Answers to the questions we get asked most about press release distribution,
featured articles, pricing, turnaround, and how the process works. If your question isn’t
answered here, book a free
15-minute call or email randy@38digitalmarket.com.
Pricing and packages
How much does a press release cost?
A press release costs $97, $197, or $487 depending on the package, as a one-time payment.
There is no subscription and no minimum order. Every package includes the writing, so the
price you see is the full cost of a written and distributed release.
| Package | Price | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $97 | Google News inclusion; 50+ ABC, NBC and Fox affiliate sites; 50+ authority news partners; 150+ finance and business sites; 125+ local newswires; publication in the newsroom |
| Advanced | $197 | Everything in Standard, plus 150+ US state and regional newswires and 140+ international news outlets |
| Premium | $487 | Everything in Advanced, plus AP News, Yahoo News and Yahoo Finance (US and international), Benzinga, Business Insider, GlobeNewswire, EIN News, Newsfile, MarketWatch, Digital Journal, and a 150+ site private Google News network |
Which press release package should I choose?
Match the package to the job, not the budget.
- Standard ($97) — Google Business Profile ranking, website ranking, link building and diversification, citations, and routine product or service announcements.
- Advanced ($197) — brand building and reputation management, and anything that needs state, regional, or international reach.
- Premium ($487) — announcements where the named outlets matter: funding, financial and investor communications, national brand news, or anything you’ll cite in a pitch deck.
If you’re unsure, the Advanced package is the most common starting point for a business
running releases as an ongoing programme rather than a one-off.
Is there a discount for ordering multiple press releases?
Yes. Bulk and agency discounts are available. Pricing depends on volume and cadence rather
than a fixed tier table, so contact Randy directly at randy@38digitalmarket.com or
book a call with the volume
and timeframe you have in mind.
Do I have to sign a contract or subscribe?
No. Every package is a one-time purchase. There is no contract, no retainer, and no
minimum commitment. Approximately 80% of clients order monthly because consistency produces
better results, but that’s a choice they make each month rather than an obligation.
How much does a featured article cost?
Featured articles are $197 each, sold à la carte. A featured article is an editorial
placement or guest post published on a high-authority publication under your name or brand,
in outlets including Forbes, LA Weekly, and US Magazine.
What’s the difference between a press release and a featured article?
A press release announces something newsworthy and distributes that announcement across
a wide network of outlets at once. A featured article positions you as an authority through
a single in-depth placement in one high-authority publication.
Short version: press releases announce, featured articles position.
They do different jobs and work well together. Because we sell both, we have no incentive
to steer you toward the one we happen to offer.
How the process works
What is the process for ordering a press release?
Ten steps from order to report.
- Place your order. Choose your package on the
order page and complete checkout. - Complete the requirements form. You’ll be directed to a requirements page
for basic company information — address, phone number, URLs. - Upload your images. Up to three images can be included in the release.
- Provide your anchors and URLs. Up to five links within the article, with the
anchor text and the destination URL for each. - Add your profiles and keywords. Social profiles, your Google Business Profile
map link, and any keywords you want worked into the article. - Choose white-label reporting. Tick the box and upload the logo you want on
the report. No additional cost. - Tell us what the release is about. Whatever background, angle, or detail you
want the article to cover. - We write the draft. Our writers take 5 to 7 days, then send you a draft to
review. You can edit the article directly. - We publish within 24 hours of approval. Once you approve the draft, the
release is submitted for publication. - You receive the full report. Typically 24 to 48 hours after publication, we
send the comprehensive distribution report.
What information do I need to provide?
At minimum: your company name, address, phone number, and website, plus a description of
what the release should be about. Everything else is optional but improves the result — up to
three images, up to five anchor and URL pairs, social profiles, a Google Business Profile map
link, and any target keywords.
Can I schedule a press release for a specific date?
Yes. Releases can be scheduled for a specific publication date. Tell us the date when you
submit your requirements, and allow enough lead time for writing and your own review — see
the turnaround section below.
Writing and content
Does the price include writing the press release?
Yes. Every package includes a professionally written press release of at least 600 words,
produced by a human writer and optimized for both traditional search and AI-generated answers.
Writing is not a separate line item.
Can I supply my own press release?
Yes. If you’ve already written your release, you can submit it and we’ll distribute it.
We’ll also review it and suggest edits if you’d like a second set of eyes on it before
publication.
There is no discount for supplying your own article. The price reflects the distribution
network and the reporting, and those costs are the same either way.
How many revisions do I get?
Unlimited revisions before publication. You’ll receive a draft to review and can edit it
directly. We don’t cap the number of rounds — the release goes out when you’re satisfied
with it.
Are the press releases written by AI?
No. All press releases are written by human writers. AI-generated copy tends to produce the
generic phrasing and unsupported claims that retrieval systems score poorly, which defeats the
purpose of publishing in the first place.
