Press releases (help needed)

[tm11]

Hi all

my website will soon be going live, ive been looking at ways of advertising the site, i was told
that press releases may be a good way of advertising, can anyone give me any help or advice
on this, the pro's and con's etc, any good companys out their that deal with press releases that
i should have a chat to.

cheers for any help
tom

[jacobyte]

Have you written the press release yet?

Get the contact details of all the publications in the industry that your website is targeting, then phone and email the individuals, following them up again by phone to find out when the story will be run.

Try to get very friendly with them, so that they give you free space in future editions, and they will call you regularly asking for new products/services that they can report about to fill their pages. Their colleagues will also call you up trying to sell you advertising space, but don't slam the phone down - it can work against you - just be nice to them and say you've not got the budget for the next 6 months. You may get invited to their annual awards/exhibitions/etc so you can rub shoulders and network for more business.

On the website front, make sure you make a good application into DMOZ, and also paid entry in the Yahoo directory, as they will help your SEO a significant amount.

[martin hunt]

I have used www.pressdispensary.co.uk

Their website is good for info, but their service was not so good, sent out a press release even though I asked them not to.....

[steviebee]

You need a punchy, attention grabbing headlines, a paragraph of intro blurb and decent copy. If you're writing it, write it in the third party. Include pictures or screengrabs.

Putting one together is only half of it though. You need to know where to send it to and who to address it to. The chances of getting some coverage is generally enhanced if you took some display advertising as well!

[slapmatt]

As an aside to your press release, make sure you contact your local rag. They are desparate for any half decent story and will bend over backwards to give you free publicity. I managed to get a half-page story and pic of my ugly mug when I launched a site recently - on the back of my newspaper appearance I was contacted by both my local BBC radio station and the local commercial station.

All for free. Who needs PR companies???!!!

[hendry]

I would ask whether your website leanuching is actually newsworthy? I am sure it is big news for you, but would producing a press release actually get you any coverage. If not, then I would either not put too much effort in or postpone your website launch until you can add something to it that is going to make people stand up and take notice.

Way too many companies send out press releases that are frankly nothing at all - there IS no news. Too much of this and your target journos will mark you down as a timewaster.