A press release is worth sending when you have real news: a launch, funding, an award, original research, a partnership or a major hire. Distribution services help it reach journalists and news feeds. They are not a shortcut to rankings, and Google’s guidance has long warned against keyword-stuffed links in widely distributed releases.
Distribution services at a glance
| Service | Model | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| PR Newswire | Paid | Established wire with broad media reach |
| Business Wire | Paid | Corporate and financial announcements |
| GlobeNewswire | Paid | Public company and corporate news |
| PRWeb | Paid, tiered | Small and mid-size business announcements |
| EIN Presswire | Paid, tiered | Budget-friendly distribution with industry channels |
| Newswire | Paid, tiered | Distribution plus writing and media pitching options |
| Send2Press | Paid | Small business and startup announcements |
| 24-7 Press Release | Paid, tiered | Low-cost wide distribution |
| IssueWire | Paid, tiered | Budget distribution for announcements |
| PRLog | Free and paid options | Free release hosting with limited editorial value |
| openPR | Free | Free publishing, mostly small-scale reach |
Pricing, features and link policies change often. Check each service’s current terms before you buy.
Writing a release that gets picked up
- Lead with the news. The first paragraph should answer who, what, when and why it matters.
- Include a quote from a real person at your company, plus facts and numbers.
- Keep it factual. Avoid hype words and sales copy.
- Add a contact with a real email and phone number.
- Link once or twice to a page that adds context, using a plain description.
Better than a wire
Often a short, personal pitch to three journalists who cover your topic beats any distribution package. Use a wire to supplement that outreach, not replace it. Read the link building strategy guide for how PR fits into the bigger plan.