Are you aware that the internet is now used by 78.1% of American citizens, according to Internet World Stats? That accounts for over 243 million people just in the United States. According to the New York Times, internet usage by Americans caught up to that of television in 2010. This fact made it indisputable that traditional media is going the way of the dinosaur as digital mediums becomes ever more important.
Press releases are a crucial part of letting the world know about the successes of your company, controlling the news about occasional failures, and generally keeping buzz going around your business. Whereas before press releases were spoken on TV or printed in newspapers, now they are published online. Here are three ways to make the most out of your press releases to grow your web audience.
Do Not Neglect SEO in Your PR News
PR News Wire writes that the same SEO techniques that are important in getting other types of web content noticed are crucial in having your press releases noticed organically on the web. Did you know, according to Search Engine Journal, that 93% of online experiences now begin with a search engine? By focusing on quality content that utilizes natural keywords and target phrases, your PR content can be found in those searches.
Use the Top Free Press Release Sites
The top free press release sites afford companies with many options and tools for optimizing content and syndicating it across the web. Free Press Release and PRLog are two popular services that allow you to upload and syndicate a press release freely across the web. However, depending on the site, many of the options offered to you by free sites greatly vary from those offered by paid programs. Do your research to find a program that offers the most bang for your buck.
Use High Visibility Newswires
High visibility, high quality newswires are an incredibly powerful tool to use in spreading online PR news. One of the best is the AP news wire. The Associated Press is connected to over 1,400 news outlets. For this reason, there is hardly a website or newspaper that Americans regularly read that has not credited the AP for some of its content. If you want to use AP press release capability to grow your page, you can contact them at info@ap.org.
As the number of web users continue to rise and traditional media continues its march toward the grave, the importance of web based marketing is skyrocketing. Use the top free press release sites and the other provided methods to get your press releases out there for free. You will be glad you did.