Hi, I have 2 questions: 1) For PRWeb, I read somewhere that a top 3 listing on PRWEB is worth alot, some are willing to pay $500 or $1000 for this, my question is why? what is the difference of contributing $80 compared to bidding for a top 3 spot? 2) I am new to this Press Release tool. Is it wise to release a PR commenting on a very hot topic? For example, say I run a DVD site, maybe I could review a movie that was just released on DVD. OR if I had a toy site, I could review the hottest toy, the ELMO doll. OR if I had a baseball site, I could comment on the world series? So instead of writing a PR and "selling" my site; I am commenting on a HOT topic and I stratgically insert my keywords and URL in the right places. Would this strategy of giving "news" instead of just basically using the PR as an AD, be a better way to drive traffic?
1. Anywhere in the top 10 can do pretty well, but it still has to be newsworthy. If 500,000 people look at your press release but it either a) sucks, or b) has no news value, you won't get good coverage no matter how much you paid. The point of paying more to rank higher (assuming you really do have news to share with the media) is predominantly to get more people to look at the release, therefore increasing your chances of a journalist from a major media outlet picking up the story. 2. First of all, writing a review on a product is not newsworthy, and you shouldn't send a press release about it. A press release is a communication tool to be used between a person or company and members of the media. They really couldn't care less that there's yet another review out there by someone most people have never heard of. Don't waste time or money on that. If you want to review something, submit the review to free article directories or something instead to drive traffic to your site through links. Also, "commenting" on something (unless you're issuing some kind of newsworthy report or you're a big name in the industry) also isn't a reason to send a press release. That's what blogs are for. You're right that you shouldn't use releases to try to "sell" your site though. They're not advertising, at least when used properly. But what you're talking about still isn't "news". Another thing to keep in mind - don't focus any press release on a product or company if the trademark isn't your own or unless you have their express permission. Announcing a strategic partnership with another company is one thing. Commenting on their products might get you into trouble, unless it's something truly newsworthy, like an organization issuing a release stating their testing of a toy proves it to be a danger to children, especially if it's a hot toy-buying season - and even that should be an organization that's trusted in that area, with tests being run by qualified experts so they don't get themselves sued for libel or anything. It's unlikely you'll have any good excuse to issue a release along those lines, and "driving traffic to your website" isn't a good enough reason. Use promotional techniques for that... that's what you seem to be looking for; not publicity.