Author: Randy

  • Top Strategies for Digital Press Releases

    Top Strategies for Digital Press Releases

    Digital Press Releases – What Should I Do?

    In our increasingly digital world, businesses have unprecedented opportunities to connect with their target audiences and convey their messages effectively. One powerful tool for achieving this is the Digital Press Release. This communication method enables businesses to share news and information widely, reaching journalists, bloggers, and various stakeholders. In this article, we will delve into the advantages of digital press releases and how they can be utilized to promote businesses, products, and services. Additionally, we will offer valuable tips and best practices for crafting impactful digital press releases that deliver results.

    Your Goal:

    Digital Press Release Goal

    Building Brand Authority

    If your goal is to Build Brand Authority, a Digital Press Release is designed to share news and information with a broad audience, including journalists, bloggers, and influencers.

    When used effectively, a digital press release can help build brand authority in several ways. For example:

    1. Increased Visibility: By distributing a press release online, you can reach a much larger audience than through traditional PR channels, which can help increase your brand’s visibility.
    2. Credibility: A well-crafted press release can establish your brand as a credible source of information and expertise in your industry. Sharing news and updates on your products or services can demonstrate your expertise and build trust with your audience.
    3. SEO Benefits: Press releases can also help improve your search engine rankings, as they can include relevant keywords and backlinks to your website. This can drive traffic to your site and boost your overall online visibility.
    4. Media Coverage: If journalists or bloggers pick up your press release, it can lead to media coverage for your brand, further increasing your authority and credibility.

    A good plan could include our Standard Package and add on any of the profile-building sites such as APNews, Digital Journal, LA Weekly, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.

    Ready to get Started?

    Reputation Management

    A digital press release can be an effective tool for reputation management because it allows you to control the narrative and communicate directly with your audience. Here are some specific reasons why you might use a digital press release for reputation management:

    1. Crisis Management: If your brand experiences a crisis or negative event, a digital press release can effectively get ahead of the story and share your side of the situation. By issuing a press release acknowledging the situation and outlining your response, you can demonstrate transparency and a commitment to resolving the issue.
    2. Correcting Misinformation: If misinformation or rumors is circulating about your brand, a digital press release can help set the record straight. By providing accurate information and addressing any false or misleading claims, you can prevent the spread of misinformation and protect your reputation.
    3. Highlighting Positive News: A digital press release can also promote positive news and accomplishments related to your brand. By sharing news of awards, achievements, or other positive developments, you can help shape the narrative around your brand and reinforce a positive reputation.
    4. Building Relationships with Media: Regularly issuing digital press releases can also help build relationships with journalists and bloggers covering your industry. By providing timely and relevant news and information, you can establish your brand as a valuable source and build trust with these important stakeholders.

    A Digital Press Release can be a valuable tool for managing your brand’s reputation proactively and strategically. Taking control of the narrative and communicating directly with your audience can protect and enhance your brand’s reputation.

    The best strategy here would be our Premium PR Package – taking advantage of profile-building sites like APNews, Yahoo News, Benzinga, Digital Journal, and MarketWatch.

    Service Based Business for Digital PR

     

    Service Based Business

    For various reasons, a digital press release can be a valuable tool for a service-based business. Here are some specific ways that a digital press release can benefit a service-based business:

    1. Highlighting New Services: If your service-based business is launching a new service or making significant updates to an existing service, a digital press release can effectively share this news with a broader audience. You can generate interest and attract new customers by highlighting your service’s unique features and benefits.
    2. Establishing Thought Leadership: Establish your business as a thought leader. You can demonstrate your expertise and build trust with your audience by sharing insights, trends, or other valuable information related to your service.
    3. Promoting Events: If your service-based business is hosting an event, such as a workshop, seminar, or webinar, a digital press release can generate interest and attract attendees. By sharing details about the event and highlighting the benefits of attending, you can encourage people to sign up and participate.
    4. Building Brand Awareness: A Digital PR can also be a valuable tool for building brand awareness for your service-based business. By sharing news and updates related to your business, you can stay top-of-mind with your audience and reinforce your brand’s values and messaging.

    Our Standard Package, add-on APNews, Digital Journal, or go all-in with the Premium Package are solid strategies here.  This can help a service-based business build its reputation, attract new customers, and establish itself as a thought leader in its industry. By leveraging the power of digital media to reach a wider audience, a service-based business can drive growth and success over time.

    Ready to get Started?

    Product Based Business

    A digital press release can be a valuable tool for a product-based business. Here are some specific ways that it can benefit a product-based business:

    1. Product Launches: Effectively announce new products or product lines to a wider audience. By highlighting your product’s unique features and benefits, you can generate interest and excitement among potential customers.
    2. Reviews and Testimonials: Digital Press Releases can also be used to share positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers. By highlighting the experiences of real customers, you can build trust and credibility with potential customers.
    3. Industry Recognition: Share this news with a broader audience if your product has received awards or other industry recognition. By highlighting the achievements of your product, you can establish credibility and authority in your industry.
    4. Promotions and Discounts: Highlight special offers, discounts, or promotions related to your product. By sharing these opportunities with your audience, you can encourage them to purchase and drive sales.

