In a perfect world, press releases would be published according to a predetermined and efficient schedule, not a moment early or late. But as anyone who operates in the unpredictable world of business will tell you, sometimes our best laid plans simply do not work out.

At some point in time, you might find yourself having to scramble to get a press release published without prior planning. Maybe there is an issue with the product launch, and you have to inform the public of an error. Maybe you have to debunk a rumor before it spreads. Maybe there is a sudden change in leadership, and you have to update the public.

Either way, you might need to get a press release published in a shorter time than you had anticipated. The good news is that there are several ways to do this, some of which we will highlight:

Have Templates on Hand 

In many cases, the first issue you encounter when trying to put out a press release at the last minute is getting it written in the first place. After all, there’s an art form to writing an effective press release, and when you’re scrambling for time, you might find yourself struggling to put something together. You might also struggle with things like grammatical and spelling errors, as well as proper formatting. 

The good news is that most of this can be addressed by having a template on hand at any given time. The template essentially acts as a fill-in-the-gap document that lets you swap out things like dates and names while maintaining the same structure. While we would love to imagine pining away at a custom-made press release for a specific location, sometimes you just want the information out into the world.

In that case, it’s best to create a press release template long before you have an emergency on your hands. That way, you can knock out a press release in a matter of minutes, while still adhering to industry best practices.

Leverage Relationships With Editors

One of the benefits of putting up press releases consistently is developing a relationship with editors at various publications. By publishing with them, offering insight on industry developments, inviting them to events, and much more, you can create an alliance within the industry. This means that when you find yourself in situations where you have to, for example, put out your last-minute release, you may be able to leverage this relationship. 

They could use their site to push the press release at the last minute, even if it has missed the submission deadline for the day. They might also be able to amplify their reach within their specific publications if they have a good relationship with you. Just like with the template suggestion, you need to put this into practice well before you need it. So, begin developing relationships with editors today.

Have a List of Speedy Publications 

Not every publication is geared towards last-minute press release uploads, and so, you need to know ahead of time. As you engage more with different publications, you might find that some are less strict with publication, timelines, or are generally more accommodating. Ideally, you want to have a spreadsheet with a list of the publications you engage with, as well as relevant information about them. 

If you find that one publication is willing to squeeze in a last-minute press release for a fee, or will be flexible with the deadline for submitting a release, you should note it. This means that if you find yourself in a bind, you know which publications will accommodate your inconvenience and which will be a waste of your time.

Use XpressWire 

When you’re in this sort of dire situation, you need allies in your corner that can help you get your needs met, and luckily, we at XpressWire pride ourselves on doing justice. We have years of experience with not just putting out press releases, but doing so under difficult conditions. While we’ve anchored press campaigns that were planned months in advance and followed a convenient timeline, we’ve also had to push our press releases at the last minute, and have mostly succeeded. 

So, if you find yourself in this bind, reach out to us and let us know your situation. We’ve been known to get press releases published in under 24 or even 12 hours, depending on the situation. Leveraging years of industry experience and valuable connections, we can accommodate the tightest of deadlines.

Use Social Media 

When it comes to putting out a press release at the last minute, the goal is simply to get the information to the public because there is a pressing timeline. This means that the publications should not be the only option leveraged to get people informed. Let’s say your crypto exchange has been hacked, and you want to inform people of the development and tell them to freeze their activities. 

While getting it put in a major publication will certainly help, this is not the only place you should use. If you have urgent information to convert, make sure to immediately leverage several social media platforms. You could, for example, submit your press release to be published on major sites like Forbes and Yahoo Business, but also put out a statement on your social media for the immediate public to see.

This way, you don’t end up in the unfortunate situation of the information hitting the airwaves when it is too late to take adequate action. Of course, have your legal team look over whatever statement you put out before you do, but either way, take every platform you have at your disposal. 

Conclusion 

Life happens, and sometimes, you’ll need to get Information out to the public in record time. Luckily, you have several options to make this happen. A lot of this boils down to preparing ahead of time and using the resources at your disposal to stay on top of the situation.