A Press Release for $97!!??

[Sarah Harvey]

Okay, call me flabbergasted, but there are tons of people on here that offer services and charge an absolute fortune. I just viewed a thread where someone stated they charge $97.00 for a press release.

God damnit... with all the information freely available on the internet on how to write your own press release, it should be evident that it will not cost you (the person writing the press release) an arm or a leg to do it.

That is ridiculous. People assume people are that dumb.

Realistically any person can write a press release, and if it has newsworthy elements in it, then it will be all fine. An editor checks the work in any case because no one will release a press release they way they accept it. Gosh, I am a freelance writer and this is quite evident in my line of work.

So people, be aware of others on this forum, and do your research.

I would die before I pay someone $97.00 for a press release lol.

Nope...hell would freeze over!

Good luck!

[Monetize]

Originally Posted by Sarah Harvey

Okay, call me flabbergasted, but there are tons of people on here that offer services and charge an absolute fortune. I just viewed a thread where someone stated they charge $97.00 for a press release.

God damnit... with all the information freely available on the internet on how to write your own press release, it should be evident that it will not cost you (the person writing the press release) an arm or a leg to do it.

That is ridiculous. People assume people are that dumb.

Realistically any person can write a press release, and if it has newsworthy elements in it, then it will be all fine. An editor checks the work in any case because no one will release a press release they way they accept it. Gosh, I am a freelance writer and this is quite evident in my line of work.

So people, be aware of others on this forum, and do your research.

I would die before I pay someone $97.00 for a press release lol.

Nope...hell would freeze over!

Good luck!

Why bemoan other warriors who are offering a valuable
and valid service?

Perhaps everyone could possibly write and distribute their
own press release but it can be time-consuming and some
people would rather outsource this sort of task.

Besides, $97 is a reasonable price, cheap as compared to
other places, if you ask me.

But you're free to do your own thing

[BIG Mike]

I think that you're making an assumption that people pay for them solely because they do not know how to write them. That may be true in some cases, but in others it's called outsourcing.

Is it worth $97 to save myself 30 or 45 minutes of work? Or maybe I'm just not really all that good at it?

Why do people offline pay to have resumes written? It's the same thing - someone who is talented at a given task deserves to be paid a reasonable amount of money for their work.

[Bev Clement]

$97 is expensive for a press release, I guess you would think someone should charge $2 only for article writing. What about those who are doing offline, and charging $500 a month for hosting and a 10 minute update to the site.

$97 is less than £50 which is not that much, so would you write it for $20 for me if you think $97 is too much?

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by Sarah Harvey

Okay, call me flabbergasted, but there are tons of people on here that offer services and charge an absolute fortune. I just viewed a thread where someone stated they charge $97.00 for a press release.

God damnit... with all the information freely available on the internet on how to write your own press release, it should be evident that it will not cost you (the person writing the press release) an arm or a leg to do it.

That is ridiculous. People assume people are that dumb.

Realistically any person can write a press release, and if it has newsworthy elements in it, then it will be all fine. An editor checks the work in any case because no one will release a press release they way they accept it. Gosh, I am a freelance writer and this is quite evident in my line of work.

So people, be aware of others on this forum, and do your research.

I would die before I pay someone $97.00 for a press release lol.

Nope...hell would freeze over!

Good luck!

You must run your business very differently from the way I run mine. I have paid $300 for a press release. It's not just about writing it, but submitting it and using resources to promote the press release.

Maybe you run a shoestring business, but I believe in outsourcing things that are not my forte -- and making money off someone else's labour and skills. That's caled capitalism, and if you don't employ it you'll always just make peanuts.

[Sarah Harvey]

Well let's look at it again- someone who has no experience in field may very well look for someone to do it for them. But it would be very stupid to assume every person has $97.00

People come from all walks of life and some countries are not first world countries like America or the UK you know.

If you assume all your clients are american how naive would that be? If I assumed every person I work with is well-off, have money to spend and is from the UK, how naive would that make me?

No...realistically people limit themselves to offering a service like that for $97.00

And to be honest...what market do you think this is? It's the internet marketing scene. If people complain about forking out $97.00 for a really damn good product that can make them money, how many would you expect will go for a service that costs $97.00?

Nope...people here have it all wrong.

If you can make money from a press release, sure, if not, why charge such a high amount?

