Many companies today are relying heavily on publicity to promote their companies and their products. But, there is more to public relations that just sending out a news release. Have you considered writing a feature article and pitching it to one of your trade magazines? Here are a few tips to help you write a great interesting article.
- Spend some time writing your article. Don’t just slap something together and turn it in to the editor. This isn’t a homework assignment. Do some research. Make sure your intended message is clear in the article but don’t be self-promoting. Since you’ve worked hard at pitching the editor on your article, don’t disappoint him/her.
- Try to write something that either educates the audience or entertains the audience. Your core message should be stated in the introductory paragraph. Feature stories generally range from 2,000 to 3,000 words so you don’t want your message lost throughout the story. Four key parts of your feature article should be included: 1) quotes from people who are willing to be named in the article; 2) concrete examples of what your product actually does; 3) words that paint a descriptive mental picture; and, 4) information that is presented in a pleasing, interesting way.
- You can write an application story, that is, one that helps demonstrate how your product works. Or, perhaps you want to focus on the human side of the company by writing about a charity that the employees work for. Sometimes a historical perspective is a good feature article if the company is celebrating a major milestone. And, of course, case studies that describe a problem and offer a solution are also viable.
In any event, writing a feature article is another great way to get your message out to your public. So, take some time and think about what you want to say.