What is the SCAN method?
SCAN is our framework for writing press releases that AI search systems can parse, retrieve,
and cite:
- S — Structure. Formatting that retrieval systems can segment cleanly into passages.
- C — Clear Focus. One message per release, aligned to one search intent.
- A — Authoritative Quotes. Named, attributable expert quotes.
- N — Numerical Specificity. Concrete figures, dates, and statistics rather than general claims.
None of this is new. The inverted pyramid, the dateline, the attributed quote, and the
specific figure are century-old newsroom conventions. SCAN names them and applies them
deliberately — which is why we treat AI search as validation of established PR practice rather
than a replacement for it.
Links, images, and optimization
Are the links in a press release dofollow or nofollow?
Links in the press release are nofollow by default. That’s standard across
the newswire industry, and any provider claiming otherwise as standard is worth a second look.
A dofollow add-on is available in two options:
| Add-on | Price | What you get | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General dofollow | $60 | Between 200 and 300 press release news sites carry your links with dofollow status | ||
| GlobeNewswire dofollow | $137 | Dofollow link status specifically on GlobeNewswire. Premium package only, since GlobeNewswire distribution is a Premium inclusion |
The general add-on is the volume play — 200 to 300 dofollow links across the network for
$60, available on any package. The GlobeNewswire option is the authority play: a single
dofollow link from one of the most established wire services in the industry. Because
GlobeNewswire distribution only comes with the Premium package, that add-on can only be
attached to a Premium order.
How many links can I include in a press release?
We recommend up to five links within the article. That’s enough to point at the pages that
matter without the release reading as a link dump — which affects both editorial acceptance
and how the content is scored.
How many images can I include?
Up to three images per release.
Can I embed a Google Maps link in the press release?
Yes. Google Business Profile map embeds are supported on every package at no extra cost.
Provide your GBP map link with your requirements. This is one of the more effective additions
for local businesses, alongside consistent NAP citations and geo-relevant targeting.
Do press releases help with Google Business Profile and local rankings?
Yes, and it’s one of the most common reasons clients order. A geo-targeted release with
consistent name, address, and phone details, a map embed, and city-level keywords reinforces
the location signals that local ranking depends on.
Distribution and network
How many news sites do you distribute to?
900 or more news outlets. The exact count varies as outlets are added and partnerships
change — 900 is the standing minimum, and it’s frequently higher.
We publish that figure as a floor rather than a peak because a number you can rely on is
worth more than a number that flatters.
Which news outlets will my press release appear on?
It depends on your package. The network breaks down as follows:
| Segment | Count | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Major wire services and national publications | AP News, Yahoo News, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Benzinga, GlobeNewswire, MarketWatch, Digital Journal, EIN News, Newsfile | ||
| ABC affiliate sites | 50+ | ||
| NBC affiliate sites | 50+ | ||
| Fox affiliate sites | 50+ | ||
| US state and regional newswires | 150+ | ||
| International news outlets | 140+ | ||
| Finance and business sites | 150+ | ||
| Local newswires | 125+ | ||
| Private Google News site network | 150+ (Premium) | ||
Do you guarantee which specific sites my release appears on?
We guarantee the distribution network and give you a full report showing every publication
where the release actually appeared. We don’t guarantee individual named placements, because
publication decisions sit with the outlets rather than with us. Any provider guaranteeing a
specific masthead is describing paid placement, not distribution.
Do you distribute internationally?
Yes. International distribution covers the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and
additional markets, and is included from the Advanced package upward. UK outlets include
London Mercury, Liverpool Star, UK News, and Belfast News. Canadian outlets include Quebec
News Tribune. All international versions of Yahoo properties are included in Premium.
How long will my press release stay online?
Press releases published through the network remain online indefinitely on most outlets.
That persistence is a large part of the value — a release continues to be crawlable,
citable, and discoverable long after the news cycle has moved on. Individual outlets control
their own archives, so we can’t guarantee permanence on any specific site.
Will my press release be indexed by Google?
All release links are run through an indexing network to encourage discovery and indexation.
Indexation is ultimately Google’s decision, not ours, and no provider can guarantee it. Our
stated priority is indexation rate over raw outlet count, which is why the network is curated
rather than open-syndication.
Turnaround and timing
How long does a press release take?
Plan on 10 to 14 working days from order to final report. Within that:
- 5 to 7 days — writing, until your draft is ready for review
- Your review — the variable. Unlimited revisions means this stage takes as long as you need
- Within 24 hours of approval — the release is submitted for publication
- 24 to 48 hours after publication — your comprehensive distribution report arrives
Clients who turn the draft around quickly typically finish nearer the front of that range.
How quickly can a press release appear in AI search results?
Indexing and AI pickup after distribution is variable. The fastest appearance in Google AI
Overviews we’ve documented is 12 hours after distribution, on an award
announcement for Craig Campbell SEO.
