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Michael Hartzell

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You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand.

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List of 54 Websites for Free Press Release Distribution Service

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free press release distrtibution serviceDo you take advantage of a free press release distribution service at least once a month on the internet?  Some might view a press release as "marketing" while others view it as "education" or "information".  Regardless, if you do something worth shouting about in your business, then do so!  Press releases keep the world informed and possibly...improve the chances of getting found.

Is there a benefit to paying for a press release vs. using the free services?  Depends on your pocket book and the topic, your competition, the time of year, your reputation, and the list goes on.  Opinions are on both sides of the fence.  In the end, a press release is only one of dozens of activitities you will include on your marketing calendar.

Should you do a bulk press release to all with a paid distribution service?  Your strategy must represent your business and vision.  Question:  What is the point in doing so? If you had a specific press release for each venue with a specific landing page for each, wouldn't you have better opportunity to test for results?

Here is a list for free press releases in alphabetical order.

  1. Free     1888 PressRelease.com 
  2. Free     24-7 PressRelease.com
  3. Free     AddPR
  4. Free     Afly
  5. Free     afreego.com
  6. Free     Betanews
  7. Free     Biblioscribe
  8. $$$      Business Wire
  9. Free     GGIdir.com
  10.  $$       ClickPress
  11.  $$       Contactanycelebrity.com
  12. Free     Directions Magazine
  13. Free     Download Junction
  14.  $$       Ebookbroadcast.com
  15. Free     EboomWebSolutions
  16.  $$       Ecommwire
  17.  $$       Express-Press-Release
  18.  $$       ExtraPR
  19. Free     Filecluster.com
  20. Free     Free News Release
  21. Free     Free Press Index
  22. Free     Free-Press-Release  
  23. Free     Free Press Release Center
  24. Free     HelpaReporterOut.com (HARO)
  25.  $$      i-newswire.com
  26.  $$      India PRWire
  27. Free    IT Backbones Software News
  28.  $$      Loop PR
  29. $$$     Marketwire
  30. Free    Media Syndicate
  31. Free    Nanotechnology Now
  32. Free    National Homland Security Knowledge Base 
  33. Free    NewsMediaReleases.com
  34. Free    Newswire Today
  35. Free    NPR 
  36. Free    Online Press Releases
  37. Free    OnlyWire
  38. Free    OpenPR
  39. Free    Page Release
  40.  $$      PR
  41. Free    PR9
  42. Free    PR Free
  43. Free    Press-Base 
  44. Free    PR-GB.com
  45. Free    PR-Inside
  46.  $$      PRBuzz
  47. Free    PRCompass
  48. Free    PressAbout
  49. Free    PressBox.co.uk
  50. Free    PressExposure
  51. Free    PRMac
  52. Free    PressMethod
  53. Free    Press Release Circulation
  54. Free    Press Release Method
  55.  $$     Press Release Spider
  56.  $$      PR Leap 
  57. Free    PR Log
  58. Free    PR Urgent
  59. Free    PRWindow
  60. Free    PR Zoom
  61. Free    PublicityWires
  62. $$       Pyrabang
  63. Free    Radio - TV Interview Report (RTIR)
  64. Free    SanePR 
  65. Free    Seenation.com
  66. Free    Tech PR Spider
  67. Free    The Open Press
  68. Free    ThomasNet News
  69. Free    UGA Media (Europe)
  70. Free    UKPRWire
  71.  $$     Webwire

Of course, "free" may change over time, but at the very least, this list gets you started.

Do press releases make a difference?

As it talks about in WebProNews in a study from Arketi Group, also back in the summer, journalists were found to use the web in the following ways:

- 95% search
- 92% reading news
- 92% emailing
- 89% finding story ideas
- 87% finding news sources
- 75% reading blogs
- 64% watching webinars
- 61% watching YouTube
- 59% social networks

Press release terms have you boggled?  Need more help?  Here are a few sites beyond the obvious to help you learn more (or services to hire).  In no way am I advocating hiring someone to do press releases for you, but the rule remains for an entrepreneur:  Learn to do it or hire someone to do it for you.

MyPRGenie  MyPRGenie is a Do-It-Yourself PR platform and newswire. Sign up, it's FREE and it's easy.

EMSI - Publicity firm specializing in "Pay for Play PR."

PitchEngine - PitchEngine is a social platform that enables PR to effectively package stories and share them with journalists, bloggers, and influencers worldwide via the social web.

