Tag: press release

Press Release Quotes Don’t Have To Be Bad: A PR View

Posted on by Dorothy Crenshaw

A PR professional recently predicted the “death of the release quote” for 2023 on Twitter. If only.

Bland executive quotes are one of my all-time PR pet peeves. First of all, every news release doesn’t need to include a quote. And for releases that do need them, they’re too often overlong, boring, or repetitive. “We’re delighted to announce this partnership,” is a typical CEO comment. Of course the CEO thinks it’s a good thing. But how does it add to the story? Why not speak in more tangible terms about what the announcement means?

Here are my informal guidelines for making the PR world a better place through better executive quotes in press releases.

Add to the story

It bears repeating. If you’re announcing that two companies are partnering, don’t have the principals simply rehash what’s happening. Speak to the anticipated outcome, in specific terms. Name the strengths the partner brings to the table, or articulate the rationale for entering into it. Use words that add news value rather than simply taking up space.  “Awesome Data Co’s advanced data quality metrics will add a powerful new dimension to the insights we offer marketing clients, helping them drive engagement and making budgets work harder.” Or something like that.

Don’t be afraid to editorialize

Some of my PR peers disagree with me on this one, but if there’s ever an opportunity to editorialize in an otherwise factual news release, it’s with a quote. That’s the whole point of speaking on the record, after all. While the release should be written in journalistic style and contain the details of who, what when, etc., the quote is the color. Why not craft a comment that contains a metaphor, a bold prediction, or a milestone reached? It’s far more likely to be used, or to push a reporter to ask for a fresh comment from the company spokesperson.

Be visual

If there’s no way to comment in concrete terms about outcomes, a visual metaphor highlighting an aspect of the story can work. The same holds true in media interviews, where a visual quote is more likely to be used. One example we use in ad tech client trainings is a sentence like, “Compared to the black box offered by our data-analytics competitors, our process is a ‘glass box’ of transparency.” That one’s industry-specific, so not as exciting as a general news quote, but it evokes a mental image. I’m not sure who originally said, “Data is the new oil,” but the fact that so many people claim it is a sign of how powerful it is, and part of that power is visual.

Make it pithy

Similarly, an executive quote that goes on for a full paragraph and simply recaps the news in different words is not only repetitive, but boring. If you end up distributing the release on a newswire service, it’s also expensive. Instead, think about how the news solves problems or answers a need. A simple example: “Over 80 percent of single parents worry about how to pay for their children’s college education. This new financial literacy program is designed to turn that anxiety into action.”

Don’t quote everyone

If possible, don’t crowd the release with too many quotes. My personal rule is that no more than two executives should be quoted in a given news release. Of course this becomes tricky when announcing a partnership or joint venture involving more than two companies, and there are often internal, political reasons why stakeholders like board members are quoted. But in those cases, a quote sheet can be developed and sent as an attachment for media who want it.

Limit industry jargon

In the ad tech sector, where we work, jargon is practically a necessary evil. But even if you have to throw a few acronyms or buzzwords into the lead paragraph, it doesn’t mean the quote should contain them. In fact, shorter, punchier language is nearly always better and more quotable. A public quote works best when it addresses the story through the three “e”s – enlighten, explain, or evoke (an emotion or an image.)

Media Alert Or Press Release? PR Tips

Posted on by Sarah O'Connell

In PR, we often draft, edit, and distribute press releases to announce news about our companies or clients. In ad tech PR, we might write releases that detail new hires, acquisitions, partnerships, or product launches. There’s no real limit to what we can write a release about, as long as it’s newsworthy. 

Yet, a press release isn’t the only way to share news, and it’s not always the best way. Sometimes we turn to media alerts instead. 

What’s the difference? And when do you draft a press release vs. a media alert? The short answer is: it depends. 

Press releases and media alerts follow the same basic structure. Each includes the “five Ws” of news (who, what, when, where, and why) and often the “H” of the news, which is the “how.” Where they differ is in the amount of detail, timeliness, and formatting.

