[GregPowell]

Every week we do a radio show/podcast on BlogTalkRadio about the precious metals market and more so how it relates to affiliates. Today's topic was a pretty cool one and it got me thinking more about how I used to market many products and am sitting back wondering now why I ever stopped Press Releases are so good for getting views right away and there are some services now that are cheap ($49) and super efficient! I wont spam anyone's site here but they're easily findable.

Anyhow, so many PR's are getting into Google News for 3-5 days and I have seen some great returns even this week from starting to send these out again. Is the PR a lost art form that was stashed in place of social media? There has to be a lot of synergy between the two. Anyone have a success story or ideas on how the PR and Social Media can blend into a nice 1-2 punch?

Thanks for the feedback.

[Chad-AvantLink]

My 2 cents:

Press releases aren't a lost art. They are a quickly evolving one. Look at pitchengine.com for example. The "press releases" they help you compose are certainly not what a press release looked like 15 years ago. If a modern-day press release doesn't include social calls to action, embedded videos, and a short yet effective summary of your news (keep dwindling online attention spans in mind), you've already failed.

That being said, I actually don't believe that press release distribution services are even that necessary anymore. If you're properly managing an interactive and engaging social presence and you have good relationships with even just one or two journalists in your industry, then your news will most likely get out. The bottom line is that we're in an age where information won't be held back if it's relevant and wanted.

[SGFrazier]

I'm currently reading Putting the Public Back in Public Relations, a free book downloaded to my Kindle.

It encourages marketers to be storytellers when distributing information to the media rather than tailoring our info in the traditional press release format.

One method that worked well for me to get my news on the newspaper's front page and in other sections, without being the handcuffed news of the day, is to take media individuals to lunch.

This isn't open to all of us, but since media people are rarely treated to a meal, it's a great way to raise the like/trust factor so you become a go-to person for a story or, at the least, a person they call to connect them with a lead. That eliminates the need to send monthly press releases, but I still distribute them in a storytelling fashion to the media people who are not close enough to meet in person.

Shirley

[hermedia]

I don't think that Press Releases are a lost art - I agree they are evolving. Traditional (old school press releases) don't work. PR reps have to start getting a bit more creative (some already are) and learn to 'pitch' stories of interest more - not just 'announce' things.

[Decorative Ceiling Tiles]

What exactly is Press Release?

[LukeCBiz]

Man, I remember when Press Releases were huge 5+ years ago, I even had it on my resume as a skill back then. I don't know if it is a lost art so much as not applicable anymore. Press releases are used much more directly now, and not by advertisers for exposure either. It is an interesting thought though, I hadn't even considered P.Rs for anything until this thread.

[ankitnajpal]

i don't think press release is the lost art .
press release is becoming more and more popular now a days.
this is the best way to publish your business news to the viewers.

[leeann]

I use PRs all the time to update blogs. I always do rewrites though, then link to the PR. What I like is that you don't infringe on any copyright laws if you can't figure out a good way to reword something and decide to just use what is in the PR.

[daiarian]

Are free press release distribution sites effective or a waste of time?

[ilovemedia]

That's pretty tricky taking two different marketing strategies and merging them into one effective strategy. Anyone who answers this question will really be a great help.