Best Press Release Distribution Software
Press release distribution software publishes and sends press releases and other news and announcements to various media sources such as journalists, bloggers, and news organizations. Public relations (PR) agencies, as well as in-house PR teams, use press release distribution software to send company announcements to relevant news outlets with the intention of securing media coverage. Marketing teams leverage these tools to measure the impact press releases have on their campaigns and SEO. Press release distribution software may offer its own newswire service, but the distribution space mostly comprises independent services that distribute news to a variety of sources. Some distribution products also enable companies to build and design a branded online newsroom that can be used to host and distribute press releases. A considerable portion of press release distribution software also provides features of media monitoring software and/or media and influencer targeting software.
Press release distribution software tools are important in any PR strategy. However, don’t forget to do a great job at the basics, which are to (a) understand who your buyer persona is, and (b) learn how to write a press release that will engage with them.
To qualify for inclusion in the Press Release Distribution category, a product must:
Best Press Release Distribution Software At A Glance
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- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
GlobeNewswire by Notified distributes press releases and multimedia content on behalf of thousands of clients every year. Built for PR, IR, marketing, and agency professionals, GlobeNewswire helps you
- CFO
- CEO
- Public Relations and Communications
- Financial Services
- 59% Small-Business
- 31% Mid-Market
5,343 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
ACCESS Newswire offers a comprehensive communications solution designed to assist organizations in effectively connecting with their target audiences and amplifying their brand narratives. Our platfor
- CEO
- Founder
- Marketing and Advertising
- Mining & Metals
- 77% Small-Business
- 18% Mid-Market
2,128 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Newswire is a media technology company that provides its clients with press release distribution services that help build brand awareness, earn media mentions, increase online visibility, improve sear
- CEO
- Marketing Manager
- Marketing and Advertising
- Computer Software
- 69% Small-Business
- 28% Mid-Market
9,366 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Business Wire, the global leader in news release distribution and regulatory disclosure services, offers a comprehensive suite of public relations and investor relations solutions. With a strong focus
- Account Executive
- Account Supervisor
- Public Relations and Communications
- Marketing and Advertising
- 48% Small-Business
- 32% Mid-Market
71,206 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
PR Newswire is the worldwide leader for targeted content distribution, connecting brands with the right journalists, influencers and outlets across multiple media platforms, geographies and vertical i
- Account Executive
- Senior Account Executive
- Public Relations and Communications
- Marketing and Advertising
- 51% Small-Business
- 33% Mid-Market
50,055 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
PRWeb transformed the "press release" from an expensive tool used by large corporations to an inexpensive yet highly effective way for organizations of all sizes to distribute their news on the Intern
- Public Relations and Communications
- Marketing and Advertising
- 62% Small-Business
- 25% Mid-Market
50,055 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Chainwire is a newswire syndication service for the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. Designed for cryptocurrency projects, blockchain companies, exchanges, investment firms, and PR agencies, Ch
- Financial Services
- Information Technology and Services
- 85% Small-Business
- 15% Mid-Market
959 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
AI-Powered PR Platform to Optimize Your Communications Workflows Agility PR Solutions helps PR and communications professionals connect with journalists, monitor earned media coverage, and prove P
- Director
- Managing Director
- Public Relations and Communications
- Marketing and Advertising
- 61% Small-Business
- 22% Mid-Market
4,741 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Earned Media. Social Media. And Now Paid Media Release℠ Paid Media Release℠ is a state-of-the-art press release distribution service, custom-built using iCrowdNewswire's proprietary AI innovations.
- Marketing and Advertising
- 71% Small-Business
- 18% Mid-Market
7,128 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
The Notified PR platform is PR software that’s integrated, intelligent, and easy to use. Social listening and media monitoring, a media contacts database, press release distribution, newsroom publishi
- Food & Beverages
- 42% Small-Business
- 37% Mid-Market
5,343 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
PRNEWS.IO provides guaranteed placement of sponsored content in online media around the world. The Platform will help you to increase awareness among your potential partners and investors, boost your
- Marketing and Advertising
- Information Technology and Services
- 72% Small-Business
- 16% Mid-Market
643 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Founded in 2003, Mynewsdesk offers a modern digital PR solution for businesses to engage with journalists, influencers, customers and other important stakeholders. The all-in-one PR platform makes it
- Information Technology and Services
- Museums and Institutions
- 64% Small-Business
- 28% Mid-Market
4,153 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Pressat is the leading press release distribution service in the United Kingdom, they specialise in the dissemination of press releases, photos and images to targeted journalists, publications, inform
- 81% Small-Business
- 13% Mid-Market
7,044 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Collaborator is a reliable PR distribution marketplace that facilitates collaboration between advertisers and website owners to promote global businesses through content placement on trusted websites.
- Marketing and Advertising
- 72% Small-Business
- 28% Mid-Market
156 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
PR Station is the leading press release distribution network in the Philippines. We help businesses, organizations, and individuals get their stories seen by millions of Filipinos.
