PRWeb and YOur Online Visibility...
ldumont999 said:
Its been some time since I started using PRWeb so bear with me as I rack my brain to remember how to do this. I believe first you have to "register" but that is free. On the main page. Go to the tab that says "submit press release." Once there you'll have the option of signing in (if you are already registere) or of registering as new member.
From there they will walk you through it all. DO read their tips on writing a good press release. Unfortunately most people don't understand that a press release should be news - not a sales pitch. You must figure a way to connect what you want to "sell" with real news.
Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author of Faith-Dipped Chocolate & Grace by the Cup
Hi All!
I'm brand new to the forum, but have been in the industry for nearly 2 decades.
In regards to
PRWeb, there are a number of easy to implement elements that will greatly improve your PR results. I'll list a few here, but please feel free to contact me if you need more info. I love this part of the process, and know what it's like to be fumbling in the dark!
1) There are about a dozen elements within your press release that will pump-up its visibility. What I mean by that is you can make little changes (what words you use at the front of your Title, Summary and each paragraph in your release is one example). By doing these things, you'll get dramatically improved results.
2) Adding attachments (images, Word files, PDF files) in your press release makes a huge difference in results as well. You'll want to make those images "visible" so I recommend a minimum $40 upgrade to get that functioning (I'll explain the Upgrade levels later).
3) Make sure you have at least one web link per paragraph of your release. Each link should point to an important page on your web site, Amazon.com and anywhere else you want to drive traffic. This is a big deal, so do it right.
4) As Louise mentions above, make your press release editorially valuable. Say something rich, valuable, deep and newsworthy, if possible. Lowest common denominator stuff doesn't pull in online PR.
5) Don't be afraid to write long-form. C'mon, we're writers here! I have a number of releases that are 500-900 words in length. The more content you provide, the more Google and Yahoo have to work with (as well as those pesky journalists.
6) Speaking of which, make sure you check 5-9 distribution categories (there are a total of 279 on PRWeb. These are the channels that sends your release to editors and journalists). By tapping more categories, you gain greater chance of becoming filler somewhere. NOTE: Don't Spam editors using PRWeb! Just choose more than one category for optimum results. NOTE2: Online PR is not as much about journalists as it is about getting online visibility (search engines and blogs). Most journalists use search engines now to find their stories, and the people who buy your books do the same. Make your press release work for your online audience, and you're golden.
7) If you can, get your press release in a week earlier than you want it distributed. There are some cool behind the scenes things that happen when you do that.
8) Plan for Tuesday or Thursday distribution. In my hundreds of releases, those days seem to pull the best.
9) Don't think in terms of a Press Release. Create a Media Campaign! This is where the power is... you create momentum and credibility and brand by being in the press, on Google and Yahoo, and in the hands of journalists on a regular basis.
10) PRWeb is actually used by two guys I know of who guarantee Bestseller results. As you know, that's a systematic process to get your books moving very quickly. If you visit
this link you'll see how they did it from the PRWeb position.
11) The free portion of PRWeb's service is probably not the best channel for you to promote your works. The company upgraded their systems this year, and have added so many new distribution channels (20,000 blogs, syndication channels, deals with Yahoo, Inc. and Fast Company, as well as dozens of other feed services). The added overhead has forced the company to adopt a small upgrade fee to ensure you can tap all of the available features. As someone who uses this platform in place of most of my Pay Per Click and other advertising work, it's a miniscule price to pay for the performance I receive (you can see a post on a quick 500% return on a recent press release within 24 hours of the release being launched).
There is so much more to cover, and I've gotta' get back to my day job. But I love this forum, and hope I can contribute more to your lives and success. If you need more info, please feel free to email me directly, or post a comment and I'll get back with you asap. I've written a couple of free guides on how to use the PRWeb service and online PR, and will gladly email them to you.
Warm regards,
ME
Mark Alan Effinger
RichContent.com
ThoughtOffice.com