I bet that person has only received a few requests for press releases, however if it was more reasonable, then they would have more work, granted, but it's same principles as where I work here in the UK. I work with hotels. The ones that do the worse in terms of reaching their goals are the most expensive hotels. It doesn't add up no matter how hard they try. The hotels that do the best, are the ones that have rack rates of 249 pounds for a single 2 bedroom apartment and 149 pounds for a one bedroom apartment, per night, but they look at their busiest times in the year. All the holiday times and the big events is when they charge the most. When they are quieter they lower their prices, to meet the needs of the people. It is clever. So should someone be when they deliver a service. Be flexible and you will always have work.

[KarlWarren]

Sarah,

you're more than welcome to write press releases for me for only £25.

I can see your point, but bear in mind, people do pay the rates, so people will keep charging them.

Same as for designers... think a new designer who comes in and charges $30 for a minisite worries me? Not in the slightest. Of course, people will pay them, they'll get their work. But other people will pay me, and get their work. And BOTH sets of people will be happy.

[Christopher R Everson]

Didn't willies product, that 20 ways to make $100 a day or whatever, make like $50,000 from a well written press release? (may have been multiple, I think Pat Pretty started a thread about it).

Many businesses and service providers pay people full time just to handle press releases and press information, and believe me, these people get paid big time. The "press" (broad term, I know) is often comprised of the most viewed and most trusted sources of information.

I'd say $97 may even be way too cheap for this kind of service. Your business model should be one targeted enough, or well set up enough that this should be no big expense, and something you earn quickly.

[Imran Naseem]

Time = Money.

I do think $97.00 is quite a lot though, but if the Press Release is good enough to get you on Google News and convert your product into sales then you can make your $97.00 back in no time.

Risky people who are serious about their business spend money and take risks.

[BIG Mike]

Huh? You're not comparing apples to apples - there isn't a "High" or "Low" season per se for services like Press Release writing.

If your target market is primarily American or UK, where do other countries come into play? In any event, are Internet Marketers obligate to subsidize there products and services for those from poorer countries?

The only one complaining about the price is you - and you'd most likely lose your bet. Businesses charge what they believe the market will bear - and service type businesses charge for the skills and expertise provided.

I would be very, very hesitant to hire someone for $27 to write a press release unless I had past experience with their work.

And incidentally, online press release services do not all (if any) have editors to correct them.

[Sarah Harvey]

Yes, companies will pay people full time to write press releases. In my opinion that company has far too much time and money on their hands.

Do you know what a normal freelance writer gets paid or even a full-time journalist for a normal newspaper agency.

Not as much as you think.

Personally I would make more money charging £25 as Karl suggested and doing 3-4 press releases in a day then being a full time journalist.

Sad truth. ><

Agreed, it is very nice to have a service where you can charge $300.00 but at some point you will feel the cinch if you depend on writing press releases for a living. The only time that model will work is if you combine it with another service or you run your own business that does not deal with press releases.

To be honest press releases are easy. I think I was more shocked to discover people charge that much, when it's so easy to write them. From my point of view that is.



Edit -> Yup online websites do not have the luxury of being able to afford real editors. That is the truth. In the real world, a press release is still just a press release. someone offering information about their new product/business or event. It's not the gold at the end of a rainbow. In real newspapers, you have editors correcting and editing the release as they see fit.

[CSwrite]

When you consider that there may be a great deal of research involved in writing the press release, that price becomes quite a bit more reasonable.

My personal favorite is when a client gives me a URL (that points to a page that has one general paragraph on it) and tells me to come up with a release. Nothing else - just "I need a press release." The time spent finding the newsworthy angle, researching the business and then putting it all together so that it will not only make sense, but also drive traffic to their site, and convert - if that's not worth at least $97, then I don't know what is.

[Christopher R Everson]

I think you just may be fairly versed in your ability to write press releases, and if nothing else, are able to find those that are.

I congratulate you on your abilities, but I think you need to keep in mind the average person won't. You also don't know of the time constraints, market demand, and a few other factors about the business that dictate that $97 price tag. For all we know, $97 is the lowest that company or individual can go to make it worthwhile.

But if nothing else, we've proven there are tons of people willing to pay $97, and even some people who WOULDN'T pay less! Heck, this is sounding like something I might want to get into!

[Monetize]

Originally Posted by Christopher R Everson

Heck, this is sounding like something I might want to get into!

You're not the only one, there are ppl raking it in with a
press release business. I mean gazillionaires.

So much money, so little time

[alfardo]

I think $97 is a fair price to pay for a press release. You have to consider the rewards from it. How much benefit will you get from the press release. I sent out a couple of press releases over the last few months, one I paid $27 dollars for the other I paid $137 (nice price point). believe it or not the y were the exact same press release and from the higher price point my traffic increased almost instantly and sales for that day paid for the press relaease by a multiple of almost 10.

