Posts tagged Press Releases
Critical Credibility: Verifying Facts and Figures
Jan 1st
Credibility is such a strong word. In the link building aspect of web content writing, this word plays an even stronger role. The sheer, overwhelming expanse of the Internet is full not only of useful information you could never have found any other way; it is also littered with unwanted facts, broken links, unmaintained sites since a decade back, befuddling jargon, and most problematic of all – misleading content. From serious cases of misrepresentation or misleading details, to accounts of harmful trolling, the need to verify information first has become a must when posting any material online.
Link popularity may be enhanced by a number of so-called black hat means, but nothing can rival the effectiveness of well-written articles that are convincing, substantial and accurate. Writers who take the extra step in double checking information (or using only credible sources in the first place) find it rewarding at the end of the day to know they are giving readers their due. A high standard link building company, for instance, would want to select only trusted sources for the articles and sites they are handling. What possible measures or guides can one consider in evaluating the content of an article online?
One of the most basic things to do would be to ask questions first:
- What do I need to know exactly?
- How is this data relevant to the article and to the audience?
- How will I be able to use this information in the most logical and persuasive way?
These questions will inevitably lead you to the right kind of reference work to use. For instance, on medical or scientific matters, peer-reviewed academic journals of a specific field would be the best sources. Government-issued reports are also often cited for facts on the state of the nation or for those that talk about government policies or laws.
Some time ago, there was quite a big fuss on this particular issue involving an online resource site where its users can author articles with their discretion. In order to answer the growing concern, it has made it a point to ask for citations in all its materials.
Quotations are especially sensitive, as a single word can alter the meaning of a statement. The same way an ill-placed link would do more harm than good to an article. This emphasizes the importance of a link building service not only in generating online buzz, but in getting the right kind of information and feedback.
To make sure that your articles are credible and deserve attention, verify all the facts including all the sources that you used.
Writing Quality and Compelling Content
Jan 1st
It is one thing to string one word after another, and quite another to be writing effective copy. This significant difference is even made more distinct by the creation of link building in web content and other forms of writing. Why all the fuss about something so basic? Well, for one thing, attention spans get shorter by the minute especially with all the information that the Internet has to offer. The unique dynamics of the World Wide Web ups the ante on the strategies of any other writer wanting to go professional today.
What works online with a link building service can be trickled down to “emphasis,” especially since the target audience is overburdened with having to deal with too much information, every single day. From focusing on active keywords, to using different attention grabbing formatting styles (bolds and bullets), to giving headlines and sub headlines more thought, it has become clear that the playing ground is as expansive as the options the writer knows he has.
The online universe continues to grow at an exponential rate, credibility and verifiability have risen in priority concerns as well. Proper citation, accurate quoting, and critically thought out wordsmithing separates the effective article from doubtful drafts. This is where employing a link building company that is dedicated to and knowledgeable about this function can be an advantage. At the end of the day, the most important thing to have for an article to be considered powerful is its substance.
Link popularity will be crucial in driving people to your site; however, if there is nothing worth reading there, it will eventually end up becoming an opportunity loss. Many well-written pieces (on the surface) end up no better than spam because they miss the point they were trying to get across in the first place. Style and structure shape the presentation, but this cannot change the fundamental purpose of writing – communicating information. Buzzwords and jargon in particular, have a proper place and a proper time of usage – something overeager marketeers and writers alike often forget.
A professional communicator writes more than words, he pens information. The writer who communicates effectively then is the one who knows the distinctions and their implications to the article, and ultimately, to its target viewers.
Much Ado About Additional Research
Dec 18th
Much has changed since the days when word spread through messengers on horseback, public announcements and newspaper placements. The old grapevine is overrun by a more widespread system, that of effective link building. There is quite more to it than meets the eye; after all, link popularity is not something that builds on its own.
Whatever tools one uses to increase the page rank of an article can be coursed through a reputed link building company because of their experience and expertise in the said field. Press releases in particular, have to be strategically positioned to create heightened buzz among the right audience with the most immediate response. Online, this is achieved through several strategies including some of the following;
- Keywords to return with a high number of hits. Their placement in an article is equally crucial, best with 2-3 focus keywords included in the headings/subheadings or beginning of every paragraph.
- Text links to high traffic pages and using landing pages for call to action items or further information are also important in generating leads to your press release.
- RSS feeds have also become a staple for information seekers; therefore, disseminating the most urgent PR news should be available in this form as well.
With all the clutter online from broken links, outdated pages, inaccurate figures, misquotes, and opinions masked as information, it oftentimes becomes taxing to look for additional research data. And this is just the searchable web, which does not encompass the “invisible web,” mind you. Add to the multimedia, audio, and video materials that are being considered as “published” work, that’s one monster of information.
