Need Press Release Ideas? Two More Publicity Brainstorming Methods

marciayudkin · 03-11-2009, 05:37 AM

While brainstorming for a client who had already come up with some ingenious and shrewd press release angles, I happened upon two new ways of coming up with additional ideas that were very fruitful.

The first method was using one known keyword to search in Google News for news stories relating to the client's specialized service business. This turned up several catchy new phrases that reporters are currently using in trend stories (for example, "reverse brain drain"). Then I would click on the articles using that keyword phrase and find other interesting phrases reporters are using, and this led me to some political news my client wasn't aware of that relates to her issue.

So several things happened with this method. First, I discovered some catchy phrases around which the client can write some additional press releases. Reporters read other reporters' work. So using those phrases in future releases can get her company on the radar when media people search Google News. Second, we discovered a political controversy and facts around which we can tailor additional releases. And third, those keywords will be good to have on the client's web site for "long-tail" search engine optimization long-term.

The second method was using existing press releases on another topic to generate ideas. Another client of mine had gotten excellent results this January with a press release headlined, "7 Proven Strategies for Keeping Small Business Cash Flow Positive During Tough Economic Times." We quickly came up with a bunch of great headlines using the frame, "7 Proven Strategies for ___ During Tough Economic Times." What's great about this kind of approach is that you can take things that are true in any economy or that don't seem to be timely and yet pitch them interestingly as tips for right now.

To find existing press releases to brainstorm from, go to PRWeb.com or PRNewswire.com, select a category that's different from your own business and then have fun changing the headline so it fits what you do. Copywriters call this method "swiping," and it is not copying - it's simply finding inspiration.

Happy brainstorming!

Marcia Yudkin

Samuel Lee · 03-11-2009, 06:33 AM

Some great suggestions Marcia, I really like the idea of scanning the press release sites for current and topical ideas for headlines as apposed to following the article sites directly. Will have a look and its seems a great idea for article and niche ideas to be sure! Thanks for your post!

dsmpublishing · 03-11-2009, 06:48 AM

This seems a good idea ill have to look into this further when i get the chance.

Jayjay Ghostwriter · 03-11-2009, 07:43 AM

Excellent post, Marcia. Original, empirical and highly enlightening. Thank you!

JohnMcCabe · 03-11-2009, 01:56 PM

Marcia, I learned to listen to you back in the AOL/CompuServe days. Nice to see you still going strong.

Thanks for yet another good idea...

marciayudkin · 03-11-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Marcia, I learned to listen to you back in the AOL/CompuServe days. Nice to see you still going strong.

How funny! We CompuServe veterans should have a reunion somehow. I have two people I first met on CompuServe back in 1994 or 1995 in my marketing mentoring program. One of them even dug out of her computer a file I distributed back then describing how to set up a "mailbot" (now known as an autoresponder).

All best,
Marcia Yudkin

03-11-2009, 05:37 AM	#1
marciayudkin Marketing Mentor War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maui and Massachusetts Posts: 1,141 Thanks: 110 Thanked 548 Times in 265 Posts Social Networking	Need Press Release Ideas? Two More Publicity Brainstorming Methods While brainstorming for a client who had already come up with some ingenious and shrewd press release angles, I happened upon two new ways of coming up with additional ideas that were very fruitful. The first method was using one known keyword to search in Google News for news stories relating to the client's specialized service business. This turned up several catchy new phrases that reporters are currently using in trend stories (for example, "reverse brain drain"). Then I would click on the articles using that keyword phrase and find other interesting phrases reporters are using, and this led me to some political news my client wasn't aware of that relates to her issue. So several things happened with this method. First, I discovered some catchy phrases around which the client can write some additional press releases. Reporters read other reporters' work. So using those phrases in future releases can get her company on the radar when media people search Google News. Second, we discovered a political controversy and facts around which we can tailor additional releases. And third, those keywords will be good to have on the client's web site for "long-tail" search engine optimization long-term. The second method was using existing press releases on another topic to generate ideas. Another client of mine had gotten excellent results this January with a press release headlined, "7 Proven Strategies for Keeping Small Business Cash Flow Positive During Tough Economic Times." We quickly came up with a bunch of great headlines using the frame, "7 Proven Strategies for ___ During Tough Economic Times." What's great about this kind of approach is that you can take things that are true in any economy or that don't seem to be timely and yet pitch them interestingly as tips for right now. To find existing press releases to brainstorm from, go to PRWeb.com or PRNewswire.com, select a category that's different from your own business and then have fun changing the headline so it fits what you do. Copywriters call this method "swiping," and it is not copying - it's simply finding inspiration. Happy brainstorming! Marcia Yudkin
	Author, Meatier Marketing Copy, available in paperback, Kindle, Nook, Audible audiobook “There are few genuine thought leaders in the field of copywriting. Marcia Yudkin is one of them. The strategies she presents in Meatier Marketing Copy are all easy to understand and implement, yet profoundly insightful. If you want to write marketing copy that sizzles and sells, this book is a must-read.” - Steve Slaunwhite, Author, Start & Run a Copywriting Business, Co-Author, The Wealthy Freelancer

03-11-2009, 06:33 AM	#2
Samuel Lee HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 285 Thanks: 64 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need Press Release Ideas? Two More Publicity Brainstorming Methods Some great suggestions Marcia, I really like the idea of scanning the press release sites for current and topical ideas for headlines as apposed to following the article sites directly. Will have a look and its seems a great idea for article and niche ideas to be sure! Thanks for your post!
	WSO – CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! ONLY $11 - EASY MONEY MAKING IS BACK! GET TARGETED TRAFFIC BY BUILDING YOUR OWN SOURCE LIST! NOW ONLY $11! CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW!

03-11-2009, 06:48 AM	#3
dsmpublishing Banned War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Portugal Posts: 1,738 Blog Entries: 209 Thanks: 104 Thanked 228 Times in 161 Posts Social Networking	Re: Need Press Release Ideas? Two More Publicity Brainstorming Methods This seems a good idea ill have to look into this further when i get the chance.

03-11-2009, 07:43 AM	#4
Jayjay Ghostwriter Active Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 43 Thanks: 18 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Need Press Release Ideas? Two More Publicity Brainstorming Methods Excellent post, Marcia. Original, empirical and highly enlightening. Thank you!

03-11-2009, 01:56 PM	#5
JohnMcCabe Happy Hooker War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North of the Peace River, Southwest Florida, USA. Posts: 7,626 Thanks: 2,687 Thanked 4,399 Times in 2,394 Posts Social Networking	Re: Need Press Release Ideas? Two More Publicity Brainstorming Methods Marcia, I learned to listen to you back in the AOL/CompuServe days. Nice to see you still going strong. Thanks for yet another good idea...
	Salad is not food. Salad is what food eats... -- The REAL PETA, People for Eating Tasty Animals "I did not fight my way to the top of the food chain to eat tofu!"