Distributing Your Online Marketing Press Release – dummies
Because press releases are marketing materials, you must consider your target market when building a distribution plan. Depending on your topic and audience, a good distribution network might include both online and offline outlets, including
General-interest magazines
Journalists who write about your subject
Newspapers
Nontraditional media outlets (for example, text messaging)
Publications specific to a particular industry (sometimes called a vertical market)
Radio, cable, and broadcast TV
Social media news services
Web-only sites
If you already have a public relations or advertising agency, your contractors can help you with writing and distribution. Otherwise, you can decide whether you’re looking for B2C or B2B outlets, or both, and whether you want local, regional, national, or international distribution. It all depends on how large a megaphone you want and how much you can afford.
Although you can distribute a release yourself, especially to local press, it’s much easier to select an online distribution network that can target the industry sectors you want. To begin, research distribution networks for traditional press releases.
Rates, formatting, and other requirements vary widely by network, so select one that fits your budget as well as your needs. Ask whether you can add your own, existing list of journalists, trade industry publications, and websites that accept press releases. What? You don’t have an existing list? Start one now.
Social news services for traditional press release distribution generally post stories, topics, or links to releases suggested by their members under appropriate topic categories. Not all allow you to nominate your own release, but you can always find a friend or colleague to post a recommendation for you. (Be sure to return the favor.)
Most of these sites rank stories by the number of people who Like them or who rate them highly by pressing the Thumbs Up button, for example. Their popularity then determines where the story will appear on a results page. (With luck, you have a lot of friends!)