Our Favorite Online Press Release Distribution Services

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is which press release distribution service we recommend.

First, let me make a distinction. We have found that there are two types of press release distribution services.

- Ones that get your release out to lots of different sites on the web.
- And those that get your release into the hands of print and broadcast reporters.

Frankly, we've not been able to find one service that does well with both. Either they do a good job online, or they do a good job reaching reporters, generally not both.

This article will focus on the only one we've found that does a reasonable job of doing both at a reasonable price. In future issues we'll discuss some of our other favorite tools.

The service is called The Yearbook of Experts and it's one of those gems that few people know about, but really seems to work.

The Yearbook of Experts provides you a number of services, just one of which is a press release distribution service. You get:
- A profile in the printed Yearbook of Experts
- A profile in their online online ExpertClick directory
- Inclusion in their Power Media BlueBook and CD-ROM and online access to their database
- Training in how to use their service

And, the part you've been waiting for
- The ability to send out releases and articles through their NewsReleaseWire.

Their NewsReleaseWire service follows one of the classic models: Reporters/editors sign up for to receive releases for free, and those who are submitting pay to do so.

I've found that, at least in my area of expertise, the listings don't do me much good. But the news release service has been very powerful.

Here's what I like about it:

1. You can issue a different release each week - 52 a year (technically, you can issue more than that, but it's not encouraged.) That's a great incentive to come up with new stuff regularly.

2. Listings on this service automatically get sent to Google News, Yahoo News, etc. at no additional cost.

3. Individual releases are part of the package. You pay one time and post all year. So, instead of having to pay base costs plus upgrade costs to get each individual release submitted to different online news services, one fee does it for the year!

4. At the moment, there are few enough people using the service that you'll almost always be on the first page of their article listings for a week or so rather than getting buried 32 pages deep in a couple of hours like what happens on some other sites.

5. You have the option to cut and paste your release in, to send a link to your release located on a different site, or to send a pdf file (which is not recommended because it limits pickup)

6. You can include an audio file too with your release, giving you an additional avenue for exposure. You can also link into a video file

7. You can indicate a geographical area, allowing those searching for local stories to find your release

8. If you have a book, you can make it easy for reporters to request a review copy right from your release. These book-related releases also get featured on a separate book review site.

9. You can upload a picture with your release (this service costs extra at other sites)

10. You can input two links with your release and can dictate what link text shows up in that link.

11. We have found that we actually get pretty good pickup from this service. So, for a fraction of the cost (to get pictures, inclusion in the search engines, etc. would cost $200+ with many other services), you get 52 releases a year, and great pickup!

12. We have found success in getting articles picked up too (tip sheets, quizzes, even feature-length articles) in addition to regular news releases.

One word of warning, the numbers you will see reported from this service will probably be lower than other services. And those numbers are probably correct. But I simply don't trust some of the pickup reports I see from many of the other services. They're usually algorithmically created, not actual results.

So there it is, our first recommendation for a good release service. In fact, we like so much that we contacted them and asked for a special deal in your behalf. They've agreed to cut $100 off their standard rates if you use the link below. Also, until June 30th, they are offering you an extra 3 months, so 15 months for the price of 12.

We use it, we recommend it, we think you should too. Check it out!

And, if you want to write better press releases that are more likely to actually get printed, check Creating Powerful Press Releases

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Tags: pressrelease newsrelease release press media newsreleasewire