Media Alerts

A media alert is far more abbreviated than a press release. Media alerts are used for announcing an event or  briefing – to invite media to attend, and they include only the most important details. Media alerts are a good tool to generate buzz around the event and encourage media and journalists to cover it. 

They’re typically one page and have bullet points and headers to break out the “who, what and where” of the announcement. Media alerts are clean and precise and quickly call attention to the facts. 

Instead of long, detailed paragraphs about the news, media alerts include bullet points with short sentences. It’s easy for reporters to quickly scan the alert and know exactly what the announcement is about, why it is important and determine if they are interested. 

Press Releases

Whereas media alerts are short and bulleted, press releases are more descriptive and flexible. In B2B PR, we draft press releases for new products, new hires, acquisitions or partnerships, or funding, for example. Press releases go into more depth than an alert and are usually written in an “inverted-pyramid” format, –  the most important information is at the top, with details and quotes following. 

Another difference between releases and alerts is that media alerts don’t typically include quotes, but press releases often feature a quote or two from representatives of the organizations involved. The quotes in a release should offer valuable information that adds to the story. In general, press releases are more informational and descriptive than media alerts.

Newsworthiness 

The importance of the announcement and its news value should be considered when deciding on a media alert or press release. If a company just announced a significant partnership, it may want to consider a press release. If an organization is holding a press conference, doing a product demonstration, or sponsoring a charity event, it may want to issue a media alert. 

Distribution 

Before distributing a media alert or press release, determine media and journalist targets. Since an alert is essentially an invitation to cover an announcement or event, you will consider how exclusive it is. Or, it may well be a local announcement, or a highly visual one, so plan accordingly. For example, a media alert can be sent to the local broadcast outlets, weekly magazines and daily newspapers. 

Press releases are typically distributed to a much wider audience because there is nothing to attend – you’re simply sharing news in hopes of gaining coverage. You’ll have a better chance of a West Coast journalist writing about the announcement based on a press release than if you send a media alert for a local New York City briefing, naturally. 

Timing

Timing is also important when deciding between a media alert and press release. Press releases aren’t typically tied to an event so the timing of the distribution is more flexible, though still tied to news. As a PR person, you determine the best day and time to send out the release, and sometimes the timing may change by a day or two. Media alerts, however, are very time-sensitive. Given that they are tied to events, they’re often distributed a few days before the event, and then again at the last minute as a reminder. 

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Media alerts aren’t used as often as press releases but they can be just as effective for coverage results. It all hinges on the nature of your news and the desired audience for the story.

 

Press Release Newswire Services – Worth The Cost?

Posted on by Bindi Saikia

In the PR world, press releases are our bread and butter. They’ve been a staple of the business for decades because they serve a distinct purpose: to inform the media of news. However, in the age of the 24/7 digital news cycle, the role of the press release is up for debate — and some consider them obsolete.

But are they really? Have reporters stopped asking to see the full release when you contact them about news – a partnership, company milestone, new product or a big hire? No. Businesses use different media to tell their story in this evolving PR environment, but press releases REMAIN an effective and trustworthy source of information for companies big and small. They’re here to stay.

But a press release is only as good as its distribution. Is it enough to post it on your own website or blog? Probably not. So, should PR teams use newswire services to push news out? Many are expensive and those costs can add up. 

What is newswire distribution?

For a fee, any organization can upload their press release to a newswire service that distributes it directly to news organizations, much like the original news agencies like Associated Press fed reports to newspapers in the early days of electronic journalism. Companies opt for newswire distribution because it’s quick, efficient, and guaranteed. It has also traditionally offered a temporary boost for search rankings for the organizations generating the news, although that has changed. A few of the top picks for press release distribution services include:

Business Wire – Known for robust targeting, outlet-type choices, multimedia options and its ability to distribute across 100,000 premium outlets (broadcast, digital and print). Keep a check on their pricing as they’re expensive.

