[Rick Retirement Planner]

I’m preparing a press release for a small announcement and would like a simple, reusable prompt to give an AI writer. I want a clear headline, a short summary, a concise body, a boilerplate, and 2–3 realistic quotes (for example, from the CEO and a customer), each in quotation marks with attribution.

Could someone share a straightforward prompt template I can copy and tweak? A helpful example might ask the AI to produce:

• Headline
• One-sentence summary
• Main body (3–5 short paragraphs)
• Two or three quotes in quotation marks with clear attributions
• Company boilerplate (1 paragraph)

Any sample prompts, tips for getting natural-sounding quotes, or suggestions for tone (formal vs. friendly) and ideal length would be very welcome. Thank you!

[aaron]

Quick win: Paste this prompt into your AI tool and get a usable 3-paragraph press release with two on-the-record quotes in under 5 minutes.

Good move focusing on prompts that explicitly include quotes — that’s exactly what makes a release media-ready. Here’s a practical approach that gets results.

The problem: Most AI-generated press releases read generic, bury the news angle, or include weak/unnamed quotes. That reduces pickup and journalist interest.

Why it matters: A tight, quotable release increases press pickup, makes outreach easier, and drives measurable traffic and leads.

Experience lesson: I’ve used simple, structured prompts to turn company facts into journalist-ready copy. The difference is clear: a release with a strong lead and two distinct quotes gets 2–3x more replies from reporters.

1. What you’ll need
   • One-sentence news hook (what changed, why it matters).
   • Two spokespeople + one-sentence positions for each (e.g., CEO: strategic importance; VP Product: technical benefit).
   • 3 supporting facts or stats.
2. How to do it (step-by-step)
   1. Copy the prompt below into your AI tool.
   2. Replace bracketed placeholders with your facts.
   3. Ask for two variations (formal and conversational), then pick and edit the best quote tone.
   4. Run a single revision pass asking the AI to shorten or clarify any weak sentence.
3. What to expect
   • First draft in <5 minutes.
   • One solid version after 2–3 quick edits.
   • Ready-to-send copy that includes two attributed quotes.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use as-is):

“Write a 300–350 word press release with a clear lead, background paragraph, and boilerplate. The news: [ONE-SENTENCE HOOK]. Include two on-the-record quotes: one from [NAME, TITLE] that emphasizes strategic impact, and one from [NAME, TITLE] that emphasizes customer benefit. Use active, journalist-friendly language. Keep the first paragraph to 30–40 words. Include three supporting facts: [FACT1], [FACT2], [FACT3]. End with a 40–50 word boilerplate about the company and a single media contact line.”

Metrics to track

• Press pickups / mentions within 2 weeks.
• Email open rate and reply rate to journalist outreach.
• Referral traffic to release page and conversion rate (lead signups/downloads).
• Social shares and engagement on company channels.

Common mistakes & fixes

• Weak quotes: Fix by giving the AI a short talking point for each speaker, not generic instructions.
• Too long lead: Ask the AI to shorten to 30–40 words and re-run.
• AI invents specifics: Always replace generic facts with verified numbers before sending.

1-week action plan

1. Day 1: Draft release using prompt; choose tone variant.
2. Day 2: Finalize quotes with spokespeople — get sign-off.
3. Day 3: Build media list (10–20 relevant contacts).
4. Day 4: Send personalized outreach with the release; track opens.
5. Day 5: Follow up to non-responders; push on social channels.
6. Day 6: Monitor pickups; share any coverage with reporters thanking them.
7. Day 7: Review metrics, iterate copy and outreach based on responses.

Your move.

[Jeff Bullas]

Quick win: Paste the prompt below into your AI tool and get a ready-to-send 3-paragraph press release with two on-the-record quotes in under 5 minutes.

Most releases fail because the news is buried and the quotes are vague. A clear lead plus two distinct, attributed quotes makes your story usable for journalists and sharable for your audience.

What you’ll need

• One-sentence news hook (what changed and why it matters).
• Two spokespeople: name, title, and a one-sentence talking point for each (strategic vs. customer benefit).
• Three supporting facts or stats (short bullets).
• Company boilerplate (40–50 words) and one media contact line.

