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What's the New Method of Press Release Distribution for 2014?

by lerxtjr
16 replies
I haven't had to do a press release in a while but a client wants to do them regularly. So, I've been looking into whatever the "new way" might be to get press releases into t.v. and radio newsrooms. So far, I have determined the following:

1. Press releases are still relevant.
2. There is some kind of underground newswire that the newsrooms use to get almost all their news.
3. I can't seem to find how to get into that underground
4. Some news websites have newstips emails but I'm skeptical if they ever get their news from there.
5. I'm seeing the "new way" could be to send links to press releases through twitter. That would be fine if there was an automated way to send a press release link to, like, 500 twitter contacts (haa, wishful) at the same time instead of manually.

So, what is your view? Any DIY PR folks out there who use something other than a prweb or whatever online submission service for $250 a pop or more?
#2014 #distribution #method #press #release
  • Profile picture of the author TurnArticlesIntoVideos
    For new Pr methods, I haven't stumbled across any new methods. Press releases are still good for what they do. Backlinks, news, getting businesses more noticed and hopefully being news worthy.

    However, here is some other PR services that do good etc.

    Sbwire, is a good method. I've seen good results with them. I use them all the time and found good results with the PR getting where it should be. They have a good stat result system. More you pay the more details you get etc. You can pay 14.95, 59.99 or 99 for the ultimate. I've been submitting Pr's for hundreds of clients for over 4 years. Prweb is cost to much for what it is, and annoying with their rejections. But its a good thing they reject certain things. If I could compare the two, Sbwire is cheaper and you get more submissions. Depending on the on the topic of course. Also, depends on your PR writer. Good thing we have a good one. Anyways, overall there is a few more that's good, but higher priced. Sbwire is good for link building mostly, more PR's submitted etc. Prweb does good to get on Google, yahoo and Forbes. We all know it takes real good news to be on most of those sites.

    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author SoCal Digital
    lerxtjr, Press Release are still effective for real news announcements and promotions. I wouldn't do them just for SEO purposes though. If you want to know how to properly submit a Press Release to PRweb.com check out How To Submit A Press Release - PRWeb - SEO Experiments - Have Fun With SEO - SEO Experiments – Have Fun With SEO
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Tan
    I saw your question and I am not sure if these radio, TV broadcast stations are what you are looking for. You can get on to these places if you are using MarketersMedia. Agency Account is available if you have volume, which cuts the cost down substantially.

    MarketersMedia is also as good as PRWeb at a fraction of the price.

    Daniel
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  • Profile picture of the author Teravel
    Why assume the rules of the game have changed simply because the calendar has changed a number?

    What worked yesterday will work today, so long as it informs and inspires.
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    • Profile picture of the author lerxtjr
      yeah, I'm really not interested in doing press releases for seo backlinks. We'll have plenty of that as we hook up with more associations. I'm more concerned about sending a press release directly to a t.v. contact and getting them to call to do a piece or as for expert to appear live to comment on a story they're running related to the topic. My client is the talent. He's a Ph.D. with nationwide visibility within his circle. Trying to expand that circle to include the general public.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by lerxtjr View Post

        yeah, I'm really not interested in doing press releases for seo backlinks. We'll have plenty of that as we hook up with more associations. I'm more concerned about sending a press release directly to a t.v. contact and getting them to call to do a piece or as for expert to appear live to comment on a story they're running related to the topic. My client is the talent. He's a Ph.D. with nationwide visibility within his circle. Trying to expand that circle to include the general public.
        Along with more traditional means of distributing news releases, why not help them come to you?

        Get your client listed at Free Publicity - Connecting Reporters and News Sources - Help a Reporter Out with an enticing bio.

        As for this "underground", it's called a news wire. Faced with deadline pressure and a 24 hour news cycle, editors and program directors can't afford to come up with exclusive ideas, so they watch the wire for what others are reporting on. Get some kind of coverage on a topic of general interest, let one or more sources put the story on the wire, and who knows what might happen?
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        • Profile picture of the author azgold
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Along with more traditional means of distributing news releases, why not help them come to you?

          Get your client listed at Free Publicity - Connecting Reporters and News Sources - Help a Reporter Out with an enticing bio.

          As for this "underground", it's called a news wire. Faced with deadline pressure and a 24 hour news cycle, editors and program directors can't afford to come up with exclusive ideas, so they watch the wire for what others are reporting on. Get some kind of coverage on a topic of general interest, let one or more sources put the story on the wire, and who knows what might happen?
          Hehe, I was going to suggest HARO, too. You've got nothing to lose and might gain some great PR.
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        • Profile picture of the author manters2000
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Along with more traditional means of distributing news releases, why not help them come to you?

          Get your client listed at Free Publicity - Connecting Reporters and News Sources - Help a Reporter Out with an enticing bio.

          As for this "underground", it's called a news wire. Faced with deadline pressure and a 24 hour news cycle, editors and program directors can't afford to come up with exclusive ideas, so they watch the wire for what others are reporting on. Get some kind of coverage on a topic of general interest, let one or more sources put the story on the wire, and who knows what might happen?
          John, is HARO a good tool to get free publicity for a new launched product?
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    our latest press release did $5122.00 in sales, and got about a new 397 subscribers.

