How to Write Press Release Headlines That Get Coverage (+ 20 Examples)
Your press release headline is the first – and often only – thing a journalist reads before deciding whether to open your email or scroll past it. A weak headline kills even the best press release. A strong one earns opens, clicks, and coverage.
This guide covers the rules for writing headlines for press releases that actually work, with 20 examples organized by announcement type, formulas you can reuse, and the mistakes that land releases in the trash.
7 rules for writing effective press release headlines
Before looking at examples, internalize these rules. They apply to every headline regardless of industry or announcement type.
- Keep it between 60 and 100 characters. Shorter headlines get cut off less in email clients and newswire feeds. Anything over 120 characters is too long.
- Front-load the keyword. Put the most important word or phrase in the first half of the headline. Journalists scan quickly, and search engines weight early words more heavily.
- State the news, don’t tease it. Press release headlines are not blog titles. Skip clickbait tactics like “You Won’t Believe…” and state the fact directly.
- Use active voice. “Acme Launches New Platform” beats “New Platform Launched by Acme.” Active voice is shorter and more direct.
- Include a number when possible. Numbers add specificity and credibility: “$12M Series A” is stronger than “Significant Funding Round.”
- Name the company. The company name should appear in almost every press release headline. It tells reporters immediately who the news is about.
- Use title case. This is the standard convention on newswires. Capitalize the first letter of each major word.
20 press release headline examples by type
Below are 20 headlines for press releases organized into six categories. Each example follows the rules above and can be adapted to your own announcements.
Product launch headlines
Formula: [Company] Launches [Product] to [Benefit/Solve Problem]
- “Acme Launches AI-Powered Invoice Tool to Cut Payment Processing Time by 60%”
- “CloudSync Introduces Real-Time Collaboration Suite for Remote Teams”
- “FreshCart Launches Same-Day Grocery Delivery in 12 New U.S. Markets”
- “DataVault Releases Open-Source Data Encryption Platform for SMBs”
Funding announcement headlines
Formula: [Company] Raises $[Amount] [Round] to [Growth Goal]
- “NovaBio Raises $45M Series B to Expand Precision Medicine Platform”
- “FinEdge Closes $12M Seed Round Led by Sequoia Capital”
- “GreenLoop Secures $80M to Scale Circular Packaging Across Europe”
- “HealthBridge Raises $22M Series A to Bring Telehealth to Rural Communities”
Partnership headlines
Formula: [Company A] Partners With [Company B] to [Outcome]
- “Stripe Partners With Shopify to Simplify Cross-Border Payments”
- “EduTech and Google Cloud Team Up to Bring AI Tutoring to Public Schools”
- “MedRelay and Mayo Clinic Announce Joint Research Initiative on Remote Diagnostics”
Hiring and leadership headlines
Formula: [Company] Appoints [Name] as [Title] to [Strategic Goal]
- “Axiom Appoints Former AWS VP Sarah Chen as Chief Technology Officer”
- “BrightPath Hires 200 Engineers as Product Development Accelerates”
- “Velo Names Lisa Park as CMO to Lead Global Brand Expansion”
Event headlines
Formula: [Company] Announces [Event Name] on [Date] in [Location]
- “SaaStr Announces Annual 2026 Conference on September 10–12 in San Francisco”
- “CarbonZero Hosts First Global Climate Tech Summit in London This October”
- “DevReach Opens Registration for 2026 Developer Conference in Austin”
Study and data headlines
Formula: [Company] Study Finds [Key Statistic or Finding]
- “[Company] Report: [X]% of [Audience] Now [Key Finding]”
- “[Company] Study Finds [Audience] [Specific Behavior or Trend]”
- “[Company] Data Shows [Metric] Up [X]% Year Over Year”
Headline formulas at a glance
| Headline Type | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Product Launch | [Company] Launches [Product] to [Benefit] | Acme Launches AI-Powered Invoice Tool to Cut Payment Processing Time by 60% |
| Funding | [Company] Raises $[Amount] [Round] to [Goal] | NovaBio Raises $45M Series B to Expand Precision Medicine Platform |
| Partnership | [Company A] Partners With [Company B] to [Outcome] | Stripe Partners With Shopify to Simplify Cross-Border Payments |
| Hiring | [Company] Appoints [Name] as [Title] to [Goal] | Axiom Appoints Former AWS VP Sarah Chen as Chief Technology Officer |
| Event | [Company] Announces [Event] on [Date] in [Location] | SaaStr Announces Annual 2026 Conference on September 10–12 in San Francisco |
| Study / Data | [Company] Study Finds [Key Finding] | [Company] Report: [X]% of [Audience] Now [Key Finding] |
