Take advantage of the opportunity with this list of free press release websites and distribution services 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?
Before you begin to use the list of free press release websites, think twice before using a website labeled 'free press release'. The message you send may be quite the opposite of what you intend.
The list below has shrunk a bit over the years as many have gone out of business or been acquired by another. Here is a list of free press release websites in alphabetical order.
- Free 1888 PressRelease.com
- Starts Free 24-7 PressRelease.com
- Free Betanews
- $$$ Business Wire
- Free GGIdir.com
- $$ ClickPress
- $$ Contactanycelebrity.com
- Free EboomWebSolutions
- $$$ Ereleases.com
- $$ Express-Press-Release
- Free Free PR News (UK)
- $$ HelpaReporterOut.com (HARO)
- $$ iCrowdNewswire
- $$ i-newswire.com
- $ IssueWire
- $$ Loop PR
- $$$ Marketwire
- Free Market Press Release
- Free Nanotechnology Now
- Free Newswire Today
- $$ Online PR Media
- Free OnlyWire
- Free OpenPR
- $$ PR
- Free PR9
- Free PR-Inside
- $$ PRBuzz
- Free PressBox.co.uk
- Free PressExposure
- $$ PRFire
- Free PRMac
- Free Press Releases Online (UK)
- $$ Press Release Spider
- $$ PR Leap
- Free PR Log
- $$$ PR Newswire
- Free PR Urgent
- Free PR Zoom
- Free Radio - TV Interview Report (RTIR)
- $ The Open Press
- Free ThomasNet News
- Free ToStories
- Free UGA Media (Europe)
- Free UKPRWire
- $$ Webwire
"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.
Press Release Format, Instructions & Easy To Use Template - This resource will be very helpful as it walks through the requirements step by step.
BusinessWire Press Release Webinars and downloads
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.
Press Release Writing - Press release reference
Newslink - Database newspapers, press release reference
Send2Press - Press release reference & Hire
Hire a press release writer - Press release writing reference & Hire
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 5-9-2023
