Press Release Writing
What is a press release writer?
In today’s competitive business environment, creating the perfect press release takes on new importance. A press release is one of the best ways to reveal a new product, event, issue, or service being offered by your company and a seasoned press release writer can help you find the right words to effectively convey that information to the media and your target audience.
How do you hire a press release writer?
You can source press release writing talent on Upwork by following these three steps:
- Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in a press release writer.
- Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
- Shortlist and interview press release writers. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview.
Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of press release writer you need to complete your project.
How much does it cost to hire a press release writer?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced press release writer may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their press release writing services more competitively.
Rates typically charged by press release writers on Upwork are:
- Beginner: $15 per hour
- Intermediate: $44 per hour
- Advanced: $110 per hour
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
How do you write a press release writer job post?
Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
Job post title
Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample press release writer job post titles:
- Need expert writer to craft series of press releases for new products
- Looking for press release expert to develop our release calendar
- Press release and outreach expert to handle all media relations
Project description
An effective press release writer job post should include:
- Scope of work: From writing press releases to developing media relations calendar, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, products, or media, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Press release writer job responsibilities
Here are some examples of press release writer job responsibilities:
- Create press release boilerplate for all company releases
- Identify stories, milestones and events from which to craft interesting press releases
- Create executive quotes to be inserted for all press releases
Press release writer job requirements and qualifications
Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a press release writer. Here are some examples:
- Minimum 5 years writing press releases for manufacturing company
- Understanding of media relations practices designed to increase news coverage
- Bachelor's degree in journalism or marketing