What Is a Boilerplate? Definition, Tips, and Examples

People love to overlook the boilerplate in a press release, but little do they know that it’s crucial PR material for showing authority as a company.

Although short in length, boilerplates comprise many important details that make them both engaging and informative. Not only are you competing for the attention of journalists with a boilerplate, but also competing with other companies for more consumers. To measure if your PR efforts made an impact, check out PR analytics software.

Yes, a boilerplate is a paragraph at the end of a press release as previously mentioned. But it also tells the reader who you are and remains consistent for every press release, unless there are minor changes with company details.

If you think of your boilerplate as just another box to check off, you risk losing your reader's engagement. When a boilerplate is lackluster, the reader will not be interested in the company or, worse, have a bad impression of it.

In other words, the boilerplate is how to make journalists want to cover your press release. Just like a media kit attracts partnerships from marketers, an electronic press kit (EPK) attracts music industry professionals.

Purpose of a boilerplate

So, you know what a boilerplate is, but you may be wondering if these few sentences at the end of a press release really matter?

They do matter. They matter to your company. They matter to journalists. They matter to consumers. And boilerplates should matter to you.

Now I understand that a boilerplate isn’t going to solve world hunger or cure all diseases. But in the PR world, they are important.

Journalists have an endless influx of press releases gracing their desks. Boilerplates provide consistency for journalists when they are looking to connect the dots between stories. If they recognize your boilerplate and remember a past story about your company, they are more likely to pay attention to you. And when that happens, it means you have authority as a brand, and with more authority comes more coverage. Ta-da!

Boilerplate components

There are eight essential elements of a boilerplate, and if you can cover all of them in the small space given, then you’re going to be a PR rockstar. They are as follows: 

Company tagline, logo, or catchphrase

These elements are part of your brand identity, and if advertisers have done a good job, your tagline, logo, or catchphrase will be the most recognized part of your brand.

Think about it. If you’re reading hundreds of press releases a day and one comes across your desk that says “Taste the Rainbow,” you won’t need to read any further. You know it’s Skittles and this familiarity will increase the chance of coverage.

What your company does

State what you do so that someone who has no idea who you are, and has no background on the details of your industry, can say, “Oh, that makes sense.” Don’t make this convoluted or difficult to understand.

If the journalist doesn’t know what you do, then how do you expect them to tell others about you?

Awards, honors, and recognitions

A story about someone being the first to accomplish something is always interesting. Are you ranked as one of the best places to work? Did you get an award for most effective software? Have you grown exponentially year over year? Tell the reader about it in your boilerplate.

Impressive metrics

Similar to awards, honors, and recognitions, impressive metrics make for an interesting story. If you’re a startup, include your latest round of funding. If you are a successful company of 12,000 people, then show it off. This is your time to brag about how great your company is and back your claims with numbers.

Stock ticker symbol

Pretty straightforward, but if your company is publicly traded, include it at the beginning of your boilerplate.

Unique positioning

This is your opportunity to tell the reader how you are different from the competition. You don’t want to leave too many things up for interpretation. Determine what makes your company special and different from all of the other people doing similar things.

Your audience 

Who likes you and what do you do for them? If you’re Pampers, your audience is caretakers and your products are diapers and wipes for newborns, babies, and toddlers.

Link to your website

Most of the time you can only provide one website in a press release, so choose the page that aligns with your marketing objectives. Companies drive people to their homepage for more information, and this method is a great way to do it.

How to write a boilerplate

While writing a boilerplate, make sure it is factual and reflects your company's current status and future aspirations correctly. Check out these four components:

Ensure brand consistency

Maintain consistency in reflecting your company's brand messaging in your boilerplate. Let the language of your boilerplate guide reflect your company's formality and professionalism or a more relaxed and modern tone while conveying essential information.

Introduce your business

Create a brief description of your business and its unique value proposition. Focus on informing rather than selling, highlighting what sets your products or services apart from competitors. This concise pitch should illuminate your company's core purpose and strengths.

Provide contact information

Include direct contact information to encourage journalists and readers to connect with your company. Offer a designated point of contact along with a phone number or email address for inquiries.

Conclude with a call to action (CTA)

Wrap up your boilerplate with a gentle call to action, inviting readers to engage further. This could involve visiting your website for additional information, following your company on social media, or exploring a new product or service. Keep the CTA relevant and understated, avoiding overt sales pitches.

Before starting your boilerplate, keep in mind these seven tips throughout your process.

• Gather all current statistics and data about your company before writing
• Nail down your boilerplate before you get going on press releases
• Balance your objective with your mission
• Make your company sound like it’s making waves in its industry
• Market your products
• Be concise and avoid jargon

Now that these tips are top of mind, we’ll dive into what elements make up a boilerplate.

Where does the boilerplate go on a press release? 

Understanding the location of a boilerplate within a press release helps you visualize where you'll place it once completed. When all of the below pieces work together in a clear way, a press release becomes more effective.

And if you need a deeper dive into how to write a press release, we have you covered.

Boilerplate template

Use the customizable template below to maintain consistency and effectively communicate key details about your business in your press releases.

About [Business Name]

[Business Name] is a pioneering [industry] company, established in [Year] with a mission to [company mission statement]. We empower [target audience] with innovative [products/services] that [key benefit]. [Business Name] has made a significant impact by [mention a key achievement or statistic]. Our dedication to [core value] has earned us recognition as [mention an award or industry leadership position].

Connect with [Business Name] by visiting our website: [Business website] or following us on social media: [List social media platforms, e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter]. For media inquiries, please contact [Contact Person Name], [Contact Person Title] at [Contact Email Address].

*downloadable company logo*

Boilerplate example

Explore the below boilerplates from some of the most recognized brands.

lululemon athletica inc.

lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) is a healthy lifestyle-inspired athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training, and most other sweaty pursuits, creating transformational products and experiences which enable people to live a life they love. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit WWW.LULULEMON.COM.

Netflix

Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with 139 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.

NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer, and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiary brands include Converse, which designs, markets, and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel, and accessories; and Hurley, which designs, markets, and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel, and accessories. For more information, NIKE, Inc.'s earnings releases and other financial information are available on the Internet at http://investors.NIKE.com. Individuals can also visit http://news.NIKE.com and follow @NIKE.

Furbo Dog Camera

And for those start-ups out there looking for an example, check this one out.

Furbo is the world's first treat-tossing camera designed just for dogs. It lets you see, talk and toss a treat to your dog when you're not home. Launched in 2016, Furbo Dog Camera is the best-selling dog camera on Amazon in five countries. Furbo is a property of Tomofun, a pet technology company dedicated to bringing joy and innovation to every pet lover in the world. Tomofun is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. with offices in Taiwan, Japan, and Vancouver. For more information, visit www.furbo.com.

Now it's your turn

You now know the ins and outs of a boilerplate. From the format of a boilerplate to boilerplate examples, you have all the tools you need to write the perfect one for your company.

If you’re looking for more public relations guidance, check out what a media pitch is and how it can help you spread the word about your product.

This article was originally published in 2019. It has been updated with new information.