With news traveling through the fast lane of today’s media, one success factor of fame lies in publicity and attention. Brands or businesses are running and searching for new ways to inform the public about their latest updates.
While big companies can easily spend millions on public relations or media outreach, smaller businesses and startups cannot afford those budgets. Free press releases provide a cost-effective yet very efficient means of spreading the news and increasing visibility without pricey outlays.
This blog will discover how the business can use free PR distribution platforms as a cost-effective PR strategy. It dives into the main aspects of distribution for a press release, the benefits businesses can gain from free services, and some best practices to maximize the reach.
Value of Press Releases in PR
A company’s press release is an official public announcement or statement. Press releases could be for the launch of a new product, the expansion of the business, any event, or to celebrate a milestone: they can help carry important information to journalists, bloggers, influencers, and potential customers.
Traditionally, companies pay for services on the dissemination of press releases. The new push for free press release distributions democratizes it and is now a course in the hands of the broad mass of a company, even if it has a very tight budget.
Why Free Press Release Submission Is Important
Free press release networks are invaluable resources for smaller businesses or start-ups. The reason is straightforward: It can be a costly investment for them, especially if full-fledged PR distribution services that sometimes charge outrageous fees to reach national or international audiences are sought.
Advantages of Free Press Release Distribution
Here are some benefits of using free press release distribution for the PR strategy:
Less Expensive
Very clearly, the first benefit is accessibility. It will be free of cost without any high price range fees attached to sending releases through these services, like paid services. Therefore, it’s perfect for companies with low marketing budgets, like startups, smaller businesses, and even nonprofits.
Greater Reach
Although the reach of accessible media outlets is not greater than that of high-end paid services, they can still offer access to numerous media outlets, bloggers, and online publications. Thus, companies can become quickly exposed and visible across multiple online channels.
SEO Benefits
Most websites offering release distribution are search-engine friendly. Submissions of every press release will help enhance the brand’s online presence through backlinks and keyword integration, along with directing traffic to the website.
Increased Credibility
When the news features appear on credible sites, it gives credibility to the brand. When the public sees the news features on highly trusted sites, it legitimizes the business and increases trust with the public.
Enhanced Media Relations
Free press release distribution sites act as a means of building relationships with media professionals. Over time, if businesses keep sending pertinent news and announcements, journalists and influencers may notice it, and companies might get more media coverage.
How to Maximize the Impact of Free Press Release Submission
While free press release submission is a cheap PR tool, a strategy must be applied to get the most out of it. Here are some best practices:
Write an Engaging and Newsworthy Press Release
The press release’s content determines the circulation’s success and impact. To be effectively informative, businesses must write a well-crafted, concise, and newsworthy release that captures attention. Pay attention to the critical elements of a successful press release: headline, lead, and information that addresses the “who, what, where, when, why, and how.”
SEO Optimization
Finally, when distributing the release to a release distribution site, ensure that the release is optimized for the search engines. This means businesses will use relevant keywords whenever they write the headline and the body of the release. It would be best if businesses also used links back to the website. That will help enhance the site’s rankings in the search engines and push traffic.
Use Social Media
Once published, post the press release on all the social media channels. These are often fantastic places to boost visibility and generate engagement with the news.
Target the Right Media
Most PR newswire services offer filters that allow businesses to choose specific categories or industries for the press release. Companies should select categories/sectors that best fit the business or industry. The more specific companies can target the recipient’s industries or particular locations, the better the chance of media coverage.
Monitor and Measure Results
Determine if businesses send the press release to the proper online sources using metrics provided by most free distribution services, such as views or clicks on the press release. Use these metrics to assess which online strategies are working and which may need improvement in later releases.
Conclusion
Free press release submission can be a savior and a game-changer in the PR strategy if one is on a budget. Free press release distribution sites allow companies to inform the public of news that matters to them, increase their online presence, and generate more credibility within their industry. The exposure gained through free press release submission may not be as significant as paid platforms. Still, proper application with a compelling message can ensure a considerable outcome when using free press release submission.