GlobeNewswire – Offers real-time monitoring of online news, print, and social media and a 360-degree view of your performance.

PR Newswire – More on the affordable side and best suited for mid-sized business news. This Cision-owned media distribution platform boasts a network of over 3,000 newsrooms (like The New York Times, ABC News, BuzzFeed and more). 

PRWeb – Like PR Newswire, PR Web is also owned by Cision and usually a low-cost distribution option.

Other lower-priced options for tighter budgets can include eMailWire, PR.com and NewwireNext among others. Their cost range is well within $300 for the packages offered.

Distribution to news agencies, editorial offices and terminals as well as associated news sites is guaranteed in most cases, but coverage is not. At the higher end, costs can run nearly $2000 for an announcement of average length, depending on the distribution. Naturally companies may question the value of newswire distribution services, which offer pros and cons.

Benefits of using a newswire

Reach: Newswire services reach an extensive network, so a newswire release will reach online news sites, portals, databases, and websites devoted to specific industries. You can also choose to have your press release sent to regional, national, or international media. Additionally, they offer analytics that show, for example, how many people viewed your release, where the news appeared online, the number of unique visitors, and monthly page views. The comprehensive reports can be helpful.

Referral traffic: Since you have full control over the content of a press release, you also have the opportunity to include backlinks to your website. 

Translation: If your release needs to be sent to a non-English country and requires translation, newswire offers that as well (but at an additional cost).

Where newswire lacks

No coverage guarantees: Sure, the release reaches multiple news outlets, but wire distribution does not guarantee coverage. It doesn’t ensure that a reporter will open or read the release. An impressive-looking report doesn’t necessarily mean that major media actually used the announcement in their coverage.

Cost:  Newswires range in cost, but many are expensive. The cost depends on the length of the press release and the scope of the distribution. For GlobeNewswire release distribution in North America, the cost stands at $600 for first 400 words and goes up to $140 for each additional 100 words. Similarly, price point is a caveat for Business Wire and is better suited for large PR and marketing budgets.

SEO value: Since Google made press releases nofollow links, SEO impact is less likely. So a release should be written to gain the type of coverage that will itself boost SEO – that is, from high-value media domains, not for a quick bump.

For companies that are publicly traded, financial announcements always warrant a newswire distribution due to timely disclosure regulations. However, for small or mid-sized companies, spending thousands of dollars on non-financial announcements is probably not worthwhile.

Those organizations should instead focus on developing the right media strategy (exclusive or embargo outreach) to get media attention and coverage, then plan to amplify the news by sharing on their website, social media channels and direct marketing. 

Newswires aren’t earned media 

My take: To generate the right amount of noise and quality coverage, newswire services are NOT the only answer. They should be used sparingly, usually for major announcements, and approached as a means to an end, not the end in itself. 

Besides quarterly earnings, news around key company hire, an acquisition, big product launches and brand partnerships, among others, should probably be distributed via newswire. Other announcements should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to manage budgets properly. And to spark reporters’ interest in covering the news for maximum mileage, nothing beats that time-honored public relations tactic — one-on-one outreach.

Press Releases Aren’t Dead — But Do You Need One?

Posted on by Chris Harihar

No, press releases aren’t dead. Despite what many PR pros say, the news release is still a reliable tool for sharing information with media. In fact, when I share information without a press release, the first question many reporters ask is, “Do you have a press release I can look at?”
So the press release is here to stay. But do you need a press release for your announcement? What announcements work best? And how do you write an effective press release? Let’s take a closer look.

What is a press release

A press release is a formal document from an organization or brand that communicates “newsworthy” information. What qualifies as newsworthy can mean different things to different people. But, in most cases, a press release is used to announce things like:

  • A new product
  • A new hire
  • A new company milestone
  • A new partnership, etc.

Now, not every new partnership or milestone might be worthy of a standalone press release. But this gives you a good overview of when to potentially develop one.

Do you need a press release?

