A boilerplate is a short, standardized paragraph at the end of a press release that describes the company. It typically runs between 50 and 100 words (the median was 70 in 16 releases we measured in September 2026) and gives journalists quick background context about who the organization is, what it does and why it matters.
A strong boilerplate answers three questions in under a minute of reading: what the company does in one sentence, when and where it was founded and who leads it, and one or two proof points like user count, revenue range or notable customers. Include the company website at the end.
Example boilerplate
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Common mistakes to avoid
- Over 100 words: journalists skim, keep it tight
- Marketing superlatives like "leading", "best-in-class", "world-class"
- Outdated metrics: refresh your boilerplate at least twice a year
- Missing website or wrong URL
Guides and examples
- 15 boilerplate examples by type of organisation
- Press release examples, with the boilerplate in place
Related terms
- Press Release - A formal written statement distributed to media outlets to announce something newsworthy about a company or organization.
- Dateline - The line at the beginning of a press release that states the city and date of the announcement.
- Media Kit - A collection of materials that gives journalists everything they need to write about your company.
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