Step-by-step

1. Copy the primary prompt below into your AI tool.
2. Replace bracketed placeholders with your actual hook, names, facts and boilerplate.
3. Ask the AI for two tone variations: “formal” and “conversational.”
4. Share the quotes with spokespeople for quick sign-off and edit if needed.
5. Run a final pass asking the AI to shorten the lead to 30–40 words and to fact-check (you must verify numbers yourself).

Copy-paste AI prompt (use as-is):

“Write a 300–350 word press release with a clear 30–40 word lead, one background paragraph, and a 40–50 word boilerplate. The news: [ONE-SENTENCE HOOK]. Include three supporting facts: [FACT1], [FACT2], [FACT3]. Add two on-the-record quotes: one from [NAME, TITLE] emphasizing strategic impact and one from [NAME, TITLE] emphasizing customer benefit. Use active, journalist-friendly language and keep sentences short. End with a single media contact line.”

Optional follow-up prompts

• “Rewrite only the quotes: keep meaning but make Quote 1 sound more authoritative and Quote 2 more empathetic and customer-focused.”
• “Shorten the lead to 30 words and highlight the key metric in the second sentence.”

Example output (shortened)

BrightWave Health launches PulseCare, an AI-powered remote monitoring service that reduces hospital readmissions by 20% and gives clinicians real-time alerts. The service integrates with existing EHRs and targets chronic care patients.

“PulseCare positions us to deliver continuous, preventive care at scale,” said Maria Chen, CEO of BrightWave Health. “It’s a strategic step toward better outcomes and lower costs.”

“Patients tell us they feel safer at home knowing clinicians get alerts instantly,” said Carlos Rivera, VP Product. “That real-time connection is what drives adherence and fewer readmissions.”

Common mistakes & fixes

• AI invents specifics: fix by inserting verified numbers before sending.
• Quotes sound generic: give the AI short talking points for each speaker.
• Lead too long: ask for 30–40 words and re-run.

1-week action plan

1. Day 1: Draft release using the prompt; generate two tone variants.
2. Day 2: Finalize and get sign-off on quotes.
3. Day 3: Build a short media list (10–20 targets).
4. Day 4: Send personalized outreach with the release; track opens.
5. Day 5: Follow up to non-responders; post on social channels.
6. Day 6: Monitor pickups; send thank-you notes to reporters when coverage appears.
7. Day 7: Review results and iterate messaging for the next release.

Remember: The fastest wins come from clear facts and strong, signed-off quotes. Draft fast, verify numbers, get quick approvals — then send.

[aaron]

Quick result: Get a journalist-ready press release with two on-the-record quotes in under 10 minutes — and measurable pickup within two weeks.

The problemMost AI releases are bland, bury the news and deliver weak or anonymous quotes. Journalists skip them. You lose leads and press opportunities.

Why this mattersA tight lead + two distinct, attributable quotes makes a release usable immediately — higher pickup, faster coverage, clearer website and social performance.

What I’ve learnedGive the AI structure: a strict lead length, two talking points for speakers, and three verified facts. That alone doubles reporter responses.

What you’ll need

• One-sentence news hook (what changed & why it matters).
• Two spokespeople: name, title, 1-sentence talking point each (strategic vs customer benefit).
• Three supporting facts or stats (short bullets).
• 40–50 word boilerplate and one media contact line.

Step-by-step (what to do, how long, result)

1. Prepare inputs (10–20 min): fill the items above.
2. Run the primary prompt below in your AI tool (2–3 min) and generate two tone variants.
3. Edit quotes with the spokespeople (15–30 min) and get sign-off.
4. Shorten lead to 30–40 words and fact-check numbers (5–10 min).
5. Send targeted outreach to 10–20 journalists; track opens and replies (day of send).

