Note: Last list Update 10-16-09

First off, yes I do design and sell Web sites that distribute press releases online. I also use free press release distribution sites for my PR clients, so I’ve seen both sides of the online PR distribution business.

Based on this experience, I have a bit of a bias about what I am looking for in a press release distribution service. The number of Web sites in this space seems to change from day to day. Sites disappear, change policies and appear daily. So this list needs to be just as dynamic.

Before you post a complaint that I’m missing a site, keep in mind that this list is a work in progress. It had to start somewhere so consider this a first draft. PLEASE don’t hesitate to submit a site for consideration. We’ll probably include it, as long as your submission fits the 4 criteria outlined below.

There are quite a few free pr distribution sites on the Web. Many of them are not worth the time it takes you to submit a release. However, there are some that are quite good. Following are the 4 criteria that I used to create this list of the top free press release distribution sites.

1. Page Rank - What is the Google page rank of the site? I’m only listing free PR sites that have a page rank of 4 or higher. To determine the page rank of a site,

2. Google News - Are most of the press releases that are published by the site picked up by Google news? To find out if a PR distribution site is getting their content indexed by Google news, go to Google News and do a search for “site:sitename.com”. This will show all of the stories by that site that have been indexed by Google News. As an example, a search for all press releases for the free PR site BigNews.biz, would look like this “site:BigNews.biz”

3. Traffic - Does the free press release site get any traffic? For this list we used Alexa.com to check traffic. You will have to set your own standard for what you feel is acceptable. For this list, I’m using any site that is ranked above or around 50,000 by Alexa.

4. Cost - For this list we are looking for sites that are primarily free. However, they may offer additional premium services for a fee.

Keeping in mind the 4 points listed above, here is my list. Feel free to send me additional suggestions, but they must fit the 4 criteria listed above. The order listed here is loosely based on the sites Alexa rank and can change from day to day.

Note: All of the following site statistics are updated daily and all of these sites feed their content to Google news.

1. PRLog.org -

2. PR-Inside.com -

3. PR.com -

4. Merinews.com -

5. 24-7pressrelease.com -

6. BigNews.biz -

7. ClickPress.com -

8. NewsWireToday.com -

9. OpenPR.com -

10. PR-USA.net -

11. free-press-release-center.info -

12. PowerHomeBiz.com -

13. TheOpenPress.com -

14. USPRWire.com -

Submit a site….

Again, this list is a work in progress. So if you have suggestions, please forward them to phil(at)BigNews.biz.

Other features you might want to have when selecting a free PR site…
a) Does the site also accept photos or other file types as part of the release?
b) Does this site give you reporting tools so that you can see your traffic?
c) Is the site fast and easy to use?

.:Phil:.

Online PR can take a great deal of time, so anything you can do to make things go faster but still get the job done right, is a big plus in my book. So, a few days ago we introduced a new feature to publishers on the BigNews.biz site and the News-Antique.com site.

If you have an email list of people that you send press releases and announcements to, we’ve now made it easy for you to email your list at the same time you submit a press release to BigNews.biz or News-Antique.com. This new, free service will save you considerable time, allow you to track the number of people that view your releases as well as give you the ability to maintain your private email pr/marketing list from any online computer.

It’s easy to get started, just login to your account at: http://www.BigNews.biz/?go=login or http://www.News-Antique.com/?go=login and select “My Mailing Lists” in the left column.
1. Then in the box marked “Create a new list”, enter a name for your new mailing list then click the “Add” button. the name of your new list will then appear in the “My Mailing Lists” box.
2. Before you start entering email addresses select the tab marked “Default message” and enter a message that will be sent to each user on your email list. Something like “Greetings from [Your name/business name] I’d like to put you on my email list and wanted to ask you if this would be OK.” You can have any message you like, this is just an example. Keep in mind that each address you enter will be sent your default message and will be given the option to accept or reject being placed on your list. So don’t include email addresses for people who are not going to be interested in hearing from you.
3. To start entering email addresses to the newly created list, select “View/Edit”.

If you have any questions, drop me an email at phil@BigNews.biz or give me a call at 516-578-1386. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.

.:Phil:.

I‘m of the opinion that the target audience of most press releases should be the general online public. The Internet gives you the opportunity to distribute your message directly to the public via search engines and online news and pr distribution sites. Your release should be designed to appeal to this audience first and the “press” second. With this in mind, lets call them news releases rather than press releases.

The reason I suggest targeting the public first, is that on any given day, tens of thousands of press releases are flooding the inboxes of traditional media journalists and editors around the world. Your chances of actually getting one of these folks to publish a story about you based on an unsolicited release alone are quite small.

So, when drafting your release, think about how your message will be received by your target audience rather than appealing to the “press”. What information can you give that will inspire them to turn to your business or service to fulfill their needs? What does your news release offer them, that they can’t get anywhere else? A good release needs to give your readers something that they value.

.:Phil:.