So what chance does one regular 300-500 word press release really have in the face of all that junk? For groups that strongly consider their press releases as a main means of business communication, a thorough link building service would definitely count as a worthwhile investment.
Our Little Black Book of Press Release Sites
Dec 8th
With the massive potential that is the Internet, knowing where to look has become somewhat a survival skill. When a link building company works on a particular project, it will also take a look at its press releases and where to strategically post them. After all, link popularity is built significantly on high traffic networks a site is affiliated with.
As it is with many things online, there are already multitudes of PR websites to choose from. Working closely with their chosen link building service provider, one should know the pros and cons with each potential hub for information dissemination. Profiling a select list to consult for link building purposes, the directory below is a good place to begin.
Of the most remarkable paid-service PR websites, the following are among the most trusted for the value they give back to your investment:
PRWeb (Alexa Traffic Rank 2, 865 | 16, 751 Sites Linking In)
PRNewsWire (Alexa Traffic Rank 3, 976 | 13, 957 Sites Linking In)
BusinessWire (Alexa Traffic Rank 5, 635 | 10, 688 Sites Linking In)
PRLeap (Alexa Traffic Rank 26, 315 | 1, 741 Sites Linking In)
To get considerable privileges for free, these sites are also promising tools in generating buzz for your press release:
Bignews
PostAFreePressRelease
MyFreePR
Express-Press-Release
Press-Network
Business.PageRelease
MediaSyndicate
PressBox
SeeNation
PressZoom
PageRelease
PRWindow
PromotionWorld
NewsBlaster
ClickPress
PressReleaseCirculation
PRurgent
PressMethod
Information-Online
PRCompass
PressMediaWire
PressReleasePoint
SpeedyPR
PressRelease
PRLog
PRFocus
OpenPR
Free-Press-Release-Center
Free-Press-Release
FreePressReleases
Free-News-Release
PressBox
ExactRelease
Dir.Free-Press-Release
Live-PR
PressPortal
I-NewsWire
PR-USA
NewYork-Press-Release
PressFlow
Washington-Press-Release
UKPRWire
Submitting Press Releases for Link Popularity
Oct 22nd
In a particular controversial book, Al and Laura Ries hail “The Fall of Advertising & The Rise of PR.” This required management reading builds on the essential, often taken for granted factor of credibility – something advertising is constantly found wanting. However, with what has been dubbed the revolution of the informed consumers or “Insumers,” it becomes a critical factor for businesses to establish their reputation in their respective industry. More than ever, branding and all its applications, which are inextricably connected to PR, have become the battlefield from the boardroom to the market site. Any form of business communication must be treated with a grain of salt – worded, reviewed, and analyzed to an inch of its life.
This brings us to the landscape of press releases.
Broadening perspectives of how PR can, when properly used, be employed to boost link popularity is essential. In a world where information travels at a speed that puts lightning to shame, one misguided statement can cost a company in more ways than one. Broadening perspectives of how PR can, when properly used, be employed to boost link popularity is essential. With the rapidly shortening attention spans of virtually everyone, points make or break at the first glance. In practical terms, a press release must hook the intended readers with the first ten words it employs.
If Twitter is any indication, it has made the liberating power of limited speech a very clear development. Rather than introducing how positively significant who-said-what first, press releases would best focus on initially getting a concise description of the announcement. It is also for the same reason that keeping to the more concrete facts would be wise – this is about establishing credence and not so much sensationalism.
This brings people to square one in considering creating a press release; that is, to first have news that is worth sharing right off the bat. If the writers themselves don’t see any need for this to be relayed (and keeping fingers crossed, RTed or reblogged), then it’s a pretty fair sign that others may find it the same way. As in any form of real communicating, press releases are a two-way process. Keeping this tenet in mind will help the sender remember to put himself/herself in the receiver’s shoes.
Why is this something the audience should spend any amount of time reading? Ask yourself the following:
- Is there enough information to make this substantial?
- For whom exactly is this intended for (target audience)?
- Is the way it is presented something others can relate to and understand?
- And even a bit precariously- how can this message be misinterpreted?
Any seasoned press release professional will tell you then that when the less fancy-schmancy language and flowery adjectives are used, they translate to a much clear-cut and effective statement. With clever press releases a commonly-used tool in link building, it also makes a difference when as much needed contact details are provided. This makes it easier for those who are very interested to share this reading or find out more from you through a convenient medium (fax, phone, mobile, email, office address, website).
Without a doubt, as insumers continue to be gradually more dependent on the online community as a primary source of information, trivial or not, they also understand the importance of content that they can trust. This is where strategic affiliations can come to play. After all, birds of the same feathers do have a tendency to flock together. In this sense, websites and other knowledge pools can be critically reviewed based on its immediate network. A link building service, as provided by the right professionals, can be a considerably wise investment in this light.