    I failed at press releases early on, and most warriors whine on about their press releses not working, and when you see what they submitted, its a drivel article, that some 5 year old has written at best. Now after lots of testing I would say I am pretty good at this strategy to get traffic.

    I suggest you get better at writing press release. There is not secret, its hard work, you have to have an angle that people get engaged with, and crave more or crave for what you have. You cannot just submit an article and expect it to go viral, and then whine and whinge that press releases suck. 95% of people do not know the first thing about who to do this properly.

    I have a retired Journo who writes all mine, I pay him handsomely and he gets commision too sometimes If he makes it go viral which has happened in NOV 2013. You need quality, if you can do that, no matter where you submit (but I stick to PR WEB) it will get infront of the right people.
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    • Profile picture of the author Solo Warrior
      Great post and right on target. I find often that it is not that difficult to get a lot of eyeballs to a press release, but it can be difficult to get the conversions you may be after. This is where writing quality and compelling content is key. There is nothing more frustrating to a marketer than to get decent traffic but no sales, optins or whatever your goal is. It is well worth paying an "expert" to write your content, but choose wisely as this is not a piece of cake or something you can hire some VA out of the Philippines for. I do all my testing of content writers with free or low cost publications, then once proven I will switch over to something with better reach such as PRWeb, etc.

      Solo Warrior


      Originally Posted by celente View Post

      our latest press release did $5122.00 in sales, and got about a new 397 subscribers.

      I failed at press releases early on, and most warriors whine on about their press releses not working, and when you see what they submitted, its a drivel article, that some 5 year old has written at best. Now after lots of testing I would say I am pretty good at this strategy to get traffic.

      I suggest you get better at writing press release. There is not secret, its hard work, you have to have an angle that people get engaged with, and crave more or crave for what you have. You cannot just submit an article and expect it to go viral, and then whine and whinge that press releases suck. 95% of people do not know the first thing about who to do this properly.

      I have a retired Journo who writes all mine, I pay him handsomely and he gets commision too sometimes If he makes it go viral which has happened in NOV 2013. You need quality, if you can do that, no matter where you submit (but I stick to PR WEB) it will get infront of the right people.
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  • Profile picture of the author Edward W Smith
    Be very careful about using some of the "new" methods of pitching the media, some of these methods can get you on the blacklist of journalists, producers, etc. Most media contacts have a line in their heads as to where they think they can be pitched and where they resent being pitched. Facebook is an obvious "no no" to use for pitching.

    I understand the client is always right so if it is a press release he wants, it is a press release he gets. That said, have you tried targeted focused email pitches to a select few media outlets? They have no distribution costs and because of their laser like focus, they get in under the radar of the mass of press releases and can score some great results.

    OK, thanks and good luck, Edward Smith.
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    • Profile picture of the author NicoleBeckett
      Originally Posted by lerxtjr View Post

      1. Press releases are still relevant.
      Of course they are! :p As long as you're writing about actual news that has a genuinely newsworthy hook to it -- and not trying to disguise sales pitch as news.


      Originally Posted by lerxtjr View Post

      2. There is some kind of underground newswire that the newsrooms use to get almost all their news.
      Yes, local news stations and newspapers have access to the AP Wire (among other wire services), but they'd much rather report on local issues. If you've got a client that they can use in a soundbite or that's willing to pass along legitimate story ideas, they'll be thrilled to hear from you.


      Originally Posted by lerxtjr View Post

      4. Some news websites have newstips emails but I'm skeptical if they ever get their news from there.
      Yes, they definitely do. I can't count how many times my news director started off the afternoon meeting by reading a news tip email or printing one of the emails out and leaving it on my desk for me to follow up on.

      Originally Posted by Edward W Smith View Post

      Most media contacts have a line in their heads as to where they think they can be pitched and where they resent being pitched. Facebook is an obvious "no no" to use for pitching.
      Sorry, but this is 100% untrue. As someone who spent years working in TV news, I can tell you that reporters and anchors are happy to hear about a good story anywhere, anytime. Why do you think so many of your local news people have Twitter and Facebook accounts? They WANT their viewers/readers to be able to connect with them at the click of a mouse!
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by manters2000 View Post

        John, is HARO a good tool to get free publicity for a new launched product?
        It can be, depending on the product and what news people are looking for.

        You may not get a whole story, but you can find yourself quoted as someone to be believed - "..., according to John Doe, developer of the new whatsis (newwhatsis.com)"

        If your product is unique and catches reporters' imaginations, you could find your new product included in "round up" articles/pieces, which are a staple form many outlets.

        You're not likely to find a legit news outlet specifically looking to help you launch, at least not outside your local area. That said, if you can get local coverage, it could go out on the newswires and catch the attention of someone with a bigger audience and a news hole to fill.
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  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Originally Posted by lerxtjr View Post

    2. There is some kind of underground newswire that the newsrooms use to get almost all their news.
    Not really an underground tip:
    Free Publicity - Connecting Reporters and News Sources - Help a Reporter Out

    And another thing:
    Regular press releases if written correctly and distributed correctly can land you in TV and radio shows.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Trujillo
    As many others have said, Press Releases are still alive and well and haven't changed.

    Make sure when you submit a press release it has some kind of relevance in the press.

    Make sure you are not wasting your time trying to sell on there because that will never work.

    There are many Press Release authority sites you can distribute to, many require you to pay.

    If it is done correctly you can get some nice traffic your way and some good branding.
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