CIRENCESTER
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
·
Networking Event
· Cirencester Cycle of Plays 2008
·
Seminars on Key Topics for Business
·
Business News
Networking Event
The February
event was held at Stratton House Hotel who not only provided the
venue but also supplied the refreshments and a bottle of champagne
for the raffle.
The
speaker was Sue Sillitoe of White Noise PR who gave a very informative
talk on PR and who has prepared the following piece for members
which you may find useful:
How
To Write An Effective Press Release
By
Sue Sillitoe, White Noise Public Relations Ltd.
Getting
your company mentioned in the press doesn’t have to be difficult
or expensive. Perhaps you are opening a new shop or restaurant,
or have a special offer to promote, or even a company announcement
that is of interest to your local community. Whatever your news,
the easiest way to disseminate it is to write a press release and
send it off to your local media (newspapers, radio and television).
While there is no guarantee that journalists will come flocking
to your door, you can improve your chances of success if your press
release is well written and properly presented.
To
get you started here are a few tips on writing press releases.
•
Make sure your
news is genuinely newsworthy and of interest to the readers, listeners
and viewers of your local media.
•
Write a short
snappy headline that briefly tells the story. Put this in Bold
Type and capitalize each word.
•
Make sure your
first paragraph is effective and clearly explains the news, plus
who is announcing it.
•
Avoid using
fancy language or technical jargon – keep it simple.
•
Deal only with
the facts and don’t include anything you can’t substantiate
•
Include a quote
from your company spokesperson and make sure you give his or her
full name and job title .
•
Provide as
much contact information as possible, including your company website
and the telephone/email details of the person the journalist can
approach for more information.
•
Present your
press release on A4 paper and use double space typing and a minimum
font size of 10 point for easy reading. Only use one side of the
paper.
•
Keep your press
release short and to the point – no more than 500 words is best.
If you go over one page, indicate that there is more to come at
the end of the first page by writing this: – more –
•
Make sure you
check and double check grammar and spelling – you want to create
the right impression.
Once
you have written your press release, send it to the news editor
at your local newspaper, radio or television station. If you plan
to email it, call first to confirm the right email address and to
check they accept attachments (if they don’t, cut and paste your
release into the body of the email). Give the journalists a day
or two to respond and if you don’t hear anything, phone and check
that your release has been received. You may have to send it a couple
of times. If your release isn’t published, ask why not so that you
learn what the media is looking for and can target your next release
more effectively.
White
Noise Public Relations is here to offer advice and help to any company
that doesn’t have the time or the confidence to tackle the media
alone. For more information contact: Sue Sillitoe on 01666 500142
or 07798 621891. Email: sue@whitenoisepr.co.uk
We
were lucky enough to have two raffle prizes this month, Michael
Gray of Wilmots won the champage kindly provided by Stratton House
Hotel and Dee Ramage of Harmony Homestaging won a selection of valentine
gifts from Cygnus (who also did a roaring trade in last minute valentine
cards!)
Thanks
to Stratton House Hotel, Sue Sillitoe and Karen Gaisford from Cygnus
for making the evening such a sucess.
Cirencester
Cycle of Plays 2008
Bingham Hall Thursday 3rd July 2008
Saturday 5th July 2008
Children from 7 Cirencester Primary Schools and Cirencester Deer
Park School will be taking part in these modern plays which, like
the medieval originals, tell the story from Creation to Pentecost.
Over 200 children will be involved.
All proceeds will go to Helen and Douglas House - a hospice for
children and young adults. Sponsors have already come forward for
some items but we still need to raise £500 for the making of costumes
and props. We should be pleased if any members of the Chamber of
Commerce would like to act as sponsors. Further details can be obtained
from
Mrs Janet Ogden, Flat2 Abbey House, Cirencester GL7 2QU.
e-mail: janetbertogden@googlemail.com tel. 01285 644787
Seminars
on Key Topics for Business
The
Business School at the University of Gloucestershire has linked
up with the Leadership Trust to deliver a number of seminars on
key topics for business. The seminars are on:
Jul 10th developing your organisation and establishing the culture
For more
information please see the brochure here,
visit the university's networking website
www.genonline.net or
email me at rsearlebarnes@glos.ac.uk
Richard
Searle-Barnes
Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer
The Business School
University of Gloucestershire
The Park
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2RH
Direct
Line 01242 71 41 08
Business
News
For
up to date business news go to
This is Gloucestershire's Business Briefing
click
here
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