Press releases are a way to get your business exposed to more and more would be customers. They are written as a news article and submitted to editors who would then print them or follow up with you for a story.

An example of a successful press release can be found at http://www.allprobizops.com/successrelease.html. Take a moment to read through that article and then take a closer look.

You'll find that this press release, just like any good news article, answers some basic questions for reader. Not only that, there is a specific formula involved in constructing piece.

Here are questions:

Who…will bring or brought about event?

What…is going to happen or has happened?

Where…will or did this take place?

When…will or did event occur?

Why…will or did it occur?

How…will or did it happen?

Now, here is formula. If you plan to write a great press release you must know and understand how to build it:

First is headline. Choose words carefully to convey several things at once to reader. They must be brief and to point. You say what news is about in ten words or less.

The words of your headline must be exciting and dynamic. Don't be afraid to make a bold claim your headline, say for example, "Thousands of People Reap Thousands in New Internet Business." Just be sure – very sure – you back this up with proven facts in your article.

The next component in formula is opening. This is where, in no more than two sentences, you capsulate your information – tell what article is going to be about in bite size. Answer "who, what, when, where, why, and how" questions as briefly as possible. Save details for later.

Writing articles can provide you with enormous amount of exposure on Web. You are branding yourself "on a shoestring budget, smell of an oily rag"... and best of all, it hasn't cost you a cent, but a little time and effort.

Writing a free content article is simple and follows a similar professional approach as an article for a standard, paying market.

People want quality content : for their ezines and their web sites ; however, as you no doubt realise by now, competition for content is fierce. Every Web site owner wants content (informative and helpful) and hundreds of writers want their content visible on Web. It's FREE promotion through your signature file at end of your article. Articles that provide good and accurate information, or ones that explain how to accomplish something are usually best, and will be read most often.

So start by pointing out a problem your reader has. Ask yourself this vitally important question: How will your article help people in solving their problem? In this article I attempt to provide a solution, ie. how to promote your online business "on smell of an oily rag"!

Here are some pointers in writing articles for www and getting them published by article announcement lists or ezines (electronic newsletters):

Firstly,

1. Accept that writing for web is different to writing for off-line world. People tend to skim and scan (note alliteration) when reading online. They read quickly scrolling down page.

2. Identify your target audience. 3. Give your article a catchy title that will grab people's attention and make them want to read it.

4. Keep your title reasonably short. Put some thought and effort into your heading - again to get your reader's immediate attention.

5. Be professional and take your article writing seriously. Write about something you know professionally. Don't be overly casual in your writing (ie. don't write exactly as you speak)

6. Keep your paragraphs short.

7. Get to point quickly (enough waffle with maple syrup, Craig!).

8. Target your article to your audience with "focussed information".

9. Be brief, if you are a "waffler", like this writer. People want immediate information online and have limited time usually - it's "instant coffee, sorry generation.