The paramount importance of press distribution is unknown to business organizations and individuals all around the world. They are always looking for good resources that can help them fulfill their PR needs. With a simple search on Google, you can find a handful of press release distribution agencies that offer lucrative offers. However, budget is also a major concern when you are availing of any professional service.
Any service that can be availed of for free is quite attractive for the customers and that goes for press releases as well. Among the thousands of available options, you can easily find a free press release site that offers free services for distribution. While it can be tempting to avail of these free services, the biggest question is whether it is safe and reliable for your business. Having a complete understanding of the pros and cons of free press release services can help to proceed with a better decision that is suitable for the business’s budget and requirements. Before that, let’s find out a few questions based on important aspects that can help you differentiate between free and paid services.
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Reach and Distribution
Is your press release reaching out far enough to bring more customers?
The distribution network is the most important element of PR distribution which helps to reach the target audiences through credible news and media platforms. The network is the most obvious difference between a Paid PR service and a free PR service that you can notice vividly. The free PRs offer limited reach with no guarantee of placements. It typically takes place on the platform of the service provider along with a few partnering sites. It can be good for beginners but the results are not satisfactory.
Paid press release sites have a wider distribution network and can offer you guaranteed placements in top-tier newswire and media sites. It also offers the benefits of industry-specific distribution which helps to reach more potential customers from the niche. Such a wider reach in distribution is helpful for the company that is launching or making a huge announcement.
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Capability of Reaching Target Audiences
Are you reaching out to the right and relevant audiences?
Free press releases do not have advanced targeting features. It mainly depends on a generic approach to the online users which may or may not offer good results. Professional PR agencies that offer paid services for distribution are more likely to understand your business needs, define your target audiences, and then reach out with more clarity and efficiency.
However, if you are announcing something with a wider approach like a sales announcement or a local community event; only a generic approach is sufficient enough to gather attention. But if you are trying to make a precise and accurate approach to pluck the potential customers from the horde; paid PR distribution is the right choice. Based on factors like industry, geography, and others; paid distribution can help to make an effective approach while focusing on the demographics.
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Features and Modern Tools
What kind of online PR tools does the agency use?
In this age of technological advancement, trends do not last long. The PR distribution trends are also evolving rapidly and that is why, PR agencies are more likely to use online tools and AI-powered software which can help to craft and distribute press releases with greater efficiency with zero room for errors. Each of these PR campaigns is more successful due to the utilization of modern technology.
Free PR agencies and freelancers do not possess any special tools to help their needs. As a result, the press release is often not optimized before its distribution. Therefore, business owners cannot find enough engagement for their businesses. Starting from keyword generation, and adding relevant images to rectifying grammatical errors; professional agencies utilize advanced tools at every step to make the PR campaign more successful.
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Cost & Credibility
How much they are charging for their service? Is it worth it?
The appeal of the free press release is always higher in this case since it can be purchased absolutely free of cost. There is no financial commitment in this case which makes it perfect for emerging companies, startups, and small-scale businesses that have a tight PR distribution. However, there is a saying that goes like “You Get What You Pay For” and that is true for PR services.
You can easily find more benefits with paid PR services that come with more credibility and authenticity. The upfront investments come with greater ROI or return on investment which makes it cost-efficient in the long run. Its enhanced attributes make the package absolutely worth it and suitable for everyone.
Final Thoughts
After a comparative discussion of free and paid PR services; it is safe to say that paid PRs are a preferable choice that comes with greater benefits with a little investment only. However, free PRs are useful in some particular cases other than just saving budget. Define your specific PR goals, budget, and topic of announcement to opt for a better choice.
