Using And Writing Press Releases In Your Marketing Strategy

Thought I'd share a bit about using press releases as an internet marketing tool, based on our recent experiences.

We at Eagle Productions (NZ) have done quite a bit of research on press release services recently and we use them here frequently to "spread the word" about our various sites and activities from here in far-off NewZealand to our biggest market (by far), Americans. >From this we find doing press releases to be quite effective.

While it's hard to quantify the precise results of pressreleases, one thing just seems to lead to another (andusually leads to valuable "contacts and exposure" -"exciting, naughty and nice!")...and I do find submittingthem to be a most effective form of advertising in the "on and off-line world". Together with submitting myarticles to announcement lists, like Article Announce, Free Content, Article Publish, and Publish in Yours.That is our MAIN internet marketing strategy.

A quick word of advice in writing press releases...It is vital that the press release about your business isnewsworthy and try to capture attention with a good"catchy" headline. Make it "spicy and add 'zing' (likeKFC - free advertising) to make it sizzle!"

Also you can send your news release by "snail mail" or by e-mail. I do all my submissions to these services via e-mail.

Recently we've had a number of releases about our activities here on the other side of the world published by PR Web, which is a free service ("cheapskate"!)... and traffic to our sites mentioned has increased substantially already. Their web address is: http://www.prweb.com.PR Web recommend adding a link back to them to add credibility to your web site - good idea, I think!Incidentally, we have a press releases up there at:http://www.prweb.com/releases/?0000028831 in case you want to have a look at the format)The Comitatus Group also offer a FREE press release service. Their web address is: http://www.comitatusgroup.com/pr/pr_save.aspSolonews is alse free: http://www.solonews.com/index.shtmlOther Press Release services we've used are: Emailwire.com: http://www.emailwire.com/. They are  mainlyfor corporate businesses, but check them out.  Also Xpress, who distribute news releases by e-mail.  (Their address is news@xpresspress.com). We have a press releases up there at: http://www.emailwire.com/cgi-bin/news/db.cgi?db=ads&uid=default&ID=1956&view_records=1 in case you want to have a look))  You can also use eNewsRelease.com

We have no connection with these news distributionservices, but have found them all to be effective inincreasing "hits" after a news release.

Use press releases to get the word out about yourweb site, product or service. They DO WORK in bringing traffic,the first step to ONLINE SALES.

Lastly, I don't think you need to be a writer to writegood press releases. (In fact, it may work against us, as we do tend to "waffle on" a bit and sometimes I don'twrite in sufficient "business-speak".) My advice is justwrite in your own "natural" style - the one in which youfeel MOST COMFORTABLE... as I've tried to do in thisarticle. Keep your press release short - simple!Make sure your format is OK, so that your press release looks good. (Layout is not one of my strong points, so more carerequired there, please, Craig!)

Finally, don't take life too seriously and have FUN writing your press releases.

Hope this may help you readers "out there" in cyberspace,as we at Eagle Productions and our associates learn something new about on-line and off-line promotion each day.

"Success is a PROCESS of sharing (knowledge, insights, wisdom and experiences) with others and not simply a matter of arriving at a destination."

Take pleasure in the journey.

Craig Lock

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.- Ralph Waldo Emerson