Why You Should Forget Everything You Learned About Press Release Wires
Press releases are a necessary part of any marketing strategy. They provide you with an easy way to share your company’s or product’s news with the world, and they can be used as a vehicle for promoting your business or brand. However, there are many misconceptions about press releases that make them seem like a bad idea–and in some cases even illegal! Here are five reasons why you should forget everything you learned about wires:
Press releases are no longer the only way to spread the word about your company or product
The press release is not the only way to spread the word about your company or product. You can use social media, email marketing and more to get people talking about what you have to offer.
The press release is also not the only way to get media coverage. You may have heard that there are “newspaper rankings” where companies can be ranked based on their popularity among journalists (and vice versa). The truth is that most newspapers have limited budgets when it comes down to covering certain topics over others–for example, there’s no money in covering Bitcoin as compared with real estate or health care news–so they’ll often choose which stories they cover based on who has more money behind them and/or has better access than other writers do.
Press releases are expensive and time-consuming
It’s not just that they’re expensive–they can also be ineffective in getting your business the attention it deserves. While press releases do have their benefits (they help you build awareness), they don’t always help with sales or conversions on landing pages or online forms.
Wire services lack the personal touch
You may be surprised to learn that press releases are often ignored by the media. It’s not that they’re ignored, per se–it’s just that they don’t get a personal touch. You see, press releases are usually written by a PR person who has little contact with the reporter writing about your company or product and therefore can never really understand your brand or context.
A lot of times when we receive these emails from businesses seeking publicity for their products, we’ll find ourselves reading through them and realizing that there isn’t much substance behind them at all: “We have this new widget that works with our existing platform.” “We’ve got a new app coming out soon!” These kinds of statements tend not to get us excited because they lack any specificity about what makes these products unique or valuable beyond being another tool in someone else’s arsenal (which is usually already pretty good).
The worst part about writing these kinds of messages is how impersonal they often feel; after all those years in school learning how to write essays on any subject imaginable (from sports teams’ playbooks), I can tell when someone has lost sight of why he/she started writing in the first place–the reason why someone would ever pick up pen instead of keyboard/trackpad/mouse pad?
Press releases are often overlooked
Press releases are often overlooked. The reasons for this are many, but the most obvious is that they’re not as effective as they used to be. Press releases no longer provide a surefire way for you to get your message in front of the media and make an impact on an audience because most outlets don’t even read them anymore.
You may think that press releases are the best way to get coverage for your business or organization–and while they can certainly help with that, there are other ways you can use social media outreach or even email marketing campaigns instead of relying solely on traditional PR channels like newspapers and magazines. If you’re interested in learning more about these alternative methods (and how they compare), check out this article: How To Use Social Media For Business Success!
Your content is not going to be the same as everyone else’s.
If you’re targeting a specific media outlet or audience, then the press release may not be suitable for that use. If you’re trying to reach out to customers who have already bought from you and encourage them to buy again or try something new, then maybe a call-to-action button would work better than a straight up press release.
The best way I’ve found (and this is based on my own experience) is by using an email newsletter as part of an overall strategy: it allows me to send updates about new products without having them clog up my customer emails with another request each time; it creates opportunities for cross-promotion between emails; and it allows me time between emails where I can get back into writing form before sending out another email blast!
Press releases can be easily misinterpreted
Press releases are often misinterpreted and overlooked. They’re expensive and time-consuming to create, so you can’t afford to make any mistakes when sending them out.
But this is the wrong way of thinking about press releases. Instead of thinking about them as a way for your company or product to get attention, think of them as a tool that helps you do what you do best: tell people about what you’re doing and why they should care about it!
A press release is just one piece of your overall marketing plan.
A press release is just one piece of your overall marketing strategy. It’s not the be-all and end-all of your campaign, but it can be a useful tool in helping to build your brand and get the word out about what you’re doing.
A press release is only as good as its content–and if you don’t have something interesting or newsworthy to say, then chances are nothing will come of it!
If you’re looking for a new way to promote your brand, consider using social media. Social media has become an essential part of any marketing strategy. It allows you to reach out directly to customers and provide them with valuable information they can use as they make their purchasing decisions. In addition, social media allows businesses like yours to interact with other companies in ways that traditional press releases cannot—and without paying huge fees!
