| Press releases and news announcements serve | | | | heavily weigh the amount and quality of content on a |
| many different functions in addition to being source | | | | site when assigning search results. For most search |
| material for magazines and newspapers. | | | | engines, the two of the most important factors |
| Yes, it is good to have BIG news that will motivate a | | | | towards getting a high search page result is the |
| writer, editor or journalist to write about your company, | | | | amount of quality links pointing to your web site and |
| product or service, but that is no longer the only | | | | the amount of quality content you have on your site. |
| reason to create a press release. You don't need big | | | | News announcements can fulfill both. |
| news just a good hook. | | | | 2. Your news announcements and press releases can |
| Whether or not you use a Public Relations Agency or | | | | inform potential customers about your company, its |
| do it yourself, here are three good reasons why you | | | | products, services and areas of expertise. No longer |
| should try to write and distribute a press release very | | | | targeted to just the press and media, good press |
| month. | | | | releases and news releases also function as |
| 1. Good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) - One of | | | | marketing documents for your organization. |
| the most important components to getting top Google, | | | | Most people and businesses now rely on a web |
| Yahoo, Bing, etc., search page results - appearing high | | | | search as an integral part of their search for products, |
| up or number one when someone searches for your | | | | and services. Seeing your news announcements all |
| product or services is the number of external web | | | | over the web - at the magazines they read, at various |
| sites that link to your web site. | | | | blogs, and as a result of web searches, can greatly |
| Your news release appearing on an online or industry | | | | help boost your company's brand and product |
| news site, at a social networking site, on a newswire | | | | awareness in their mind. It is also useful to have news |
| such as BusinessWire or PR NewsWire, or even at a | | | | announcements that inform current and past |
| directory of press releases, helps improve your site's | | | | customers of what is new and that you are still |
| overall SEO. In addition to that posting and SEO results, | | | | successfully in business. |
| many other sites and blogs may pick up that release | | | | 3. Press may be interested in your "small" news and |
| and print it on their pages as well, further increasing the | | | | may want to include it as a standalone announcement |
| Search Engine results for your web site and business. | | | | or as part of a trend article or column. They may be |
| A good news announcement could show up on | | | | doing an industry overview or product round up. Also, it |
| hundreds or thousands of different sites! | | | | is also useful to occasionally inform press that you are |
| You need to post new releases on a regular (monthly) | | | | an expert in your industry area and are available for |
| basis. As most major news sites only keep their press | | | | comment as needed. If they don't see press releases |
| releases online for about a month or so, you need to | | | | from you or your company on a regular basis, you will |
| keep posting new press releases and news | | | | drop off their radar screen. You need to show |
| announcements every month to maintain your SEO | | | | ongoing, consistent news and growth or the press will |
| rating and web page search results positions. | | | | forget about you. |
| By SEO optimizing your new release and by | | | | Better Search Engine results and great SEO, direct out |
| embedding hotlinks in it that link to specific landing | | | | reach to your customers and potential partners, and |
| pages on your site, you can further increase how high | | | | ongoing contact to the media are the three main |
| up your web site will appear in the search results. | | | | reasons why you and your company need to develop |
| You should also make sure your press release also | | | | and distribute an ongoing series of press releases. |
| gets posted on your own web site. (You will be | | | | The announcements don't have to be big news. Small |
| amazed by how many businesses neglect this obvious | | | | news is fine. A new hire, updated web site, and |
| step). By posting your press releases on your own site, | | | | upgrade to your software, new partnership, maybe |
| you increase the amount and quality of content on | | | | speaking at a conference or industry event. |
| your site. As you probably know, most search engines | | | | |