That’s a record, not a promise. Treat it as evidence the mechanism works quickly when
conditions line up, not as a timeline to plan against.
How long does a featured article take?
Typically one to two weeks from order to publication. Featured articles run on a different
timeline to press releases because placement depends on the publication’s own editorial
schedule.
How often should I publish press releases?
One to two per month. Consistency beats volume, because AI systems and search engines both
weight repeated corroborating mentions across independent publishers more heavily than a single
burst. Roughly 80% of our clients order monthly for that reason.
Results and expectations
Can you guarantee page one rankings or ranking movement?
No, and neither can anyone else honestly. Ranking is determined by Google, weighing hundreds
of signals across a competitive field that changes constantly. Any agency guaranteeing a
position is either misrepresenting what they control or planning to rank you for a term nobody
searches.
What we do guarantee is what we control: professionally written copy, distribution across
the network, links run through an indexing network, and a full report showing exactly where
your release was published.
What happens if my press release doesn’t get published?
We fulfil the order. If a release isn’t picked up, we’ll modify it and resubmit, or write
something completely different — whatever it takes to get your order delivered. You don’t lose
the purchase because an outlet passed on an angle.
This is why the writing and the distribution are sold together rather than separately. If a
release doesn’t land, that’s our problem to solve, not a cost you absorb.
What results have your clients seen?
| Client | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Campbell SEO | Appeared in Google AI Overviews within 12 hours of distribution; #1 Google ranking; 600+ media placements | ||
| Waseda Farms | 25% increase in online sales from a holiday-themed release | ||
| Chris Labbate | #1 organic ranking for the primary keyword plus city modifier | ||
| Tanner Howe | Regional drive-up concert format converted into global media coverage | ||
These are individual outcomes, not typical results. What produces them consistently is
running releases as a programme rather than a one-off.
How do press releases help with AI search visibility?
AI systems retrieve at the passage level, not the page level. When someone asks a question,
the system rewrites it into sub-queries, retrieves candidate passages from across the web,
scores them, and builds an answer from the best ones.
Two things follow. First, the passage has to be clear, specific, and attributable — which is
what SCAN produces. Second, and more importantly, those passages overwhelmingly come from
third-party publishers rather than a brand’s own website. A release syndicated across hundreds
of independent news domains produces exactly that kind of corroborated, off-domain evidence.
Will I see traffic from a press release?
Some, but traffic is the wrong primary metric. Press releases mainly produce brand mentions,
citations, and third-party corroboration — signals that influence how you rank and how AI
systems describe you. Judge a release on where it landed, whether it was indexed, and whether
your brand appears in AI answers, not on referral sessions alone.
Policies and eligibility
What industries do you not work with?
We don’t work with: sexually explicit and adult content, adult products, escort services,
gambling, loans, health supplements and pharmaceuticals, firearms, CBD, hemp and marijuana,
free movie streaming sites, game hacking, scams, or content advancing racial, political, or
religious opinions.
My niche is borderline on that list. Can I still order?
Submit the details and place your order. We’ll review it and do our best to get it
published. Some borderline cases go through without issue, and it’s better to ask than to
assume.
Can I order if I’m outside the United States?
Yes. We work with clients in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia,
among others, and international distribution is available from the Advanced package upward.
Agencies and white-label
Do you offer white-label press release services for agencies?
Yes, at no additional cost. Tick the white-label box in the requirements form and upload
your logo, and the distribution report arrives branded as yours. A significant share of our
client base is SEO and digital marketing agencies ordering for their own clients.
Can I resell your press release service?
Yes. Agencies routinely resell distribution under their own brand, and agency discounts are
available on volume. Contact Randy at randy@38digitalmarket.com to discuss pricing.
What other services do you offer?
| Service | What it is | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Featured articles | Editorial placements on high-authority publications, $197 each | ||
| Guest posts | Editorial placements on authority sites with contextual dofollow links | ||
| Cloud Site Stack | Mass-page HTML sites on cloud platforms with wheel-and-spoke interlinking, premium indexing, and high-authority backlinks pointing to your release | ||
| Google Entity Stack | A network of 13 Google-owned properties built around a release to reinforce entity signals | ||
| News blasts | Rapid multi-outlet distribution for time-sensitive visibility | ||
| Niche edits | Link insertions into existing published articles on relevant sites | ||
| EDU and GOV backlinks | Links from educational and government domains | ||
Link building services are ordered at
38digitalmarket.spp.io/order/Links.
How do I get started?
- Order a press release: 38digitalmarket.spp.io/order/PR-Services
- Order a featured article: 38digitalmarket.spp.io/order/Featured-Articles
- Talk it through first: Book a free 15-minute consultation
- Email: randy@38digitalmarket.com · Phone: (216) 577-8452