    A Digital Press Release can help a product-based business build brand awareness, generate interest and excitement around new products, and drive sales. 

    A good strategy is our Standard Package with add-ons of APNews and/or Benzinga, and US State or Internation Distribution.

    Local SEO

     

    Local Business

    Effectively promote a local business and its rankings on Google Maps. Here are some specific ways to use a digital press release for this purpose:

    1. Share the News: If the local business has recently gained several positive reviews on Google Maps, use the PR to share this news with a wider audience. By highlighting the business’s achievements and success, you can generate interest and encourage people to visit the business.
    2. Highlight the Business: In the press release, highlight the local business and its unique features and offerings. Share customer testimonials, photos of the business, or other relevant information to help readers understand what differentiates the business from competitors.
    3. Encourage Action: Finally, encourage readers to take action by visiting the business in person or leaving a review on Google Maps. Include links or other calls-to-action to make it easy for people to find and interact with the business.

    We love to push local businesses and their rankings with our Digital PR’s!  Use our Standard Package with the US States Distribution add-on.  Link to your GBP URL, Google Busines.Site URL, embed your Google Map, and include your full NAP (name, address, phone) as listed on your GBP Profile.  Use lots of Geo-Relevant keyword phrases to impact the local relevance.

  • Mastering the Art of Press Release Writing: A Comprehensive Guide

    Mastering the Art of Press Release Writing: A Comprehensive Guide

    Our Press Release Packages include writing a well-crafted article to ensure maximum news placement.

    You can also provide your own article.  Here’s how to write a compelling Press Release.

    Essential Tips and Strategies for Crafting Compelling Press Releases

    In today’s fast-paced media landscape, the ability to capture attention with a well-crafted press release is more crucial than ever. A compelling press release not only informs but also engages journalists and your target audience, making it essential for effective communication.


    We’ll explore essential tips and strategies for creating impactful press releases that stand out in a crowded marketplace. From identifying newsworthy topics to mastering the inverted pyramid style, we’ll guide you through the key elements that can elevate your press release from mundane to memorable. Whether you’re a seasoned communicator or just starting, these insights will help you maximize your media coverage and enhance your brand’s visibility. 


    1. Identifying a Newsworthy Topic

    The first step in crafting an effective press release is to select a newsworthy topic that captures the media’s interest and your target audience. Ensure your press release provides fresh or intriguing information—otherwise, why would anyone bother reading it?

    To enhance your chances of gaining media coverage, incorporate a unique angle or aspect in your press release that distinguishes it from submissions by other brands.

    2. Adopting the Inverted Pyramid Style

    Press release writing requires a distinct approach from other writing styles. Instead of an introduction that eases the reader, press releases begin with a summary and dive directly into the reason for the release.

    Generally, press releases follow the Inverted Pyramid Style, presenting the most crucial, newsworthy information first. Start with a headline, summary, and opening paragraph, followed by a quotation paragraph and less significant supporting points. Always convey a newsworthy message to your target audience.

    3. Writing in the Third Person

    Maintain an impartial perspective when writing your press release, as if a journalist were reporting the facts. Always write in the third person, offering an external viewpoint on the events. The only exception is when quoting a company, partner, or customer, in which case first-person language is acceptable.

    4. Crafting a Headline with an Action Verb

    Press release headlines should be concise and informative, covering the main points without excessive description. Include an active verb and your brand name for an easily digestible headline that informs readers.

    5. Keeping the Summary Brief and Engaging

    Your summary should be a paragraph at maximum, providing readers with a succinct description of the content to follow. Avoid repetition and keep your summary distinct from your introduction.

    6. Including the Dateline: City, State, and Issuing Date

    To ensure relevance for your readers, include a dateline with the city, state, and issuing date of the press release at the beginning of your copy.

    7. Crafting an Engaging Introduction and 5W1H

    After the dateline, your introduction should highlight the most critical information. Follow this with a first paragraph addressing the 5W1H rule of writing: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

    8. Avoiding Questions

    Press releases announce news, so refrain from posing questions in your release. Instead, provide clear and concise information that offers solutions and benefits to your target audience.

    9. Concluding with the Boilerplate

    Conclude your press release with a boilerplate—a brief paragraph containing background information about your company or organization. You may use a subheading like “About (Company Name)” to distinguish this section from the main content.

    10. Providing Contact Information

    Include your company name, phone number, and email address in the top right corner to facilitate communication and establish credibility.

