Since social media has come onto the scene, companies and organizations from all around the world now have the opportunity to extend their audience reach. Reaching target audiences in any corner of the world is now possible with the help of the internet and various social media platforms. This has also changed the way press releases were once viewed. There is a massive change in how PR content is distributed which has increased its value as not only a communication tool but a marketing tool as well. So if you are a business owner with an aim of expanding your business and utilizing all the benefits of the internet, then you need press releases. PR content is only successful when it is distributed in the right way, bringing a certain amount of visibility. Now let's get more into what press releases are, and why you most definitely need to hire a distribution service for your PR content.
What is a Press Release?
Before moving forward with anything, you need to understand what press releases are and why they are still relevant in this digital age. A press release is a piece of information or news that organizations send out to the media or news outlets about something of material significance. Press releases are typically written and handed out by the company's Public Relations department. Companies use press releases to share any newsworthy event or update with the general public and its stakeholders. The aim is to spread the organizational message across and to protect the reputation of the industry. Press releases can either raise awareness about any issue or promote a product or service. These contents are usually shorter and written in very formal language. When it comes to PR (Press Release) content, they are shorter than news stories, often taking half to two pages.
What are the Types of Press Releases?
Various types of press releases are sent out to media and news outlets very often. These are-
- Event press release
- Product or service launch press release
- Crisis press release
- New hire press release
- New branch press release
- Acquisition and merger press release
- Awards and recognition press release
- Partnership press release
- Rebranding press release
- Expert position press release
This means if there is any newsworthy update happening or has happened in the company, you can absolutely submit and publish a press release to let the general public know.
What is a Press Release Distribution Service?
Now that you know how important press releases are, let's discuss what press release distribution services are. Well, it is a company that distributes your press releases to media, news, public relations outlets, blogs, and your business-related media channels. Organizations use these services to get into the news stories of top-tier media channels and outlets. On the other hand, journalists also use these services to search for appropriate press release stories to cover. These distribution companies are becoming increasingly popular in the industry because they distribute a large amount of media content while giving speed and exposure to businesses. Companies of all sizes and types can benefit from a reputed press release distribution company because of the convenience they offer. In addition, these services quickly distribute the press release content to trusted and premium news and media outlets. These services are also becoming more and more popular nowadays because they ensure companies do not miss any opportunity to get featured in top-tier media publications and get trending on search engines.
What are the advantages of a distribution service?
1. Increased Reach and Visibility
The first reason for hiring a distribution company for press releases is because they provide you with added exposure and increased reach. They come with a guarantee to make your story featured in all premium news and media publications. Their strong distribution network makes sure that the news is being given importance. At the same time, it also makes sure that the company has access to a massive network of media publications, journalists, influencers, and bloggers that you could not have access to on your own otherwise. Using a distribution network, companies can also select their target audience and choose specific languages, regions, countries, or even niches, that are relevant to the business or brand. This can help organizations expand their audiences, and increase brand awareness in the market. A distribution service also helps companies optimize their press release content for search engines and social media platforms. Businesses can even include multimedia content, such as text along with photos, videos, links, keywords, etc. that helps incredibly in driving web traffic.
2. Money and Time-saving
One of the primary advantages of using s distribution service is that it can save businesses a ton of time and money. Both writing a press release using all the necessary pointers and then distributing it on your own can be extremely time-consuming. Not only that, it can also cost you a lot of money. You have to research the journalists and media outlets that cover your industry and find their contact information. That is not all, you also have to craft personalized pitches, send them the press release content, follow up, and then track the results. This can take days, your valuable time and resources, and there is no guarantee that the PR will be even published in the media publications. When you hire a distribution service, this process gets simplified for you. You can just upload the press release, select the target audience, and make the payment and the rest will be done by them. At the end, you will also get a report of how well the PR has performed. This way you can focus more on the core business activities and save time and money by hiring a distribution service for your press release.
3. Increased Credibility and Market Reputation
Another advantage of hiring a distribution service for your PR is that it can lead to increased credibility for your company. Using a press release distribution company, you can get featured in reputed and top-tier media and news outlets that are authoritative in the industry. Being featured often will help you to build credibility with both, your potential and existing customers, investors, partners, and donors. At the same time, featuring often on premium media outlets will help the organization build a greater reputation in the market. This reputation will further help build a good image for the brand in the market.
4. Increased Public Trust
When you hire a distribution company, there is a guarantee that your PR content will be published in top-tier media and news publications. When this happens often, people will start to associate your brand with the publications, increasing their trust in your company and its offerings. The more the general public will trust your company and its offerings, the more they will associate themselves with you, and the more likely they will buy from you. So when your visibility increases with the help of the distribution services, the trust of the general public also increases, enhancing your potential sales numbers.
5. Strong Media Relations
Hiring a distribution company will make sure that you don’t have to contact the media outlets, and journalists on your own. But that does not mean they will not be aware of the brand’s existence. When an organization starts to publish press releases often and uses a strong distribution network, it strengthens the media relationship for the company. The stronger the media relationship gets, the more trust and preference they put in the company. At the same time, press releases can be used to communicate the company’s stance on any situation, especially in a negative or crisis situation. When there is a strong media connection, the PR is usually taken as a credible source. So it helps a lot in a crisis to address any issue and change the narrative. PR content that is distributed through a strong network also helps establish the company as an industry leader, putting more relevance and importance to the company’s name.
Tips for Choosing a Well-working Distribution Service-
You might find choosing the right company for distributing your press release a bit difficult, especially due to the massive availability on the market. So these tips will help you select the right one for your business.
- It is important to consider your target audiences while choosing a distribution service and see if they are capable of hitting the same target audience.
- Each distribution service offers different price packages. So go with the one that fits best in your budget, but make sure you are getting the minimal benefits.
- While choosing a distribution service, make sure they have the option to go with the multimedia distribution option as it gains more attention.
- Make sure whatever distribution company you are going with has solid customer service that will help you at any step along the way.
You will find various press release distribution companies online that will come within your budget. But make sure your press release is written following every rule and using the right keywords. Otherwise, no press release that is not crafted well can make a big difference through a solid distribution.
