The Public Relations Blog

Streamline the pitching process and other workflows with smarter tools.

In the fast-paced world of public relations, every second counts. Finding ways to maximize efficiency while maintaining high-quality work is essential, which is why text replacement has emerged as an invaluable time-saving tool for PR pros pitching media.

Grab journalists' attention, spark engagement, and get your messages opened with these tips.

Getting the attention of a busy journalist is the first and most crucial step to ensuring your message stands a chance against the competition to earn media coverage. With some strategic planning and tested best practices, you can craft email subject lines that grab attention and get your pitch past the first step. 

Here are 11 tips for writing email subject lines and templates that will ensure your email is opened and read:

We must be cautious when claiming things are “the best” or “the worst.”

It’s easy to exaggerate when you’re having a bad day – “I just had the worst day ever!” – but it’s important to choose your words carefully when it comes to making claims about your company.

Why it’s important for a copy editor to review your content... Yes, a single grammar mistake cost one organization millions of dollars.

According to a New York Times article, drivers in Maine received $5 million because of a dispute over the Oxford comma. You may not think a single comma is important, but this case shows why a small mistake could be costly — and the importance of copy editing.

Although these may be easily confused, there is a distinct difference.

Peer reviewing, copy editing, and proofreading are three terms that are easily confused and seem interchangeable. While these roles aim to make sure writing is error-free and easy to read, there is a distinct difference among the three.

What gender-neutral communications look like

An integral part of public relations is respect: respect for your customers, your audience, and the community you serve. One of the simplest ways to show your respect is to use someone’s correct pronouns. Misgendering an individual not only shows your lack of interest, but it can deeply hurt the person you are referring to. 

So with that in mind, what does pronoun use look like in public relations?

The top two rules for correct article usage

When writing content for your company, you want to make sure all nine parts of speech are correct. The nine parts of speech are nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Grammar errors as simple as using the wrong part of speech in a sentence make your company look unprofessional. Show you care about the content you publish by making sure even the smallest, most seemingly inconsequential parts of speech are used correctly. If your company’s writing is not of high-quality and prioritized, then buyers will infer the quality of your products and services is not a priority either.

Speaking of, what part of speech is commonly written incorrectly in public relations writing? Articles. Know the difference between “a,” “an,” and “the” with these two simple rules.

Know the different types of style guides news media outlets use

Your company just accomplished a major milestone, donated to charity, or expanded its footprint. Congratulations! Now you want to send a news/press release to get the news media’s attention you’ve earned. Before you do that, you’ll first want to make sure your news release is written in the media outlet’s preferred style. Otherwise, the newsroom may not use it.

And what is copy editing style, and how do you find out what the media outlets use?

Tips and tricks to writing an eye-catching headline

Even in Pulitzer prize-winning articles, the story’s content is the last thing read. Headlines are almost always the first thing that catches a reader’s eye. They are the hook, the reason a reader chooses to dive into a story rather than keep scrolling. This makes headlines possibly the most important — yet undervalued — aspect of any story.

When your company writes PR materials, blog posts, or articles submitted for publication, you should explore what makes an effective headline. 

Although only a few words, correct quote attribution gives your story more clarity and credibility

So much of PR relies on effective communication, including quoting your executives, citing experts in the field, and crafting news releases. Getting the correct quote is only half the battle. Once you know what you want to include, you must ensure the attribution is accurate. Without proper attribution, you can lose your audience’s trust.

Quote attribution can be tricky as each quote scenario adheres to unique rules. At Axia Public Relations, we follow the Associated Press Stylebook’s quote attribution policies. However, be sure to check your own organization’s copy editing stylebook on quote attribution, as some organizations have different guidelines.