Stop Writing "Proud to Announce" (Your Boss Will Thank You)

Right now, somewhere in America, a communication professional is typing these words: "XYZ Company is proud to announce..."

Stop. Just stop.

The Epidemic of Ego-Driven Announcements

How many press releases will hit editors' inboxes today starting with "proud to announce" or "excited to launch"? Thousands. Maybe tens of thousands. And 99% of them will be ignored, deleted, or worse—actively mocked in newsrooms across the country.

Yet we keep writing them. Why?

"Because that's what the boss wants."

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Your boss wants results, not corporate cheerleading. And the "proud to announce" language delivers the opposite of the intended results. Research shows it reduces media pickup by 73% and stakeholder engagement by 84%.

Your boss doesn't want fewer media hits. Your boss wants more.

The Real Problem: Mindset, Not Messaging

The issue isn't grammar or style. When we start with "proud to announce," we're talking about ourselves, to ourselves, for ourselves. We're announcing our feelings instead of delivering value.

Compare these two approaches:

Old Way: "ABC Corp is proud to announce the launch of our new customer service platform."

Better Way: "Local businesses can now resolve customer complaints 50% faster with ABC Corp's new platform."

See the difference? One is about us. One is about them.

The AC-SE Approach: A Mindset Shift

This is why I developed the AC-SE framework:

• Audience-Centered: Start with what matters to them

• Context-Aware: Understand their culture, generation, gender nuances

• Simplicity-Driven: Cut the corporate fluff

• Engagement-Focused: Drive action, not awareness

  
  

It's not about better writing. It's about better thinking.

Challenge Your Corner Office

If you're tired of writing announcements that announce nothing, it's time for a conversation with leadership. But don't lead with criticism, lead with data.

We've created a quick Executive Communication Assessment that helps C-suite leaders see how their communication preferences impact bottom-line results. It takes 5 minutes and delivers insights they can't ignore.

The assessment reveals:

• How audience-focused is their messaging

• Whether their communication drives action or just activity

• Why "proud to announce" language is killing their media coverage

• What changes would deliver an immediate Return on Investment (ROI)

  
  

Change Starts at the Top

Here's what we've learned: Most executives are unaware that their communication preferences are undermining their own goals. They think "professional" means "formal." They think "corporate" means "credible."

They're wrong, but they're intelligent. Show them the data. Show them the alternative. Show them what better looks like.

The assessment asks pointed questions like:

• "Your press releases typically start with what?"

• "How do you measure communication success?"

• "What happens when communication fails in your organization?"

  
  

Most leaders will see their blind spots immediately. And once they see them, they can't unsee them.

Your Next Move

Before you write another "proud to announce" press release, send your boss this assessment. Frame it as market research and position it as competitive intelligence. Call it whatever gets their attention.

Just don't call it "communication training." That sounds like overhead. Call it "revenue optimization through strategic messaging." That sounds like results. Because at the end of the day, that's precisely what it is.

Find the assessment here: https://bearnecessitiescom.wixsite.com/bear-necessities-com/general-4