[Darrell Hagan]

I'd be willing to pay 97 coconuts for a good press release if I needed one. Because even though I'm a competent writer, that doesn't mean that I'm good at it, especially with press releases.

I like to save money just as much as the next person but I also don't mind paying a fair price for a good value.

[CSwrite]

Another point to consider here is perception of value. A press release can be an integral part of branding - it's the face that the media sees. Do you want to trust someone that charges a pittance and may turn out a release that could harm your company's image, or would you rather entrust the job to someone that charges a little more, and will present the absolute best face to the media and the public?

Cary

[Neil Morgan]

If the market doesn't like the price they're asking for their service, they won't get any business and they'll adjust their pricing.

They don't need everyone and their mothers to approve their price to make their chosen business model successful.

...not that we know their business model.

I worked for a company once that paid £2,000 per month to a marketing company to send out one HTML email to less than 1,000 people. And they were happy to do it because they made a decent return on it.

Cheers,

Neil

[Sarah Harvey]

CSwrite, if a client pointed to a paragraph and said write a press release and you have to "find" the angle, then you can't be that good at your job. A journalist's job is to search and provide information. You are not a journalist. If you write a press release the client should give you all the details required. It is your job, to point out to your client that they need to supply you with complete information.

In fact you should have a standard question sheet that you can supply to people like that.

A writer's job is to write. Not anything else. We take the information provided to us and write as it is. As I said before...to write a press release isn't science. I would laugh the day I see someone write a full thesis on how to write a press release.

Business owners can be ignorant when it comes to a press release, but you should be ready with the usual reply if they do not supply enough information. You have to 'educate' them on what is required if I have to think of a word.

And this gets me laughing too... a press release isn't marketing as so many IM books try to sell you. It is what it is. A press release. The job of a press release is to provide information and a link/point to your business. It is to make people aware of your business and what is going on. In internet marketing you have all kinds of people telling you how you should write a press release that will convert...I mean are you people insane. It's not there to convert and I want to see you try send a press release like that to a normal real world newspaper. You will get a lovely rejection note or you find your press release pleasantly edited to a normal standard. Don't make it into something it isn't. It isn't there for your IM efforts. It's a damn press release.

A company that sends out a press release for any event/ or happening, is trying to keep their name on people's lips. It should be very informative though and editors do not take selling, or even the mention of anything similar, lightly. They will outright reject it. That is the truth. Here is a nice piece of advice. Study journalism and then go work for a big newspaper agency and then come back and tell me all you told me before with a smile.

Good luck!

[Anna Johnson]

Hi Sarah, when you say 'press release'... do you mean:

1. Some generic press release for yet another ebook on how to make money online that's really just aimed at getting back-links for search engine purposes?

or

2. A killer press release aimed at getting major media coverage (and back-links for SEO purposes too)?

Big difference. Sure, a competent article writer may be able to do the first for less than $97... but an expert at getting publicity i.e. finding the hook that appeals to journalists will charge a few hundred dollars. And will be worth every cent.

[Christopher R Everson]

Someone should call Patrick Pretty and see what his open on this thread is. I believe (i'm really almost positive its him) he's actually written a fairly in depth guide on press releases, on the "old" forum. I know he's used them with great success.

There are tons of things that go into a press release. A beginner would have no idea where to even begin, let alone write something attracted attention, and even then, let alone one that produced sales or leads on the spot.

Unfortunately for your argument sarah, this isn't offline. The ease and simplicity of sending an internet press release for the most part make for a different set of rules.

Stuff that flys online, doesn't work offline, and vice versa.

I don't get the logic that a press release shouldn't somehow sell yourself. We aren't fortune 500 companies that just need to be remembered or look good in the newspaper, these are small time business people that often want a tangible ROI with everything they do. If you have the skill to, or can afford $97 to get the skills to make some money come release time, why the hell not make some cash?

If you told Exxon "Hey, I'm writing your press release. Do you want me to get people to say your business name in their heads, or do you want me to write it in a way that could land you several huge leads?"

It sounds like this is something you did in a past job that came naturally to you. Why don't you start a press release business where you charge $25 big ones, and do things your way? You are pretty convinced that the current model is wrong, so obviously yours would work, correct?

[CSwrite]

Originally Posted by Sarah Harvey

CSwrite, if a client pointed to a paragraph and said write a press release and you have to "find" the angle, then you can't be that good at your job.

And this gets me laughing too... a press release isn't marketing as so many IM books try to sell you.

