Just this month, I’ve received dozens of emails and multiple phone calls from various press release distribution services offering “special pricing” for an “unlimited number of press releases.” As enticing as that all sounds for $49 per month, after years of following the Business Wires and Marketwires of the world, I’m wary of this crop of new services and I’m not alone.
After some research, I found a number of blog posts on the importance of using reputable wire services. Ben Norman, SEO Consultant and Internet Strategist blogged about the importance of choosing the correct distribution service, as some may simply spam recipients. And although you might not be the one directly sending the press release, your name will be there and this can be damaging to your, and your client’s, reputation.
Maybe even worse, as OneSEOCompany points out in a blog post, a lot of these free or newer distribution services don’t have a reputation with journalists, meaning your press release will miss this key audience altogether and experience little to no press exposure.
Still, if you’re on a limited budget and want to give one of these newer services a try, my advice is to do your research and select the one that best suits your needs. Try to see what other businesses are using the service and how and where the press releases are being sent. And if you’re still wary, try to experiment with the different distribution options at the bigger services to find a price point that is right for your company.
Have any of our readers tried any of the new services? If so, let us know in the comments below!