On the road to exploring the ways to marketing your online store, you’ll have come across so many different methods to get the word out about your online store; from social media marketing, AdSense, blogging, and Search Engine Optimization.
But what about good old journalism? In a time when we are all learning about how to up our Instagram game, it’s time to take a good look at traditional press releases to spread the word about your brand.
A press release or PR typically consists of a killer headline and 300-400 words that lets you spread news-worthy stories about your brand in a journalistic manner. It is an official announcement or current event story typically shared by the media in written form or through other means of recording. A press release can also be referred to as a news release, media release, or press statement, and can also be released online as Online Press Releases.
Launching a press release typically involves the sharing of information about your brand, typically providing information that includes the Who, What, Where, and How’s of a news-worthy event.
Here are the reasons why your brand may one to conduct an online press release:
- The launching of a new product or service
- You recently received an award
- A new partnership with a brand or influencer
- You are launching a competition
- You are hosting a brand event
- Rebranding
- Announcing new hires
- Any other exciting news you wish to share publicly
In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of online press release and three ways to conduct PR for your brand to reach a broader audience.
Benefits of Press Releases
One of the main benefits of a press release is its major contribution to your marketing efforts. A well-written press release shared across a news outlet, a popular blog, journal, or any local or international publication can bolster your brand in a way that can help reach your target audience across the world or within your niche community.
Online PR is also a great way to get backlinks to your site meaning it’s a great content marketing tool to get traffic and boost SEO. Press releases can also be cost-effective for your company and an excellent way to control your brand’s story as you share your values, achievements, and future plans, calling attention to everything and every moment that makes your brand great.
Now lets get to it and explore three ways to distribute your press releases:
1. Contact A Press Release Distribution Company
One of the ways to get your story shared is through the help of a press release distribution company, which may be one of the easiest ways to get your stories shared with thousands of journalists, news publications, etc.
PR distribution companies send your releases and story to a range of media outlets and journalists who will pick up on your story and publish it for their readers and viewers. This gives your brand the media coverage you’ve been looking for, and, depending on how many news media outlets pick up your story, this could be a budget-friendly alternative to marketing with favorable returns in terms of brand awareness, customer acquisition, and your brand’s bottom line.
Different PR distribution companies offer a range of options with costs that vary from $69 to a few thousand dollars, meaning you’ll be able to find a service that fits your budget and goals.
Here is a list of popular distribution companies that you can explore:
2. Create a Press Kit for Your Site
Not willing to shell out a budget for a press release service? Then it might be time to create a new webpage on your site. A press kit or a media kit is a page on your website that makes promotional information about your brand more accessible.
It should contain a resource of information for reporters and publishers so that they can easily learn about your brand and have access to marketing materials, like pictures, announcements, brand values, and awards that they can use for a promotional story. Think about it as a mini portfolio that highlights your brand, its assets, and achievements in the best light.
Having a press kit for your brand can be a major asset and credibility booster, as it can be a significant tool for journalists, bloggers, and influencers who are interested in sharing the news about your business. As a page on your ecommerce website, a press kit can also be a valuable tool for your potential clients, customers, business partners, and stakeholders.
Here are some things you can include in a press kit:
- Awards and Recognition
- New Launches
- Company News
- Events
- New Partnerships
3. Contact Specific Journalists
Contacting a specific journalist or publication site is a direct way to pursue media coverage outside of a third-party press release distribution company or simply waiting for a journalist or influencer to happen upon your press kit page on your site.
If you wish to contact reporters, bloggers, or influencers in the hopes that they share your story, the steps are simple. Firstly, you need to find relevant journalists or media outlets that will be interested in covering your story. Secondly, find their email address or other pertinent ways to get in touch and get in touch to share your press release.
You can start with your local media or pursue journalists, bloggers, podcasters, influencers, and news outlets you feel are relevant to your brand. This way, you can contact the appropriate individuals or groups who have experience in covering your industry.
Finding the right individuals or news outlets can mean going through a media database, which is a directory for local and international contacts, going through social media, or contacting local personalities and groups in your area to find the most relevant persons or media groups to share your news story.
Back to You
One of the challenges to running an online business is getting the word out through your marketing efforts, and there are so many ways to do this organically or through paid methods. Whatever methods you find yourself employing, press releases are a worthwhile way to reach new audiences.
Press releases have been around for a long time, and whether you decide to use a press release distribution service, press kit, contact journalists directly, or a combination of the three methods highlighted in this article, press releases will help you achieve some of your marketing goals in establishing brand visibility and recognition— not to mention consumer trust and improved credibility.
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At Ecommerce Pro, we help entrepreneurs and business owners build better and more successful ecommerce businesses. Have a question or a project in mind? Get in touch with us today!
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