How Do I Choose Where to Send My Press Release?
Q: With all the newspapers, magazines and other places both online and off, how do I choose where to start sending my press releases?
A: You need to build a media list and this will likely take some time. Start local and small. Local and/or small media are most likely to be interested in your story and it’s the perfect way to hone your release writing skills. Besides, a lot of the larger media outlets scan the little guys to find stories to pick up.
Try newspapers, trade journals, topic specific magazines, websites, radio shows, television show ~ whomever would be interested in your topic. Don’t send your release to just anyone, or you could be accused of spamming; instead send to only those media outlets (and reporters) that handle your topic.
How to Build Your Distribution List:
1. For your local media, check the publication or their website for information on how to submit a release.
2. Do a search on your favorite search engine for websites in your industry that might just be interested in running your story.
3. Here’s a few websites to help you build your list:
- Media Post- extensive directory for US media
- NewsLink.org – directory for a number of countries
- ABYZ News Links -directory for a number of countries
4. Submit your site to a few online newswires and news websites. There are number that require payment, but these may be outside your budget. Here are some free ones:
- Click2NewSites.com- submit your press release for free
- Free-Press-Release.com- free press release distribution center
Not Free, but Worth Checking Out
- PrWeb.com: PR Web started out as a free service, but has moved to paid models to their growing reach and popularity. They’re definitely worth checking out.
But remember, nothing beats building your own highly-targeted media list.
For more in depth help with press releases, grab a copy of my Press Release Profits course. It teaches you how to create a press release campaign with little to no cost that meets your marketing objective.