How do you determine, from your list of product and partner news, whether or not you need a press release? For me, there are six questions I keep in mind — and ask my clients to keep in mind — when considering a release:

  1. What’s your story?
  2. What’s the business impact of the story?
  3. What’s the news? (What’s news that will get someone to write about the story?)
  4. What assets do you have to tell this story? (Clients, product, personnel, data, etc.)
  5. Who’s the target for your release?
  6. What are your goals for the release?

Many clients tell me they want to put a press release out about X or Y. But when we start working through these questions together, it quickly becomes clear that the announcement isn’t press-release-worthy. Perhaps the story is soft or there are no assets yet.
With that in mind, feel free to download our own press release background document here. We provide this to clients to share with their internal teams. It helps them decide whether or not a press release makes sense for a given announcement.

How to write a press release

There is no exact formula or format for a release. But you can check out this Forbes piece for guidance or take a look at these press release templates from HubSpot. They can give you the basics.
More broadly, here are best practices that I keep in mind when writing a release:
Lead with your news — Your headline and subhead are critical. No one will read your release if you don’t start with immediate impact. Don’t save the best parts. Forcefully lean into your story.
Keep it tight — Press releases are often overlong. Brands pack them with extraneous messaging and information. But it’s best to keep releases hyper-focused on your news and why it matters. Anything else is just filler.
Steer clear of jargon — A press release speaks to a number of audiences. Current clients, prospects, media, analysts, influencers, and employees. Relying on too much company or industry jargon can limit opportunities across these groups.
Be consistent — Brand messaging shouldn’t vary from release to release. Some brands will tweak and tinker with their descriptor or boilerplate over and over again. This can hurt your SEO and confuse readers who regularly follow the company.

Where to distribute a release

There are two primary points of distribution for a press release. First is your own website or blog, where you can drive traffic through paid advertising, email newsletter or social media.
Another option is a newswire service. A newswire distribution service has paid relationships with hundreds or thousands of news websites. Examples include Cision’s PR Newswire, GlobeNewswire and PRWeb. Those relationships allow you to immediately scale a release and drive traffic to it through sheer volume. Newswire distributions also end up being discoverable in Google News searches, which amplifies your news. The biggest benefit of a newswire service is the SEO value.
There is a debate over whether or not paid newswire distribution is worth it today, especially as costs increase. After all, most media won’t find your press release through a newswire distribution but through one-to-one outreach. My recommendation is to evaluate newswire distribution on a case-by-case basis. If it’s a “big” announcement, it’s likely worth the spend. If it’s a smaller one, or if you make multiple announcements in a single month, using owned media on your company site or blog is probably a better use of your PR budget.

PR Tips For Stellar Executive Quotes

Posted on by Richard Etchison

In the round-the-clock battle for media attention, reporters, marketers, and PR pros cannot afford to waste words. We’ve all come across executive quotes in press releases or news articles that sound like they were written by a novice PR person, or, worse, a committee. A poor spokesperson quote is a lost opportunity at best. How do you make something as ordinary as quotes from executives a real asset?

PR tips for stellar executive quotes

Add to the story

The executive quote is a chance to add information — substance, details, color — to the story, not to repeat information found elsewhere in a press release or article. If a release announces a $30M Series B funding, the executive quote should not be about how “pleased we are with the investment,” even if that is true. Instead, it should describe plans to use the cash infusion, brag about milestones already hit, or articulate specific reasons why the company merited it.

Use visual language

One thing that will make a quote stand out is visual imagery. If you plant an image in the reader’s mind, they are much more likely to remember it, and a journalist is more likely to use it. In an article where many industry figures are quoted, a visual one is also more likely to be used as the “pull-quote” — a key excerpt pulled from the piece as a highlight. A congressional hearing is a “political strip search.” VC pressure for startups to scale prematurely is like “driving a car that’s leaking gasoline.” A loss of transparency is a “black box.” Using such evocative language also adds dimension and color to an executive’s persona.

