No both are different things. [SIZE=-1]A press release is a public relations announcement issued to the news media and other targeted publications for the purpose of letting the public know of new developments in your organisation eg. new features/new services launches etc. On the other hand an article is generally a 500-1500 words document that is usually written about something that your site has to offer, article is related to the theme of your site. e.g. if your site is about jobs you can write an article about employment in your country and also include a link to your website. This helps in link development. [/SIZE]
Good answer SEODelhi. Keep it up. However sites accepting free Press Releases are very difficult to find and exists in very few numbers. But there are many sites accepting free article submission.
To me, not only are they two very different things, but they can be used to target different areas. Press Releases are much more effective at targeting real traffic. If you use them correctly you can get a lot of press from them. A lot of that press however will be static links with little or no SEO benefit. Articles, however, tend to stay in the "online" realm although they generate a lot of links and SEO benefit, don't have the breakaway power to drive visitors that a Press Release may. Each has its own benefits so I target both heavily but you have to make sure you understand the difference before doing Press Releases. Format is crucial to succes when it comes to PR (Press Releases not Page Rank)
I agree with you. But how many site exists accepting free press releases? Untill and unless one go for full fledged press release with specified budget, it will be hardly of any use as submitting in free PR sites will hardly bring any traffic.
Bluegill didn't mention anything about free (although there are some free services). The best and most effective PR Distribution sites are pay-for.
Yes, you definitely get what you pay for IMO yfs1! In my limited experience, PR can generate some good buzz and traffic, but that can seem to be short-lived, which is perfectly acceptable depending on your goals short and long-term. For me, it's also a matter of not what you ask for, but how you ask for it. I can babble all day long about Philosophy, History and other subjects, but when it comes to writing a good PR that is clear, concise and effective - it's wise (for me) to pay the pros. The name saturation, image branding and traffic can be awesome, but again, you get what you pay for ... On the flip-side, I've seen some well written articles done as news stories that seem to have a longer shelf-life when it comes to having staying power with search engines and hence, links. For me, the beauty of this is getting the story picked up by news feeds. A well written, keyword rich article on a frequently searched term in SEs can drive traffic too!