- Computer Software
- 83% Small-Business
- 14% Mid-Market
334 Twitter followers
Learn More About Press Release Distribution Software
What is Press Release Distribution Software?
Press release distribution software consists of tools and services that help companies send press releases to traditional news outlets, digital news sites, journalists, influencers, and bloggers, to secure news coverage.
In today’s digital media landscape, businesses rely on several different strategies to communicate with their target audience, such as social media, advertising, and content marketing. However, messages distributed through these channels are most often received by people who are already following a brand online. Businesses write and distribute press releases to secure coverage in the media, such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, podcasts, and blogs. When a media publication picks up a press release, the story has the potential to reach a much wider audience than the company’s social media following or email subscriber list.
Additionally, online news coverage can improve a brand’s search engine rankings by ensuring their announcements are found on reputable news sites and search engines. In short, businesses use press release distribution software to increase brand awareness, visibility, and reach.
What Types of Press Release Distribution Software Exist?
There are two distinct types of press release distribution services and products. While both types have their pros and cons, businesses may find their PR campaigns are most successful when they implement both types of PR distribution.
Newswires
The traditional method for distributing press releases is through a newswire. There are two different types of newswires, which can cause some confusion. Many media outlets subscribe to a news agency wire service like the Associated Press or Reuters, which write and distribute news articles, usually on current events or breaking news. In the public relations industry, however, a PR newswire delivers press releases to a distribution network of journalists and news organizations that have subscribed to the service.
When a business distributes its press release via newswire, they can typically expect a wide reach, as the press release will be sent to many different outlets. That being said, newswires may distribute thousands of press releases per day, and businesses cannot control which outlets or journalists see the press release.
PR outreach and newsrooms
While PR newswire services ensure that a press release is delivered to some of the biggest media outlets around the world, businesses can use another type of press release distribution software to target specific news sites or journalists. PR outreach tools allow companies to send personalized pitches to members of the press who have written about similar topics and may be interested in covering the company’s announcement or story.
These products typically include features for creating and designing press releases and publishing them to a branded, digital newsroom. Instead of sending the press release to news outlets via newswire, PR outreach tools supply contact lists for companies to target specific members of the media with their published press release.
What are the Common Features of Press Release Distribution Software?
The following are some core features within press release distribution software:
Press release creation: Press release distribution software allows users to upload, create, and edit press releases.
Multimedia: In addition to text editing, most press release distribution software includes features for embedding videos, photos, or other rich media. Businesses may wish to add multimedia in their press release to showcase new products or logos, or to simply make their press release more interactive and engaging.
Newsrooms: Press release distribution software that focuses on targeted PR outreach enables businesses to create a branded online newsroom. This feature allows users to customize the look and feel of their newsrooms and press releases by changing colors, fonts, logos, images, and page design.
SEO optimization: One of the most popular reasons businesses distribute press releases is to increase search engine visibility. Press release distribution services should include features for optimizing a news release for better SEO, such as schema markup, structured data, and meta tags.
Contact list: PR outreach tools provide businesses with a searchable database of relevant media contacts.
Social sharing: Some press release distribution products integrate with social media so press releases can be easily shared on social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This feature can further increase press release visibility and engagement.
Analytics: Distribution tools need to report on the effectiveness of press releases so the business can determine the reach and success of their PR campaign. Most products have built-in analytics features to measure views and clicks, but companies may need to invest in PR analytics software for a full picture of campaign effectiveness.
What are the Benefits of Press Release Distribution Software?
With the ever-changing landscape of information distribution, knowing how to navigate the proper channels to make the public aware of a company’s news is more important than ever.
Media coverage: The primary goal of using press release distribution software is to secure news coverage for the user’s company. A press release can be about any newsworthy event related to the business, such as a new product launch, a merger or acquisition, an award, a rebrand, an event, or even crisis management. Press release distribution software can help a business secure coverage in print publications like newspapers and magazines; traditional media channels like ABC, NBC, and Fox; as well as digital news sites and search engines like Google News, Yahoo, and Bing. By tracking distribution across all these channels, businesses can learn which news channels are the most effective and improve their exposure for future PR campaigns.
Search visibility: Many businesses use press release distribution software to improve their search visibility and rankings in search results. Most professional news organizations have a high domain authority (DA), which means they are recognized as authorities in a certain industry and will rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Since press releases always include a link to the company’s website, they can increase the company’s referral traffic which positively influences their search ranking.
Media relationships: The more press releases a business distributes, the more likely they are to build stronger relationships with specific media outlets and journalists. Some press release distribution companies provide users with access to a media database with up-to-date contact information for journalists, bloggers, and media influencers. When a company develops a positive relationship with a member of the press, it becomes easier to pitch news stories to them and increases the likelihood that the journalist will publish the press release.
Who Uses Press Release Distribution Software?
