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Editorial Guidelines
Billboard Publicity Wire's editorial staff reviews all press releases before distribution to ensure that content is newsworthy, accurate and in an acceptable press release format. Attention to the following guidelines will help your press release get speedy approval and distribution on our platform.
Billboard Publicity Wire press releases must contain a clear, timely and newsworthy angle and be free of advertising hype, direct address and spam. Press releases should incorporate the following features/qualities:
- Newsworthy Content:
Common news angles include timely information about a new product or service, a business expansion or recent event, an organizational milestone like an anniversary or award or the issuance of a tip sheet or expert opinion on a newsworthy subject. Not everything is news. Do not try to use your press release for advertising or to post a general interest articles, "open letters" and the like that lack attribution and/or news value.
- Objective Tone:
Billboard Publicity Wire press releases should be free of hype flags and direct address (i.e. “you,” “I,” “we,” etc.) unless used within a quotation from a spokesperson from a company or organization. Direct address is a flag that the content is an advertisement rather than a news release. Similarly, hype flags — exclamation points; hyperbolic product/service claims; descriptions of a product or service as AMAZING, or the use of upper case characters to create emphasis — challenge the credibility of your news announcement.
- Valid Contact Info:
Billboard Publicity Wire press releases must contain a valid phone number and e-mail address in the contact information.
- Written Authorization:
In certain cases, such as with network marketing companies or with the use of a stock ticker symbol, Billboard Publicity Wire may require written authorization from a company executive before a press release is approved for distribution. Independent representatives of network marketing companies, MLM or party plan companies must always obtain the express consent of the company's executive.
- Standard Length:
Billboard Publicity Wire press releases should be between 300 and 800 words. The length of your release directly affects its distribution, and press releases that are overly short or long may have trouble being indexed in the search engines.
- Standard Grammar and Spelling:
Billboard Publicity Wire press releases should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Although jargon and acronyms are good for search engine ranking, make sure to include definitions for industry jargon so the average person can understand as well.
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Billboard Publicity Wire Formatting:
Billboard Publicity Wire press releases cannot contain html tags and other formatting such as non-standard characters, tables or forced line breaks. Releases also should not be written partially or entirely in all capital letters. Use our Linkwriter on the submission page for your keyword links.
Billboard Publicity Wire does not distribute:
Advertisements:
Press releases are distributed via a direct-to-consumer platform but are written in a standard press release format with a news angle -- not to sell to consumers. A good press release informs the media and the general public about a newsworthy topic. If your press release reads like an advertisement, rewrite it.
Personal Opinions:
Billboard Publicity Wire will not distribute content intended to harm or exact personal revenge against a person or group. Billboard Publicity Wire typically accepts press releases related to political, public policy and other sensitive matters, provided opinions are appropriately attributed and the release does not contain unsubstantiated allegations or excessive hyperbole.
Sexually Explicit Content:
To ensure the integrity of our service for all, Billboard Publicity Wire does not accept content about sexually explicit material or products. Press releases should not contain references or links to explicitly sexual material, illegal material or profane language.
SPAM:
Avoid getting caught in content filters because of a high volume or density of words and/or phrases that are frequently found in advertisements, unwanted e-mail (SPAM) or on non-newsworthy websites. Examples of these words and phrases include girls, amazing, FREE, sex, naked, "make money" and "don't miss this opportunity" as well as anything to do with health supplements or pharmaceuticals for sexual enhancement.
Link SPAM:
Please limit your link count to 1 per 100 words. This policy is in place to protect the value of the links in a press release and the value of links within the Billboard Publicity Wire network. Blog Posts
Blog posts, general interest articles, "open letters" and the like usually lack attribution and/or news value and are not an acceptable press release format.
Opinion Pieces:
News releases can be about a person or group's opinion on a topical subject, but should not contain only opinion. Opinions not attributed to a source are flags that the content may be an advertisement or opinion column rather than a news release.
Reprints:
News and feature articles, opinion columns, editorials or news stories from other websites or publications, especially if they are copyrighted, are not press releases. Fiction:
All Billboard Publicity Wire users must agree to submit only accurate information.
Duplicate Content:
The search engines and other targeted audiences do not want to see the same release more than once.
Intent to Harm:
Billboard Publicity Wire does not distribute content intended to harm or exact revenge upon an individual or group. This content is defined as anything deemed intended to: incite, advocate or express hatred, bigotry, racism or gratuitous violence; promote personal opinions attacking an individual or group; maliciously affect a company's stock; or stalk, defame, defraud, degrade, shame or victimize an individual or group.
Online Gambling Promotional Material:
Billboard Publicity Wire does not publish press releases that promote or link to online gambling and related Web sites.
* Billboard Publicity Wire's editorial staff reviews all press releases before distribution. Billboard Publicity Wire editors have the final say in determining what content is appropriate for distribution on the Billboard Publicity Wire platform. These guidelines are meant to supplement Billboard Publicity Wire ’s terms of service
which require users to be responsible for the content and accuracy of all information submitted to us.
Also see: http://blog.prweb.com/2006/10/press_releases_.html
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