Would a Press Release be effective for a local business?

Hi Mike,

The answer is yes. I have seen press releases work fantastcally for local companies such as yours.

For example the release might target the keyword phrase, "PC repair New York" - there must be good traffic for that - and in doing so you'll get very high up on Google as a result, which in turn will mean business for you.

That's an interesting question; the best way for local advertising in conjunction with press releases is to target specifically the city you are providing service to - BUT if you start stacking Press Releases, they begin to work together.

Think of press releases as "fireworks" they work for a short time and get indexed quickly via the search engines because all search engines want to be relevant and provide the most up to date information.

If you link your first press release to your next one and so on you create a chain of links (also link your main website in each one). Before you realize it you will maintain a steady stream of "mini traffic machines" and this way you get backlinks to your primary website too. You publish one Press Release every day at a free location (like PR Log etc).

I have used this technique to promote just about anything you can imagine, including local businesses and eventually a PR will go viral. It is helpful if there is a good human interest story you can launch with this and provide updates on the saga.

ok, assuming you can write a great PR yourself and you wanted to submit to the same sites as the PR companies say they will submit to, for example, let's say for example I wanted to put a PR on the New York Times, would I be able to do so?

Ok so me ask this another way please, do you need a PR company to submit to all of the top medium because they have the resources to do so and the average Joe doesn't? Or can anyone do the same submissions to the same places?

ok got it, yes, I am looking into getting local backlinks because most people who come to me see my ads on either Craigslist or Google, thank you very much for this info and advice!

Whether local or global, I am seeing some firms charging a monthly fee and others charging a flat fee for submission so I am guessing one is charging for a single submission and the other is for repeated submissions? If that is the case, what benefit would you get for doing a one time submission?

Just asking, what's the difference between yourself submitting a PR for $50 and a firm charging $400 or so please?

If you hit your target audience than absolutely yes!

While press releases can improve traffic to websites, i would say in your situation you need to focus on the local market, you can't very well expect shipments of broken PC's from all over the globe-I would concentrate on Facebook Ads, local flyer drops (yes they work) and boosting your Google places (have you claimed your Google+ spot?) Classified ads like craigslist to really get the words out in your immediate vicinity.

The problem with most news releases is that they are not newsworthy and do not get printed.

Most people are looking for a free advertisement, and the local news outlets want businesses people to pay for ads. Likewise, using one of the press release sites is not effective; Google does not like to index them unless they maintain a no-follow policy, so link value is minimal.

The best bet is NOT to mail a news release to local media (newspapers, radio and TV stations). Instead, send what is known as a "media advisory." Let them know you are available for an interview on some worthy news event.

What is newsworthy in the PC repair business? You have to find a hook. For example, the problems with credit card hacks at Target is big news. You can offer tips about how people can stop their PCs, tablets and smart phones from being hacked. That's news.

Most news releases are a waste of time and annoy news people because see them as veiled ads. Offer actual news. All news people are all looking for a good story. Also, you don't have to be the story, just being one of the people quoted as a local authority in a bigger story will build your business.

Press releases can be very beneficial for your PC business. Make sure you get listed on Google Place, Adwords, Bing Ads, and do a bit of free marketing too... including referrals.

Press releases are a good tool for any business. You have to present your press release as a news article.

Press release really helps. It will inform the public about your business. It will have more exposures. Some will have interest of visiting your place and may also bring friends and relatives.

Hi,

PR will help you. It will help your SEO. But it needs to be optimised for the words you want to rank for.

The beauty or PR is that (provided it's done right) will be picked up by Google pretty quickly. On top of that you could build extra links to that PR to make it rank really well in Google.

Good luck!

Ok, seems like we have different opinions on if PR will work for my purpose, way I see it, if I can do the submitting myself then it will not cost me anything to find out, is there any forum on the net where I can get help to write an effective PR?

BTW, I am not suggesting I need someone to write a PR for me, I will do it myself, just would need a little guidance to make it as effective as possible after I have written it.

Thanks for the links but yes I always try google before posting on any forum just that you need to use the correct search terms for what you are seeking and mine didn't work, ok?

Press releases work great for local media. I've written press releases that have been printed in my local newspaper, practically word for word; but like donhx says, you need to have a “hook” to make it newsworthy – so offer something like a free PC health check, or have a give away of some description. Don't just send out something that says: “Here I am and this is my business...”


Be sure to format your PR correctly – otherwise it will be ignored. Incidentally, I find that faxed press releases get noticed more than e-mailed ones.

I don't know guys, all the advice here is great but I don't see how I can write a PR as "news" instead of as an ad, as donhx rightfully put it, what I am looking at is an advertorial and not news itself.

I guess I can use my computerized music services as the hook and try to follow the tips you gave. I will give it a shot but when I'm done I will still need someone to advise me on how to best to put keywords in there for google to pick up but it seems there's no forum on the net dedicated to helping people write PR's, all I can find on the net are tutorials. I am wondering if it may be best to attempt writing a PR myself and then have a pro look it over?

Or better yet, maybe I can post it here and have everyone willing to help scrutinize every line until I get it right? Would that be ok for all here?

will do, thanks!

Hi Mike,

Press releases are not just for Hollywood celebrities and Fortune 500 corporations.

Local businesses should take advantage of using publicity too.

Why?

Because the public needs to know about your businesses events and happenings.

If you take advantage of publicity and you only post information for major holidays that means that the public can discover your business around 15 different times.

That's a heck of a lot of exposure.

And if you do it yourself then it's virtually FREE.

Best of all, if only one of your press releases is picked up by local media it can help you to generate brand new business for almost an entire full year WITHOUT any other marketing or advertising.

For tons of great information about press releases and publicity automation check out my brand new FREE LinkedIn group here:
Press Release Software & Publicity Automation | LinkedIn

Best,

Justin

Ok thanks guys, I should be able to create and post a PR here sometime next week.

Try to think bigger picture. As John said, set yourself up as a resource for local press. Become known for your expertise. That way they will call you when they need a quote. You will be able to get on local podcasts, video casts, website interview, local shoppers, local newspapers, radio and TV. Maybe not WNBC but you can get on local cable, etc.

You want to write a book and get it up on Kindle at least. That's so reporters, personalities, interviewers and emcees have something to say about you. Which sounds better?:

"Folks, we've got Mike here, he knows a bunch of stuff about computer music, computer repair and a bunch of other junk, plus he's wearing a cool hat."

or

"Let me welcome to the studio, Mike Hende, known throughout the city as 'New York's Top Computer Repair Expert." He's the author of 'Hacker Buster: 7 Ways To Keep Hackers, Crackers and Criminals Out Of Your Computer and Smartphone.'"

You can also stage your own events. "This weekend it's Hacker Buster Saturday at Mike's Computer Repair Shop in the Meatpacking District. Bring in your Mac, PC or smartphone and his team will run a full diagnostic on your computer for FREE. Don't let hackers take over your private information!" Now you have some NEWS that benefits a news organization's listeners/viewers. You can get interviewed all over the place with that.

OK, maybe you don't like that particular promotion. Check the website of your industry association--they will have several promotion ideas you can swipe and improve.

The idea is tie what you do to the news. So, like someone mentioned, the Target hacking problem, government organizations getting hacked, Cryptolocker and the other thieves, are all real concerns people have that you can address.

If you do stage events, have them on Saturday because that is the day you have the best chance for TV coverage. They won't come out Mon-Friday unless you get robbed.

Press release works good in NY.Try also craigslist this is fantastic too.

Don't forget to include that citation (Name, Address and Phone) in that press release. A citation is a citation. Take 'em where you can get 'em.