Paid Versus Free Press Release Distribution Services: Does it Pay to Play?

Is it worth spending money on press release distribution when it's available for free?

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(PRNewsChannel) / June 23, 2010 / TAMPA, Fla. / Deciding between a company that offers free press release distribution services versus one that charges money is like comparing a sample bite at Sam's Club and buying the product. While there are at least a dozen free press release distribution services, these services can't compete with their paid counterparts, experts agree.

Here's what to consider when examining paid press release distribution versus free press release distribution.

Keyword Hyperlinks

These are words and phrases to associate with your website and help consumers find your homepage in the search engines.

Most free press release distribution companies don't allow for hyperlinked key words. One of the reasons to use a press release is build links to your website to increase traffic and to begin a word association game with the search engines; to tell the search engines that the words you are linking to your website are words that should be associated with your site.

Example: If you want your press release to detail the benefits of your line of organic beauty supplies, you’ll want to include keywords like “organic product” and “green beauty product” in your release and you'll want to link those words to your websites. Free distribution doesn't allow for that. You want to anticipate which terms someone will search for when it comes to your subject matter.

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization is the process of successfully using keywords to drive Internet search traffic. Free press release services rarely employ keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) as part of their "free" package deals. Without these core elements, your release is will likely never be found by those searching for your name and/or expertise. Example: To effectively optimize your press release for search engines (like Google, Bing and Yahoo!), you must direct Internet traffic to your release through the use of keywords. This will keep your reader's eyes on your release for a longer period of time. A word of caution: Keeping your SEO in check is critical. Paid press release distribution services like PRNewsChannel (https://prnewschannel.com) reviews press releases to make sure the ratios are in check because "stuffing" keywords penalizes you. Free press release distribution services allow you to post your post your press release with no editorial review whatsoever.

Free Press Release Distribution: Junk By Association

People will judge you by your friends. In court, there is a concept of guilt by association. In press release distribution, there is always a fear of junk by association. If you put your press release on the same service as a fly by night MLM, or a poorly written press release riddled with errors, that reflects poorly on YOU and your company. Review the other press releases on the site. Is it quality or junk? Then think: Do you want to be associated with that.

Scope of Online Press Release Distribution

While many free press release distribution sites talk about online reach, they are almost always referring to Google. That service is great. And posting your press release on a free service will help spread your message. But it is NOT the same as the online reach offered by PRNewsChannel, PRNewswire or Businesswire. In those cases, the online reach is extensive and involves a multitude of content syndicators. If it's free common sense will tell you it is NOT the same as high quality, paid distribution.

Email Press Release Distribution Muscle

Free press release distribution sites talk about their ability to reach journalists. Take that with a grain of salt. They may offer RSS feeds and it is possible that your press release may reach a reporter searching the Internet. But these services DO NOT send the press release to journalists. So if your hope is to land publicity in traditional media, a free press release distribution company is not going to do it for you.

Paid press release news services, like PRNewsChannel (https://prnewschannel.com) utilize tried and true databases that help proliferate your release through a multitude of websites--the possibilities are often unknown, but almost always satisfying. The independent website, YourPoliticsNews.com, examined price, reach, impact and customer service in a side-by-side comparison of PRNewswire, Businesswire, PRNewsChannel and Marketwire, the leading press release distribution companies.

The website named PRNewsChannel the country's top press release distribution company--over PRNewswire and Businesswire. YourPoliticsNews.com found that “name recognition makes no difference with journalists because journalists don’t know one newswire from another. What really matters is whether the press release is written well and gets to the right people and PRNewsChannel makes sure that both happen.” YOUR POLITICS NEWS also found PRNewsChannel offers the best price, and elected the press release distribution company ’Best Overall Newswire.’

“We do quite a few press release distributions for politicians, political parties and political causes," says Glenn Selig, who founded PRNewsChannel in 2007 and is now the president and CEO of Selig Multimedia, Inc. "We hope this designation earns us even more business from the world of politics no matter the party affiliation."

About PRNewsChannel: Recently named 'Best Overall Newswire' by an independent political website, PRNewsChannel is the first and only press release distribution company created by journalists. PRNewsChannel is a full service press release newswire distributing corporate press releases online directly to consumers and via email to reporters and editors at media outlets worldwide.

Media Contacts:
Patrick Flanary
PR Firm: The Publicity Agency
Email:
Phone: (813) 708-1220 x7781
Web site: www.thepublicityagency.com

Source: prnewschannel.com