Press releases that include multimedia—images, infographics, video snippets—tend to attract more attention from journalists and online audiences. However, startups and organizations often struggle to prepare assets correctly for distribution. This guide solves that by detailing how to create and format multimedia assets cost-effectively for press release submission via Pressdia in Nigeria this year. You’ll learn best practices for image selection, infographic design, video clip creation, hosting options, and integration into your release. We’ll also cover Nigerian-specific advice (outlet preferences for visuals), credibility considerations (alt text, captions, licensing), and collaborations with Talented Women Network, Empire Magazine Africa and Crest Africa to source or co-create assets. Properly prepared multimedia enhances engagement, improves SEO for online versions, and increases pickup likelihood.
Why Multimedia Matters in Press Releases
In a media landscape saturated with text-only announcements, multimedia assets help your press release stand out. Journalists often prefer releases with ready-to-use images or infographics, reducing their workload. Online platforms may embed visuals, boosting social shares and SEO through image search. For Nigerian releases, visuals contextualizing local impact—photos from Lagos events, infographics with Nigerian market data—make stories more relatable. Addressing the “dry text-only release” problem, incorporating multimedia increases engagement, improves pickup rates, and strengthens brand perception.
Planning Multimedia Assets Cost-Effectively
Creating high-quality multimedia need not be expensive. Plan assets that align with your announcement and available resources:
- Images and Photos
- Source Existing Visuals: Use product screenshots, event photos, or team images you already own. Ensure they are high-resolution (preferably 1200×800 px or higher) and well-lit.
- Basic Photo Shoots: If new visuals are needed, arrange simple smartphone or budget photography sessions focusing on clarity and relevance (e.g., showing a product in use by Nigerians).
- Stock Photos Cautiously: For generic visuals, choose high-quality, royalty-free stock images that reflect Nigerian contexts (e.g., Lagos skyline, local markets). Ensure licensing allows press use.
- Source Existing Visuals: Use product screenshots, event photos, or team images you already own. Ensure they are high-resolution (preferably 1200×800 px or higher) and well-lit.
- Infographics
- Highlight Key Data: Convert Nigerian-specific data or statistics into simple charts or diagrams. Tools like Canva or free online infographic makers can produce straightforward visuals.
- Design Consistency: Use brand colors and fonts for recognition. Keep layouts clean, with clear labels and concise text.
- Localization: Include local markers—maps of Nigeria or icons representing local markets—to reinforce context.
- Accessibility: Provide text descriptions or simplified versions for audiences with limited bandwidth.
- Highlight Key Data: Convert Nigerian-specific data or statistics into simple charts or diagrams. Tools like Canva or free online infographic makers can produce straightforward visuals.
- Video Clips
- Short and Focused: Create brief clips (30–60 seconds) introducing a spokesperson or demonstrating a product feature. For smartphone recordings, ensure stable framing and clear audio.
- Hosting: Upload to accessible platforms (e.g., YouTube unlisted or your website) and include links in the release. Confirm that journalists can embed or download easily.
- Captions/Subtitles: Add captions to accommodate viewers in noisy environments or those who watch without sound.
- Short and Focused: Create brief clips (30–60 seconds) introducing a spokesperson or demonstrating a product feature. For smartphone recordings, ensure stable framing and clear audio.
- Audio Clips
- Podcasts or Soundbites: If relevant, record short audio statements or podcast snippets discussing the announcement context. Host on podcast platforms or your site, providing links for journalists.
- Podcasts or Soundbites: If relevant, record short audio statements or podcast snippets discussing the announcement context. Host on podcast platforms or your site, providing links for journalists.
- Document Attachments
- Whitepapers or Reports: If your announcement involves research or data, include a concise PDF summary. Ensure it is well-designed and lightweight for easy download.
- Whitepapers or Reports: If your announcement involves research or data, include a concise PDF summary. Ensure it is well-designed and lightweight for easy download.
By planning assets around existing resources and free/low-cost tools, organizations can prepare multimedia effectively without large budgets.
Formatting and Technical Requirements for Pressdia
Pressdia may have specifications for submission; follow these guidelines to ensure smooth processing:
- Image Formats and Sizes
- Preferred formats: JPEG or PNG. Keep file sizes under recommended limits (e.g., <1–2 MB) while maintaining clarity.
- Resolution: At least 300 dpi for print-quality, but for online distribution, 1200×800 px is sufficient.
- Alt Text Descriptions: Provide concise alt text for each image, describing content for accessibility and SEO when republished online.
- Preferred formats: JPEG or PNG. Keep file sizes under recommended limits (e.g., <1–2 MB) while maintaining clarity.
