Thought I'd share a bit about using press releases as
an internet marketing tool, based on our recent
experiences.
We at Eagle Productions (NZ) have done quite a bit
of research on press release services recently and we
use them here frequently to "spread the word" about
our various sites and activities from here in far-off New
Zealand to our biggest market (by far), Americans.
>From this we find doing press releases to be quite
effective.
While it's hard to quantify the precise results of press
releases, one thing just seems to lead to another (and
usually leads to valuable "contacts and exposure" -
"exciting, naughty and nice!")...and I do find submitting
them to be a most effective form of advertising in the
"on and off-line world". Together with submitting my
articles to announcement lists, like Article Announce,
Free Content and Publish in Yours.
That is our MAIN internet marketing strategy.
A quick word of advice in writing press releases...It is
vital that the press release about your business is
newsworthy and try to capture attention with a good
"catchy" headline. Make it "spicy and add 'zing' (like
KFC) to make it sizzle!"
Also you can send your news release by "snail mail"
or by e-mail. I do all my submissions to these services
via e-mail.
Recently we've had a number of releases about our
activities here on the other side of the world published
by PR Web, which is a free service ("cheapskate"!)...
and traffic to our sites mentioned has increased
substantially already. Their address is:
http://www.prweb.com.
Incidentally, we have two releases "up there" at:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2001/prweb22106.htm
and
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2000/prweb18497.htm
(in case you want to have a look)
PR Web recommend adding a link back to
them to add credibility to your web site -
good idea, I think!
The Comitatus Group also offer a FREE press release service.
Their web address is:
http://www.comitatusgroup.com/pr/pr_save.asp
Other Press Release services we've used are:
Emailwire.com: http://www.emailwire.com/. They are
mainlyfor corporate businesses, but check them out.
Also Xpress, who distribute news releases by e-mail.
(Their address is news@xpresspress.com).
Lastly, John Crescione of eNewsRelease.com is very
friendly and helpful with writing and distributing press
releases.
We have no connection with these news distribution
services, but have found them all to be effective in
increasing "hits" after a news release.
Use press releases to get the word out about your
web site, product or service. They DO WORK.
Lastly, I don't think you need to be a writer to write
good press releases. (In fact, it may work against us, as
we do tend to "waffle on" a bit and sometimes I don't
write in sufficient "business-speak".) My advice is just
write in your own "natural" style - the one in which you
feel MOST COMFORTABLE... as I've tried to do in this
article.
Don't take life too seriously and have FUN writing your
press releases.
Hope this may help you readers "out there" in cyberspace,
as we at Eagle Productions and our associates learn
something new about on-line and off-line promotion
each day.
"Success is a PROCESS of sharing (knowledge,
insights, wisdom and experiences) with others and not
simply a matter of arriving at a destination."
Take pleasure in the journey.
Craig Lock from Eagle Productions is the author of the
ORIGINAL creative writing course on the internet by
a published writer. Check out his Creative Writing
Course at
http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html