    Following these guidelines, you can craft compelling press releases that maximize exposure and optimize impact.

    Let’s Get Started on Your Press Release Today!

  • Sample Press Release Reports

    Sample Press Release Reports

    Our comprehensive press release reporting offers dual benefits for our clients. Firstly, we provide a detailed report outlining all the platforms where your press release has been distributed, complete with direct links for easy access. Secondly, we also offer an in-depth analysis of the traffic generated by your press release, giving you valuable insights into its effectiveness.

    By utilizing our robust press release reporting, you can monitor the extent of your release’s syndication across various websites and platforms and gauge its impact on your target audience. This data-driven approach ensures you can make informed decisions about future press release campaigns and enhance your overall public relations strategy.

    Premium Press Release Dashboard

    Here’s an example of our Premium Reporting Dashboard

    Premium Digital Press Release Dashboard

    Standard Press Release Dashboard

    Here’s an example of our Standard Reporting Dashboard

    Standard Press Release Dashboard

    News Site Pick-Ups

    Viewing all of the Press Release Placements is quick and easy!

    Press Release Placement Pick-Ups
    Viewing Press Release Placements

    PDF & Excel Downloads Available

    With any of our Press Release Reports, downloading PDF and Excel Reports are available at anytime!

    Let’s Get Started on Your Press Release Today!

  • Case Study: Craig Campbell SEO

    Case Study: Craig Campbell SEO

    Multiple

    Number 1 Rankings

    Mentioned

    in Forbes India

    Background

    I want to start my case study off with a big name in the SEO field that a lot of readers probably recognize. Not just to attract your attention (did it work?), but to dispel the myth that press releases don’t play a role in SEO.

    Craig Campbell was ranked Search Engine Journal’s number 2 most popular SEO expert. In fact, in their write up on him, SEJ specifically highlights how link building is one of his featured skills. So you can probably imagine how humbled I was to have Craig turn to me for press release distribution.

    The Challenge

    Craig was looking to raise awareness of his free link building guide in order to get it in as many hands as possible to help SMBs and entrepreneurs up their SEO game without breaking the bank.

    The Solution

    Craig’s guide was just one installment of a larger series of free content he’s been publishing in order to help business owners who had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. I knew that focusing on the charitable nature of the guide was key to getting the word out. My team and I put together an engaging, news-worthy release that would be easy for the media to share in an environment in which everyone is looking to uplift each other.

    The Results

    Our press release was featured in AP News, landed several number 1 rankings for relevant search terms, and was even highlighted in Google’s Top News listings. In fact, the Search Engine Journal article I mentioned above specifically cites our AP News release in their discussion of Craig.
    craig-cambell-seo-case-study

    Craig Successfully Featured On

    Yahoo-news
    Yahoo News
    Forbes
    Forbes
    Business-insider
    Business Insider
    Liverpool-star
    Liverpool Star
    Calgary-monitor
    Calgary Monitor
    Associated-press
    Associated Press
    Plus over 600 more news outlets including

    Ready To Talk?

  • Case Study: Tanner Howe

    Case Study: Tanner Howe

    Featured

    on Google’s Top Stories

    500+

    YouTube Subscribers

    Background

    I want to share the story of one man looking to make it big in a tough industry during one of the hardest possible times to be an artist. Tanner Howe is an LA-based musician, singer, songwriter, and performer who wasn’t going to let a pandemic slow down his devotion to his audience.

    The Challenge

    Tanner has a growing YouTube channel that boasts over a million views. He turned to press releases to get his music in front of more people the world over and to build up his brand as a devoted artist with creative solutions.

    The Solution

    The pandemic has been as tough on performers as it has been on their audiences, so we wanted to highlight Tanner’s persistence in not losing touch with the people who love his music.

    Our press release focused on Tanner’s surprise drive-up Halloween concerts, which he performed from the back of a pickup truck across 6 different neighborhoods in Orange County, CA. We also linked to recordings of the performances on Tanner’s website and YouTube channel to drive readers to enjoy the experience for themselves.

    The Results

    Tanner’s story spread far beyond Orange County. In addition to being featured on Google’s Top Stories and more than 100 different news sites, the tale of Tanner’s drive-up Halloween special made it all the way to the London Mercury News.

    We Got Tanner Featured On

    Big News Network
    London Mercury
    MarketWatch
    United Kingdom News
    SNN News
    San Rafeal News
    Plus over 100 more news outlets!

    Ready To Talk?

  • Case Study: Waseda Farms

    Case Study: Waseda Farms

    25%

    Sales Increase

    Featured

    on Google’s Top Stories

    Background

    I wanted us to look at a more traditional business. Waseda Farms is a Wisconsin-based organic farm and food store. In addition to serving customers at their two Wisconsin locations, however, they also fulfill online orders for organic meats, pet treats, and more. Their story illustrates how press releases can be a perfect strategy even when it comes to e-commerce.

