14 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Press Release

To improve your chances of getting published on major news sites, it's important to follow our writing guidelines. The checklist below highlights common mistakes that can cause delays, rejections, or limit your press release's reach.

Stick to one clear, recent business announcement. Combining unrelated topics reduces clarity and impact.

Avoid sales-driven terms like "buy," "free," "sale," or "trial." Keep the tone neutral and news-focused.

Avoid making bold, misleading, or unverifiable statements. Every claim in your press release should be supported by linking to credible sources or clear evidence.

Refrain from using personal pronouns such as "I," "we," "our," "you," or "your" unless they appear in a direct quote.

Avoid rhetorical questions or exclamation marks, especially in headlines and subheadings.

Avoid jargon, buzzwords, or overly technical terms. Keep your language simple, clear, and accessible.

Avoid narrative openings such as "In a world where…" or "Back in our day…" These are not suited for press releases.

Do not use symbols like ™, ©, or ®, or include emojis or non-English words.

Never include links in headlines, image captions, or summaries. Only hyperlink relevant text within the body of the article.

Headlines should not start with "Who," "What," "When," "Where," "Why," or "How," and should not end with punctuation.

Do not include blurry or low-quality images. Avoid visuals containing nudity, violence, or alcohol. When embedding a video, hyperlink the words YouTube Embed here.

Do not include testimonials as quotes. Only use statements from company figures that are attributed to a full name and title.

Stick to the required word count (typically 350–1000 words, depending on your package). Too short or too long can result in rejection.

Carefully proofread your content to eliminate spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes.