Joe Asks the Robots to Do His Homework: An Odyssey
It’s Resch newsletter time and once again it’s my turn to contribute. It feels like I just did this. I didn’t. But that’s how it feels.
I’ll be honest, guys. I am just plumb out of decent ideas for content that might be even the slightest bit useful and/or interesting. So instead of something new and fresh, and I’m going offer you a retread!
Last time, I wrote about ChatGPT and some of the ways in which it can be employed to help support your writing efforts. And I’m sure you all read it and thought to yourselves “well that’s all fine and good, Joe. But why in the world wouldn’t I just have this thing do ALL the work for me?”
It's a great question. I mean, who wants to do all this work?
Unfortunately, the answer is still pretty clear at this point. ChatGPT just can’t carry the full load.
As I mentioned in my previous post, ChatGPT’s work—even at its best—is just kind of blah. It can generate loads and loads of useful content and can absolutely help out with ideation and brainstorming, but it’s never going to produce anything you want to read or ultimately find interesting/well done.
Don’t believe me? Alright, well let’s kills two birds with one stone. I’d love to pawn this blog post on to someone else anyway, so let’s see if ChatGPT is up to the task.
Below is my attempt at trying to coax ChatGPT into doing my homework:
Joe: Hi, are you familiar with Resch Strategies?
ChatGPT: As of my last update in January 2022, I don't have specific information about a company named "Resch Strategies." It's possible that it's a relatively new company, a small business, or operates within a niche industry that hasn't garnered widespread recognition. If you can provide more context or details about Resch Strategies, I can try to offer more relevant information or assistance.
Joe: Ouch... off to a bad start. Well, to fill you in, Resch Strategies is a PR/public affairs firm in Lansing, Michigan, and it just celebrated the milestone of 15 years in business.
ChatGPT: Thank you for providing more information. Resch Strategies sounds like a notable PR and public affairs firm, especially having reached the milestone of 15 years in business. Operating in Lansing, Michigan, suggests a focus on state-level communications and government relations, given Lansing's status as the capital of Michigan.
Public relations and public affairs firms often play crucial roles in shaping public perception, managing crises, and advocating for clients' interests in various sectors. If you have any specific questions or topics you'd like to discuss regarding Resch Strategies or the PR industry in general, feel free to let me know!
Joe: So, I could use your help on something. I work at Resch Strategies, and I've been asked to write a blog post for your company's quarterly E-news. Ideally, it should be focused on providing clients/readers with some sort of useful advice/insight from a PR professional, and it can be highly focused. Some examples of past entries/topics include: how to use Canva to help with social media, how to write an article for LinkedIn, how to plan a successful advocacy day, etc.)
Could you provide me with 10 potential topics that I should consider writing about?
ChatGPT: Of course! Here are 10 potential topics for your blog post:
Crafting a Compelling Press Release: Tips and Best Practices
The Power of Storytelling in Public Relations: Engaging Audiences Effectively
Navigating Crisis Communications: Strategies for Managing Reputation in Times of Trouble
Maximizing Media Outreach: Building Strong Relationships with Journalists
Leveraging Social Media Analytics to Enhance PR Campaigns
Creating an Effective PR Strategy for Small Businesses on a Budget
Harnessing the Influence of Influencers: Incorporating Influencer Marketing into PR Campaigns
The Dos and Don'ts of Hosting a Successful Virtual Press Conference
Building Thought Leadership in Your Industry: Strategies for Becoming a Go-To Source for Media
Measuring PR Success: Key Metrics and Tools for Evaluating Campaign Performance
These topics cover a range of areas within public relations and offer actionable advice and insights that your clients and readers may find valuable for their own PR efforts. Let me know if you need further elaboration on any of these topics!
Joe: Let's focus on the first option you suggested. What are your tips and best practices for crafting a compelling press release?
ChatGPT: Crafting a compelling press release is essential for capturing the attention of journalists and media outlets. Here are some tips and best practices to consider:
Start with a Strong Headline: Your headline should be attention-grabbing and concise, summarizing the most newsworthy aspect of your announcement.
Write an Engaging Lead: The first paragraph, also known as the lead, should provide the most important information upfront, answering the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the story.
Focus on the News Angle: Identify the most newsworthy aspect of your announcement and highlight it prominently in the press release. Journalists are looking for stories that are timely, relevant, and of interest to their audience.
Provide Supporting Details: Use the body of the press release to provide additional context, quotes, statistics, and other relevant information to support your story. Make sure to include any key facts or details that will help journalists understand the significance of your announcement.
Keep it Concise: A press release should typically be no more than one page long, with the most important information presented upfront. Avoid unnecessary jargon or technical language, and stick to clear, concise language that is easy for journalists to understand.
Include Quotes from Spokespeople: Including quotes from key stakeholders or spokespeople adds credibility to your press release and provides journalists with additional perspective and insight into the story.
Include Multimedia Elements: Whenever possible, include multimedia elements such as photos, videos, or infographics to enhance your press release and make it more visually appealing.
Provide Contact Information: Make sure to include contact information for media inquiries, including the name, phone number, and email address of a spokesperson or PR representative who can provide additional information or arrange interviews.
Tailor the Release to the Audience: Consider the preferences and interests of the journalists and media outlets you are targeting, and tailor your press release accordingly. Personalizing your pitch can increase the likelihood of coverage.
Proofread and Edit Carefully: Before distributing your press release, make sure to proofread and edit it carefully to ensure there are no typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies. A polished, error-free press release reflects positively on your organization and increases the likelihood of coverage.
By following these tips and best practices, you can craft a compelling press release that effectively communicates your message and captures the attention of journalists and media outlets.
Joe: I like this list, but I think I might like to limit it to 5 tips for my blog entry. Can you revise your list accordingly?
ChatGPT: Absolutely! Here are 5 key tips for crafting a compelling press release:
Start Strong with a Catchy Headline: Capture the essence of your announcement in a concise and attention-grabbing headline to entice journalists to read further.
Lead with the Most Important Information: Begin your press release with a clear and engaging lead paragraph that answers the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your story, ensuring journalists grasp the significance immediately.
Focus on the News Angle: Highlight the most newsworthy aspect of your announcement upfront to demonstrate its relevance and timeliness, increasing the likelihood of media interest.
Include Quotes for Added Insight: Incorporate quotes from key stakeholders or spokespeople to provide additional perspective and credibility to your story, enhancing its appeal to journalists.
Keep it Concise and Relevant: Limit your press release to one page whenever possible, focusing on the essential details and avoiding unnecessary jargon or technical language to ensure clarity and readability for journalists.
By following these 5 tips, you can create a compelling press release that effectively communicates your message and increases the likelihood of media coverage for your announcement.
Joe: How about this: I'd like my blog post to somewhere between 500 and 700 words. Could you take an initial stab at drafting?
ChatGPT: Certainly! Here's an initial draft for your blog post:
Crafting a Compelling Press Release: 5 Tips for Success
In today's fast-paced media landscape, capturing the attention of journalists and securing media coverage for your organization's announcements requires more than just a well-written press release. Crafting a compelling press release that effectively communicates your message and stands out amidst the noise is essential for maximizing your chances of media pickup. Here are five key tips to help you craft a press release that gets noticed:
1. Start Strong with a Catchy Headline
The headline is the first thing journalists see, so it needs to be attention-grabbing and succinct. Capture the essence of your announcement in just a few words, highlighting the most compelling aspect of your story. A strong headline sets the tone for the rest of the press release and entices journalists to read further.
2. Lead with the Most Important Information
In today's information-saturated world, journalists don't have time to wade through paragraphs of text to find the news. Start your press release with a clear and engaging lead paragraph that answers the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your story. By providing the most important information upfront, you ensure that journalists grasp the significance of your announcement immediately.
3. Focus on the News Angle
Journalists are constantly bombarded with press releases, so it's crucial to make yours stand out. Highlight the most newsworthy aspect of your announcement upfront to demonstrate its relevance and timeliness. Whether it's a product launch, a new partnership, or a significant milestone, make sure your press release has a clear news angle that sets it apart from the rest.
4. Include Quotes for Added Insight
Quotes from key stakeholders or spokespeople can provide additional perspective and credibility to your story, making it more attractive to journalists. Incorporate quotes that add value and insight, rather than simply restating information already included in the press release. Quotes help humanize your story and provide journalists with the voices and opinions they need to craft their own narrative.
5. Keep it Concise and Relevant
In today's fast-paced media environment, journalists don't have time to read lengthy press releases. Keep your press release concise and to the point, limiting it to one page whenever possible. Focus on the essential details and avoid unnecessary jargon or technical language that could confuse or overwhelm readers. By keeping your press release concise and relevant, you increase the likelihood that journalists will read it in its entirety and consider it for coverage.
In conclusion, crafting a compelling press release requires careful attention to detail and a focus on what matters most to journalists. By following these five tips, you can create a press release that effectively communicates your message, captures the attention of journalists, and maximizes your chances of media coverage for your organization's announcements.
Feel free to adjust or expand upon this draft as needed to fit your blog's tone and style!
Joe: I think this is good, but I'm not sure it has any of my trademark sarcasm/snarkiness. Could you revise and try to incorporate some of that?
ChatGPT: Certainly! Let's infuse some sarcasm and snarkiness into the tone while still maintaining professionalism. Here's the revised draft:
Crafting a Compelling Press Release: 5 Tips for Success (with a Dash of Sarcasm)
So, you've got some big news to share with the world, and you've decided that a press release is the way to go. Congratulations! Now comes the fun part: crafting a press release that doesn't put journalists to sleep. Here are five snark-infused tips to help you craft a press release that stands out from the snooze-fest:
1. Start Strong with a Catchy Headline
Think of your headline as the pickup line of your press release. You want it to be short, snappy, and irresistible. Don't be afraid to get a little creative here - journalists have seen it all, so you'll need to work extra hard to grab their attention. Bonus points if you can work in a pun or two (just don't overdo it - we're going for charming, not cringe-worthy).
2. Lead with the Most Important Information
Journalists have the attention span of a goldfish on caffeine, so you'll want to get to the point quickly. Lead with the juiciest tidbits of your announcement - who, what, when, where, why, and how - and save the boring details for later. Remember, you're competing with cat videos and celebrity gossip for their precious time, so make every word count.
3. Focus on the News Angle
Sure, your mom thinks your announcement is the most exciting thing since sliced bread, but journalists need a little more convincing. Find the hook that makes your story newsworthy - whether it's a groundbreaking innovation, a juicy scandal, or a heartwarming tale of triumph over adversity - and milk it for all it's worth. Think of it as clickbait for the print crowd.
4. Include Quotes for Added Insight
Nothing says "I'm serious about this" like a fancy quote from a bigwig in your organization. But don't just slap any old quote onto your press release - make sure it's actually saying something useful. Journalists can smell BS from a mile away, so keep it real and give them something worth quoting. And if you can sneak in a subtle dig at your competitors, all the better.
5. Keep it Concise and Relevant
In the immortal words of Shakespeare (probably), "Brevity is the soul of wit." Keep your press release short and sweet - nobody wants to wade through a novel just to get to the good stuff. Stick to the essentials, cut the fluff, and for the love of all that is holy, please spell-check before hitting send. Nothing ruins a good press release like a glaring typo.
In conclusion, crafting a compelling press release is part art, part science, and a whole lot of snark. By following these five tips (and maybe throwing in a well-timed eye roll or two), you can create a press release that gets noticed, gets picked up, and gets your message out to the world. Good luck, and may the snark be with you!
Feel free to adjust the level of sarcasm and snark to better fit your brand's tone and style!
Joe: Close enough. Thank you.
So, what did you think? Not quite the real thing, is it?
BUT… still pretty impressive. As far as advice for writing a press release is concerned, I’d say ChatGPT is pretty spot on, so the content definitely gets my stamp of approval. But the way in which it’s packaged could use some work. At the end of the day, ChatGPT is mostly just a boring Poindexter—great to have around, but you can only listen to so much, so use accordingly.