Be bold

Strong language works for those corporate leaders who are keen to embrace a higher public profile or be seen as a thought leader — and who can weather the attention that may follow if the comment is controversial. Quotes that convey bold predictions, unexpected opinions, or blunt honesty will often attract attention. When objecting to Indiana’s law to allow businesses to refuse service to gay or transgender people, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff objected with public comments. But he didn’t just say, “We don’t agree with this legislation” or “It doesn’t reflect our values.” He called it “brutal,” “unfair” and “unjust” while pledging to reduce the Salesforce presence in the state. The strong words put Benioff at the top of the list of business leaders who opposed the move in the media coverage that resulted.

Banish robo-quotes

Even if an executive isn’t trying to be a Benioff or Bezos, his comments don’t have to be boring or robotic. Press release quotes are often written in stilted, jargon-stuffed, or boilerplate language, the better to earn internal and legal department approval. Yet they’re far more effective and usable if they read as comments that a human being might actually utter. The ideal way to craft a natural-sounding quote is to discuss it with the executive on the phone and listen to or record his response. Unfortunately, PR staff don’t always have the opportunity to do that, so we rely on our skills and familiarity with the situation and the spokesperson in question.

Don’t go overboard

In press releases, it’s not necessary to quote business leaders more than twice at most, and one well-written quote is better. Sometimes we must include quotes from multiple people, as in the case of partnership releases involving two or more businesses, but too many executive quotes can be tedious and unwieldy. If remarks by executives multiple organizations must be included, consider a quote sheet and a press release addendum.

The perfect executive quote adds value to the story in a visual, conversational manner while simultaneously reinforcing the organization’s voice. We are storytellers. Let the quotes help tell the story. Quotes in press releases and as commentary are valuable opportunities to communicate with stakeholders in a fairly direct manner. Don’t waste them!

Should PR Reconsider The Press Release?

Posted on by Marijane Funess
With the PR industry always abuzz about new types of content and digital dissemination, it’s easy to overlook or question the value of the humble press release. But it remains one of the most economical ways to deliver your message to a wider audience. While not every company development warrants one, there are many perfectly apt occasions to write a press release and many reasons beyond immediate pickup to distribute it.
Press releases introduce a company to the media.  New and old media expect to hear about a new company or product via press release. Whether it’s a fancy release with audio and video or a more “plain vanilla” version, the comprehensive, well-written press release is still the best way to get your information into a familiar, digestible format for the media.
Press releases save editors time. No reason to get extra clever with it or mess with the basic style, a succinct press release answering the “5 W’s” is what most editors need to get a story started (or finished). Editors appreciate a brief, timely release with all major questions answered in the first grafs. A well-worded quote that advances or enhances the narrative  (and, that doesn’t start with “We are thrilled to…”) scores points as well.
Even press releases that aren’t immediately used... may pique interest for a future story. Usually when an editor says he cannot use a story at this time but sees possibilities for the future, he means it. Or, sometimes the news will be passed on to someone who can use it.
“Search” loves likes press releases.  High-quality, useful content that media use or that you post yourself can be effective for building search rank, although Google has rightfully cracked down on promiscuous use of keyword-stuffed newswire releases.
Press releases help media connect the dots.  A company’s “newsstream” can tell a story of growth, innovation, success, or strategic partnership-building.

Visitors to your website expect to see current news. Nothing takes credibility away from a company like a website with an empty or outdated press section. A steady stream of current press releases adds vibrancy and relevance to your company’s site.

Creative Updates For Tired PR Tools and Tactics

Posted on by Iman Sandimanie

Want to “break bad” from traditional PR tactics and tropes and get better publicity results? Examine the way you are executing the tried-and-true at your PR agency and be an agent of change!

