It is a truth universally acknowledged that social media has altered how people communicate all across the world. It has incited political revolutions and driven pop culture to its finest heights. Naturally, businesses of every kind have been trying to harness the unmitigated power that is social media, in their journey to customer acquisition. One of the familiar marketing tools, press release, is known for just that.
In the 21st century, press releases might seem passe but in fact, research shows that this tool, if sharpened, can offer a fresh sense of direction to your online presence. If you are trying to build an online presence for your business, press releases are one of the most important tools of the trade. But it does not come easy- you must understand the basics of writing the perfect press release, for which you have to first know what a press release is and how it can be beneficial to your business venture.
At CDK Labs, we provide assistance with all your company’s press release requirements. We are punctual, creative, knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated to see your company’s presence grow exponentially, both online and offline. In this blog, we shall find out the ways to leverage press releases to get customers, investors, potential employees, and other target groups to know more about your business.
The Reinvented Face of Public Relations
Both small and large companies in every industry now try to use social media as a core part of their PR and marketing needs. Social media platforms continue to replace more traditional tried-and-tested channels of brand promotion and communication, and public relations is its close aide. A press release can be defined as any or all of these 4 key phrases:
- It is a formal announcement by a business:
A press release includes a formal and professional communication regarding business news. This is typically done by making use of a specified format that includes core details such as the header, dateline, and boilerplate.
- Sharing news-worthy information about business development:
It is necessary to ensure that the news shared with the target demographic on social media in the form of a press release is both news-worthy and interesting enough to grab the attention of both media and your target user-base.
- Sending the press release to media and similar interested parties:
The press release is to be distributed to the media and similar such interested parties who your business deems to be relevant to the announcement. This way, the right parties get to know about the new developments in the company, and if you are trying to announce the introduction of a product or service, the message goes to the relevant demographic.
- Striving to generate a wide press coverage:
The point of a press release is to simply generate ample media coverage that can help promote your business and its various latest developments.
Press releases are typically created by the business’ marketing and PR team and then sent out to media outlets like magazines, newspapers, radio stations, websites, television stations, and most commonly, social media platforms. These press releases can promote a vast range of news, such as new product or service launches, company events, official statements, milestones, awards, and more. All in all, a well-written and aptly distributed press release can help build buzz, drive website traffic, and generate leads.
For the most part, press releases offer a solid foundation for brand awareness and general marketing campaigns. Prior to the advent of social media, businesses went through long and tedious processes of getting in touch with journalists who served as gatekeepers. But with the advent of social media, press releases now are no short of:
- Key SEO tools that aid customers, investors, potential employees, and similar target demographics to discover and know about companies online
- Permanent aspects of a business’ public record which are easily findable and downloadable in the foreseeable future
- Direct communications tools that deliver unfiltered messages to the wide masses
Why Press Releases Are Still As Important As Ever
Press releases have evolved a lot over the decades, especially as businesses have realized the necessity and impact of online marketing. But the effective use of a press release dictates some strategies, which when followed, yields unbelievable results in favor of your business’ ROI.
Here are a few of the main reasons why press releases have grown to be so important:
- Announcing a new product/service: If you have to announce a new product or service, a good idea is to simply draft a press release and get your news to be found on all major search engines as well as social media networks with a comprehensive press release distribution service. This enables you to reach your thousands of target journalists and users.
- Improving brand image: Since it has become rather easy to publish and distribute press releases, businesses can now send out as many press releases as they wish to. Publishing more press releases is often seen as a good way to improve brand image.
- Enhancing visibility through media usage: Press releases have evolved to include images, videos, and similar multimedia, which simply means that you can now convey your message and news stories in a more interesting way than ever before.
- Instant world-wide distribution: Prior to online press releases becoming common, they were typically sent out only to journalists, and if deemed unworthy of press mention, they would forever live in a binder, on a random desk, or in a building lobby. Nowadays, a press release is distributed to millions around the world instantly via email and social media platforms.
- Expanding public knowledge: By throwing in more links to other web pages within press releases, businesses can seamlessly direct readers to more information about what they offer.
- Viral possibilities: An online press release is easier to go viral if the target demographic starts sharing it over various social media networks, in turn creating a buzz that could never be possible with traditional press releases.
- Portability and convenience: The target audience can read a press release anywhere on the world wide web, on both their smartphones and other bigger devices.
- Search engine optimization: By employing specific keywords relating to the business, it is possible to optimize press releases in a way that makes them easily accessible to people and help them know more about the company’s information through the use of search engines.
These are a few ways to make the most of press releases. Remember, the best way to succeed is to have a plan, get started soon, and keep press releases fresh. Want help with your company’s press releases? Get in touch with CDK Labs today!
