6 replies to this topic

[jefflilly]

Is there any gain to filling out many different press release systems or is one enough. Do they all submit to the same or do they have their own release board? They all mention sending to Googles and they all want money for the same extras. Jeff

[Bernard]

What is your goal with releasing a press release: To end up in Google/Yahoo News? To be found by major media in your niche industry? To get a cheap backlink on the pr release web site?

I think the first two can be done with one good service.

[jefflilly]

I want to get more visitors to my site as well as any links that might come of it. But my question is this. Is there any gain to or more exposure to doing several releases through different companies, with the same written materials/release or do they all send the release to the same place or places. Jeff

[web-junkie]

Just go with a reputable company to do the PR. Don't spend your money on extras, as they all do basically the same thing. The major coverage is what your looking for here and that's what you will get with just one good submission. They all go to the same basic places. Your PR will be basically equal, all other factors aligned, of course.

[jehochman]

Issue a press release whenever you have significant news to report that would interest a visible market segment.

I've found that the online press release services have been so overwhelmed with PR spam that they are essentially useless. The best results are obtained by generating a custom list of journalists and bloggers who are actually interested in your news. You want to develop relationships and send them stories. You may even want to offer an excluse to one outlet so they can scoop the story.

[Karri]

If it's a newsworthy story to begin with, you have a good shot at getting some press. Keep a running list (in Excel or whatever) of the places and people you submit your story to so you can follow up if appropriate. (And to save yourself time for the next PR you do).

Few more little tips to help you out ...

Submit to a specific person whenever possible. The subject line (if an email) or headline (if an online submission) is super important and mustn't look like spam.

Make sure you get right to the point in your first paragraph. The rest of the release should support this, and be short, credible, and useful/compelling.

I submitted a press release once to a handful of the online PR sites (yes, the "free" ones, although I paid a paltry sum for a bit higher exposure on a couple of them). Somehow it ended up on Canada Newswire and the Globe and Mail noticed the story ... I got some good coverage out of it in the end.

The other benefit of submitting to a few online sites is that your story can come up in the SERPs for that particular subject matter. And if the person reading the release likes what you had to say or how you said it, he may turn into an interested prospect and call you.

Lots of reasons to write press releases though. Not so much the "PR" value of the links as the kind of traffic those links can possibly bring to your site.

Karri

[davidtemple]

I've found that the online press release services have been so overwhelmed with PR spam that they are essentially useless.

Good point Jonathan, that's why PR Web is no longer doing the free press releases. I would at least do a paid $80 one with them and also do some free ones. Like Karri said you never know who's gonna pick it up. I think the biggest problem is when a press release reads like a marketing brochure.

Is it truly newsworthy or has your company just added another product? Think about how it can solve a problem or help in ways other than another ad for your company and don't forget to "optimize" it.