“The press release is dead, long live the press release?” Lively debate on the state of the news release continues. Some say in the world of the 24/7 news cycle fueled by social media, it’s a relic, outdated by the time a journalist sees it. Others believe it’s still the best way to provide press with  facts and approved quotes. While most PR pros and companies aren’t quite ready to abandon the press release, some companies have reinvented it for the social media savvy and come up with exciting ways to get the who, what, when, where, why about their clients out in the media.

Recently, Amazon‘s PR team announced a new product rollout in a series of 14 tweets. Amazon kept its tweeted release together by using a branded hash tag and having each tweet focus on a different element of the new product. A traditional press release still appeared on BusinessWire and the Amazon website, but we commend the creative PR tactic that tweaked the traditional tool.

“Pulled a list from (fill in with name of online database)”  As great as these services are, they were never intended to be the sole resource for a media list. Rife with errors, misspellings and people who left long ago, they are only the beginning of your list. If you want to assemble a strategic list of contacts who will open your email and consider your pitch, try these simple tips:

Google your topic and see which media have covered it in the past.
Stalk media and bloggers on Twitter and other social sites. It’s a good way to determine their personal and professional interests. The Crenshaw Team recently unearthed a slew of pet-lovers among the press for outreach on behalf of a client event and clinched a couple of great stories.
Follow journalist posts on social media channels for other reasons. It’s useful for learning about their pitch pet peeves like how they prefer to be addressed or stories that have captured their interest in the past.

“I left three messages for the producer.”  We’re all busy, and it’s often easier to communicate online. Many reporters feel the same and say so in their online profiles or voicemail greetings. So, instead of being classified as clueless, pitch cleverly. This often means nailing a catchy subject line to start and following up with something meaningful, not the dreaded, “checking in to see what you thought about xyz pitch.” 

“But emails go into a black hole.” Try a new tool. Email today is very sophisticated, and there are apps like ToutApp that can tell you if a journalist has opened it or clicked on links involved. It’s similar to how a newsletter service works, but you can use it with individual emails that aren’t in the newsletter template.

Often, a story needs feedback from media so it can be changed to suite their needs. You want to build a relationship with media contacts, not just “pitch” all the time.  Visit Muck Rack, which allows PR pros to connect with journalists and send pitches. Try communicating about anything other than your client as a way to start a relationship. Get on their radar by giving them a shout on Facebook or Twitter…a simple, “great read!” goes a long way.

Friends With Words?

Posted on by Marijane Funess

PR pros tend to be wordy people, and we all have our favorites. Here are some of ours. You may not be able to drop them into your next client press release, but if they fill the bill without making you look like a sesquipedalian (given to or characterized by the use of long words), go for it!

Mondegreen – If you hear, “here we are now/ in containers” instead of “entertain us” when you listen to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” you have experienced the phenomenon of “mondegreen.” Mondegreen is mishearing or misinterpreting a phrase as a result of near-homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning. It’s most commonly applied to a line in a poem or a song lyric. Writer Sylvia Wright coined the term in her essay “The Death of Lady Mondegreen,” published in Harper’s Magazine in November 1954, and there are some very funny examples found here.

Disemvowel – A delicious take-off on “disembowel”! If this is how you text, you are disemvoweling: “pln 2 mt @ gt 12,” or removing vowels from text when writing it electronically, especially as a way of typing more quickly (or disguising offensive words).

Skeuomorph – A great word even without a definition. The etymology suggests some kind of strange change, and in fact, a skeuomorph is a physical ornament or design on an object made to resemble another material or technique. Examples include software calendar applications that resemble a paper desk calendar or “simulated woodgrain paneling” on a car.

Tartle – This is a terrifically onomatopoetic word for that panicky hesitation before you introduce someone whose name you can’t quite remember.

Mumpsimus – If you are George W. Bush and you’ve been told countless times how to pronounce “nuclear,” yet still mispronounce it, you suffer from mumpsimus, an adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, or belief, either out of habit or sheer obstinacy.
Got any impressive vocabulary you’d like to share? Do so in the comments!

