Should press releases be posted on my site before released to wire?

[BradBorst]

Should I wait until my press release has been syndicated to post to my press page.  If I post it to my press page first, will it cause a duplication problem?

[AlanBleiweiss]

Brad,

I recommend posting it to your own site first then waiting a bit to distribute.  On that page, I'd include a Google "original source" tag. http://www.google.com/support/news_pub/bin/answer.py?answer=191283

By doing it this way, you help to ensure that your version has the best chance of being credited properly.  It's not a guarantee - as most challenges in SEO are not, however it's what I recommend to clients because it's the best anyone can do.

[anthonydnelson]

Hi Brad,

I'd actually take the opposite position of Alan. I would distribute the press release first and then post it to your site a bit later. I see press releases ability to build external links as one of their biggest values. If there is a concern for duplication, I'd rather have the external postings of the release 'count' in the eyes of google as opposed to the internal.

I wouldn't worry too much about it either way though. Press releases are posted and reposted all over the web, and that's just the way it goes.

Your press release should be linking to important content on your site. It's unlikely that the brief content on the PR would be a significant source of organic traffic for your own site, opposed to the content the release is actually writing about and linking to.

The only time I would do it the other way around, would be if I was creating a PR for a company that is popular and newsworthy no matter what. If SEOmoz had a press release, it would make sense to post it on their own site first because people within the industry are going to find it and link to it, therefore creating many more external links to their actual domain.

Long story short, in my opinion, new/small website should submit first. Big/popular website should post on their own site first.

[AlanBleiweiss]

Interesting concept Anthony.  The notion that it's ultimately all duplicate content though reinforces my own perspective I think, simply because those inbound links are not overwhelmingly strong, I figure the site might as well get its own "fresh content" bonus out of the deal, since press releases are really about creating / building brand identity as much as anything, and less for "high quality inbound links".

Ultimately I think we both have valid points so it could go either way.

[anthonydnelson]

Agreed.

We might not have been too much help for Brad, but we might have convinced him that he shouldn't be overly concerned with his final choice.

[BradBorst]

I regularly post new 200 level pages to my site, so I guess I'm most interested in getting new links.  However, I do see the point that Alan is making as well.  Thanks to both of you for taking the time to answer this.