General Consensus on Press Releases?

18 replies
I know cutts has gone on and on about how they will be viewed by Google as spam. But I don't really believe it and have still been getting decent results with doing a well written well published (using the big 3) companies for release.

Is it just the cheaper/free services being penalized mostly?

Looking for input from others who are still currently using it as part of their SEO strategy,



Regards,
RDS
#consensus #general #press #releases
  • Profile picture of the author Tony Hetherington
    I think its the type of press release that's being penalized. I genuine press release with actual news works well.
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    • Profile picture of the author fredlynx
      Since when can you rely on anything that anyone from G says, unless it's about something you did wrong and they will release furious anger upon you if not complying?
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      • Profile picture of the author realdealseo
        Originally Posted by Tony Hetherington View Post

        I think its the type of press release that's being penalized. I genuine press release with actual news works well.
        A case study on this would be a good thread

        Originally Posted by fredlynx View Post

        Since when can you rely on anything that anyone from G says, unless it's about something you did wrong and they will release furious anger upon you if not complying?
        Lol, I completely agree with this statement.
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  • Profile picture of the author MNord
    A great press release will get picked up by publishers, giving you exposure to their readers. The traffic you get this way isn't necessarily Google-dependent.

    It's possible that Google is "penalizing" content on press release sites, just as they slapped article directories. But once a publisher picks up your press release and publishes part/all of it in their own site, I don't see how Google would have much control.

    If you know how to target the right publications and write an effective press release that is actually newsworthy, you won't have to worry much about Google.
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    • Profile picture of the author realdealseo
      "If you know how to target the right publications and write an effective press release that is actually newsworthy, you won't have to worry much about Google."

      Solid advice, that and avoiding free press release sites. Back in the day they used to work but I doubt that is the case anymore.


      RDS
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  • Profile picture of the author pahosa
    I still use press releases for myself and my clients. I've noticed when I use a higher priced newswires it still gets great results for my clients. In addition, as MNord mentioned targeting the right publications is pretty much a fool proof way to say untouched by G in regards to press releases.
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  • Profile picture of the author banwork
    Press releases are terrible. There are so many better ways to spend the money. The formatting requirements alone plus the cost make press releases generally a bad choice for most people.
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    • Profile picture of the author MNord
      Originally Posted by banwork View Post

      Press releases are terrible. There are so many better ways to spend the money. The formatting requirements alone plus the cost make press releases generally a bad choice for most people.
      That depends. If you ask people that have been covered in the Wall Street Journal, or USA Today, or any major newspaper/magazine/website because of a well-written, well targeted press release, I suspect they would disagree.

      If news gets picked up by the right publisher, you can get better bang-for-the-buck than you can from virtually any other method.
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    • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
      When done right press release return the highest ROI of any other method

      Originally Posted by banwork View Post

      Press releases are terrible. There are so many better ways to spend the money. The formatting requirements alone plus the cost make press releases generally a bad choice for most people.
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      • Profile picture of the author Jelle Z
        When writing a solid press releases that adds value and gets pick up by relevant news sites and blogs, I can't see a problem with it from an SEO point of view. Just don't publish them on the free pr-sites - like is said before.

        Tip: Throw in some awesome statistics. Journalists love those.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by realdealseo View Post

    Is it just the cheaper/free services being penalized mostly?

    IMO Google doesn't just automatically penalize PR services based on the price they charge.

    I believe that Google looks down on the practice of site owners putting out press releases that aren't really news worthy in order to draw attention to a web site, an affiliate product, or some other "excuse" in an attempt to distribute marketing as far and as wide as possible.

    This kind of "disguised spam" is everywhere and it comes out of both the expensive and the cheap PR service firms.

    If you want to stay on Google's good side, write your release as objectively and news appropriate as possible. No spam, no obvious attempt at selling, no beating around the bush about what you're doing.

    Write the release in the acceptable professional format for a press release.

    IMO, what you say and how you say it is more important than the service you release it through.

    Good luck,

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author realdealseo
      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      IMO Google doesn't just automatically penalize PR services based on the price they charge.

      I believe that Google looks down on the practice of site owners putting out press releases that aren't really news worthy in order to draw attention to a web site, an affiliate product, or some other "excuse" in an attempt to distribute marketing as far and as wide as possible.

      This kind of "disguised spam" is everywhere and it comes out of both the expensive and the cheap PR service firms.

      If you want to stay on Google's good side, write your release as objectively and news appropriate as possible. No spam, no obvious attempt at selling, no beating around the bush about what you're doing.

      Write the release in the acceptable professional format for a press release.

      IMO, what you say and how you say it is more important than the service you release it through.

      Good luck,

      Steve

      I agree with everything you said up until the last sentence. I don't believe the cheap services have any real value now after bigG took aim at that particular way of creating backlinks,

      Lol. I'm not saying you have to pay 199+ for a release there are other ways to get the same service (from the same companies charging that)

      It is so important that it is written objectively and in a non promotional way.

      That is one of the key factors in if it ends up in the major networks.


      Regards,

      RDS
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    If it's "news worthy" release it to the press.

    If not, find a different route.

    A truly news worthy item will get picked up by publishers, who are constantly on the lookout.

    Screw what G thinks in any case.
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  • Profile picture of the author kpmedia
    It's "press release sites" that are the spam.
    Real releases on company sites, or picked up by legit news source, are fine.

    I'm always amazed how people think Google is lying. The same one probably believe that 9/11 was an inside job, that the moon landing was faked in a movie studio, and Elvis still lives.
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  • Profile picture of the author NK
    I still see results from Press Releases, but I almost never use them for IM niche.

    Google doesn't lie (at least not directly), but they never tell the whole truth either. It's possible that they're just penalizing sites publishing PRs since they are technically duplicate content.

    But for large authority sites, it won't really matter to them if their PR contents are being penalized since they already have their own traffic sources.
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  • Profile picture of the author realdealseo
    Honestly, google may not lie. But they do not tell the truth either. "Not Provided"
    has driven many a IM marketer to near insanity.

    Press releases work if done by a legit company/about a legitimate service!!

    Regards

    RDS
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    You can test this stuff for yourself easily enough - why rely on the random comments of many people with different perspectives - just found out for yourself if YOU can make press releases work for your purposes.

    Do you really believe that in this day and age that press releases are no longer relevant or effective?
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    nothing to see here.

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  • Profile picture of the author JensSteyaert
    If you're using press releases for Seo purposes then that's generally a bad idea.

    You should use press releases the way they were intent to serve their purpose, which is to get published and spread awareness about your products.
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