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Topic: Best Press Release Distribution?
| Author | Message |
| bergdorfblonde | Posted – 8/17/2007 1:38:31 PM | show profile | email poster I have been writing a slew of press releases for clients. I was thinking about distributing them on PR Newswire or Businesswire. Does anyone know of any other effective press release distribution channels that are less expensive than these two? I am trying to target mainly beauty, fashion and pets journos. Thanks!! |
| wineaux | Posted – 8/17/2007 5:04:57 PM | show profile I'd be thrilled to know that too. I'm promoting an art and design event right now for a non profit and have been sending the press releases primarily to newspapers, mags and radio stations. I've gotten some decent hits, but I'd love to promote it at a different level. Especially since the non-profit doesn't want to pay for ads or air time. |
| maphop | Posted – 8/17/2007 9:02:40 PM | show profile Frankly, I've always thought that PR Newswire and similar services were pretty cheap for what they offered but the kinds of products you're promoting for your clients are pretty specialized. How large a contact list have you developed on your own through either direct phone calls to media or through purchased databases? I would guess that between the two you've got at least 700-1000, right? Would you really want to do a 30,000 mass distribution through PR Newswire that won't be targeted versus the list you've compiled on your own? |
| maphop | Posted – 8/18/2007 2:33:51 PM | show profile Bergdorf, while I've always thought that PR Newswire and similar services were fairly cheap considering the labor they save and their sheer number distributions, I'm also assuming that you've aleady exhausted the contact lists you've made yourself from both phone calls to media outlets and from the media databases you subscribe to? I would guess that between those two you've already compiled a list of perhaps 700 to 1000 consumer/trade beauty, fashion, pet feature outlets for the US - yes? Have you considered doing the same for international or is your retainer contract for US only? The only viable alternative to working with the lists you've already compiled through hard work and subscription databases are going to be the kind of services you've already identified and, for a couple of thou, a mass distribution of 30,000+ isn't horrible. Frankly, I don't think I'd ever go that route for beauty/fashion (plus it's a one-time blitz that doesn't garner you a working list for your future needs or to do individual telephone follow-ups to each distribution) but if your existing lists aren't cutting it or you don't want to put the work into creating bigger distribution lists... |
| maphop | Posted – 8/18/2007 2:34:52 PM | show profile Sorry for the duplication in messages, guys - the initial posting said it didn't send due to technical errors on the site and then - voila! - it posted simultaneous to the new posting. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/20/2007 3:41:28 AM | show profile | email poster Well, I don't know the costs of PR Newswire as compared to anything else, but I might suggest that you start your own website and promote THAT to various outlets. "Your resource for unique news and fresh ideas" or something like that, and things organized by category. And make it a co-op with other professionals you know or get to know -- more reasonable than the others. Trim costs by making it a free subscription but email and/or fax only? Sometimes, you go with the wheel someone else invented for a good reason. But sometimes, there's another approach ... |
| Cyrus | Posted – 8/20/2007 10:24:38 AM | show profile Why not just make up your own lists and go from there? I almost never put anything on either PRN or BW unless it involves a company raising financing. I do that because those do get pickup; unless you're working for largely, publicly-held companies, you'll find your news gets drowned out easily on those two outlets. It's far more effective, both from a time and money perspective, to compose your own lists and send them automatically through your database or mail program. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| maphop | Posted – 8/20/2007 10:57:14 PM | show profile Cyrus, my point exactly... |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/26/2007 4:50:00 AM | show profile So the choice was not PR NEwswire or Businesswire either -- but posting on multiple mediabistro threads? |
| waki43 | Posted – 8/27/2007 5:03:29 PM | show profile | email poster I found that Business wire is just as effective (and cheaper) than PR newswire...more bang for your buck. they are nice to deal with also... |
| maphop | Posted – 8/28/2007 10:52:58 AM | show profile Business Wire may be cheaper but look at the product lines and press releases being offered...they relate to beauty, fashion and pets. Unless there's a serious business thread or angle - a takeover, an acquisition, a public offering, offshoring report, a CEO change, an earnings report, etc. - my fear for a new publicist is that they won't understand that MOST of the Business Wire blasts go to those in the business department of a newspaper or news station., as opposed to a beauty editor or a features writer. It may be cheaper but it's also potentially a bad use of the money. |
| bergdorfblonde | Posted – 8/28/2007 12:54:20 PM | show profile | email poster Thanks for your feedback I have a list of contacts. I definitely send out emails to my list. But I was talking about Press Release Distribution in addition to sending things out thru my list. I think its good to explore multiple avenues. I was just wondering if anyone knew of any other Press Release Distribution services that worked besides PR Newswire and Businesswire. |