How to do Press Release, Websites, Templates - Resources from me

Zable Fisher Public Relations - Press release reference & Hire

Press Release Writing - Press release reference

Press Release Grader - Press release software

PR101 - Press release reference

Coach Maria - Business coaching, reference & Hire

PressReleaseHelp.com - press release reference

Newslink - Database newspapers, press release reference

Pay for Performance PR - press release reference & Hire

Send2Press - Press release reference & Hire

Hire a press release writer - Press release writing reference & Hire

PressReleaseWriting.com - Press release reference, links and how-to

Press Release Templates & Samples

Time to get your calendar out.  Will you hire a copywriter / service to write a press release for your event / business / book?  Will you instead review the basics and look at the templates and give it a shot?  The internet is loaded with press releases and yours will quickly get lost in the shuffle.  What will your headline be?  What unbelievable thing are you proud of that you want to share with the world?
 
updated 3-08-10

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Comments

Thanks for pulling this list together! Very helpful, and I see some here that I definitely need to add to my list. Appreciate the leg work you did for us!
Posted @ Friday, December 04, 2009 12:03 PM by Nicole Hisler
Nicole, 
 
Glad it offered something great for you... and coming from you that is a compliment. Just added a new one and will keep it updated. 
 
Wonder if we can start wishing someone: "Have a free day today" meaning I hope you can get everything free today. :) 
 
Appreciate your comment! 
 
Mike
Posted @ Friday, December 04, 2009 12:22 PM by Michael Hartzell
Great idea, sounds like a good opportunity for a twitter hashtag conversation. #FreeFriday is already taken, maybe #funfreefriday? Let me know if you get it going!
Posted @ Friday, December 04, 2009 2:04 PM by Nicole Hisler
Michael, 
I discovered your site through a HubSpot post. I'm finding some incredibly useful information here. Thanks for providing this. 
 
Quick question on the free PR distribution. What are your thoughts on how the free services compare to the paid services in creating links to a company's web site for SEO? 
 
Thanks, 
Jim
Posted @ Monday, December 21, 2009 1:57 PM by Jim Kimzey
Jim, You are very kind to say so. 
 
So far half the room says free are not as powerful. The other half says free is fine because they like the ROI on a "free" tool. The ROI with free is much higher, right? :)  
 
Here are a few notes pertaining to this: 
 
Listen to what the masters "do" not what they say. Create, invite, respond. Product or content creation, followed by press releases, followed by invites to comment via blogs, forums, email, etc. creates more interest / traffic / SEO vs. writing and waiting. Unique Personal Invitations (I call it oopy) are a must. I would refer to John at Duct Tape Marketing as he practices this. He does not simply post articles, blogs, videos and PR, he invites individuals personally to give feedback on the articles, etc.  
 
If you look at the press releases on some of the free sites, it looks like a list of advertisements. Too much automation.  
 
Lets say an press release has a grade of 55 on http://pressrealease.grader.com Can't tell anyone that it will be better on a paid vs. free service  
 
All sites that say "free" are not equal. (Especially since there are automated distribution software)  
 
Website alert services will pick up the pages regardless of free or paid and thus can land in a "reader" or "inbox". Factor this in.  
i.e. 
I have a Google alert set up of "restaurant owner complaints" and the few news articles that speak of this land in my inbox. They are relevant to the book I am writing and so I watch for them. 
 
Only three months with Hubspot software which has "Link Grader" and as of yet have not included "press releases" in the 2009 website plan. 2010 has it on the list. Check with me on July 1st and compare notes again. 
 
Press releases are only one of many on my marketing planner. here is a back door to my 2010 calendars. http://www.michaelhartzell.com/library/restaurant-forms-spreadsheets/marketing-planning-spreadsheets-/ 
 
I think the question is too dependent on individual skill, will, resources, budgets, purpose of business, etc. If the goal is: improve the traffic by 105 and conversion by 10%... sometimes free will get it done.. and maybe not.  
 
Bet you in 90 days you could set up your landing pages and test for your own business and write a white paper on the results and do a press release and get more links. :) Can't wait. :) 
 
Mike
Posted @ Monday, December 21, 2009 3:25 PM by Michael Hartzell
Michael - You responded to a question I had posted in the Hubspot forum which is how I found you. You've always responded to my questions with extremely helpful information. This site is another example. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. It's much appreciated!
Posted @ Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:16 AM by Kerry Engle
Kerry, I love Hubspot tools. After I get done saying 'shucks' and 'no problem' I thank you for stopping by and making a quick note. You made my day. Always on the hunt. Keep me posted of your business adventures. 
Mike
Posted @ Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:33 AM by Michael Hartzell
Found this through Inbound Marketing.com - what a fantastic list, I've been putting this to very good use today. Thanks for taking the time to put this together! Just FYI you have duplicated a couple of the entries.
Posted @ Monday, March 08, 2010 11:23 AM by Jamie Giberti
Jamie, 
 
Glad you stopped by and are able to use the list. We are in special times when a purpose / cause can be shared world wide. uh oh. duplicates. thanks for the catch. Fixed and I owe you one. Mike
Posted @ Monday, March 08, 2010 11:50 AM by Michael Hartzell
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