One of the most popular and important tools of Public Relations has been press releases for over many years. Press releases are used to announce and promote corporate news at the same time. It is an official statement made by companies for any newsworthy event and is made to the members of the news media. The main purpose of writing and publishing press releases is to provide information. Thus, press releases can have various subjects starting from news about upcoming events or the launching of a new product.

It can also be about launching a new joint, partnering with another company, and incidents related to the acquisition and merger. Some companies also use press releases at the time of crisis to communicate with the stakeholders and mitigate panic and chaos. Press releases have the power to significantly improve brand images as well as build credibility in the industry.

However, over time which technological advancements there have been debates about the relevance of press releases. Especially in the age of the internet and digital media, where every moment of our lives is captured, are press releases still relevant?

Let’s look at the 5 reasons why you should include press releases in your marketing strategy:

1) Press release distribution is always a part of a larger campaign

According to several marketing managers, press releases are often the first step in creating more extensive media campaigns. As press releases are all about communication and delivering messages, surrounding the messaging various multi-layer marketing campaigns can be built with the right strategies.

Many marketing strategists use press releases as an extremely useful communication tool via which they announce different stages and segments of the campaign. With effective strategies, companies use press releases as a part of a public relations and marketing tool that is significantly spaced out with proper time divisions.

With the help of press releases, a company or any individual stays relevant in the industry and they also help in keeping the subject of the news along with the organization or the individuals at the top among the media, customers, and other stakeholders.

It is also one of the most important tools that you can use in social media marketing. This is a credible source as it is coming directly from the company or individual which helps create buzz and excitement on the social platforms.

2) Communication with the audience becomes stronger

Press releases are considered to be one the valuable tools to the brand's audience as it comes directly from the brand itself. For this reason, it is also a credible and reliable source of news that projects upcoming events. It further establishes the fact that the future of the press release is brighter than you have ever thought it to be. In a press release, a brand tells its stories in its own word which increases the engagement from media along with other audiences.

Even though press releases are written in professional formats strictly for journalists to make stories from there, they can be modified and be applicable for use as a communication tool for other audiences. These audiences such as shareholders, investors, and customers can also be reached via press releases. Especially in the digital era, the internet and social media platforms, press releases can be used as a very important tool for communicating with other audiences.

3) Its multipurpose usage

Press releases serve multipurpose usage. Companies and individuals see it as a way to gain media coverage. Along with media coverage comes publicity and increased visibility. If the industry has a rabid fan base and excited buyers, press releases can be used to convey launch dates and details of the launch events to generate more excitement.

As press releases are ideal to share the brand's voice, when a journalist or any reputed media house takes on that story, it creates brand awareness and increases its visibility. With increased visibility and awareness, lead generation for sales becomes more evident and easier.

Especially for start-ups, it is more important to create geographical and industrial visibility and press releases are an excellent way to achieve that. As visibility comes with continuous communication flow, press releases work best for generating brand awareness and visibility.

It also works as a brand-building tool as it is coming from a credible source, the brand itself so it is reliable for the readers. The more positive media coverage a brand gets, the more it turns out to be popular and trustworthy in the industry.

4) It gets stakeholders on the same page

Press releases are extremely important for passing on news, especially in a time of crisis. When a company is going through any internal or external crisis, most of the time, the stakeholders do not have much information about it and it creates a state of panic and chaos among them.

Especially the shareholders and the investors of the company get immensely affected by the negative image of the company. At this time, companies use press releases to convey their messages and strengthen their bonds with the stakeholders. As it comes in the form of an official statement, it holds volumes and has the power to dissolve any negative reviews and confusion.

5) Journalism and press releases

Lastly, press releases matter to the media as it is one of the most credible resources and the information is accurate coming from a verified source. So journalists create news stories based on that information as it is still considered as being authentic, which is not the same case for social posts.

Not just companies, many celebrities, and popular individuals also use press releases when they have any important news to deliver. These are directed at the media personalities such as journalists and editors who create news stories and act as the mediator between the individuals or companies and the general public.

Thus, in the future, press releases will always be relevant as the companies will continue to tell their stories in their own words and the media will continue to consider them credible sources of information.

Thank you for sharing.

Agree with Alex. Nice article.

Good

Hey, thanks for sharing this post! It's great to see that press releases are still relevant in today's digital age. I totally agree that press releases can serve as an excellent communication tool, especially for companies looking to enhance their brand image and credibility. I also found some helpful information on The Best Press Release Distribution 2023 on the SMEbulletin webpage, which could be a useful addition to what you posted. Journalists still consider press releases credible information sources, so it's essential to utilize them in any public relations or marketing strategy. Overall, I think it's great that press releases are still relevant and have a bright future ahead!