- Infographic Specifications
- Export as PNG or JPEG at appropriate resolution. For long infographics, consider slicing into sections or providing a downloadable PDF.
- Include a brief caption or description highlighting key insights.
- Export as PNG or JPEG at appropriate resolution. For long infographics, consider slicing into sections or providing a downloadable PDF.
- Video Links
- Host videos on reliable platforms ensuring embed compatibility. Provide direct URLs in the release.
- Indicate file formats or embed codes if required by journalists.
- Host videos on reliable platforms ensuring embed compatibility. Provide direct URLs in the release.
- Naming Conventions
- Name files clearly: e.g., “StartupName_ProductDemo_Lagos.jpg” so journalists understand context immediately.
- Avoid generic file names (IMG_001).
- Name files clearly: e.g., “StartupName_ProductDemo_Lagos.jpg” so journalists understand context immediately.
- Licensing and Usage Rights
- State usage rights in the release: “Image courtesy of [Startup Name], free for editorial use.” This clarifies permissions and encourages use.
- State usage rights in the release: “Image courtesy of [Startup Name], free for editorial use.” This clarifies permissions and encourages use.
- Submission Process
- Upload multimedia assets during Pressdia submission via Pressdia’s order page following prompts or guidelines.
- If assets exceed size limits, provide links to download folders (e.g., Google Drive with direct access). Ensure links do not expire prematurely.
- Upload multimedia assets during Pressdia submission via Pressdia’s order page following prompts or guidelines.
Adhering to these technical requirements solves the “broken or unusable assets” problem, ensuring journalists receive usable materials promptly.
Integrating Multimedia with Release Content
Multimedia should complement and reinforce the written message:
- Align Visuals with Key Points
- Select images or infographics that illustrate the main problem and solution described in the release. For example, if announcing a new app feature, include a screenshot showing the feature in action within a Nigerian context.
- Select images or infographics that illustrate the main problem and solution described in the release. For example, if announcing a new app feature, include a screenshot showing the feature in action within a Nigerian context.
- Use Captions to Add Context
- Provide brief captions explaining what the image or infographic shows and its relevance. For instance: “Infographic: Mobile payment adoption growth among Lagos SMEs.”
- Provide brief captions explaining what the image or infographic shows and its relevance. For instance: “Infographic: Mobile payment adoption growth among Lagos SMEs.”
- Embed Links Naturally
- In the body of the release, reference assets: “See infographic illustrating market impact [link],” or “Watch a brief demo video here [link].” This signals to journalists where to find visuals.
- In the body of the release, reference assets: “See infographic illustrating market impact [link],” or “Watch a brief demo video here [link].” This signals to journalists where to find visuals.
- Accessibility Considerations
- For audiences with limited bandwidth, offer low-resolution versions or text summaries of infographic data. This inclusivity ensures broader usability.
- For audiences with limited bandwidth, offer low-resolution versions or text summaries of infographic data. This inclusivity ensures broader usability.
By integrating multimedia effectively, the release becomes more engaging and increases the likelihood of pickup and sharing.
Nigerian-Specific Visual Advice
- Show Local Context
- Use images featuring Nigerian settings: Lagos office scenes, local user interactions, or community events. This resonates more with Nigerian editors and audiences than generic global visuals.
- Use images featuring Nigerian settings: Lagos office scenes, local user interactions, or community events. This resonates more with Nigerian editors and audiences than generic global visuals.
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Ensure visuals respect local norms and represent diversity appropriately. Avoid stereotypes; aim for authentic depictions.
- Ensure visuals respect local norms and represent diversity appropriately. Avoid stereotypes; aim for authentic depictions.
- Highlight People
- Photos of founders or team members (with consent) humanize the story. For female-led startups, featuring women in imagery aligns well with collaborations with Talented Women Network.
- Photos of founders or team members (with consent) humanize the story. For female-led startups, featuring women in imagery aligns well with collaborations with Talented Women Network.
- Data Visualization with Local Data
- When presenting market trends, use Nigerian-specific data points and visualize them in clear charts. This provides relevance and demonstrates local insight.
- When presenting market trends, use Nigerian-specific data points and visualize them in clear charts. This provides relevance and demonstrates local insight.
These considerations address “generic visuals” pitfalls by tailoring assets to Nigerian contexts.
Collaborations for Multimedia Content
- Talented Women Network Partnership
- For stories involving women, collaborate on interview videos or photo features with Talented Women Network. Co-created multimedia content adds authority and shareability.
- For stories involving women, collaborate on interview videos or photo features with Talented Women Network. Co-created multimedia content adds authority and shareability.
