PR Web vs, PR Newswire - Which Is Best For PR Optimization & Distribution?

[DenisL]

Could you provide me with any information (or pointers to same) on using PR Newswire vs PR Web for online press release optimization, submission and distribution?

I'm a fan of PR Web and have done some savvy PR Web optimization & submission/distribution work for years, but I have a new key client who has had someone do the PR Newswire route for them in the past. So I need to objectively make the case to this client either way - and of course for a press release that must go out somewhere between this Sunday morning and next Wednesday (and I prefer the latter)!

Thanks in advance!
Denis Lavoie
Sound Web Solutions
(206) 686-4999

[DavidKonigsberg]

I like PRNewswire better - but in terms of seo they dont have the same effect as they once had unless you expect it to get picked up and rewritten.

[sedamiran]

I cannot compare both as i worked with only one of them and it was PRNewswire. We had a successful campaign, process was very easy and the account manager was pretty good if that helps.

[MikeGeorge]

I've only worked with PR web and had some good success. The best thing to do though?

If your website has any authority at all-- use the Google New "standout content tag" http://searchengineland.com/google-news-launches-standout-tag-for-featured-content-94256

And post the blog yourself as a story that you "broke."

I highly recommend that you don't abuse it. But if you had a website on...say...Maryland Real Estate and you use the "standout" tag, your own press release, from your own website, could land on page one of Google. I've done it many times. You just need to have a fairly reputable site and you have to let Google know that you are breaking the story and they won't find it anywhere else.

(Man, I hate to post this tip. I just know somebody is going to use it on every post on their site and get nailed. If you are that person: don't.)

[gazzerman1]

In addition to everyone's comments, I would just like to add that Google's latest algorithm updates are taking a hard line on dofollow links from both those sites and many other PR sites. Penalties are being issued as a result even on naked  dofollow url links.

If you are going to use them, be very wary of this and do your press releases without links in them or find another method of link building.

[MikeGeorge]

Kate Morris-- All stories get "picked up." They get picked up by Google News and appear on the front page, if you know how to write non-spammy, well-optimized PR.

Just like anything- with Google News- you try to satisfy Google as best you can. I could care less if anyone picks up my press release, I just want it to stay on page one for a day. That does two things: drives traffic for a day, sometimes 2 days; and gives your site authority in the eyes of the Googlebot.

I have heard Matt Cutts claim that press releases are harmful, just as Gary pointed out, so I stand by what I wrote: Write your own press releases on your own site and tag them appropriately. 99% of people don't understand that Google News is a different search engine that Google... And much easier to optimize for.

[katemorris]

While I get your point, all stories cannot get picked up and put on Google News for a day or more, there is literally not enough space for that.

My point is that you should not try to optimize for Google as the end all, be all. Google News might be "easier to optimize" but if you say that now, it will not be true in 2 years. That is the way of the web.

We don't disagree here, writing a good press release is the starting point, but I disagree on the target when it comes to answering for everyone. Knowing who your target market is and where they get their news is more important than getting your story in Google News. If that is where your target market is, awesome, then optimizing for that market is best, but that is not going to be the answer for everyone.

[DenisL]

Many thanks MikeGeorge and Kate Morris for your input on this.

I'm certainly with you on having a quality well writen and non-spammy release written - we are on that.

But MikeGeorge (or anyone else knowledgeable about this...) regarding your "Write your own press releases on your own site and tag them appropriately" input, could you please provide details on the proper tagging?

I assume you mean tags related to http://schema.org/CreativeWork or more specifically http://schema.org/Article ?

[FootprintsTeachingJobs]

Really good point here, be careful. Check out this on their penalty woes - http://blog.similarweb.com/can-pr-newswire-overcome-its-major-google-penalty . They've recovered a bit since the summer, but not fully.

[FootprintsTeachingJobs]

Great advice. The DIY way could easily be better. An informal study I read found a pretty strong correlation between featured stories and use of the standout tag.