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How Powerful are your Press Releases?

Written by: Claudiu Geanta

Article Overview: A Press Release is an important element of your promotional campaign. It helps in driving traffic to your website but also in generating lots of back links and thus kicking your Google Page rank higher. As a direct result your website is selected easily by other major search engines (Yahoo, AltaVista, etc.). This article will go into the fine details of creating a successful Press Release and what it means for your business as a whole.

How Powerful are your Press Releases?

I. Choose Topic The main distinction between an article and a Press Release is that the Press Release announces a specific event. An article describes an opinion or simply shares information about a specific topic. For example, "Company ABC Launches a New Web Portal." In this example, you are announcing a specific event (the launch of new web site or portal).

Understanding this difference, will save you time and energy, because many distribution sites will not submit releases that are not formatted and written like a proper release.

Ideas for Specific Events:

• The launch of your new business
• The launch of your new website
• The launch of your new team
• The launch of your new blog
• A party event
• A charity event your business involved with

II. Choose Keywords The focus of a Press Release should be not only to inform other people about your event but using keywords within the Press Release in order to gain high ranking positions with the search engines. In order to produce the proper keywords follow the steps:

• Make a list of 5-10 keywords that are related to the topic you chose
• Go on WordTracker and search for freekeywords. Type in your keywords, one by one
• Choose the top three keywords that have the highest number of searches
• Keep the list handy - you'll need it in the next step

III. Write the Press Release This is where all the magic happens. Remember - the organization where you send your Press Release isn't interested in helping you make money or driving visitors to your site. All they look for is a story - an interesting one so more readers will flock to their articles. So it's up to you to make it interesting and make the cut.

Here are the steps to accomplish this:

Step 1 - Outline Create an outline by answering the following 5 questions:

• What specific event are you announcing?
• When will this event happen?
• Who will be involved in this event?
• Why would other people be interested in reading about this event?
• Where can people find out more information? Contact info, website, email, phone/fax, etc.

Step 2 - Quotes Make sure you write 2-3 personal quotes to use in your press release (as if someone was interviewing you about this event). These quotes should be what you think or feel about this event. Be personal but professional. Put a human face to your company and this event. People look to connect with the human element not with a sterile event or company.

Step 3 - Release Write your release Notes along these lines:

• This is where the news reporter in you should shine. Your press release should read like a news story. Passionate, professional, and to the point. Do not ramble about one thing or another - keep it laser beam focused to what matters most
• Be sure your keyword is used at least 3-4 times in the body of your press release and in the title of your release, without feeling like you are stuffing or forcing them upon the reader
• Do not use one keyword more than 4 times in the body each release

Step 4 - Review

• Check your entire text for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors
• Check if your web site URL is the correct one on the bottom of your Press Release - you won't get a second chance at this
• Double-check everything as you want the release to be as professional as possible
• Have others read it and get feedback from them
• Modify accordingly if the feedback points to a specific item in your Press Release

IV. Distribute the Press Release Once your press release is finalized, distribute it to the search engines ASAP!

Here's a resource list where you can distribute your Press Release:

• Free-press-release
• webwire
• PRweb
• 24-7pressrelease
• PRlog

Note: You will have to signup for each of the resources listed above. Once you do -do not forget to save it in your Favorites should you return back to them. Each distribution site distributes your release to many other websites.

Important Notes:

• Keep your Press Release at an effective rate of 400 words or less
• Your press release should contain your keyword 3-4 times in the body, and once in the title
• Always use your personal business name when distributing releases
• Some distribution sites will make your press release live immediately; some will require up 72 hours for approval
• The distribution site will immediately reject you if your press release sounds more like an advertisement, or a sales pitch and not a newsworthy event
• Press releases are impossible to edit after they have been distributed; make sure you are 100% sure of the content you are about to release
• Make sure you submit the same press release to a distribution site only ONCE
• You can distribute the same press release to all the different distribution sites

Even More Important Notes:

• Whenever possible, add a video into the distribution with your press release. Google loves press releases with video in them
• Some distribution sites will give you the opportunity to have your website displayed right beneath your press release. Take advantage of this option when possible. It looks very professional and adds credibility to your release

If you follow the instructions in this article, your release will begin to appear more and more on the search engines over time.

Related Articles
  Home Business Expert: Importance Of Press Releases
  NEWS RELEASE QUIZ

  Press Releases - The Two Most Common Mistakes
  The press release is not dead – it’s not even sick
  The Press Release aka Tell Me Your Story In One Page Or Less

Article Tags: blog, charity event, company abc, distinction, launch, li li, magic, money, new business, press release, search engines, step 1, ul, web portal, wordtracker
Referred by: http://jaykubassek.com



Related Forum Posts
Re: The Best Method for Online Marketing - In order to write a press release, you must determine the subject of your story. It can be about an event that affects your industry, or it can be about a change in your company that will affect your customer base. Press releases are in all actuality ‘cookie cutter’. Once you get the hang of writing them, all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Press releases conform to an established format.
Press Release Builder Tool - Hi Shri - I would be happy to. What do you need from me? Please PM me the details. Also, if anybody has suggestions for how to make the Press Release Builder Tool more valuable please let me know!
Re: Sales with no start up fees. - Hi Mary, Maybe you have something New to offer. You can write an article of something new you have to offer. Then submit it. Following that rewrite it into a Press Release, indicating the need of support to promote it. Just an idea. Be blessed Beat
Re: Owning a social network software...How is it?? - Hi Orxan, Thanks a lot for giving time and the information provided. Yes, I have been doing Press releases and posting blogs too. These are the primary marketing tools for any business in todays scenario. I'd further appreciate any ideas or steps that can be initiated to market SNet. Any more suggestions will be certainly appreciated. Thanks Ashish
Re: Looking to outsource my sales - With a budget of $1,500 I know a guy in India who will do all these works on your website for you SEO Articles writing Article Submissions Forum Postings Website Submissions Press Release Link Exchange Video Submission If interested pm me and i send you his linl


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