Did you know that reporters get a lot of their stories from press releases that people send directly to them? You can write your own easily — and it could get your Meetup in the news!

In part one of "Press Tip 2" we're going to learn how to write a press release. Then, in Press Tip 2 (pt. 2) — Use your press release to get noticed by Google News, Yahoo News and others!, we'll look at all the new online services you can use to send out your release for free (or very little). Sound good? Alright then — let's get cracking!

You don't have to be an expert to write a good press release. All you have to do is write something brief and interesting about what your Meetup is doing and who's in it. Since nobody knows that information better than you, it won't be very hard.

What's a press release?

A press release is a page-long brief written exactly like an actual news story that gives reporters and editors the facts they need to write an article. It's short and to the point, and just like anything you'd read in a newspaper, it has an interesting 'story angle' to grab the audience's attention.

What should I include?

The Story Angle

A good story angle is unique, timely and newsworthy. It is the most important fact in your story. To figure out what it is, ask yourself some questions: What does your Meetup Group do in/with/for your community? Do your Meetups provide a local community resource that otherwise wouldn't exist? What's the most interesting thing about your members and Meetups?

The Catchy Headline

Headlines are simple and use fewer than ten words. Just like a newspaper headline, yours should state the story angle and tell people enough to interest them in reading further.

Good things to mention about your Meetup:

• Participation in United Meetup Day. This can show your local Meetup Group is broadening its reach and influence to the global network of like-minded groups on Meetup.com.
• Group growth. Did you recently have a surge in membership? That makes a great headline! "Tampa Tulip Lover Meetup Grows 78% in a Month."
• Effect on your local community: "Raleigh Sport Bikes Take Over Downtown Raleigh to Show-off New Bikes."
• Importance or momentum of your interest: "Toledo Chinese Language Speaker Meetup is the 3rd Largest Chinese Speaker Meetup Group in the World!"
• Speakers or special guests at your Meetup: "Captain Kirk to Drop by the Portland Star Trek Meetup"
• Polls of your members. Use the polling tool to ask your members' opinions, then announce the results. For instance, let's say the Organizer of the Binghamton Moms Meetup polls members on whether they prefer cloth or disposable diapers. She can then turn the results into this headline, "Binghamton Moms Prefer Cloth Diapers to Disposables"

The Opening Paragraph

Here's where you explain your headline using the 5W's: Who, What, When, Where and Why (and don't forget hoW). Here are two good examples: Denver IDEA Cafe is Now a Meetup.com Group and Poetry Event Just for Twentysomethings

Or, using the 'Binghamtom Diapers poll' example from above:

"According to a recent poll of the Binghamton Moms Meetup Group, 78% of those polled prefer cloth diapers to disposable..."

The Details

The next paragraphs are where you put the details. It's a great idea to back up your story with more quotes and statistics.

* Always include your Meetup Group's URL so interested people who can find you and join your Meetup!

Tips

• Write in the 3rd person. A press release must be presented objectively from a third person point of view. Remove "you," "I," "we" and "us" and replace them with "he" and "they."
• Put the most important message down into a quote. If the press release contains quotes that are important and relevant to the story, chances are high that they will be repeated in any published article.
• Only express personal opinions as quotes. It keeps the story from becoming biased or reading like a sales pitch.

Six easy steps for writing a press release

1. Print the words "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" in the top left-hand margin in all caps. Follow this line with relevant contact information: name, title, address, phone number, e-mail address.
2. Create a headline and center it in bold type just above the first line of the body of the press release.
3. Create a dateline — the first line of the body of your press release — that includes the city where the release is generated and the date (e.g. San Diego, California — November 1, 2005).
4. A good press release not only informs but also teases, so use the first paragraph to plant some interesting details or facts that'll spark curiosity about the following paragraphs.
5. Wrap up the last paragraph with a "for additional information" line, which is where a reporter or editor can find more details about your interest, your community and/or Meetup.
6. Center three "# # #" at the bottom of the page to indicate the end of your release.

Review

Have an objective person read your press release and tell you whether he or she would be interested enough to read a newspaper story about it. If not, consider going back to the drawing board for a rewrite.

You can start using your press release as soon as you finish writing:

Press Tip 2 (pt. 2) — Use your press release to get noticed by Google News, Yahoo News and others!