If you use superlatives like “world’s best,” “superb,” etc. when referring to your company, destination, or organization, read this email below from P.R. guru, Michael Smart.
Hope you had a great Christmas. Here at MichaelSMARTPR headquarters, part of our holiday tradition includes watching “Elf.”
You know the part where Buddy gets excited about the random coffee shop called “World’s Best Cup of Coffee”? Watch it again real quick.
It’s funny – but why? They say they’re the world’s best – why wouldn’t that be amazing and worth jumping up and down about? Because it’s obviously just a hollow marketing claim, and even my kids get that joke.
So why do we send out news releases that tout our organizations as “the leading provider of . . .” or “leading solution” or any other unverified claims?
Or pitches with empty phrases like “unparalleled luxury” or “world renowned”?
Nothing wrong with making those assertions – if they’re true. So just include the actual facts, not the claims.
Like, instead of “leading provider of MRI machines . . .,” write, “We sell more MRI machines than any other company.”
Or, instead of “world renowned textiles,” write, “Our web site visitors come from 149 countries.”
If you get push back from clients (external or internal) about excluding hollow marketing claims, just ask them, “Okay, how do we know that?” And include the proof point along with the claim.
That way we avoid having journalists and bloggers laugh at our releases as hard as you and I laugh at Buddy the Elf.
To learn more, read our Ten Tips for Writing Winning Press Releases.
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