Are press releases dead? No, Press Releases Aren’t Dead

It goes without saying that over the last few years, there has been a drastic transformation in communication methods. Thus, we have been witnessing ample change in the strategies, which are frequent and worthy as well. Once considered one of the most effective means of PR communication, Press Releases have been criticized by industry professionals for often being used to misguide journalists and search engines alike with duplicate, copy-paste, and/or irrelevant content. Are press releases dead? No, press releases are not dead.

That is why a good chunk of industry professionals have declared that press releases are indeed dead today. As Google’s search algorithm has penalized press releases for augmenting copy-paste, irrelevant, and duplicate contents, this argument is further believed and thus looked at with professional sincerity.

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It has resulted in various professional PR writing service companies rethinking their approaches towards press release writing services and making newer strategies about their distribution before influential journalists get noticed. The fact is that such approaches have paved the way for a new dawn for press releases to leave an impeccable impact in the current scenario as well. Are press releases still relevant for SEO? Yes, they are.

We, at SEO Content India, have a dedicated PR writing service department that caters to Press Release writing services for our domestic and international clients. The persistent question still haunts our professionals: Are press releases dead or still alive in the current scenario?

This claim can’t be refuted: in the current age of advanced technology, where the world has become a global village, it is indeed easier than ever for brands to disseminate a message to target audiences with merely a single click of a button. This fact can’t be countered: news, advertisements, and traditional advertisements are received through emails by people on their social media platforms and almost virtually everywhere possible online. This shift in communication leaves many people so confused that they start wondering whether a press release still holds relevance or is dead.

In this regard, multiple educational sessions have taken place where the question, “Is the press release dead?” has been put up. Invariably, some senior journalists attest to the positive impact press releases still have. And they are not alone. According to Cision’s 2019 State of the Media report, 71% of journalists continue to prefer news announcements and press releases from public relations professionals. While it has been agreed upon that the press release distribution strategy has evolved, three big reasons add to the belief that press releases are still relevant and alive.

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Before we move ahead, let’s discuss the benefits of press releases. It will prove helpful for us all to understand the topic with clarity.

Benefits of Press Releases

There are many benefits to writing press releases for SEO strategies that you can avail of from PRs. That is why press releases have remained widespread around us for a long time. For startups, it is an inexpensive way of advertising to avail of a brand recognition solution. The writing and distribution of PRs also legitimize an existing brand and get that noticed by a new audience since genuinely written press releases get circulated among influential journalists with immediate effect.

Some common benefits of press releases include:

• Improves traffic to your website
• Boosts page ranks by getting backlinks
• Educate your audience about your organizational whereabouts
• Adds fresh content to your content marketing campaigns
• Gets shareable content for your social media accounts
• Improves your brand awareness

1. Provide updates to stakeholders

Subject to the condition of its proper execution, a press release can reap enormous dividends for your brands. Notably, those press releases that include timely news double-ups are an excellent tool for providing strategic context to your brand’s target audience. Sending press releases to announce new hires, promoting product launches, and showcasing company milestones is highly recommended.

2. Increase brand credibility

A press release assumes much importance, as it is essentially a piece of news with which you are in a position to control the messaging of your company entirely. However, there is a probability that some journalists may use the press release as more of a guideline while crafting their own story and desist from publishing verbatim. Still, you need not bother as they can in no way stray from the information provided by you. In addition, a press release is a platform to share data and insight, where your company gets elevated as a valuable resource, especially when it comes to speaking on industry trends.

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3. Generate sales leads

A universal truth found in industry jargon is that every good press release ends with a call to action (CTA) that stirs the reader with a sense of urgency themed around the main message. Following the inverted pyramid methodology will lead you to tee up the call-to-action with helpful information that will prove supportive in explaining what is there and why the reader should feel compelled enough to reach out to your company. Then there is a big plus that could be summed up as saying that with the proper execution, a press release goes on to create a conversation with a potential new customer that could ultimately result in an increase in sales, or at least may be able to forge a relationship that can sometimes be nurtured soon.

4. SEO Advantages

While writing press releases, make sure you are well aware of the algorithms of Google Search. You can intelligently incorporate keywords relevant to your industry in the press release content and link back to the specific pages on your website, which will boost your site’s organic ranking in no time. The press release is not dead, but it has evolved over time. A little bit of carefulness can become a long-term investment if you are careful while developing content and sharing PRs.

Press releases are not dead!

Industry experts confirm that press releases are not dead. The news releases are neither dead nor will they die anytime soon. But they should be used carefully and only when they are considered appropriate.

Experts associated with SEO Content India have enlisted a couple of ways to unleash the potentialities of Press releases, which are as follows:

• Write a catchy headline that should include relevant keywords
• Avoid using industry jargon and or complicated sentences
• Keep the contents short and simple to enhance their readability
• Include videos, graphs, and images to seek more attention
• Mention quotes from the influencers or industry thought leaders
• Promote your Press Releases on all social media channels

Conclusion: Are press releases dead?

Press releases have never been so boring or useless that they could be categorized as dead at any point in time. To get the most out of press releases, you must understand their purpose and benefits carefully. While writing PRs, professional help should be sought to obtain the best outcome. As professional writers are well aware of the know-how of exact PR formats and unique and timely steps to get them distributed amongst influential journalists with ease, such steps would always prove meaningful.

Furthermore, professional PR writers understand the differences between press release content, newsletter content, and eBook content. Thus, you need not worry about it. Professionally written PR content addresses potential questions of the readers concerned. This is how they remain so much crucial and relevant.

Are press releases dead? No, press releases aren’t dead, but they have evolved.