How to Submit a Press Release Online For Maximum SEO Effectiveness

An effective SEO press release can generate increased online visibility and introduce your products and services in front of a new audience, but they need to be distributed wisely. Otherwise, the news item will likely go unnoticed by important search engines and missed by potential customers. The main method of distribution is through online PR distribution sites. Not all sites have the same value, so you will need to choose wisely in order to get the best results.

Free Vs Paid Press Release Submission Sites

The benefit of free press release submission sites is that they are free! However, everything free comes with a 'price.' News stories published on free press release submission sites are generally supported through ads displayed along the sides of the piece. Free press releases don't usually offer all of the aesthetic and search engine-friendly benefits of a those that have even a nominal fee. Some allow images and a limited number of anchor text or URLs. Others restrict an SEO press release to nothing more than just the basic text with no clickable items.

Paid press release distribution sites generally provide a variety of different options and perks such as pull quotes (large quotes that are pulled out of the text for added interest), images, and anchor text. They may also offer inclusion in search engine news feeds and various RSS feeds on the web. In some cases, you are required to pay a large monthly or yearly fee to join, but in many cases you can pay per press release submission.

What Features To Look For When Choosing A Press Release Submission Site

When selecting a press release submission site to enhance your internet marketing campaign, you'll want to be on the lookout for those that offer the right combination of features:

Look for a press release distribution site that makes the title of the press release into the title tag for the item. This greatly improves its ranking in the various search engines and increases its visibility when you use your keywords in your press release titles.

While not a must, social bookmarking buttons are a definite benefit. Social media sites like Stumble Upon, Del.icio.us, Technorati, Furl, Digg, and others expose your item to millions more readers to increase the excitement around your news.

One of the most important features to look for in a press release distribution site is the availability of anchor text links. Building anchor text backlinks is an essential part of any search engine marketing campaign. Avoid sites that use text link advertising. These direct readers away from your news and generally clutter up your SEO press release.

Since press releases are ultimately written for the reader, look for sites that keep the reader in mind. The news items should be easy to read and use a standard format. This allows the reader to find the information he or she is interested in and directs their attention to the important things. Pull quotes, for example, instantly catch the reader's eye and make the press release more visually appealing and work to pull the reader into your message.

A professional look makes it possible for you to send the link to potential customers. You can also include the link in newsletters and emails to current clients to keep them updated on the latest happenings within your company.