Note to self - must send email broadcast to clients in the morning that the reason they now dominate the first three pages of search engines for their keywords, or land number one spots in Google News, or see an increase in sales/visitors/leads is because:

1. I'm bad at my job
2. Press releases are useless for marketing purposes



In all seriousness, as Christopher pointed out, the two worlds are very different, and like it or not, press releases are effective marketing tools, especially if they are well written.

I actually do have a form to fill out, but many clients simply ignore it.

Why?

Because they can't find their own angle. They know they need promotion, but they don't know how to get to the point of formulating the request. It drives me nuts, but I also enjoy the challenge of finding that angle, that hook that will make a difference in their business. Call me crazy.

Sarah, you probably could make a killing charging $25. If that is all that you think your time and effort is worth, more power to you. Perception of value.

If someone who doesn't know how to write a press release spends 5 hours struggling on it, how much time and money will they have wasted? Why not pay someone else to breeze through it, while they are free to keep running their business?

[Bev Clement]

Maybe we charge $97 when we have some spare time and people do pay those prices.

Isn't it arrogant to assume we would get more work if we dropped our prices, when you have no idea the amount of work we have.

I expect the client to give me all the information, but I still have to read, understand and write it for them, and I am not working for £5 an hour. I can go to McD's for that rate.

It seems you are giving your opinion as facts, how about some hard data to back you up. How do you know what is a waste of money, just because you run a business that doesn't want to spend any money, don't assume the rest of the world follows you.

[BIG Mike]

A company that sends out a press release for any event/ or happening, is trying to keep their name on people's lips.

If that isn't marketing 101 then just go ahead and call me a complete and utter failure online and off. Wow!

[Sarah Harvey]

I am quoting you now Christopher:

"There are tons of things that go into a press release. A beginner would have no idea where to even begin, let alone write something attracted attention, and even then, let alone one that produced sales or leads on the spot."

Wow, we must obviously live in the dark ages. There is no such thing as the internet. Yup, obviously a newbie cannot find information on how to write a press release online...

Oh, let me forget... I remember back in school we covered this subject already. Ah, yes...English class. We were required to write a press release and we were taught how to write one. Did your school ever teach you that? Obviously not.

You people make it sound like people are complete idiots. Even if someone doesn't know how to write properly, at some point in their life they would have been taught (at school) how to write a press release. Now if your school didn't teach you that, then all I can say is... ><

But it wouldn't surprise me. Some schools in the USA are concerned with only some subjects and deem other subjects unworthy of being taught. The same in other countries. I guess I am glad I come from South Africa then. We learned about this entire world and all the different nations, and even something like "how to write a press release the correct way," were covered.

Yes, what happens online doesn't work offline. I guess it is so easy. But in reality it can't be if someone has to charge someone $97.00

Believe me, my argument here isn't that I need a press release at a lower price. It's the fact that it is plain ridiculous. If it made so much money, then do it for a living and prove me wrong. That means you do not combine it with anything else. No, I would not accept anyone else's word on the topic of writing a press release. I already studied journalism years ago and I have already worked in newspaper agencies. The fact is if you are so convinced that a press release will bring you money then do it full time. That is the challenge. If you can't-> ..........well you can guess where the door is.



Have fun trying to prove to the world and me that you will make a living off it, especially if you haven't done it before. But wait...I forget one crucial element. The element of -parents, friends, kids, and other warriors. I guess you can make a living off it if you convince people here and your family and friends to buy the service from you.

[Mike X.]

It's all relative in my opinion.

I paid one of my writers $10 the other day for a well written press release but I wouldn't be apposed to paying $100 if it was good enough.

If it gets the job done that you want then it's worth it to some people.

There are many top copywriters out there that charge $25,000 for good copy and then there are guys who charge $150.

Many people are happy to pay $25K because it's that good and they know the value of good copy.

Why complain about what someone charges - you don't have to use them. You could easily go out and fine someone who charges less.

mx

[BIG Mike]

Sarah,

What makes you think anyone has to prove anything to you? You're the one claiming the price is ridiculous so YOU go out and prove these folks are not making money from it.

Your arguments are simply one person's OPINION, not fact. You're speaking in broad generalizations and quite frankly, I'm not even sure why you've got so much energy on this. It's none of your business what someone else chooses to charge for their service.

You people make it sound like people are complete idiots. Even if someone doesn't know how to write properly, at some point in their life they would have been taught (at school) how to write a press release. Now if your school didn't teach you that, then all I can say is... ><

You are still not getting it - you've fixated on the idea that everyone can and should write their own press releases instead of paying someone. The main point going over your head is that a market exists for it.