The end users of press release distribution software will depend on a business’s size and industry. In general, these products and services are most commonly leveraged by teams responsible for communicating with an organization’s external audiences, such as public relations, marketing, and corporate communications. In a small business, marketers may be responsible for the company’s PR efforts as well. An enterprise company, however, is likely to have enough staffing and resources for a dedicated public relations team. PR firms and public relations agencies also use press release distribution software to send press releases on behalf of their clients.
Software Related to Press Release Distribution Software
Related solutions that can be used together with press release distribution software include:
Media and influencer targeting software: In addition to distributing press releases via newswires, businesses can target specific journalists with media and influencer targeting software. These solutions, more commonly referred to as media databases, contain contact information for journalists, social media influencers, and bloggers with authority in a specific industry. In contrast to press release distribution, media and influencer targeting software allows PR teams to target specific members of the media who may be interested in sharing the company’s message with their audience.
PR CRM software: In many cases, an organization may consistently work with the same journalists and media influencers to share announcements and secure news placements. PR CRM software helps businesses store their contact information and manage relationships with media professionals. This type of software tracks a company’s history with a journalist and provides insight into which campaigns are generating the most interest among media influencers.
PR analytics software: Once a press release has been distributed and news coverage has been secured, it’s necessary to measure the impact of the coverage on the company. PR analytics software helps businesses measure the success of their public relations campaigns by analyzing metrics such as views, clicks, and reader engagement.
Challenges with Press Release Distribution Software
Press release distribution software solutions can come with their own set of challenges.
Lack of personalization: Press release distribution services, or newswires, deliver press releases to a large number of media outlets and news sites. Many of the journalists who see the press release will be uninterested in covering it because it may not relate to their areas of interest or subject matter expertise. While newswires can offer a wider reach than targeted PR outreach, the lack of personalization may also result in a lack of media coverage.
Manual process: Targeted PR outreach allows businesses to send more personalized pitches to members of the press. While hyper-targeted distribution may result in more media coverage, the process of finding, selecting, and pitching individual journalists can be time consuming. This may be especially challenging for small businesses with limited resources.
How to Buy Press Release Distribution Software
Whether a business is looking to invest in press release distribution software for the first time or seeking to replace an existing service, the following are a few of the most important considerations:
SEO: Search engine optimization involves shaping content to be favored by search engine algorithms. Any company wants their publications to be found easily, but companies in niche markets and new companies looking to gain exposure will especially want to put SEO at the top of their priority list. A good first step would be to work with the company’s marketing team to determine which press releases need a high search engine ranking and for which keywords and then select a product that can effectively improve the SEO of the releases.
Media monitoring: Being able to monitor the media and have accurate tracking and analysis of how the releases are doing on certain sites can help a brand execute more effectively. It’s important to determine which metrics will help measure success, and look for products that can deliver those accurately. Buyers must focus on the products that can track these metrics in an easily digestible way to make sure the entire team can understand them, and set goals to align with them.
Proofreading: Users should make sure that all material is distributed without spelling or grammatical errors every time because there is nothing less professional than spelling and grammar mistakes on promotional material. Some distribution services offer a second round of proofreading through their service to ensure that the release looks as clean and professional as possible. Buyers need to decide whether they want their proofreading done in-house or by a distributor (or both), and then look for services that match their publishing cycle.
Geographic needs: Certain companies will not need to mass distribute their content on a national scale. Some markets are so geographically centralized that only a local or statewide release is necessary. Users must not spend unnecessarily on the national distribution of materials that need a more focused release, and choose a distributor that can deliver a message to the localities that will benefit them most.
Market: Users should have a clear understanding of their demographic before they work on any press release distribution. Not all demographics are surfing the web or using traditional media in the same way. They must have a clearly defined persona and understand where they’re getting their news, then work with a distributor that specializes in these markets and the media avenues that inform them.
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites are beginning to reach more people of all demographics than traditional media outlets. Once a persona is defined, users can find out what social media sites their customers use the most. B2B consumers will have a large presence on LinkedIn, while B2C customers are more likely to be on Facebook. Twitter is a good middle ground for both demographics. If social media is an important part of a media strategy, users need a distributor that can utilize those channels effectively.
What Does Press Release Distribution Software Cost?
The cost of press release distribution services will depend on a few factors, including the number of press releases delivered, the size of the distribution list, and the media channels covered. Some press release distribution companies incorporate fees for additional services including multimedia, higher word counts, or language translation. Discounts are often available if the company chooses to purchase multiple press releases or an annual subscription. While newswire services typically charge per press release, PR outreach tools provide access to their media database and newsroom features with the purchase of a software license.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Positive ROI is achieved when the benefits of press release distribution exceed its costs. Since the goal of press release distribution is increased brand awareness, it can often be challenging to calculate an exact return on investment. Businesses should carefully track the amount of media coverage and traffic that results from a press release to determine if the benefits outweigh the costs and time spent.
