Whats the deal with pressreleases?

[MDalton10]

Just as the title states. I am wondering when is the proper time to use a press release and whats the best way of doing it?

[Andy Crofford]

Recently press releases have become popular as another SEO method. Many people have started writing optimized press releases to build backlinks and get on the front page of Google News for their keyword. This really works well with blended/universal search where Google displays results from several types of media (video, images, news...).

As for frequency, those really serious about it put one out once a month or so. This can get quite costly though.

[Justin Mandel]

The proper time to use a press release is any time you have any change that is relevant to your business. Smart marketers make use of opportunities to generate more publicity which when done right brings one more attention, more notoriety, and more *traffic* to ones website.

The best way of creating press releases is to use relevant interesting writing that helps inform readers about your businesses changes which is written from a 3rd persons point of view (unlike advertising).

The best way of submitting them is to use paid sites like PRWeb Press Release Distribution Increases Online Visibility and Web Traffic which will do more to generate traffic for you then free submission sites (you get what you pay for).

Originally Posted by MDalton10

Just as the title states. I am wondering when is the proper time to use a press release and whats the best way of doing it?

It sure can get expensive! Typically a publicist can charge hundreds if not thousands of dollars to write and submit press releases.

Once a month might actually not be often enough since one should submit press releases as ones business changes. For example:

• Are you launching a new product?
• Did you write a new blog post?
• Did you form a new JV?
• Did you write a new article?
• Did you just create a new video?

Typically any successful business will do many of these things all in a months time, so it is best to submit press releases in accord with these changes.

As for frequency, those really serious about it put one out once a month or so.

It sure can - that's why I created an affordable solution for internet marketers who want to take advantage of using press releases...see my sig below

This can get quite costly though.

[MDalton10]

I could do a press release for every blog post?

[Justin Mandel]

Absolutely

A new blog posting that you have created is certainly news worthy.

Using a press release sends the BEST kind of people directly to your blog post - those that are interested in exactly what you are offering so you can generate that super targeted, high converting traffic right to your blog post(s)

Originally Posted by MDalton10

I could do a press release for every blog post?

[MDalton10]

Should I buy the best package? Does all the news paper stuff, work well with Internet?

[Rob Anderson]

i like the idea of press releases myself but like safelists i am dubious.
i am sure they work only when you have learned the hard way.

[MDalton10]

Was just reading a review of PRWeb. "For one particular client, we received an average of 121 visits (click-throughs + view-throughs) per release on PRWeb during the first quarter of this year. Those numbers will slowly increase over time due to the long tail of PR" Is 121 views really worth 360 bucks?

[dino_rhino]

i think the bottomline with press releases are the links which is the same with social bookmarks, link exchange and articles.

[miwriting]

Press releases are a great way to get extra exposure and links. You can submit a press release any time you have something newsworthy, but you definitely don't want to write one if there is nothing to report. People will lose interest quickly and it will do more damage than good.

That being said, you can often come up with a slant for almost anything your business is doing. I wrote one press release for a company that had done nothing new in quite awhile, but the company was owned my an army general and that was the slant we took. You just have to be creative about how you look at your business activities.

I think it helps to submit multiple press releases - one a month for 6 months will work wonders. But again, make sure the press release has something to say.

The last thing I would advise is to have a professional writer write your press release. You want to make sure you include all the relevant information and that the press release is written in the proper format. Press releases need to be concise and to the point, but still contain a lot of information.

[Intrepreneur]

While this is on topic, can a Press Release be released to notify that an author (one from ezine articles has just released a free report) I'm thinking of doing this for my client but not sure it's a good thing to do?

I'm thinking a press release like..

Expert Author.. Goober Lady (link to profile) has just released a new report entitled "The Goober Ladys Free Report."

The report reveals...

Continuing on with the press release with a link of where to get the report..

Do press releases work like that?

Sorry if i've hijacked your thread, but least we're on topic :-)

[AaronJones]

MDalton,

You do not need to spend more than the $20 webwire package.(not $360)

Aaron

[miwriting]

Intrepreneur - Yes, you could definitely write a press release for a new report that is just being released. You just need to write it from the standpoint of why that report is valuable - use who, what, where, why and when as a guide for what info to include.

[MDalton10]

Originally Posted by AaronJones

MDalton,

You do not need to spend more than the $20 webwire package.(not $360)

Aaron

Well if you had the money why wouldn't I pick the best one?

[AaronJones]

Originally Posted by MDalton10

Well if you had the money why wouldn't I pick the best one?

What makes you say the expensive one is better?

Aaron

[MDalton10]

80 bucks
The most cost-effective way to build online visibility.

•Online distribution to more than 250,000 subscribers through RSS, PRWeb’s Mobile Network, eMediaWire, Yahoo! News and Topix and made available to Google News.
•Targeted distribution to five industry targets and two regional news feeds.
•Comprehensive reporting and analytics to track the number of full page reads and headline impressions.
•Comparative analysis for every release to help optimize your news for better results.
•24/7 Access to PRWeb Help Desk Support.
•Permanent Hosting on PRWeb.com.
•File attachments.
•Automatic reporting and analysis makes it easy to download results and forward executive summary reports to key stakeholders.

360 bucks
The most comprehensive, full-featured package provides the broadest distribution available and guarantees your message will reach the media, potential buyers, customers and other key influencers.

•Online distribution to more than 250,000 subscribers through RSS, PRWeb’s Mobile Network, eMediaWire, Yahoo! News and Topix and made available to Google News.
•Distribution through the Associated Press to top US newspapers.
•Distribution to our Opt-In Media Database of more than 35,000 journalists and our comprehensive Social Media Network.
•Targeted distribution to ten industry targets, five regional targets and two media digests.
•TweetIt to enable you simultaneously send your news through PRWeb’s online distribution service and Twitter.
•Feature Video to help you yield higher retention rates and drive further action with your news.
•Comprehensive reporting and analytics to track the number of full page reads, headline impressions, visits by country, total search engine traffic and identify key search terms.
•Comparative analysis for every release to help optimize your news for better results.
•Permanent Hosting on PRWeb.com.
•Next Day Distribution.
•Free editorial consultation.
•Automatic reporting and analysis makes it easy to download results and forward executive summary reports to key stakeholders.

Seems like the more exspensive one is better.