I know how and have written MANY press releases throughout my career. That doesn't make it mandatory that I always write my own. If I chose to outsource to someone to do it for $97 then that's my business.

[Sarah Harvey]

Mike X I am not interested in using a person who charges $97.00 because I wasn't looking for someone to write a press release for me in any case. *points to siggie to show I like information* I usually read a lot of threads in this forum, and I am a member of over a 50 other forums. Not with this name. :P

So, yes...I happen to read a post when I saw that. So I just made a topic and said what I wanted to and answer what people threw at me. That is how forums work.

Nothing beyond that.

It's common sense to ask why someone would charge $97.00 and see what people respond to that. The same with any product/service. Why would someone charge the amount they do when they can go higher or lower. It's nice to see how people justify their actions.

Big Mike- If you can't prove it then you can't. Just say so. Gosh, I would never offer a service like some people do, that obviously are just looking for money and yet their services are worthless to begin with. The same as someone writing an ebook on how to make money, when they themselves have never done that. That is why a lot of people in this field are so fake. Deal with it. It's the truth. I have a long time ago and yet I love it. People intrigue me!

[Bev Clement]

I was never taught to write a press release in school, but then I wasn't brought up in South Africa where you learnt everything that the rest of us didn't.

Of course we have to bow to your greatness, as you seem to think there is the Sarah way which is the right way or the wrong way which is anything which isn't Sarah's way. Of course you wouldn't accept anyone elses word because only yours is to be accepted and believed.

So what are you doing here, if you know it all and are you doing what you challenge the rest to us to do.

I have no intention of spending my time writing press releases, because that isn't my business model, and I know where the door is, and it can kick me in the arse if you want.

I don't sell press releases to family, friends or warriors. I have clients who come who know nothing of the warrior forum. They joined another forum, where they were taught to write a press release exactly the same as an ad for craigslist, and then wondered why it wasn't accepted. To quote you these are people who are idiots because they have no idea how to write a press release. Interesting that one of the people came from South Africa, and they thought they could write a press release as a basic ad.

BTW why do we have to prove anything to you? Again what are you doing here, and why should we take any notice of you, when all you do is argue and think you are right.

[BIG Mike]

It's common sense to ask why someone would charge $97.00 and see what people respond to that. The same with any product/service. Why would someone charge the amount they do when they can go higher or lower. It's nice to see how people justify their actions.

No, that's not what you've done. You took the stance in your OP that $97 was too much to pay and thought it ridiculous. You took the stance in several of your posts that everyone should do it themselves.

I know what a forum is for. You clearly do not understand the purpose of this forum if you have a problem with someone monetizing the writing of press releases (which you clearly do).

[Christopher R Everson]

My school didn't teach me how to write press releases. I don't know if I asked anyone I know at any of my surrounding schools, they'd say they wrote any kind of press release.

I went to a pretty decent private school too, so its not as though I was lacking teaching (just a willing to learn )

You have a way of completely ignoring every argument against yours, except for the ones you feel you have a valid point against.

TIME IS MONEY. Ok? Write that down, I feel like you don't understand it. If I'm so busy that I could make $400 doing something else in the time it takes me to write a press release, then holy crap I'm going to pay someone else a number between $0-400 to do it for me, especially when well written press releases have proven to make money.

Last time I did one was to announce a product I just put in clickbank. I made a few sales right off the bat, which paid for the listing (which was $137, go figure), I netted several hundred new subscribers (potentially thousands, I'll keep it real and say a few hundred profit from), and two new affiliates, one of which did over $1000 gross sales for the product.

From what I've gathered from this thread, and other people, those results weren't really that crazy. Anyway...

Why would South Africans need to learn how to write press releases? I'm IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY ATTACKING ANYONE OR ANYTHING, South Africa isn't nearly as industrialized and business focused as a country compared to the united states. I take it by your grammar and language that you probably went to some kind of business orientated school, or at least one that knew you wouldn't be staying in south africa.

Is it even feasible to do press releases full time? I dont think most publishers would let you send out frequently, let alone diminishing returns. Why would someone need to make it a full time business model, when its a perfect, and as proven several times, a cheap (at $97-137) and profitable compliment. Not to mention, that it could be a sustainable business model if a proven sales process was created, and then modified to be easily changed so you could have a string of products and services that rotate through press release schedules. It would be hard to pull off, probably not rewarding, but it could work.

