{"id":7579,"date":"2026-10-23T11:14:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T09:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=194551"},"modified":"2026-10-23T11:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T09:14:08","slug":"reasons-why-you-shouldnt-use-your-company-brand-name-in-a-press-release-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/reasons-why-you-shouldnt-use-your-company-brand-name-in-a-press-release-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Reasons Why You Shouldn\u2019t Use Your Company\/Brand Name in a Press Release Title"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/reasons-why-you-shouldnt-use-your-company-brand-name-in-a-press-release-title\/#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>How to make your press release stand out to journalists<\/li>\n<li>When using a brand or company name is a good thing<\/li>\n<li>How to help readers whilst helping yourself and\/or your client<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/members\/budget-featured-release\/\">MyPR<\/a>\u2018s view is that any release with the company name in the title is immediately seen as an advert whereas a title that solves a problem is the one to aim for to get people\u2019s attention, time and action.<\/p>\n<p>The core difference between public relations and paid advertising can be seen in the press release title.<\/p>\n<p>When a journalist or editor scrolls through hundreds of press release headlines a day, a brand name in the title often acts as an immediate visual flag for \u201cthis is a corporate pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here is a detailed breakdown of the arguments against and for including your brand name in a press release title, along with a look at when corporate crises demand it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_You_Should_NOT_Use_Your_Brand_Name_in_the_Title\"><\/span><strong>Why You Should NOT Use Your Brand Name in the Title<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It_Reads_Like_an_Advertisement_Low_Editorial_Value\"><\/span><strong>It Reads Like an Advertisement (Low Editorial Value)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Journalists exist to inform, educate, or entertain their readers\u2014not to publish free promotions. A title that reads \u201cCompany X Launches New Cloud Platform\u201d immediately feels like a sponsored post or advertorial.<\/p>\n<p>Editors automatically filter out self-serving headlines. If the title announces a company accomplishment rather than an industry trend, problem, or news event, it is far more likely to be deleted unread.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It_Misses_the_Hook_Problem_vs_Brand\"><\/span><strong>It Misses the Hook (Problem vs. Brand)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Readers and journalists care about solutions, data, and outcomes, not who provided them (at least initially).<\/p>\n<p>Weak (Brand-First): \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\">Straton Solar<\/a> Launches New Solar Inverter for Small Businesses\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Strong (Problem-First): \u201cNew High-Efficiency Inverters Cut Small Business Power Costs by 30%\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SEO_and_Search_Intent_Favour_the_Topic_Not_Your_Brand\"><\/span><strong>SEO and Search Intent Favour the Topic, Not Your Brand<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Unless your company is a household name (e.g., Apple, Tesla, Google), non-brand keywords carry significantly higher search volume. People search Google for answers to problems (\u201chow to cut load-shedding costs\u201d), not for unknown company names.<\/p>\n<p>Prioritizing broad industry keywords, statistics, or solutions in the headline improves discoverability for journalists searching for source material.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wasted_Headline_Real_Estate\"><\/span><strong>Wasted Headline Real Estate<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Press release distribution networks, RSS feeds, and email subjects truncate titles after 50 to 70 characters. Wasting the first 15\u201320 characters on a brand name starves the headline of its actual news value.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_You_SHOULD_Use_Your_Brand_Name_in_the_Title\"><\/span><strong>Why You SHOULD Use Your Brand Name in the Title<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While problem-first headlines win for standard media pitches, there are specific scenarios where including the brand name is necessary or advantageous:<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"High_Brand_Equity_Public_Recognition\"><\/span><strong>High Brand Equity &amp; Public Recognition<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If the brand name is the news hook, omitting it hurts open rates. When Apple, Eskom, or Sasol makes a move, the brand name itself drives clicks and coverage.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Crises_Corporate_Accountability_and_%E2%80%9CStepping_Out_of_Line%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><strong>Crises, Corporate Accountability, and \u201cStepping Out of Line\u201d<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When a company faces a crisis, product recall, executive departure, or major regulatory issue, attempting to hide the brand name behind a generic problem-first title looks deceptive and cowardly.<\/p>\n<p>In crisis communication, directness builds trust. A headline like \u201cStatement from [Company Name] Regarding Recent Data Outage\u201d signals immediate ownership and official authority.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Corporate_Financial_Disclosures_Investor_Relations\"><\/span><strong>Corporate &amp; Financial Disclosures (Investor Relations)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>For publicly traded companies, regulatory bodies require clear, unambiguous announcements regarding earnings, mergers, acquisitions, and executive changes. These releases are meant for analysts, shareholders, and financial wire services where brand identification must be instant.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Strategic_Partnerships\"><\/span><strong>Major Strategic Partnerships<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When two established entities collaborate, putting both names in the title creates combined authority (e.g., \u201c[Brand A] Partners with [Brand B] to Expand Local Charging Infrastructure\u201d).