Press releases are an invaluable marketing tool that can shape how consumers and journalists perceive your company. When written and published correctly, press releases can increase brand recognition and traffic to your business.
Start with an engaging headline that grabs readers’ attention and stands out among all of the hundreds or even thousands of press releases journalists receive daily. Make yours memorable to make sure it stands out.
Increased Traffic
Press releases have the ability to drive significant increases in website traffic; however, they’re not meant simply as SEO boosters; rather, they serve a unique function by advertising newsworthy information directly to audiences. Therefore, it’s crucial that press releases create compelling and relatable stories that keep their readers reading!
A well-written press release can increase the number of visits to your website, social media pages, and other content pieces, and thus expose more people to your company name and information provided – leading to more business for you with increased returns on investments.
As most online traffic comes from organic search results, optimizing tags, titles, descriptions and imagery so it catches the attention of search engines is key for increasing online traffic. Google rewards high quality content which enhances user experiences; as such writing meaningful and connecting pieces that resonate with audiences will always prove more successful at driving up traffic than creating press releases solely focused on SEO benefits.
Direct links in press releases do not have much of an effect on SEO; however, it remains important to include them whenever possible. Journalists covering your company may quote information that includes keywords that point back to your site – this provides another method for increasing SEO without directly linking.
Increased Sales
According to VisualModo, press releases are an effective way of building awareness of your company, whether the news pertains to a new product or partnership. Announcing these events in newsworthy manner can boost credibility while simultaneously creating excitement among prospective customers. By targeting specific publications with your release announcements, press releases can have an exponential effect that leads to greater website traffic and ultimately sales increases.
Press releases can achieve success for companies by being sent directly to a wire service, but for best results it’s essential that they be distributed more strategically. Consider which industry and publication your release will appear in, as well as when journalists are likely to read it. You could even consider expanding distribution beyond just wire services by targeting local media outlets and journalists that cover your industry or area; though this might incur more cost but ensure your news reaches the right audiences.
Press releases are also an ideal opportunity to leverage content for other marketing channels, like your blog or social media. By rewording and adapting your press release as the basis of blog post topics, you can make use of your news as an engaging piece of marketing content that draws people in to learn more about your business.
Though many small businesses forgoing press releases due to cost concerns may overlook them, press releases can have a dramatic effect on your business. By regularly communicating newsworthy updates to reporters and news outlets, you can build relationships while increasing the chance that their websites feature your news. It’s best not overdo it though as too many releases may cause journalists to disregard your news; just a few releases each month could make a real difference!
Increased Conversions
Press releases can help your company build brand recognition. By regularly issuing newsworthy information to media and influencers, they will remember it when looking for sources or story ideas; this could result in press coverage which generates leads and sales opportunities for your business.
Journalists continue to list press releases as one of their primary resources for story ideas, according to Cision’s 2021 State of the Media Report. Press releases provide journalists with quick and easy ways to learn about a company or event; therefore it’s crucial that any release designed with journalistic objectives in mind be as engaging and informative as possible.
Writing an effective press release hinges on crafting a compelling lead paragraph or two – commonly known as the lead sentence(s). A compelling lead should include newsworthy angles, quotes from company representatives that support your headline and main message, and tell a compelling tale about what’s being announced by your company. Furthermore, these opening paragraphs provide some exclusivity or additional value for readers.
Once your release is written, make sure it reaches the right people by using a professional press distribution service. Look for services with targeted distribution and SEO enhancement features as well as do-follow links (for improved SEO). If syndicating it via social media platforms, choose a service which allows you to track analytics and traction; alternatively consider AP Newswire syndication option for additional reach across national news outlets.
Increased Brand Awareness
Brand awareness is an integral component of business success. When your target audience knows and trusts your brand, customers are more likely to purchase with confidence. Press releases can help businesses increase brand recognition by drawing media coverage to them and creating buzz about your company.
Press releases have evolved with digital communications, no longer solely read by journalists but still playing an essential part in brand awareness. Reputable newswire services ensure each press release serves its intended purpose and targets an appropriate audience, so as to be more likely shared across social media networks as well as rank higher on search engine results pages.
Studies show that including multimedia and data-driven information in press releases is one of the best ways for businesses to increase engagement with readers. Photos and videos increase readership by 18%-55% respectively; visual elements like these make a press release stand out and increase its likelihood of being shared on social media, local blogs, newspapers or online magazines.
Remind readers that more information on a topic exists on your website by including links back there; for instance, if your press release addresses results of a survey conducted recently, provide readers with access to its full report via your press release and link directly back there.
Businesses can utilize press releases as a powerful traffic driver by sharing them via social media and email marketing campaigns – this can lead to an increase in new visitors coming through your site and increased potential conversions.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
An effective strategy for driving leads is getting your press release picked up by an established media outlet. Doing this increases visibility of your business while adding credibility, as well as giving you the chance to feature a call-to-action that may convert more customers or leads.
Journalists are always on the hunt for great stories, and according to Cision’s State of the Media Report, press releases are one of their primary resources for finding them. Additionally, those that include multimedia like photos or videos in their releases tend to experience higher engagement rates than text-only releases – increasing your odds that journalists pick them up and share them socially.
Making sure your press release is SEO optimized is key to reaching its intended audience. Avoid industry jargon in favor of emphasizing the benefits offered by your product or service to its target market. When possible, include an existing customer who has experienced success using it; this will give the press release more credibility with readers.
Although posting press releases can bring many advantages, it’s essential to realize that not every press release will yield positive returns. Therefore, it is vital to develop an integrated PR strategy which includes building relationships with journalists and understanding their needs as well as tracking results of your press release to evaluate its efficacy.