That argument doesn't hold water in my book anyway, as not everything that yields profit can be done full time. I've made sales from people who've seen my Occupation section on facebook and thought it sounded interesting, and found a link to my product. It was cheap to do, obviously profitable, but you'd be hard pressed to make a business model out of it.

Furthermore, no one really even brought that up as a point of argument to begin with.

While we were all skipping that day of class where they taught "how to write effective press releases for less than $97", you must have missed "how to address and defend points of argument logically and professionally".

[countonuspr]

If someone can charge $97 for a press release and sell them to people, than that is great! If they can sell a press release for $300, than that is great also! If they can a sell a press release for $1,000, than good for them. It really doesn't matter what people charge as long as their is a market for your price point and you deliver good value to the client. If the client is happy, than everyone is happy.

If you were providing a service wouldn't you rather only work with 1 client and make the same amount as if you had to work with 10 clients? If you can focus your energy on helping that one client they are much happier.

Thanks for your opinions.

[BIG Mike]

Big Mike- If you can't prove it then you can't. Just say so. Gosh, I would never offer a service like some people do, that obviously are just looking for money and yet their services are worthless to begin with. The same as someone writing an ebook on how to make money, when they themselves have never done that. That is why a lot of people in this field are so fake. Deal with it. It's the truth. I have a long time ago and yet I love it. People intrigue me!

Are you for real? I guess that makes you a big fake and I am hard pressed to believe you were ever a journalist.

You basically just lumped everyone in this forum together as a scammer - and just got yourself reported as a troll.

[Kevin Riley]

[MINI RANT]

I am so sick and tired of hearing Warriors complain about paying for services to run their business. Ask yourself this: Are you truly running a business or are you just trying to make a few bucks online?

If you're running a business, you should have a budget for building your business. If your budget can't handle $97 for a press release that can vastly increase targeted traffic to your business, then your business is in trouble.

I have never seen more tightfisted entrepreneurs then since I've come here. It's time someone reminded you that you DO have to spend some money to make some money.

[/MINI RANT]

[Sarah Harvey]

It's funny that people retort with "why do we have to prove anything to you."

In this world if you want to be everything you can be, you will damn well prove it.

I studied journalism and a few other things. Can I prove it. Yes. I have worked as a freelancer writer and a journalist. Can I prove it. Yes. 'If' I offered a service where I sell something and it is 'supposed to make money' must I prove it. Hell yes. Nope... we are not just talking screenshots of a paypal account here people. If people deliver value and they can prove that they have the money, because of a service delivered well, then sure. But in this day and age anything can be faked..from screenshots, to testimonials, to people stating on video they have made money. Why would people fake and lie...simple reason as always.

"Fake it till you make it." -> that is if they make it at all.

Oh, I must be a know it all... of course in the forum where everyone is a guru, or the next best thing. Ask yourself the same question...are you a know-it-all in your field. Examine that thought for a second. ^__^

But gosh, you had to mention craiglist...wtf! That **** can fly to hell for all I care. Why people bother with "attempting" to sell on craiglist is beyond me. Most techniques described for selling on there is "illegal" and does not conform to the standard rules. For example...how people use the redirects there, and images etc. I don't even have to go there to know all this...why...because I have read tons of wso's that deal with exactly that. Where is the value in being a "Black Marketer"? That is the term I give to people who obviously try and expose every little thing to gain an advantage and they are actually just spamming, or in most cases being outright deceitful.

[BIG Mike]

Right on Kevin!

This troll seems to think that we're all scammers and idiots. What he or she forgets is just how successful many of the members here are. Without doing anything illegal. Without ripping people off.

It's funny, the ones that bitch and moan the most are usually the ones that aren't making it or will never make it.

So they complain. They make up stories about themselves and try to establish credibility with a questionable background.

You have to wonder why else someone so clearly anti-IM is participating in an IM forum.

This is fun - someone pass me the popcorn and a beer.

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

[MINI RANT]

I am so sick and tired of hearing Warriors complain about paying for services to run their business. Ask yourself this: Are you truly running a business or are you just trying to make a few bucks online?

If you're running a business, you should have a budget for building your business. If your budget can't handle $97 for a press release that can vastly increase targeted traffic to your business, then your business is in trouble.

I have never seen more tightfisted entrepreneurs then since I've come here. It's time someone reminded you that you DO have to spend some money to make some money.

[/MINI RANT]

[countonuspr]

Kevin,

I can't agree more with your post below. I think that as Internet marketers many people forget that they are getting such great deals for press releases, SEO, article writing, etc. If we told a company in the brick and mortar world that you would write and distribute a press release for them for $97 they would laugh at you because it is so cheap. They are expecting more like $500 plus for that kind of service. If people think a price is too high for a service don't go blast those people on a forum. They are hardworking people just trying to make a living also.

