Media Advisory vs. Press Release: What's the Difference?

If you’re trying to find new ways to stand out in a crowded marketplace and maximize your messaging, press release distribution is a viable investment to make. Now, with any new marketing approach comes the question of budget. And, with that, you might be wondering, how much does it cost to distribute a press release?That’s the question we answer in this blog post.

Is press release distribution right for my brand?

In this blog post, we will explore the slight differences between media advisories and press releases, which both offer potential advantages such as increased brand recognition, website visits, and potential new customers.But first, let’s take a look at the definitions of a press release and media advisory.

What’s a Press Release?

A press release is a marketing tool that’s used to distribute a company’s story to targeted media sources when they want to announce something newsworthy.

The goal is to create awareness through earned media mentions in relevant publications.

Newsworthy topics include:

• Product launch and updates - Share information about a new product with your target audience. When sharing a product launch/update press release, be sure to include the product's price and where consumers can make a purchase.
• Mergers and acquisitions - This type of release is perfect for companies that want to share valuable information with current stakeholders and potential investors. When developing the content, be sure to highlight the most important information about the companies involved. This includes quotes from the leadership teams. and any high-level details about the actual merger or acquisition.
• Special events - When developing an event press release, be sure to highlight the most important information including the name of the event, its purpose, the location, time and date and if there are entrance fees, for example.
• Partnerships - When writing this type of release, explain the purpose of the partnership and the benefits this collaboration creates for the target audience.
• Rebrand - If your company has undergone a rebrand, share this update with the public. Directly addressing the reason for the rebrand and the vision for the future can help alleviate any confusion from the general public.

No matter the topic, the content should address the who, what, where, when, why, and how.

These comprise what’s known as the inverted pyramid which helps brands effectively tell their story.

What’s a Media Advisory?

A media advisory is a one-page description of an event that’s sent to the press to encourage their attendance.

Start with writing MEDIA ADVISORY in bold font at the top of the page. On the left side of the page, include the date of the alert and details about the contact person: their company name, full name, email address, and phone number. Include your contact information to the right, then put a hard return followed by centering the title of the event for immediate release.

Here’s an example so you can see how all of these pieces come together to build a media advisory for your event: