According to the Small Business Encyclopedia, a press release is your “ticket to publicity.” However, it is important for small businesses issuing press releases to know the difference between a press release and a news article. Although they are both used to illustrate a newsworthy topic, they are different animals.

A press release is an official statement about a particular newsworthy event or matter. A well-timed, well-written press release can get said news in a plethora of publications and places online. This is especially important for small businesses, as the more press releases written about you and your business, the better your chances are of appearing in a variety of media outlets.

A news article, on the other hand, can be about any topic that is deemed newsworthy. News articles generally do not talk about a single current event, but rather a subject in detail, whereas a press release typically focuses on one specific subject, e.g. an anniversary, event, grand opening, milestone, etc. A good general rule of thumb is if you could have sent your press release out a month ago or a month from now, it is most likely not a good use of a press release.