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

[MINI RANT]

I am so sick and tired of hearing Warriors complain about paying for services to run their business. Ask yourself this: Are you truly running a business or are you just trying to make a few bucks online?

If you're running a business, you should have a budget for building your business. If your budget can't handle $97 for a press release that can vastly increase targeted traffic to your business, then your business is in trouble.

I have never seen more tightfisted entrepreneurs then since I've come here. It's time someone reminded you that you DO have to spend some money to make some money.

[/MINI RANT]

[Thomas Belknap]

This has got to be one of the craziest threads I have ever seen on here. Reason has been thrown out the window.

I create software programs. Would I pay someone to create them for me. HELL YES. If I figure my time is better spent doing others things then why not.

Would I pay for a $97 press release. HELL YEAH. It doesn't matter if there is information on the internet about writing press releases. I don't want to spend my time finding it and working it out for myself. I can just hire someone with experience and go ahead with other things that I does need my attention.

I really don't understand the logic of the OP. Maybe it is a too much time thing and not enough to do.

[Thomas Belknap]

I forgot to mention. You can kill your business by trying to do everything yourself.

[jensrsa]

Originally Posted by Sarah Harvey

Even if someone doesn't know how to write properly, at some point in their life they would have been taught (at school) how to write a press release. Now if your school didn't teach you that, then all I can say is...

The point isn't really whether people can be taught or teach themselves to write press releases but as a number of people pointed out, whether they want to spend the time and effort rather than pay someone to do it for them.

Anyone with a halfway decent education and a bit of training can
- write press releases
- write adwords ads
- write newspaper ads
- write articles
- defend themselves in court on minor charges
- fix a tap
- service a car

but this doesn't mean that they should do it, or shouldn't outsource.

I don't do press releases for clients but I do Adword campaigns for them, probably at a price that visitors wouldn't pay if I offered it on my web site, but my clients are happy to pay it.

My daughter is a journalist and she charges $150 plus photos plus expenses to do an article for a magazine. A long way from $2 an article.

You price your services according to the value your market places on it.

Pricing it lower might bring in more clients but not necessarily more profit.

Pricing a press release at $20 means you have to do 5 press releases for every one at $97 with the corresponding effort, time and expenses.

It makes sense to price your service as high as possible for your market.

Jens

[BIG Mike]

Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap

I forgot to mention. You can kill your business by trying to do everything yourself.

Not to mention yourself

[Christopher R Everson]

Go look at how much it costs to place ads on craigslist for job listings. A max of $25 for the biggest cities in the nation (some in the world). Look at what it costs to place ads in a local newspaper, in the local yellow pages.

Lets see, in rochester, when I was looking for sales people:

Yellow pages: $400 for 2 weeks in a pretty random section. This was one of the cheaper options.

Monster: About $400
Careerbuilder: Like $400 something I believe
Local job listing site: $300 something
Craigslist: free

I went with craigslist and careerbuilder. I got about 50 applicants from craigslist, and I think 6 total from careerbuilder. I ended up hiring 4 from career builder, and 1 from craigslist, and that was on a one-on-one interview hunch.

You get what you pay for. a $25 press release would most likely be the same as a $2 article. It'll probably get the job done, but who knows.

[Thomas Belknap]

Originally Posted by BIG Mike

Not to mention yourself

My wife's new secret plan.

[Helen Doherty]

I see your original point Sarah, and all of the other contributors too.

I happen to be in the process of setting up a press release site and $97 is a good price point, especially with the versility of online press releases.

For example, you can very easily get onto the the first page of Google with some great SEO terms with a good release. You can still get it front of editors, but also the general public too. Google loves news.

Okay so one online press release might get lost in the murky midsts of the Internet if not correctly optimized and submitted to one or two free press release distribution sites. However, making press releases part of the marketing mix is very beneficial and by submitting to the 'right' places a link and Google Fest!

The price is in the value that product provides, not just the actual press release.

My two cents

[Chris Monty]

OK, so you think their price is too high. Let the opportunist in you come out.

If you think you could do the same or better, then start your own press release service and charge, say $50.

A little competition could start a price war. Wouldn't that be fun? That's what I would do.

