Questions To Ask When Hiring A Press Release Writer

Author: Alyice Edrich

You've heard it a thousand times: Write a press release and get free publicity!

No matter how small or large your business may be, a press release offers great coverage for the low one-time cost of writing, printing, and distributing the press release. In fact, when done correcting, it could run in thousands of publications across the globe, for free!

But should you write the press release yourself or hire someone to write it for you?

The advantages of hiring someone else to write (or prepare) your press release are numerous. But the most obvious advantage is expertise. If you want the media to pay attention to your business, through the use of press releases, you need to hire someone who writes with the press in mind.

A press release writer can write your press release from an objective point of view, thus pulling out information and ideas you may not feel are important—since you are close to the subject—but the media does.

A press release writer studies the industry to see which press releases work and which don't; giving your company a competitive edge over your competition and "amateur" press releases.

So how do you find a press release writer worth his weight in gold?

You could ask a business associate who she uses, you could look in the yellow pages, you could ask around during your next chamber of commerce meeting, or you could simply do a search online.

How you find a press release writer is not important. What is important is knowing if the press release writer is right for your company.

When selecting a press release writer, ask the following questions before you agree to hire him.

Does he know my industry?

If he doesn't know the industry, is he willing to put in the legwork to understand your company without charging you extra for that time?
What does he charge per press release?
How many words will he use per press release?
How many revisions do I get?

Will these revisions be included in the price of the press release or will I have to pay extra to have the press release rewritten?
What if I absolutely hate the press release?

Will he rewrite the entire piece for free or will I have to pay for the rewrite?
Will he interview anyone to enhance the quality of the press release?

And if so, who will it be? (clients, customers, or company officials)
Will he create quotes based off information I give him, if necessary?
How much information and background do I need to provide him?
Does he know this is a work-for-hire project?
What types of press releases has he written in the past?
Will he submit the press release for me or is it my responsibility to submit it upon completion?
If he's also distributes the press release, how successful has he been in the past with obtaining actual coverage?
Can I see samples of previously written press releases?
Can I contact past clients?

When hiring a press release writer, you truly do get what you pay for. A good press release writer is going to cost more than $10 per press release. The average press release runs anywhere from $75 for a freelance writer to $400 for a media firm, per release.