her star-power and general public obsession with all things Beyoncé, a story like this sounds like typical tabloid-fodder. However, the official press release titled, “Beyoncé […]
"If you can't find what you're looking for, create it yourself" — love! Great advice #cmcle — Cathy Spicer (@cathyspicer) January 16, 2015 The first stage of any concept is rarely pretty. Staring at a blank canvas at the start of a project (a writing assignment, a marketing plan, a book concept) is daunting, and […]
Jan 30, 2015
Content We Love: Proactive Content Marketing
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in content marketing , Content We Love
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The weeks leading up to the first Sunday in February are a test of creativity for marketers whose brands are not “official” sponsors of professional football’s biggest event. Given that the big game is one out of a handful of times when consumers are not only interested in but looking forward to hearing what brands […]
Jan 27, 2015
Grammar Hammer: Incent, Incentive, Incentivize
A classic marketing tactic is to create a promotion that gives potential customers an incentive to buy. Almost every advertisement for a new car includes incentives for trading in your old one, or having the dealership do your taxes and double your refund to use as your down payment. One highly-publicized example of “incentive marketing” […]
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in media relations , Writing tips
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Journalists aren’t just experts in their given beat, they are also highly developed writers with a keen eye for proper punctuation and grammar. For PR pros to have their media pitches taken seriously, they must pay the same attention to detail or risk having their pitch sent straight to the trash bin. According to The Pew […]
Jan 16, 2015
Content We Love: Unconventional Product Marketing
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Content Marketing , Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in marketing strategy , content marketing
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Not every company sells the new, “cool” product that makes the top of their target customer’s “must-have” wishlist. Sometimes a particular product or solution only becomes of interest when the buyer has discovered a previously unidentified need and has already begun researching options. At this point, the buyer knows what problem they want to solve […]
Every New Year I make a list of things I resolve to do “more” or “less” of. This year, I’ve decided to focus those resolutions on enhancing my blogging skills. However, I think anyone who hopes to become a better blogger this year can borrow from a few of the rules I’ve set for myself to […]
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in storytelling
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According to a new study by Scholastic, reading aloud to children even after they have learned to read independently helps them develop a lifelong enjoyment of reading. When you think about it, a similar lesson can be applied to the daily practice of public relations. The ultimate goal of many press releases is to win […]
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
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The best PR pros don’t have to wait for Santa to reward their good deeds on Christmas Day. If they’ve been good content creators, then gifts such as audience acquisition, earned media, and increased sales are delivered all year long. Use the following checklist to find out whether your press releases make the naughty or […]
Dec 23, 2014
Grammar Hammer: Taking the Reins
For my final post of 2014, I am exploring the confusion between the words “rein” and “reign.” A “rein” refers to the straps used to guide or control a horse. A “reign” refers to a period of time dominated by one ruling power. It can be a little tricky to keep these two separate. Both […]
“Don’t use ten words if you can say it in five.” This is one of the most common writing tips I come across while I’m researching grammar rules. Oddly enough, we were all taught to practice the exact opposite in school. Remember writing papers that were required to be least 1,000 words or 10 pages […]
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in content marketing , Content We Love
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Several questions on how non-profit organizations can use innovative marketing to generate funds were asked during the Q&A portion of our “Communications Trends for 2015” webinar. Valid concerns around securing investment for non-profit marketing were raised, but CMI’s Chief Strategy Officer Robert Rose asserted that the need for content creation and promotion is “as big, […]
Nov 28, 2014
Content We Love: How to Survive Holiday Shopping
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in Content We Love
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Holiday shoppers are not just on the lookout for the best deals and bargains, but also practical advice that will help them shop smarter. Many non-retail businesses strategically used this opportunity to fill the void information and insert themselves in the conversation relevantly, a key trend among the Black Friday themed press releases on PRNewswire.com. If you’re one of […]
Nov 25, 2014
Corrections and Disregards: What You Need to Know
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Looking to press the “recall” button on that press release you just sent out? It happens more often than you’d think: the approved version of a release is lost in the ether, a product launch is rolled back, a personnel change impacts quote attribution and/or media contact, all leading to the question: how can I […]
Nov 21, 2014
Content We Love: Saving Lives with Content Marketing
Shannon Ramlochan is a Content Marketing Coordinator at PR Newswire.
- Posted in Public Relations , Press Release Quick Tips
- Tagged in press release tips , Content We Love
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Holiday season, fondly referred to as “the season of giving,” is a precious opportunity for charities to spotlight their causes and generate funds. One of the most understated challenges that non-profits must overcome is competing for support from potential donors. Naturally, not all organizations or causes receive equal attention, but the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” phenomenon […]
The internet has provided much for us to be thankful for—though it also provides some cringe-inducing material on a near daily basis. As a writer, the value of tools and expert resources available at the click of a button can’t be overstated. Anyone who has produced content for publication, whether a corporate or personal blog […]
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