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Golden_Middle_The_Subtitle_Solution\"><\/span><strong>The Golden Middle: The Subtitle Solution<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If your internal stakeholders or clients demand that the brand name appear at the top of the release, the industry best practice is to split the job between the Title and the Subtitle:<\/p>\n<p>Title (The Hook): Focus 100% on the problem solved, the key statistic, or the industry news value.<\/p>\n<p>Subtitle (The Context): Introduce the company, product, or official attribution immediately beneath the main headline.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Title: Commercial Solar Installation Costs Drop 25% Following Import Tariff Adjustments<\/p>\n<p>Subtitle: Data released by <a href=\"https:\/\/MyPR.co.za\">Straton Solar<\/a> shows growing adoption of hybrid power systems across South African manufacturing hubs.<\/p>\n<p>By keeping the title focused on value and placing the brand in the subtitle, you satisfy editorial criteria while ensuring clear attribution for syndication and archival search.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_Proof\"><\/span><strong>Practical Proof:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>We have A\/B tested headlines with and without company\/brand names in the title, leaving the body exactly the same and data shows that the QUESTION answered title wins hand down on views and clicks.<\/p>\n<p>Your client is more likely to thank you for more orders\/clients than for an ego trip.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Did You See What We Did Here?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Along with making <a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/members\/budget-featured-release\/\">MyPR<\/a> stronger we also used <a href=\"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\">Straton Solar<\/a> as an example \u2013 both are now part of and seen as; \u201cThe Good Guys giving valuable free advice\u201d. All whilst increasing the value and perception towards both companies.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Images\"><\/span><strong>Images:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_194552-2\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-194552-2\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/straton.co.za\/solar\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-194552 size-full lazyload\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" alt width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/When-and-when-not-to-use-your-company-name-in-a-title-scaled.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/When-and-when-not-to-use-your-company-name-in-a-title-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/When-and-when-not-to-use-your-company-name-in-a-title-625x341.jpg 625w, https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/When-and-when-not-to-use-your-company-name-in-a-title-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/When-and-when-not-to-use-your-company-name-in-a-title-768x419.jpg 768w\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-194552-2\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">When and when not to use your company or brand name in a press release title. Photo: MyPR\/Gemini<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Video\"><\/span><strong>Video:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL1DARynQMarUx_zDvixfitYQuq9qjeYPK\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL1DARynQMarUx_zDvixfitYQuq9qjeYPK<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Reasons why you Shouldn\u2019t Use Your Company\/Brand Name in a Press Release TITLE<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Links\"><\/span><strong>Links:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/Reasons why you Shouldn't Use Your Company\/Brand Name in a Press Release TITLE\/2\/\">Boilerplate and Editor\u2019s Notes<\/a><\/strong>.<br \/><strong>More Info on <a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/members\/budget-featured-release\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reasons why you Shouldn\u2019t Use Your Company\/Brand Name in a Press Release TITLE<\/a> here:<\/strong><br \/><strong>X<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/myprcoza.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/myprcoza.bsky.social<\/a><br \/><strong>LinkedIn<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/myprco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/myprco\/<\/a><br \/><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Mypr\/795496447138638\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Mypr\/795496447138638<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/save-with-myprs-monthly-flat-fee\/\">CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Genesis Simple Share error: This location ( after ) has already been used. --><strong><\/p>\n<h3>Track Your Press Release HERE:<\/h3>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"mypr-visibility-box\" readability=\"4.3362831858407\">\n<h4>Check Online Visibility<\/h4>\n<p>Verify where this release is currently indexed:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-pagination pagination\">Pages: <span class=\"post-page-numbers current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Page <\/span>1<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/reasons-why-you-shouldnt-use-your-company-brand-name-in-a-press-release-title\/2\/\" class=\"post-page-numbers\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Page <\/span>2<\/a><\/div>\n<p><em><strong>A MyPR Featured Press Release: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/reasons-why-you-shouldnt-use-your-company-brand-name-in-a-press-release-title\/\" target=\"_blank\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to read the original.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents How to make your press release stand out to journalists When using a brand or company name is a good thing How to help readers whilst helping yourself and\/or your client MyPR\u2018s view is that any release with the company name in the title is immediately seen as an advert whereas a &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic","date":"2026-10-23T10:48:35+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3myjywhecoa2k","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3myjywhecoa2k\",\"cid\":\"bafyreifolchbrugohgajl6skbvh7gphdzhfwtqog4hyu2dtwcw5ndlrt4a\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreigvrl6jj3e7hb5mhtbucts6m46ey2ei3wbkueqzji26a3apalhsri\",\"rev\":\"3myjywhekia2k\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","autoblue_publish_document":false,"republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,3],"tags":[38,34],"class_list":["type-post","category-featured","category-news","tag-featured","tag-mypr","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7579\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}