What is the best way to issue a press release? What time of the day do we issue a press release and on which day of the week? How do PR professionals pitch for a story and what are the most-preferred options? Recently we conducted an online survey ‘Media Relations Best Practices‘ on this blog and it was responded to by around thirty PR professionals and journalists who are readers of this blog. Here are the results:

Q. Issuing a press release - which of the following is the most effective? Please rank according to your preference: (Phone call is taken as given for all)

Rank - Practice - Average score out of 6 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. Email and hand delivered - 2.00
2. Hand delivered and fax / Fax and email - 3.23
3. Hand delivered - 3.36
4. Email - 3.42
5. Fax - 4.67

Q. Following up on a press release on the phone -which of the following is the most effective? Please rank according to your preference:

Rank - Practice - Average score out of 3 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. Explaining the significance of the announcement in the release - 1.31
2. Providing additional info - 2.25
3. Offering an interview with the spokesperson - 2.33

Q. Pitching a story - Please rank the best methods that work:

Rank - Practice - Average score out of 5 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. Email pitch note and talk on phone - 2
2. Call up the journalist directly - 2.21
3. Email pitch note and meet the journalist - 2.71
4. Meet the journalist directly with the pitch note - 3.12
5. Use yahoo/gmail/msn messenger - 4.50

Q. Best time in the day to issue a press release- Please rank the following:

Rank - Timing - Average score out of 5 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. 2pm-3pm - 2.07
2. 12pm-1pm - 2.50
3. 3pm-4pm - 2.87
4. 11am-12pm - 3.29
5. 5pm-6pm - 3.93

Q. Best day of the week to issue a press release - Please rank the following:

Rank - Day - Average score out of 7 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. Wednesday - 2.62
2. Tuesday - 2.69
3. Monday - 3.14
4. Thursday - 3.41
5. Friday - 4.36
6. Saturday - 5.21
7. Sunday - 6

Q. Press release most likely to get picked up by the media - Please rank the following:

Rank - Subject - Average score out of 10 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. Partnerships/tie-ups - 2.50
2. New business / Investment - 3.33
3. Earnings/reports - 3.37
4. Product launch - 4.33
5. Trends - 4.81
6. Awards - 5.50
7. Office & branch openings - 7.00
8. CSR Initiatives - 7.53
9. Others - 9.42

Q. During media interaction of our clients, what behaviors of ours are most appreciated by the media and the client? Please rank the following:

Rank - Practice - Average score out of 5 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. Occasionally give our inputs - 1.59
2. Siting quietly/ making notes - 2.59
3. Trying to explain better what the spokesperson says - 2.69
4. Cracking jokes to lighten up the tension in the air - 3.50
5. Others - 4.25

Q. What makes a press release/ press conference/ pitch note work the best? Please rank the following:

Rank - Factor - Average score out of 4 (the lesser the score, the more preferred it is)

1. How important the announcement is - 1.59
2. How famous the company is - 2.25
3. How famous the spokesperon is - 2.75
4. How influential the PR agency is - 3.50

…to be continued.

Disclaimer: This survey is for educational purpose only.