Merry Mad Libs 2012

Posted on by Marijane Funess

The Global Language Monitor has released its annual list of the Top Words of the year.
“’Apocalypse’ tops the list. Armageddon, and similar terms reflect a growing fascination with various ‘end-of-the-world’ scenarios,” said Paul JJ Payack, President of the Global Language Monitor. In fact the list is chock-a-block with some scary terms!

Once again, with apologies to Mad Libs , we have created a press release template where you can use some of the most interesting of the top words. Please enjoy it and feel free to adapt for any of your clients. Think of the SEO possibilities!
1. Fiscal Cliff
2. apocalypse
3. Frankenstorm
4. omnishambles
5. obesogenic
6. memes
7. phobes
8. the 47
9. YOLO
10. adorkable

The End of the World as We NO it?
World Celebrations Mark No “(noun) Now”

Partying like it could have been its last, the world over issues a collective (noun/acronym)

December, 2012 – – Despite dire predictions, the world did not come to an end! This turn of good fortune in a year that saw too much tragedy has prompted an outpouring of positive good will and festive good times.
According to international cultural anthropologist Wanda Rallover, “It is collective human nature, even in times of despair and with an overwhelming sense of various different (plural noun) occurring all over the world, the spirit is unbroken.”
This unbroken spirit has been evidenced far and wide.
Tri-state area – Although the freakish (Proper noun) Sandy wreaked unparalleled havoc, people remain buoyed and helpful towards neighbors and perfect strangers alike, bringing holiday cheer to entire affected communities.
Silicon Valley – In the heart of technology, innovation and (adjective) self-proclaimed nerds, rational thought prevailed when the Tech Museum in the valley announced the opening of a Mayan-themed exhibit…on December 21.
New York City – Even with the mayor’s ongoing battle against sugary sodas and (adjective) fattening foods, on this New Year’s Eve, the city needs some comfort food! One hopes Mayor Mike will retain his sense of humor about it as he has done in relation to his Spanish-language skills as evidenced by the slew of popular parody (plural noun) circulating online.
Washington DC – Yes, there is financial fear and loathing that we have not solved the potentially devastating (adjective/noun.) The President is listening to (number) Mitt Romney’s ”percentage of Americans who pay no Federal taxes” and cutting his Hawaiian vacation short to come home and tackle it. The (plural noun) on the other side of this debate need to do the same!
Have you used all ten words? Have fun and let us know any of your own personal best-liked (or most disliked) words of 2012.

Merry PR Mad Libs

Posted on by Marijane Funess

The Global Language Monitor has released its list of Top Words of 2011. In the spirit of the holiday season, and with apologies to Mad Libs, we have created a press release template where you can use all ten words. Please enjoy it and feel free to adapt for any of your clients. Think of the SEO possibilities!
1. Occupy
2. Deficit
3. Fracking
4. Drone
5. Non-veg
6. Kummerspeck
7. Haboob
8. 3Q
9. Trustafarians
10. (The Other) 99

New (noun) Product Has Great Appeal to (plural noun)
Avoid (Proper noun) — Emotional Eating — with Delicious Snack

December, 2011 – – Just in time for the holidays, a new inexpensive, nutritious, zero-calorie protein snack will hit store shelves nationwide. According to spokesperson W. Smith, the developer set out to create a game-changing product that would appeal to the entire economic spectrum, from those in the (adjective) movement to (plural noun).

The new product is all natural and is produced with no environmentally harmful methods, such as (gerund). It requires no refrigeration and sells for under $5.00 per product.

“We wanted to give people something they can enjoy anywhere,” continues Smith, “Whether one is operating (nouns) from an air force facility or stuck in a perilous (Proper noun) in the southwest, it can be easily prepared and enjoyed.”

Available in a number of test markets, the snack is already earning high praise and “(plural noun)” from grateful consumers. While company officials don’t claim it can solve major problems like the growing (noun) it is a small way to provide a tasty bite for the masses.

Have fun and let us know if you have used any of the Top 10 words in your work.