How to Write a Product Update Press Release

Once you have a press release issued you should always send out updates press releases if the product you are promoting changes. Follow these simple steps to write a product update press release.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Write "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:" at the top of the page. As with all press releases, you should follow this standard.
2. Provide contact information, separating each item onto its own line: The name of the person the media should contact with questions; your company's name, phone and fax numbers; the media contact's email address; and the address of your company's website.
3. Write the headline: Your Company Announces Release of Product's New Version.
4. Write a subhead describing what is new in the updated product or the new benefits it delivers to the purchaser, such as: New Version Provides Benefit One and Benefit Two.
5. Answer the "Five W" questions (who, what, where, when, why) in the opening paragraph, using this structure: City, State, Date—Your Company today announced release of Product's Name and New Version Number. New Version Number performs (describe the improvements to the product's function) and delivers (describe the product's new benefits) to (name the primary purchasers or consumers of the product).
6. Obtain a quote from a third-party source such as a customer who is already using the updated product or an industry expert who states that the product's new features are useful or needed.
7. In a new paragraph, provide more details about the product and discuss its features, capabilities or benefits.
8. Write a quote from an executive (CEO, President, Vice President) at your company explaining why your company updated the product.
9. In the final paragraph, recap the new updated product's key new features and the new benefits to purchasers. If appropriate, give the price of the updated product and where it can be purchased.
10. Write "For additional information, contact:," then provide the same contact information in step two.
11. Finish with a standardized description of your company and its history; this is referred to as "boilerplate" information.
12. To indicate that the press release is finished, leave an empty line and then center three pound signs on the page: # # #
13. Carefully proofread the release to eliminate errors in fact and typography.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have one, attach a photograph of the updated product so that editors may include it in their coverage.