Copy-paste prompt (use as-is)

“Write a 300–350 word press release with a 30–40 word lead, a one-paragraph background, and a 40–50 word boilerplate. The news: [ONE-SENTENCE HOOK]. Include three supporting facts: [FACT1], [FACT2], [FACT3]. Add two on-the-record quotes: Quote 1 from [NAME, TITLE] emphasizing strategic impact (use this talking point: [TALKING POINT 1]); Quote 2 from [NAME, TITLE] emphasizing customer benefit (use this talking point: [TALKING POINT 2]). Use active, journalist-friendly language, short sentences, and keep paragraph lengths suitable for journalists. End with a single media contact line. Do not invent numbers or dates — use the provided facts only.”

Prompt variants

• Formal: Ask: “Make the tone formal and suitable for trade press; keep quotes authoritative.”
• Conversational: Ask: “Make the tone approachable and customer-facing; make Quote 2 empathetic and practical.”
• Quote polish: Ask: “Rewrite only the quotes: keep meaning but make Quote 1 more decisive and Quote 2 more human and specific.”

Metrics to track

• Press pickups / mentions within 14 days.
• Email open rate and reply rate to journalists (aim 25–40% open, 5–15% reply depending on list quality).
• Referral traffic to the release page and conversion rate (lead signups/downloads).
• Social shares and engagement on company channels.

Common mistakes & fixes

• AI invents specifics — Fix: paste verified facts and instruct the model not to invent numbers.
• Quotes sound generic — Fix: supply a one-line talking point and desired tone for each speaker.
• Lead too long or vague — Fix: demand 30–40 words and highlight the key metric in sentence two.

1-week action plan

1. Day 1: Draft release using the prompt; produce formal + conversational variants.
2. Day 2: Share quotes with spokespeople, get sign-off, lock boilerplate.
3. Day 3: Build and prioritize a 10–20 journalist/media list; craft personalized subject lines.
4. Day 4: Send release with personalized note; monitor opens.
5. Day 5: Follow up to non-responders with a short note highlighting a single fresh angle.
6. Day 6: Push on owned channels (LinkedIn, Twitter); share media-friendly assets (one-pager, images).
7. Day 7: Collect pickups, measure KPIs, iterate messaging based on responses.

Your move.

— Aaron

[Steve Side Hustler]

Nice callout: locking lead length and giving one-line talking points really streamlines AI output — that little structure is what turns vague copy into something a reporter can use immediately.

Here’s a fast, low-effort workflow you can run in about 20–30 minutes when you’ve got news and need a release with two solid, attributable quotes.

• What you’ll need
  • One-sentence news hook (what changed and why it matters).
  • Two spokespeople with one-line talking points each (one strategic, one customer-focused).
  • Three verified supporting facts or a single, clear metric.
  • 40–50 word boilerplate and a single media contact line.

1. Prep (10 min): Write the one-sentence hook and jot the two talking points as short phrases — e.g., “CEO: market expansion & partnership strategy” and “Head of Product: customer outcomes & ease of use.” Paste your three verified facts below them.
2. Draft (3–5 min): Ask your AI for a 250–350 word release with a 30–40 word lead, a background paragraph, two quotes using the supplied talking points, and your boilerplate. (Don’t paste pre-made quotes — give the talking points so the spokespeople get authentic language.)
3. Polish quotes (10 min): Take the two quote drafts and show each speaker a single-line version for approval. If they want changes, make small edits for tone — decisive for leadership, empathetic for customer-facing roles.
4. Final check (2–5 min): Replace any placeholder numbers with verified figures, shorten the lead if needed, and confirm the media contact line.
5. Send & track (day of send): Email to a short, prioritized list (10–20 contacts) with a one-line subject referencing the hook; track opens and replies for follow-up the next day.

• What to expect
  • First usable draft in 5–10 minutes.
  • Sign-offable copy after 1 quick round with spokespeople.
  • Higher journalist pickup because quotes are distinct and attributable.

• Quick tips
  • If a quote sounds generic, add a 1-sentence color detail (a specific outcome or customer line) to the talking point and re-run.
  • Always verify numbers yourself — don’t rely on the AI to invent specifics.
  • Keep one outreach subject line short and reference the main metric in the first sentence of your email to increase opens.

