Free Press Release Websites, Our Top 6
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I recently launched my very first eBook. I’m satisfied with the content I have created but have come up a bit short when it comes to promotion. One great way to put your product or service in front of an audience is with a press release. There are many companies that will hit you up for several hundred dollars to disseminate your info, but there are also plenty that will do it for free. Their reach might not be as great, but the price tag can’t be beat. And I can tell you that by using these services, I have sold several dozen additional books.
Each offers increased exposure with paid upgrades and most require free registration. Here are a few of the better FREE press release Web sites.
1) PRLOG
Within one week of submitting my press release, I began showing up on the first page of Google search results when looking for my Web site’s key words. Basic HTML is accepted, including three links. Press releases can easily be embedded on Websites and a PDF version is available for download.
Only the portion after “@” of your e-mail address is displayed. That means you can’t really use a non-business address (Gmail, Hotmail etc.) or your release will carry much less weight and potentially look ‘fishy.’ Press releases are ad supported with a million links framing your release. This makes the core text a bit difficult to read. (sample release)
2) I-NEWSWIRE
This service does not accept HTML coding but you can set up a company profile that includes a single link to your homepage. You must include a business address (which I don’t think is vetted by a human being) and a phone number. It’s simple to share your release on dozens of social networks and tags are easily found and identified. There is also valuable content such as Top 10 Rules for a successful submission. (sample release)
Like most of the sites on this list, free releases are supported with Google Ads. But these guys also use Kontera in-line text ads, which, let’s face it, are somewhat distracting. HTML is not permitted and text ads show up in the middle of the release, which can be misleading to readers. Press releases can be e-mailed to friends and ad-free print-friendly functionality rounds out the site. You supply an e-mail address and messages are forwarded to you via a Free Press Release form. (sample release)
4) CLICK PRESS
Google News and MSN News are targeted via this free release site. There are no hotlinks allowed. Many of the ads that appear on free press releases are visual, which looks cluttered, but it does make it easier to differentiate what is an ad and what is part of the release.
1888PressRelease.com says they offer a free release, but after registering and reviewing their pricing grid, I’m not sure what free really gets you.
6) OPEN PR
Companies may create up to three releases per day, with each reviewed and potentially edited by a human being. No HTML. Full postal mailing address is required for release.
CONCLUSION
The major problem with these sites is not that they are ad supported – but how the contextual ads are displayed. In many cases, they make it impossible to differentiate between internal and external links, making it very important that you pay attention to what you are doing, because you can easily be led away to a paid press release Website.
When you use free tools you get what you pay for, and in this case, each site provides a useful service to smaller businesses and independent Website owners who do not have the budget of PRWeb or other paid press release services.