[Bev Clement]

Originally Posted by Sarah Harvey

But gosh, you had to mention craiglist...wtf! That **** can fly to hell for all I care. Why people bother with "attempting" to sell on craiglist is beyond me. Most techniques described for selling on there is "illegal" and does not conform to the standard rules. For example...how people use the redirects there, and images etc. I don't even have to go there to know all this...why...because I have read tons of wso's that deal with exactly that. Where is the value in being a "Black Marketer"? That is the term I give to people who obviously try and expose every little thing to gain an advantage and they are actually just spamming, or in most cases being outright deceitful.

A journalist who can't read it seems. I mentioned craigslist not craiglist, big difference, and try rereading what I said about it, not what you think I said.

What has being a black marketer got to do with writing a press release, apart from the fact you dug yourself in a hole and can't get out.

You prove that you are a journalist, you prove that you have written offline, you prove that you know it all.

So all knowing Sarah, how do you make your money online? What is your business, we are all dying to hear from the latest self aclaimed guru.

[KarlWarren]

By the way...

just in case Sarah isn't riled up enough...

I need a press release done - budget = $197

Kindest regards,
Karl.

[jensrsa]

Originally Posted by Sarah Harvey

And this gets me laughing too... a press release isn't marketing as so many IM books try to sell you. It is what it is. A press release. The job of a press release is to provide information and a link/point to your business. It is to make people aware of your business and what is going on.

Wikipedia Definition: Marketing is an ongoing process of planning and executing the marketing mix (Product, Price, Place, Promotion often referred to as the 4 Ps) for products, services or ideas to create exchange between individuals and organizations.

Sarah, I suggest you review your definition of marketing and the place of press releases as a marketing tool.

I think that's where the problem lies - you seem to regard press releases as valueless as an online tool.

Jens

[John Motson]

Hm, where is this $97 for a press release WSO?

Seems reasonable to me.

John

[Sarah Harvey]

Often the most important post is always overlooked. Cookies to the person that can point out which post I made that is the most important message.

As a side note... more chocolate cookies to the person who can spot where people mention a number below $50.00

Let's recap- Did I ever mention anything beyond $97.00 in my first post? So who is clever now? Not me. Funny... if I have a questionable background because I have a proper part-time job in this world, what does that make you Big Mike. Let's see if you can read. Did I ever complain that I am not making money on this forum? If you find any of my posts that state that, a cookie to you. Albeit a worthless cookie. Because not once have I mentioned it. I simply state what I think, and it is a discussion forum- no? Do you think people are entitled to their own opinions? Yup. I would think so. Have you ever seen me beg you for money or thrown some lame excuse to the wind on why I need money. hehe... this is making me laugh.

Fact is, you throw insults when none can be further from the truth. I make a comfortable living doing a part-time job.. and the rest...well that is for me to know. Why do I frequent an internet marketing forum? Well obviously people 'assume' everyone is here only to make money. But I won't deter them from that notion. It's all great that people assume things, but here you can't say one thing about me because I have never attempted to sell my services, or my own product to anyone. So your words are invalid.

I have once offered a service to someone on here-> if I remember correctly and still the person chose to go with their own design. On more than one occasion I have simply posted and answered questions and beyond that posted threads that gain a good response.

Contrary to the belief if someone hasn't noticed one of my earlier remarks, is that I am not here to make money. I have enough ebooks/scripts/wso's etc to last me a lifetime and nope, I have not once sold any product that I own here. Nor would I want to. In time I 'might' offer information I find valuable and in something I am very knowledgeable about (which doesn't involve internet marketing), but for now, I am more than content just to be here on the forum, discuss and be myself. I have helped a fair few people on here and that is something I am at least proud of. Not everyone is out here just for money.

In my case I have studied internet marketing for 7 years now. I have never attempted to sell my own product or do anything in it. It's a hobby.

countonuspr- you obviously haven't dealt with a lot of businesses then. lol. In a normal business situation the secretary/receptionist/ personal assistant is the one that submits a standard press release. She doesn't get paid more unfortunately. That is a part of his/her job description.


Montydad5000- Yes, it probably will bring in a price war. Theory would suggest though that people will not lower their prices. After all, it's what they want for the time being spent performing the service.

Ah okies, people... This was good fun and a great discussion. I am off to relax now for a while. Been on here long enough.

Good luck and have fun.

p.s. Most people did miss the most important post I made... read the following words and digest:

"So, yes...I happen to read a post when I saw that. So I just made a topic and said what I wanted to and answer what people threw at me. That is how forums work.

Nothing beyond that.

It's common sense to ask why someone would charge $97.00 and see what people respond to that. The same with any product/service. Why would someone charge the amount they do when they can go higher or lower. It's nice to see how people justify their actions."

Bye *waves*