Is the Press Release a Blog? Press Release Vs. Blog Post

Press releases and blog posts are very different from each other with very different writing styles, aims, and tones. So which one should you choose?

Content marketing is one of the most popular forms of marketing nowadays, especially with everything online. When it comes to the content market there are some terms like press releases, articles, and blogs that come to mind. This might lead people to think they are all similar. However, in reality, only writers know how different they are from each other, especially in press releases and blog posts. Treating these two the same way as a writer could land you in very hot waters because they both have very different yet distinctive tones, and writing styles. Not knowing what they are might mean at the very end that no one would want to read what you have written. Which as a writer is the exact opposite of what you want. So learning the difference between a blog post and a press release is the key to becoming a reliable content writer.

What is a Press Release?

Before moving forward with the key differences, let’s learn at first what a press release is. A press release is a short and informative content that a company publicly releases. A press release is usually a direct statement from the brand that is submitted to the distribution networks or media outlets. This document is designed to communicate very important information about the company, its products, or any newsworthy situation. The goal of publishing a press release is to post the content word-by-word on the news or have a news reporter interested in it and contact the company for further details.

A press release is a unique form of communication that maintains the company’s reputation in a positive light, increases the public’s trust in the company, makes it more visible, and gains positive media coverage. The audience of a press release is usually a news reporter who gets the needed information from the content to cover their story. The secondary target audience of a press release is usually customers and the word-by-word cover is for them.

What is a Blog Post?

A blog post in today’s digital sphere is kind of similar to articles that are written to communicate information with the customers of the company. The aim of crafting a blog post is to inform and convince the target audience while positioning the company in a better and more authoritative place in the market. This is why blog posts have no such formulative structure – it is written in whatever style is required to convey the message you want. The only target is for the audience it is written for, to understand. The audience for a blog post is usually the company’s target audience. Occasionally, blogs are used by media professionals to gather information for their stories, but they are in no way the target audience.

Differences between a Blog Post and a Press Release –

i) Format –

One of the biggest differences between a press release and a blog post is that they both have very different writing formats. Press releases are formal announcements by companies and brands so they follow a very strict format. Writers craft press releases in a way that all important information is there, written concisely. Using short sentences is what is needed in an effective press release.

On the other hand, a blog post is more free-flowing than a press release. You will find the majority of the web blogs on the internet having a similar form. But that does not mean you will be stopped from trying something new. You can start your blog post with an anecdote, or pump
out a lot of content in one paragraph and go short in the next one, it is up to you!

ii) Writing Style –

As mentioned earlier, press releases are a distinctive format that needs to be followed. This format usually includes a title, a summary, subheadings, a body, a quote from someone relevant in the industry, along with a boilerplate of the company. On news sites, you will find press releases to be 400-500 words long.

When it comes to blog posts, they can be as short as just 300 words, or be as long as more than 1000 words. You can also add images, and videos and make the content more colorful and attractive.

iii) Writing Tone –

Press releases are all about straight information. When you are writing a press release, your goal is to tell as many people as you can about the big announcement. So whatever you write has to be informative to the target audience at large. In general, this means press release content has a more authoritative tone.

On the other hand, blog posts can go wild when it comes to their writing tone. Blogs can be serious, they can be funny, and they can also be weird as well as angry! It is all about converting the emotion that you are feeling about the topic to the audience. So blog posts are usually less about the information and more about the experience your target audience will have. At the same time, it can also be written from a point of view of informative experience.

iv) Objective –

Well, it is important to learn how to write a press release to avoid all the common mistakes that a company usually makes. While writing a press release the intention should always be clear which is to attract the buzz around the announcement. This announcement can be of a new product or service, any management update, about any event or award. Although press releases typically don’t directly attract customers, they help brands to build a solid reputation in the market.

When it comes to blog posts, they are aimed at increasing engagement and visibility. They also work great to demonstrate expertise in the field. At the same time, blogs also work really well as a way to provide customer service by making the content helpful and informational. This helps brands build trust down the line.

So which one do you prefer? This depends on various points. If you are publishing on your website, your priority should be a press release, but if it is somewhere else, the answer is blog posts. This placement can change depending on the target audience, goal, and objective of pushing content.