Through a re`puted link building company, a writer, public relations officer, brand or marketing department or the entire institution itself can rest assured that its press releases are in the best hands. Such a company will also promise, of course, that the press release will be in other planned hands – preferably copied and praised.
An Overview in Link Building
Oct 12th
Businesses have engaged in advertising wars in order to tap a bigger share in the Internet consumer market. Considering the exponential growth of information and networks online, the opportunities for business growth are tremendous. In businesses’ attempts to launch effective marketing or advertising campaigns to reach out to potential consumers, competition to corner online traffic is fierce. Fortunately, there are diverse methods to achieve this goal. Some use paid advertising on major business portals hoping that the traffic generated by these pages will somehow trickle down into their company website. Others utilize the pay-per-click (PPC) system which is cheaper because one only pays for the user traffic generated.
Another method that has proven to be truly effective in delivering increase in user traffic is link building. An off-page optimization strategy within the SEO framework, link building is the process through which one website is advertised in another website similar in content and/or field of interest. It is one of the best optimization tools available used to increase a site’s popularity, ergo, a business’ online image.
This is precisely why link building is considered one of the most vital factors in the SEO campaign. The idea is for your site to achieve higher page rankings with the search engines, more specifically, by building link popularity.
Link popularity is the quality and number of incoming links that point to your site. When other sites link to yours, this implies that your site is regarded as important; in turn, the search engine considers your site important as well. Therefore, link building as a sales strategy can make or break the business. It is also tedious and time-consuming, and requires a degree of experience and expertise. Nonetheless, the potential benefits of link building have made it a prerequisite among modern businesses who want to maximize their sales and profits. While some businesses may choose to handle their own link building campaigns, others can choose to contract a link building service to assist them.
Link building contributes to the business in five ways:
- Acquiring quality traffic from relevant web sites;
- Obtaining a favorable image as a valuable resource through high quality links;
- Generates visibility, awareness, and credibility of your site;
- Allows the site to gain a wider search engine exposure; and
- Helps the site get indexed by search engines.
Link building could be inbound, outbound, or reciprocal. Each method has its own pros and cons.
Inbound linking. These are the links that point to your website. Inbound linking has a vast potential of generating user traffic. Whenever a site has a link to yours, some of its traffic will visit your site and increase your link popularity. Indeed, the user traffic that a single link generates is small, but as you build more links, you can see an increase in the number of visitors. Moreover inbound links increase search engine awareness for your site. The more links major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN) detect that point to your site, the more relevant it considers your website as. Here are some of the most recommended methods of acquiring links to improve your site’s traffic.
- Website directories. Registering a site on web directories may be a boring and painstaking process, but pays off in terms of user traffic. There are free web directories and some that require a fee. Other directories offer enhancements that will add exposure and additional ad space for your site.
- Article directories. One viable way of getting more exposure is to submit content to online article directories. While a monotonous undertaking, it is worth the effort altogether. Submit content or articles that are relevant and newsworthy. Make sure that the website publisher sees valuable content or you will end up wasting time and effort. When you write an article for the article directories, you want to make sure that it is informative and newsworthy. Sales pitches are usually rejected.
- RSS Feeds and Blogs. Aside from article directories, creating an RSS feed will help improve your site’s visibility. An RSS feed delivers your content to RSS subscribers. In essence, you are bringing your product to users, giving them a reason to visit your site, thereby increasing traffic. Moreover, once the feed is listed in distribution sites, the latter rescans your feed and updates their database information, saving you the effort of resubmitting each time you add new content.
- Press Releases. This is among the most recommended methods of generating traffic. Press releases may be free to create and release and has the potentiality of generating tons of traffic the instant a media outlet picks up your releases.
Outbound linking. Outbound linking is the placement of links on your site which directs the browser away from your site to another website. Placing a link on your site suggests to your users that there is value to it. Conversely, linking to a site that has similar content with yours generates value to that site from the viewpoint of the search engine. Essentially, you are helping another site gain traffic while increasing the relevance of your own site, provided that the site you are linking truly complements your site.
Reciprocal linking. Reciprocal linking or link exchanges refers to the process where two webmasters agree to show the other’s link on their respective sites. A reciprocal link is generally a banner link and/or text to a site that has also created a text and/or banner link to your site. The message of reciprocal links to search engines is that you consider the site valuable to your visitors and are willing to let them leave your site to access the other site. To ensure that you use reciprocal linking effectively, you need to ensure the other site’s credibility and the initial placement of your site. Check on whether you link has been moved or deleted and the functionality of the link and avoid splashing your site with mismatched reciprocal links.
Link building is an arduous process but remains one of the most effective and most recommended optimization tools to ensure online marketing and advertising gains. To maximize the tool’s benefits, link building campaigns must ensure relevant, congruent, and complementary links within your field or industry.