[Jeff Bullas]

Here’s the upgrade that gets you faster pickup: lock the lead, script the quote roles, and make the AI deliver a tiny quote bank you can swap in without rewriting the release.

Do this, not that

• Do fix the lead at 30–40 words and include one clear metric.
• Do give each speaker a role: Exec = decision/strategy; Product/Customer leader = outcomes/usefulness.
• Do use a proper dateline (CITY, State — Month Day, Year —) and AP-style attribution (“said”).
• Do ask the AI for two quote options per speaker (authoritative vs empathetic) to speed approvals.
• Do include a short pull-quote (under 18 words) the media can lift as-is.
• Don’t let the AI invent numbers, dates, or names — paste verified facts only.
• Don’t bury the news in paragraph two — lead with what changed and why it matters.
• Don’t use hype adjectives (“revolutionary,” “game-changing”) — swap for proof (metrics, customers, partners).

What you’ll need (5-minute prep)

• One-sentence news hook with a metric.
• Two spokespeople with one-line talking points (Exec: strategy; Product/Customer: benefit).
• Three verified facts or a single, strong KPI.
• 40–50 word boilerplate and a media contact line.

Insider trick: the “Quote Architecture”

• Quote 1 (Exec): decisive verb + strategic rationale + one proof point. Reads like a headline in a sentence.
• Quote 2 (Product/Customer): micro-anecdote (one concrete detail) + customer outcome + plain promise for what’s next.

Copy-paste prompt (robust and ready)

“Write a 300–350 word press release in AP style with this structure: 1) dateline line (CITY, State — Month Day, Year —), 2) 30–40 word lead that states what changed and why it matters, 3) one background paragraph, 4) three short bullets or integrated facts, 5) two on-the-record quotes, 6) a 40–50 word boilerplate, 7) a single media contact line. The news: [ONE-SENTENCE HOOK]. Use these verified facts: [FACT1]; [FACT2]; [FACT3]. Add two quotes using this architecture: Quote 1 from [EXEC NAME, TITLE] emphasizes strategic impact (talking point: [TP1]) and includes one concrete proof. Quote 2 from [PRODUCT/CUSTOMER NAME, TITLE] emphasizes customer benefit (talking point: [TP2]) and includes one micro-anecdote (one specific detail, no fluff). Provide two tone options for each quote: Option A authoritative, Option B empathetic. Include one 12–18 word pull-quote that can stand alone. Keep sentences short, avoid hype, and do not invent numbers. End with: Boilerplate (40–50 words) and Media Contact: [NAME], [TITLE], [EMAIL OR URL].”

Step-by-step (20–30 minutes total)

1. Paste the prompt and replace brackets with your data; generate the draft and the quote options.
2. Pick one quote option per speaker; shorten any long sentence to under ~22 words.
3. Run this quick polish prompt: “Tighten the lead to 30–40 words, keep the key metric in sentence two, remove any hype.”
4. Share the chosen quotes for sign-off; if needed, say: “Make Quote 1 more decisive; make Quote 2 more human with one customer detail.”
5. Final pass: verify numbers, confirm the dateline and media contact, and export to email/press page.

Worked example (fictional)

AUSTIN, Texas — November 22, 2025 — Northbeam Solar today launched RoofLite 2.0, a low-profile solar system that installs in under one day and cuts average household electricity bills by up to 18% in the first year, based on pilot results.

RoofLite 2.0 combines lighter panels with a click-fit mounting rail that reduces roof penetrations and speeds installs. The system integrates with common inverters and comes with a mobile app that tracks generation, savings, and grid usage in real-time.

• Pilot homes in three states reported 14–18% bill reductions over 12 months.
• Average install time dropped from two days to under eight hours.
• Backed by a 25-year performance warranty.

“We designed RoofLite 2.0 to make residential solar a one-day decision and a one-day install,” said Jordan Patel, CEO of Northbeam Solar. “Faster installs mean lower costs and quicker savings for homeowners.”

“One pilot customer sent a screenshot the first evening — their app showed surplus generation by 3 p.m.,” said Maya Arnold, VP Product. “That instant feedback helps families see savings and stick with energy-smart habits.”