    The Challenge

    Waseda Farms was looking to gain more national exposure in hopes of boosting online sales. They turned to me for press releases that would get their business in front of media sources in time for the holiday surge of business.

    The Solution

    E-commerce isn’t always the most newsworthy of topics, but with a small local farm and business, we were able to find a clever angle that made for an attractive human-interest story.

    We put together a press release about the upcoming shortage of small turkeys caused by the world-wide reduction in holiday gatherings. However, because Waseda Farms—like many turkey suppliers—had already sold out of the iconic Thanksgiving bird, we also included a section on turkey alternatives that could be ordered from their online store.

    The Results

    This is one of my favorite stories to share because it’s heartwarming to see a small business grow during hard times. In the weeks following our press release, Waseda Farms enjoyed a 25% increase in online leads and sales. This was likely due to the PR getting featured in Google’s Top Stories listing and being picked up by more than one hundred different media sites.

    Waseda Farms Successfully Featured On

    London Mercury
    Digital Journal
    Ask Top Stories
    America Rodeo
    Top News Wire
    Digital Journal
    Plus over 100 more news outlets!

    Ready To Talk?

  • Why Local SEO is Important

    Why Local SEO is Important

    What is Local SEO

    Important Local SEO Strategies for Business Localized searches on search engines are becoming more and more widespread within the Local SEO community. Customers are choosing to use Search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and the rest over their traditional paper Yellow Pages. It takes too much time and effort these days to open the Paper directory – that is if you can even find it – and search and search alphabetically for the business you would like to find.

    Local SEO

    Old Fashioned Search

    Some users stick to online yellow pages and search for a topic of interest. Most searchers may not be seeking a business but information. When they search online, they may end up finding local seo content within a page full of information that they are searching for and end up using or contacting the business because it is where they located their related area seo information. Out comes the search engine philosophy of Local SEO.

    Today’s Local Search

    Local SEO comes down to this, a potential customer opens his or her favorite search engine and types in their city, state county or zip and the business type or information they are searching. Based on this it is essential to see how a company must be optimized for their local seo area. If they are not listed in the search engines on the first page and are not marketed for their Neighborhood, Area, City, or state there is little or no chance of them being found by a searcher online.

    Important Local SEO

    Regardless of the business type model, it is necessarily required to be found online when someone is searching. There are also at least two types of possible searches and results being found online these days. The customer is either looking for a localized search based on location or a general search based on web search. In a local seo perspective, both of these are equally important.

    SEO is Essential

    For customers searching for businesses, localized online search becomes essential to be listed with directories for local businesses. When a customer searches for information based on a local seo search, web search localization becomes the critical target. When customers for instance in Cleveland Ohio seek to find an SEO professional so they can meet and communicate their desires in person, they will type in Cleveland SEO. The same obviously applies to all locals in the nearby area such as Chagrin Falls SEO, or Akron SEO. Since geographically these areas Chagrin Falls and Cleveland are reasonably close, a marketing professional would choose to target both of them equally. A localized customer in search of a local seo company would not type Ohio SEO, and the market is too general and would include results they would not be interested in. For an SEO professional although it may be a national market that they strive to achieve it is equally important to be listed in their localized search so that potential local customers will be able to locate their products and know they are locally listed.

  • Incorporation of Company Branding and SEO

    Incorporation of Company Branding and SEO

    Branding and SEO

    Branding and SEO – it’s not an exact science. This becomes apparent when trying to incorporate both SEO and branding as a strategy. This process is finicky, to say the least. On the one side, SEO deals with the placement of keywords and phrases. On the other side, branding deals with company loyalty and culture. Incorporating both sides dilutes the prominence of both. But eliminating one or the other may not meet all strategic and marketing goals.

    SEO Guidelines

    Once again, it should be emphasized that SEO is a series of guidelines rather than an exact science. Having said that, the following recommendation can be used to satisfy both sides of the equation. In general, keywords and phrases (i.e. SEO) should remain the focus of any early-stage company, while the incorporation of company branding should appear later in the evolution. This is simply a general statement and should not be taken word for word.

    SEO Focus

    The reasoning is pretty straightforward. At first, no-one knows the name of your company, but perhaps they are searching for your products or services. In other words, you want to target keywords and phrases that focus around your offering rather than your company. As you build loyalty and credibility, branding becomes more important. It’s at this point that you may want to incorporate corporate messaging to strengthen the relationship with customers and instill trust
    in your brand.

    One final thought about branding: if a searcher types in the name of your company, they are likely to find your website anyways. This is due mostly to anchor text and back-links. Therefore, optimizing for the company name is rather insignificant in most cases.

    Help with Your Strategy

    We would love to help you with developing the appropriate strategy and approach for your business.  Connect with us for a free consultation.