• Who uses online press releases?
• Shall I post an online news release?
• Does it justify the cost?

An online press release is an announcement of some event happening, some award you got or practically new new development. This wholesale sunglasses dealer and sheepskin slippers store use press releases to announce their new online stores. Safestyle UK announced the winner of their lucky draw here. You may have been awarded some certification or received an approval and a news release can tell this to the world. May be you have launched a new product? May be you are attending an exhibition? There are no limits on the topics you can issue press releases for.

While the news releases used to be targeted to the press earlier, the trend nowadays is to address the general public directly. When the search engines like Google News pick up your release, you can get a wide exposure. Who knows you may catch the fancy of some reporters and get covered in their publications. In any case, several blog and site owners reproduce releases concerning their subject and working field, thereby resulting in a one-way incoming link to your site.

While sites like PRWEB charge you a decent sum (worth the investment though), you can also issue a press release for cheap or zero price at several sites. However the response rate for the FREE press release sites is much lower and you may be happy concentrating fully on 1-2 paid sites only.

Windowstyle, the manufacturing arm of Style Group UK recently upgraded its facilities by investing a large sum of money and announced this to the world with this press release -
£500,000 Revamp Secures 130 More Jobs For Windowstyle.

Similarly Safestyle UK, which appointed Leeds United chairman, Ken Bates, for the multi-million pound 2007 marketing campaigns, they announced this through a press release – Ken Bates Signs Up For 2007 Safestyle TV Campaign.

Regular announcements like this keep the company in the news and when the customers need the products they manufacture / market, this company’s name will be the first they will recall.

What is a recent big development in your company that you can announce to the world?

This press release was done at an investment of $80 on PRweb.com and after 30 days has resulted in:

* 21,439 page views of the release on PRweb.com

* 406 estimated pick-ups

* 59 one-way incoming links to the site

He has attributed the success of this campaign to the ideas covered in the Press Release fire ebook by Brad Callen. This is a useful guide and you can pick up some very good ideas as well as free press release sites. Check it out!

Social media such as blogs, podcasts, wikis and message boards can play an important role in the dissemination of your news and company developments and if you can make your consumer aware of these developments, you can easily expect better branding and higher traffic to your site, thereby improving the results from your web site in all fields.

This is a must read for anyone interested in using press releases and blogs for their site promotion. To download Scott’s e-book, “The New Rules of PR: How to Create a Press Release Strategy for Reaching Buyers Directly” (second edition), please go to http://301url.com/NewRulesofPR.

I recently issued 2 press releases, one for the new launch of Esalesguru.com, an outsourcing portal focussed on Internet marketing outsourcing and another one for the relaunch of the web site of Safestyle Uk, a leading replacement windows and doors company in Britain. Study these releases – you can pick up some good hints in there.

This will definitely attract lots of affiliates willing to promote his program, thereby increasing his sales multi-fold. He will be able to tap into the subscriber lists of all these affiliate marketers who will love to promote his stuff, in view of the attractive affiliate commission and contest prizes.

Finding that Jason has missed out on another strong launch ammunition, the launch blog, I set up one at Membership Riches Blog and plan to tap into this avenue – let’s see how it goes.

Since they are using the PRWEB platform and tools, you can look forward to a nice exposure and wide distribution for your news. As of now, Billboard Publicity Wire offers three levels of service ranging from $80 to $200 per release. The $200 option includes production and distribution of a three-minute podcast. Payment is by credit card and there are no membership fees, setup charges or hidden costs.

See the full press release here.

Larry is a reputed marketer and knows his stuff. I really liked his idea of putting out only 3 tips in the release and asking the readers to visit his site for more tips. That is a great trick to get visitors to your web site. You can give a few (but not all) tips in a press release or an article and invite the reader to get more of these on your site.

Safestyle UK is running a contest for fans and followers of Leeds United Football Club. They are inviting all the people who own their home to participate in the contest for a  £5,000 Window and Door Make Over. The intending participants don’t have to write any slogans to do any crazy things. Just fill up a form and participate.

They have announced it on their blog, in the press and on the Leeds United  site, thereby ensuring maximum publicity.

You should be able to pick up some great ideas from this to run your next lead generation campaign. And don’t forget to announce this through a press release.