Common headline mistakes to avoid
Most press release headlines fail for one of five reasons. Here’s what to watch for:
| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too long (120+ characters) | Gets truncated in email subject lines and newswire feeds | Cut to 60–100 characters; move details to the subheadline |
| Too vague | “Company Announces Exciting Update” tells the journalist nothing | State the specific news: what happened, who did it, what changed |
| Clickbait language | Phrases like “game-changing” or “revolutionary” erode trust | Let the facts speak; use numbers and specifics instead of superlatives |
| Passive voice | “New Platform Was Launched” is weak and wordy | Use active voice: “[Company] Launches [Product]” |
| Missing company name | Reporters can’t identify who the news is about at a glance | Include the company name in the first half of the headline |
How to structure a press release headline and subheadline
A standard press release uses two headline layers:
- Main headline (required). States the core news in under 100 characters. This is what appears in email subject lines and newswire listings.
- Subheadline / dek (optional). Adds one supporting detail – a statistic, customer impact, or timeline – that wouldn’t fit in the main headline.
For example:
- Headline: “Acme Launches AI-Powered Invoice Tool to Cut Payment Processing Time by 60%”
- Subheadline: “The new platform processes over 10,000 invoices per minute and is available to businesses starting today.”
The subheadline should be written in sentence case and can be a full sentence. It’s your chance to add context without cluttering the main headline.
Optimizing headlines for search and distribution
Your headline does double duty: it needs to appeal to journalists and perform well on newswires and in search results. A few tips:
- Include target keywords early. If your target phrase is “headlines for press releases,” work it into the first 60 characters so it isn’t truncated.
- Avoid special characters. Exclamation marks, ALL CAPS, and excessive punctuation look spammy on newswires and in email inboxes.
- Test the subject line. Your headline often doubles as the email subject when you pitch via a media pitch. Preview it in an email client before sending.
- Match the headline to the body. Journalists lose trust if the headline promises something the release doesn’t deliver. Make sure the first paragraph supports the headline directly.
If you’re distributing through a newswire, review the formatting requirements of your chosen service. Our guide to PR Newswire alternatives covers how different platforms handle headlines.
Which of these is the strongest press release headline?
Correct. It names the company, states the news (funding amount and round), and explains the purpose – all under 80 characters.
“BrightPath Raises $18M Series A to Expand AI Tutoring Platform” is the strongest option. It follows all seven rules: specific, active voice, names the company, includes a number, and states the news directly.
Putting it into practice
Writing strong headlines for press releases is a learnable skill. Start with the formula that matches your announcement type, follow the seven rules, and test the result in an email subject line before sending.
If you’re building your broader PR strategy, pair this with a solid PR plan and smart press release timing. For startups without a PR team, our startup PR guide covers how to get coverage from scratch.
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Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
How long should a press release headline be?
Keep press release headlines between 60 and 100 characters. This is long enough to convey the news clearly but short enough to display fully in email subject lines and on newswire feeds without getting cut off.
Should press release headlines use title case or sentence case?
Use title case. This is the standard convention across newswires like PR Newswire and Business Wire. Title case capitalizes the first letter of each major word, giving the headline a formal, professional appearance.
Can I use a question as a press release headline?
Avoid questions in press release headlines. Journalists expect headlines that state the news directly. A question introduces ambiguity and can feel like clickbait. Lead with the factual announcement instead.
How many headlines should a press release have?
One main headline and optionally one subheadline. The main headline states the core news in under 100 characters. The subheadline adds a supporting detail, statistic, or context that wouldn’t fit in the main headline.