Old Press Release sites - Which ones do you Disavow and leave alone

[Shawn124]

Hi Mozers! I need your help.  I'm in the final stages of a huge link audit and press releases are a big concern.  As you know, press release distribution sites up until 2012 had "follow" links, giving webmasters a delight of having their keyword anchor texts a big boost in rankings.  These are the websites that are troubling me today so i would appreciate your input on my strategy below as most of these websites are asking for money to remove them:

1. Press Release sites that are on the same C-class - Disavow

2. Not so authoritative press release websites that just follow my www domain only (no anchor texts) - I leave it alone

3. Not so authoritative press release websites but have anchor texts that are followed - Disavow

4. Post 2012 press release websites that have "followed" anchor text keywords - Request to remove, then disavow

5. Post 2012 press release websites that just follow my www domain only (no anchor texts) -  leave it alone

#2 and #5 are my biggest concern.  Now more than ever I would appreciate your follow ups.  I will respond quickly and apply "good answers" to the one's that make the most sense as my appreciation to you.  God bless you all.

[RyanPurkey]

Stephen Kenwright wrote a nice post on this in November, "Should You Disavow Links From Press Releases?
You absolutely should be adding press release sites to your disavow file. Google stated in 2012 that links from press releases won’t help your rankings, so there should be no danger in disavowing old press releases." From: http://searchenginewatch.com/sew/how-to/2383492/press-releases-are-not-an-seo-strategy

The entire post is good and will provide you guidance on working with the press in the future. For your specific case though if a bunch of press release sites were used in a manipulative link manner, feel free to disavow.  Cheers!

[Shawn124]

Thank you for the prompt update Ryan.