Complete Guide to Press Release Distribution and SEO in 2022

If you’re serious about promoting your business and website, then you can’t go wrong with a press release. Not only can a press release improve your brand awareness, but it can also drive traffic to your website. And if you do it right, a press release can even help with your SEO.

A lot has changed since the days when SEOs would stuff press releases full of keyword-rich links to their websites. Today, issuing a press release requires a lot of care and attention. You have to keep in mind both SEO and media best practices if you want your press release to be effective.

What Is Press Release Distribution?

A press release is a short, formal statement issued to the media. It’s typically used to announce something newsworthy, such as a new product launch, an event, or a milestone.

A press release should include the following:

• A catchy headline
• A subheadline
• The dateline
• The lead
• The body
• The boilerplate
• The close

A press release should be no more than one page long and written in a style that is easy for the media to understand and share. It should always be written in a third-person point of view and should never exceed 500 words.

Why Does Press Release Distribution Matter?

Press release distribution is essential so you can ensure that the content you want to share will reach the right people and won’t go unnoticed. The process of distributing your content is a step in content promotion. In plain English, no one is going to be aware of your content, news, and services if you don’t bother sharing your press release with the world.

Aside from content promotion, press release distribution can, in many cases, also directly lead to SEO benefits. How?

If you distribute your press release through a wire service like PR Newswire or Business Wire, your press release will be picked up by hundreds if not thousands of news websites and blogs. These websites are often high-authority websites with strong domain authority. When they publish your press release, they will also include a link back to your website.

If you do it right and include keyword-rich anchor text in your press release, you can boost your SEO rankings. So not only will you get more traffic to your website from the press release itself, but you’ll also get a nice boost in your search engine rankings.

It’s a win-win situation.

Moreover, it can also help you connect with influencers and thought experts. If you can publish your press release on a high-authority website, you’re more likely to get noticed by influencers and other thought experts in your industry. These people with a large following can help boost your brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.

For instance, take this story from the world-renowned American newspaper, The New York Times.

The NY Times is one of the most respected news outlets in the world, with a huge audience. The story depicts how a portable air conditioner can be a good option for people who don’t have room for a window unit or central ac.

If you’re a small business owner, getting your press release published on the NY Times website can do wonders for your business. Not only will you get a lot of exposure from the website itself, but you’ll also get noticed by influencers and thought experts in your industry.

So as you can see, press release distribution is essential for promoting your business and website. And if you do it right, it can also positively impact your SEO.

How to Write a Press Release That Will Actually Get Picked Up by the Media

Writing a press release that will actually get picked up by the media is not as easy as it sounds. There’s a lot of competition out there, and if you want your press release to stand out, you need to ensure it’s newsworthy and well-written.

Here are a few tips to help you write a press release that will actually get picked up by the media:

1. Write in a journalistic style

When writing a press release, it’s important to write in a journalistic style. This means using short, concise sentences and writing in an objective manner. Avoid using marketing language or jargon, and just focus on delivering the facts.

2. Make it newsworthy

This one should be pretty obvious, but it’s important to ensure your press release is newsworthy. If it’s not, no one will want to publish it.

3. Keep it short and to the point

Another important tip is to keep your press release short and to the point. Journalists are very busy and don’t have time to read a long, drawn-out press release. So make sure you get your point across quickly and efficiently.

4. Include quotes

Quotes are a great way to add credibility to your press release. If you can, try to include quotes from experts or people involved in the story. This will add more weight to your press release and make it more likely to be picked up by the media.

5. Include a catchy headline

Your headline is the first thing that people will see, so it’s important to make it catchy and interesting. Avoid using jargon or marketing language, and just focus on creating a headline that will make people want to read more.

6. Follow formatting best practices

When it comes to formatting your press release, there are a few best practices you should follow. First, make sure your press release is easy to read by using short paragraphs and bullet points. Second, include all the essential information at the top of the press release, including the date, time, and contact information. Finally, make sure your press release looks professional by using a simple font and format.

7. Use photos, videos, and infographics

Including visuals in your press release is a great way to make it more engaging and interesting. People are more likely to read a press release if it includes photos, videos, or infographics. So if you have any visual content, be sure to include it.

8. Limit the number of links

Including too many links in your press release can make it look spammy and unprofessional. So only include a few links, and make sure they’re relevant and high-quality websites.

Now that you know how to write a press release that will actually get picked up by the media, it’s time to start crafting and distributing your own. But before you go ahead with that, there’s one more important thing to keep in mind…common mistakes.

Common Press Release Distribution Mistakes to Avoid

When distributing your press release, there are a few common mistakes you should avoid. Here are some of the most common mistakes businesses make when distributing their press releases:

1. Not targeting the right audience

One of the most common mistakes businesses make is not targeting the right audience with their press release. They either don’t target an audience or try to target too broad of an audience.

To avoid this mistake, you need to make sure you’re targeting the right audience from the start. Figure out who your target audience is and what media outlets they consume. Then, tailor your press release and distribution strategy to reach that audience.

2. Not writing short and crisp copies

Another mistake businesses make is writing long, drawn-out press releases. Remember, journalists are busy people who don’t have time to read a long press release. So make sure you keep your press release short, sweet, and to the point.

3. Not being professional

When distributing your press release, it’s important to maintain a professional tone. This means avoiding any typos or grammatical errors. It also means using a professional-looking email signature and avoiding any unprofessional language.

You should also avoid being too self-promotional. Remember, publishers receive many pitches and are more likely to respond to pitches that aren’t overly promotional.

4. Not being clear on how you can be reached

The last thing you want is for people to be interested in your story but not be able to get in touch with you. So make sure you’re clear on how people can reach you and your business. Include your social media accounts and contact information in your press release so people can easily get in touch with you.

How to Distribute a Press Release for Maximum Reach?

There are two ways to distribute a press release – either you can do it yourself or you can hire a professional service to do it for you.

If you’re distributing your press release yourself, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to figure out which media outlets to target. Then, you need to reach out to those outlets and pitch your story.

You can also use a press release distribution service to help you distribute your press release. With a distribution service, you simply submit your press release, and they will take care of the rest. They will send your press release to the right media outlets and ensure it gets in front of the right people.

Your chosen method will depend on your budget, resources, and distribution goals. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to distribute your press release yourself. But if you want to make sure your press release gets in front of as many people as possible, you might want to use a distribution service.

No matter which method you choose, the important thing is to make sure your press release gets in front of the right people. By following the tips in this guide, you can make sure your press release reaches its intended audience and helps you achieve your business goals.

Use SEO Vendor Press Release Distribution Services to Reach a Wider Audience

If you want to reach a wider audience with your press release, you can use our press release distribution service. SEO Vendor is an award-winning SEO white-label company with 15 years of experience in the industry. Our team of SEO experts and marketing copywriters will help you create a press release that is optimized for SEO and distribution. We will also help you target the right media outlets and pitch your story to them.

To learn more about our press release distribution service, contact us today.