Press releases attract attention from the media and help you promote your product or service. Moreover, Google or Yahoo News may create quality backlinks to your site with the help of press releases. It is an effective digital marketing strategy to deliver a brand’s message and create an online identity.
Okay, many people know how a press release is a valuable tool, but they usually don’t recognize its benefits to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Typically, a press release is something a company or news agency sends to media companies about a newsworthy event such as a product launch or a circumstance that positively affects a business.
But also, they have an SEO value. Not as it had years ago, things changed as Google started recognizing that some companies were using them principally to gain backlinks. Yet, they are still quite crucial to achieving customers.
They help improve the visibility of a brand or website through news citations in the media. People who share the press release online make high-quality anchor text with backlinks with a link pointing to the company’s website. These backlinks create positive brand exposure in reputable news sources and media.
What is a Press Release?
A press release is an official statement issued to news media on behalf of a company or organization. The purpose of a press release is typically to share newsworthy information, such as an upcoming event, product launch, or change in leadership.
Press releases are also an effective digital marketing tool that can help improve a brand’s or website’s visibility. When news media outlets pick up a press release and share it online, it creates natural backlinks to the company’s website. These backlinks help improve the SEO of the website and can lead to increased referral traffic.
What Are the SEO Benefits of a Press Release?
Simply put, a press release provides more indirect than direct value. Yet, this doesn’t mean that there is no direct value.
The links you’ll add to your press releases will directly attract new readers – even maybe consumers to your website.
However, most importantly, a good press release improves your media appearance. And that is an indirect benefit.
If you have a great press release that is unique, valuable, and attention-grabbing, then newspapers and blogs are more likely to share it.
You’ll get buzz, visibility, traffic, and awareness without paying money to these newspaper or blog sites.
SEO benefits that come from a press release submission are:
- Improving the visibility of a brand or website;
- Creating natural backlinks to a company’s website;
- Leading to increased referral traffic.
The Importance of Keywords in the Press Release?
While press releases are not as focused on keywords as they once were, it is still important to include relevant keywords in your press release to help improve its chances of being found by journalists and other media outlets.
Don’t stuff your press release with keywords; still, it should have at least one keyword in some places, such as the headline, first paragraph, and anchor link. Overstuffing keywords in an attempt to game the system will only make your press release sound unnatural and could hurt your chances of getting picked up by news outlets.
When including keywords in your press release, use them sparingly and organically.
Anchor Links in the Press Release
Anchor links are important in press releases as they help improve a website’s or brand’s visibility. When a press release is picked up by news media outlets and shared online, readers who share the publication can create high-quality anchor text with backlinks. These backlinks help improve the SEO of the website and can lead to increased referral traffic.
Including at least one relevant keyword in the anchor link is important as it helps improve the chances of your press release being found by media outlets.
8 Tips to Write a Press Release to Boost Your SEO
Research Your Keywords
Your story may be relevant to 90% of readers, but if they can’t find your story, they can’t read it. Figure out what readers and journalists are searching for. Use those keywords.
This is the most strategic part of SEO for press releases. Finding keywords and phrases starts with the query categories matching your audience’s needs. Use keyword tools and expand your scope.
Create a Descriptive Headline
The headline should be clear, engaging, and make use of keywords.
A good press release headline will be read by more people and is more likely to be picked up by journalists and media outlets.
Create valuable content!
If you want your press release to be picked up and shared, it needs to be newsworthy!
Write about something new, interesting, or valuable to your audience.
Write Your Company’s “Elevator Pitch”
A press release is a great opportunity to tell the world what your company does and why they should care.
In the first paragraph of your press release, include a brief overview of your company and your product or services.
Format for the Web
Remember that your press release will be read online, so format it accordingly. Use short paragraphs, headlines, and bulleted lists.
Search engines value user experience, and you need to be sure you optimize your press release accordingly. It helps attract readers and increase engagement.
Also, remember that more newspapers and blog sites will share a well-written, optimized press release.
Include Multimedia Elements
Make your press release more engaging by including images, videos, or infographics. It is important for user experience and the websites you want them to share your press release.
Send to Specific, Relevant Media
Your press release will be more likely to be picked up if you send it to media outlets that are relevant to your story. Do your research and target specific journalists who cover stories like yours.
For example, if you have a SaaS company, a tech blog is more likely to share your press releases. Sending press releases to a lifestyle magazine won’t help you at all.
Why Do We Need to Submit a Press Release?
Press releases are essential for any business seeking to generate publicity and drive traffic to their website. By definition, a press release is an official statement issued to the media that provides information on a specific event or topic. Press releases offer a powerful and versatile way to reach new audiences and promote your business.
A well-written press release can be proved effective in many ways as:
- Increasing brand awareness.
- Helping in reputation management.
- Helping in increasing business value.
- Creating traffic on the website
Best Press Release Wire Service
There are several press release wire services to choose from. Each press release wire service has its own strengths and weaknesses. Make sure to select the one that is the best fit for your needs.
Here is a list of the best press release wire service providers:
PR Newswire: PR Newswire is one of the most popular press release wire services. It offers many features, including distribution to a large network of media outlets, press room hosting, multimedia capabilities, and analytics tools.
Business Wire: Business Wire is another popular press release wire service. It offers many of the same features as PR Newswire, including distribution to a wide network of media outlets, press room hosting, and multimedia capabilities. However, Business Wire’s analytics tools are not as robust as PR Newswire’s.
eReleases: eReleases is a press release wire service specializing in distribution to online media outlets. It offers a wide range of features, including press release writing and editing services, social media integration, and detailed tracking and analytics tools.
PRWeb: PRWeb is a press release wire service that offers a wide range of features, including social media integration, detailed tracking and analytics tools, and the ability to embed multimedia content in press releases.
Marketwired: Marketwired is a press release wire service that offers many of the same features as PR Newswire and Business Wire, including distribution to a large network of media outlets, press room hosting, and multimedia capabilities. However, Marketwired’s analytics tools are not as robust as PR Newswire’s or Business Wire’s.