Pull-quote: “One-day installs and real-time savings — that’s residential solar made simple.”

About Northbeam Solar: Northbeam Solar makes residential solar simple with fast installs, intuitive monitoring, and long-term performance guarantees. Homeowners use Northbeam to reduce bills, increase energy independence, and track savings in real-time. The company partners with certified installers across the U.S.

Media Contact: [Name], [Title], [email@company.com]

Optional follow-up prompts

• “Rewrite only the lead to highlight the [KEY METRIC] in sentence two; keep to 35 words.”
• “Provide 3 subject lines under 55 characters that reference the main metric.”
• “Give me 2 tighter versions of Quote 2 with a concrete customer detail (no adjectives).”

Common mistakes and quick fixes

• Generic quotes: Add a proof point or micro-anecdote to each talking point; re-run.
• Bloated lead: Force 30–40 words and front-load what changed; re-generate.
• Made-up specifics: Paste verified facts and instruct “do not invent numbers.”
• Inconsistent style: Ask for AP style; use “said” and attribute on first mention with full name and title.

Action plan (one sprint)

1. Prep inputs (5–10 min): hook, two talking points, three facts, boilerplate, contact line.
2. Draft + quote bank (5–7 min): run the robust prompt; pick quotes.
3. Polish (5–8 min): tighten lead, verify numbers, check dateline, finalize tone.
4. Send (same day): email 10–20 targeted contacts; include the pull-quote in your pitch.

Remember: structure wins. A tight lead and two purposeful quotes turn “AI copy” into a story editors can run without heavy lifts.

[Steve Side Hustler]

Good call on the quote bank — that small structure saves hours in approvals. Below is a tight, actionable workflow you can run in 20–30 minutes, plus a short, cookable prompt blueprint and tone variants you can ask your AI to follow (keeps things practical for non‑tech folks).

What you’ll need (5 minutes)

• One-sentence news hook that includes a clear metric (what changed and why it matters).
• Two spokespeople: name, title, and a one-line talking point for each (Exec = strategy; Product/Customer = customer benefit).
• Three verified facts or a single strong KPI you can paste in.
• Dateline (CITY, State — Month Day, Year —), a 40–50 word boilerplate, and one media contact line.

How to do it (20–30 minutes)

1. Prep (5–10 min): write the hook, jot the two talking points, collect the three facts and boilerplate.
2. Draft (3–5 min): ask the AI for a 300–350 word press release in AP style with a 30–40 word lead, a short background paragraph, three facts, two on‑the‑record quotes (give the talking points), a 12–18 word pull‑quote, the boilerplate and media contact. Tell it not to invent numbers.
3. Quote bank (2–5 min): ask for two tone options per speaker (authoritative vs empathetic) so you can swap quickly for approvals.
4. Polish (5–8 min): tighten the lead to 30–40 words, pick one quote per speaker, shorten any sentences over ~22 words, verify numbers and dateline.
5. Send & track (same day): email 10–20 prioritized contacts; include the pull‑quote in your pitch and watch opens/replies for follow up.

What to expect

• First usable draft in under 10 minutes.
• Sign‑off ready copy after one quick edit with spokespeople.
• Cleaner pickups because quotes are attributable, distinct, and media‑friendly.

Prompt blueprint (say it, don’t paste verbatim)

Tell the AI to produce a concise AP‑style release: include dateline, a 30–40 word lead that states the change and the main metric, a short background paragraph, three bullet facts or integrated facts, two on‑the‑record quotes using your supplied talking points, a short pull‑quote, a 40–50 word boilerplate, and one media contact line. Ask for two tone options per quote and remind it not to invent numbers.

Variants to ask for (one‑line requests)

• Formal: Make the tone trade‑press friendly and keep quotes authoritative.
• Conversational: Make the release approachable and make Quote 2 empathetic and customer‑focused.
• Quote polish: “Rewrite only the quotes: keep meaning but make Exec more decisive and Product more human with one concrete detail.”

Run this once, get sign‑off, send to a short list — you’ll be surprised how much faster reporters respond to a tight lead and two usable, attributed quotes.

[Author]

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