- Crest Africa Features
- If your announcement involves broader African themes, request Crest Africa to co-produce an infographic or host a webinar recording, then reference these multimedia assets in your release.
- If your announcement involves broader African themes, request Crest Africa to co-produce an infographic or host a webinar recording, then reference these multimedia assets in your release.
- User-Generated Content
- Encourage early adopters or community members in Nigeria to share images or testimonials that can be incorporated into multimedia assets (with permission). This peer perspective enriches the release.
- Encourage early adopters or community members in Nigeria to share images or testimonials that can be incorporated into multimedia assets (with permission). This peer perspective enriches the release.
Collaborations help startups and organizations access richer multimedia without bearing full production costs.
Maximizing Multimedia Impact Post-Distribution
After distributing via Pressdia:
- Embed Visuals in Follow-Up Pitches
- When emailing key editors, include thumbnails or links to full images/infographics to pique interest.
- When emailing key editors, include thumbnails or links to full images/infographics to pique interest.
- Share on Social Channels
- Post visuals on your startup’s social media, tagging relevant outlets or influencers to drive visibility and secondary coverage.
- Post visuals on your startup’s social media, tagging relevant outlets or influencers to drive visibility and secondary coverage.
- Host Visuals on Your Website
- Create a media page showcasing release assets so journalists and stakeholders can access them easily for future reference.
- Create a media page showcasing release assets so journalists and stakeholders can access them easily for future reference.
- Track Engagement
- Monitor which assets get used by journalists (check coverage articles for embedded images) and which social posts generate engagement. Use insights to refine asset preparation for next releases.
- Monitor which assets get used by journalists (check coverage articles for embedded images) and which social posts generate engagement. Use insights to refine asset preparation for next releases.
These actions ensure multimedia continues delivering value beyond the initial submission.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Low-Quality or Irrelevant Images
- Avoid blurred or generic stock photos. Use clear, contextually relevant visuals.
- Avoid blurred or generic stock photos. Use clear, contextually relevant visuals.
- Missing Captions or Context
- Do not send images without explaining what they depict; always include captions in releases.
- Do not send images without explaining what they depict; always include captions in releases.
- Large File Sizes Causing Delivery Issues
- Compress images appropriately and provide links for large assets instead of embedding huge files.
- Compress images appropriately and provide links for large assets instead of embedding huge files.
- Broken Links or Expired Hosting
- Ensure hosted multimedia links remain active for at least several weeks after distribution.
- Ensure hosted multimedia links remain active for at least several weeks after distribution.
- Ignoring Accessibility
- Do not neglect alt text or low-bandwidth versions; consider all potential users and journalists.
- Do not neglect alt text or low-bandwidth versions; consider all potential users and journalists.
By anticipating these mistakes, you ensure multimedia assets support—and do not hinder—your press release distribution.
Next Steps and Iteration
- Audit Existing Assets
- Review your current image, infographic, and video resources; identify gaps relative to planned announcements.
- Review your current image, infographic, and video resources; identify gaps relative to planned announcements.
- Develop a Multimedia Template
- Create a simple template for infographics and naming conventions for images to streamline creation for each release.
- Create a simple template for infographics and naming conventions for images to streamline creation for each release.
- Plan Collaborations Early
- Engage networks like Talented Women Network or Crest Africa ahead of time to co-create multimedia assets, aligning schedules.
- Engage networks like Talented Women Network or Crest Africa ahead of time to co-create multimedia assets, aligning schedules.
- Test Asset Delivery
- Before submission, test file uploads or hosted links with a small group to ensure accessibility and formatting.
- Before submission, test file uploads or hosted links with a small group to ensure accessibility and formatting.
- Gather Feedback
- After distribution, ask journalists or partners if the assets were useful or if any issues arose; incorporate feedback into future asset preparation.
- After distribution, ask journalists or partners if the assets were useful or if any issues arose; incorporate feedback into future asset preparation.
Iterating on multimedia practices ensures continuous improvement in engagement and pickup rates over time.
Enhance Your Press Release with Powerful Multimedia
Preparing multimedia assets for press release submission via Pressdia elevates your story’s appeal and boosts engagement among Nigerian journalists and audiences. Plan and optimize images, infographics, videos, and related content with Nigerian context, adhere to Pressdia’s technical requirements via Pressdia’s order page, and collaborate with Talented Women Network, Empire Magazine Africa and Crest Africa for richer assets. After distribution, embed multimedia in follow-up pitches, share on social channels, and monitor usage to refine future releases. By incorporating these cost-effective multimedia strategies this year, your press release stands out and secures better coverage. Ready to enhance your release with powerful visuals? Submit via Pressdia and for expert guidance today.
