Writing Press Releases for Restaurants: An Interview with Clint L. Sanchez of BlakSheep Creative

Ever since the COVID prison doors have opened and we are allowed to dine in restaurants again, it seems like every day, there’s a new restaurant opening up.

Marketing is one of the most important things for restaurant owners to focus on, even before firing up the stove. You want to make sure that your restaurant gets noticed and one way to do this is by writing a great press release.

 

 

We had a chat with Clint L. Sanchez of BlakSheep Creative, an award-winning creative agency based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializing in hospitality, about how to write a press release for restaurants that will get noticed.

 

 

 

 

Here’s what we learned:

Question: What is the most important thing to remember when writing a press release for a restaurant?

Answer: The most important thing to remember when writing a restaurant’s press release is to ensure that all of the information included is accurate and up-to-date. You don’t want to send out a press release with outdated information or incorrect facts.

Another critical thing to remember is to keep your press release short and to the point. You want to ensure that the person reading your press release understands your restaurant and what you’re offering without being bogged down by too much information.

Question: What should you include in your press release?

Answer: “When you sit down to write your press release, the first thing you want to do is answer the 5 Ws: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

• Who is your target audience?
• What are you trying to promote?
• When is the event/opening/etc. taking place?
• Where is it taking place?
• Why should people care?

Once you determine those answers, you can start to fill in the blanks with more information about your restaurant.

Be sure to include some key details such as your restaurant’s name, address, and website. You’ll also want to include a brief description of your concept, menu, and any unique selling points that you have.

Including high-quality photos of your food and restaurant space is also important. People are visual creatures and want to see what they’re going to be getting into before deciding to come to your restaurant.

If you have any awards or accolades, be sure to include those as well! Any press is good press when you’re trying to promote your restaurant.

Last but not least, include contact information so that people can quickly get in touch with you if they want more information or are interested in setting up an interview. “

Question: What should you avoid in your press release?

Answer: “There are a few things that you’ll want to avoid when writing your press release.

First and foremost, as we mentioned before, ensure that all of the information in your press release is accurate. This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people make this mistake.

Another thing to avoid is using too much industry jargon. You want to make sure that your press release is accessible to everyone, not just people in the restaurant industry. Use simple language that everyone can understand.

Finally, you’ll avoid being too sales-y in your press release. This is not the time to hard sell your restaurant. You want to focus on giving people a brief overview of what your restaurant is all about and what they can expect when they come to visit.

Question: What are some of the biggest mistakes that you see people make when writing press releases for restaurants?

Answer: “One of the biggest mistakes we see people make is trying to do too much. They want to include everything about their restaurant in the press release, and as a result, the press release ends up being several pages long. Remember, you want to keep your press release short and to the point.

Another mistake we see people make is trying to be too cute or clever with their press releases. They think they need to develop some sort of gimmick to get attention, but all they end up doing is turning people off. Be straightforward and honest in your press release, and people will appreciate it.

Many people make the mistake of not including contact information in their press releases. How do you expect people to get in touch with you? Include your restaurant’s website, email address, and phone number so people can quickly get in touch with you.

Question: How do you make sure that your press release will stand out among the others?

Answer: “The best way to make sure your press release stands out is to have a great story to tell.

Your press release should be newsworthy and engaging, and it should also be relevant to your target audience. If you can do all of those things, you’re on the right track.”

Question: Who should you send your press release to?

Answer: “You should send your press release to local media outlets, as well as any relevant trade publications or websites. If you have a good story and a well-written press release, there’s a good chance that someone will pick it up and run with it.”

Question: Who shouldn’t you send your press release to?

Answer: “There’s really nobody you shouldn’t send your press release to, but you should be strategic about it.

You don’t want to just mass email everyone in your address book and hope for the best. You want to ensure that you’re targeting the right people who are likely to be interested in what you have to say.

That said, don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you and your restaurant.”

Question: Any final words of wisdom?

Answer: “Have faith in your story and believe in what you’re doing. If you do, others will too. Don’t underestimate the power of a great press release. A well-written press release can go a long way in promoting your restaurant and achieving goals. So take the time to craft a great story and make sure all of the information is accurate, and you’ll be on your way to success.

Thank you, Clint, for taking the time to speak with us today about writing a restaurant’s press release. We appreciate your insights, and we hope that our readers will too.

To learn more about BlakSheep Creative and its services, please visit its website at blaksheepcreative.com.