Press Releases – Make it Easy for People to Find You
Today’s consumer is demanding, so set yourself up to meet their needs…

In days gone by, the public got their news only when it was given to them. This often came in the form of the daily newspaper or the nightly television news report. However, the internet spawned a shift in behavior; to the point that consumers are now able to (and expect to be able to) find exactly what they want at any time, day or night.

It’s vital for the growth and survival of your business to ensure that you’re available for them. After all, how can they find you if you’re not visible? This is where press releases can become an invaluable tool, and are an essential component of your modern marketing.

News corporations now place online publishing at the top of their list, so any outlets that run your story are pretty much guaranteed to put it online. Therefore, when sending a press release, it is vital that the text is keyword optimized. No, that doesn’t mean just throwing a few keywords in and crossing your fingers – we’re talking about including the most relevant, highly researched keywords, at the correct density.

They must also be:

• Targeted to what your customers are searching for (their needs, wants and desires).
• Relevant to what your company can offer them, to meet these needs and solve their problem.

But it isn’t just about allowing them to find your press release, people must also be able to share it!

Consider posting the press release across your social media channels, while encouraging people to engage in conversation and form a dialogue. It’s all about maximizing the effect and enjoying the results.

Ten Ideas for getting your Business into the Press
Turn your news into publicity, new customers and better Google rankings!

By running a business, you are creating news every single day.

It’s both easy and cost-effective to turn this news into a powerful tool that can push you to the top of Google, and expose your company and your message to thousands of potential customers.

The biggest hurdle? You’re likely to be struggling with ideas to promote your business. This is completely normal!

Consider a press release. They’ll get your name directly to where your potential customers go looking – search engines! Press releases are indexed very quickly, and can boost you to the top of the rankings. They’re broader and farther reaching than email marketing, and target people not on your current “list”.

Whatever you think, you do have news! Any piece of news your business has, however small, can be used as an online asset that can reach more people, convert more prospects and win you more business.

You just need to pay attention to everything that you do. Whether you’ve launched a new product, celebrated a milestone, updated your website or hired new staff – it’s all news that the media wants to hear about. Turn it into a press release today!

Here are some ideas to get you started…

• Contribute to a major/global news story.People love to hear about others with something inspirational to say. Share your wisdom by telling your story to success, recap an obstacle you have worked to overcome or tell the world about your exciting plans for the future.
• Share a story.Just because you’re a small business, it doesn’t mean you can’t play with the big boys. Why not give your spin on a global story? Journalists love a business that’s able to prove it’s on top of global affairs.
• Sing about your latest achievement, award or accomplishment.Putting this information into a press release can get your story to those who can become invaluable future contacts, partners and clients. Not to mention, journalists love this kind of stuff!
• Bust a myth.Every industry has a myth, and yours is no exception. Whether you’re a window cleaner who enjoys walking under ladders, or the worlds luckiest mirror manufacturer who regularly breaks things; these quirky stories quickly go viral as people forward them to their friends!
• Tell the world about your successful event.Who attended, who spoke and how many showed up? This is an easy story as it’s already written itself. You could even release a story about at upcoming event and draw in a bigger crowd.
• Offer free, useful resources.This is a magical way to build quick, easy credibility with the public. Tell a story that also educates – it will make you look even better than you probably are (or think you are!).
• Share helpful tips.Press releases containing tips are like gold dust to a search engine. They can turn an eager Google searcher into a converted customer. Share tips about your products and services; such as how to use them, a buyer’s guide or simple troubleshooting solutions.
• Discuss survey results, market studies or research.Journalists and the media are dorky-fans of statistics. Create a survey and share the results, particularly if they are off-the-wall or unexpected. Use a free survey creation site such as Survey Monkey and keep yours costs down.It only takes one good statistic to get published (A recent example is a survey created that found out that 70% of parents admit to being unhappy with how they feed their children).
• Promote your event sponsorship.A fantastic way to reach local customers and media! If you’ve been charitable enough to sponsor a team or an event, why not shout about it with a press release?
• Promote your holiday event.The holidays are a slow time for the media, and they’re often on alert for any new stories. This is the perfect chance to share a story about your upcoming holiday event, sale or celebration.

Wow, look at that – ten juicy ideas that prove you do have something to tell the world about! We can almost guarantee that one or more of the above apply to you – so, what are you waiting for?

Social Media – Maximize your Press Release Exposure
It’s easy to take your results to the next level…

So, that perfect press release has gone – into the hands of the world’s media, and you’re pretty darn chuffed! However, why not increase its value to your business by publishing it across your social media channels?

It’s all about getting what the PR industry calls ‘eyeballs’, and eyeballs can soon become dollars.

Social media is now bigger than ever, so here’s some tips for maximizing your spend with us, and taking your publicity to the next level…

Tweet it

You’ll find that many media outlets that pick up on your press release will add it to their Twitter feed. Brilliant, so get it on yours also!

We’ll host a copy permanently on PieceofCakePr.com, so make sure you Tweet this link, and encourage others to share it. You may want to consider scheduling Tweets over a few days – Social Oomph is a great free site that will allow you to do this.

Remember to:

• Write interesting and compelling Tweets that will make readers want to click the link.
• Change the wording for each Tweet, if you’re scheduling them in advance.
• Make sure that the release is relevant to the demographic of your Twitter followers.

Facebook

Your press release is easy to share via Facebook, simply add it to your status, links or within any articles or notes that you publish.

Share it with your fans as soon as possible, and ask them questions to encourage discussion.

Blog it up baby!

Every business blogger is always scouring their brain for content – so make sure that your press release is your next post!

However, don’t copy and paste it. Be original – summarize the main points and include a link to the press release. Google loves to see you linking to other people’s websites.

If the story is particularly newsworthy, you may also want to think about sending it to other bloggers in your industry. Be sure to send them a link to the release, and be prepared to offer them a post on your blog as a return favour. You only get what you give in the bloggersphere.

So, there’s a few ideas to stimulate your thinking. Social media is a low-cost marketing activity, so make the most of it and use it for all it’s worth.