Press Release Tip 79

The major press release distribution services

PRNewswire, BusinessWire and MarketWire are the major players. They offer the most services and the widest distribution. As a result, they usually have the highest fees.

Mickie Kennedy’s eReleases and Dan Janal’s Guaranteed Press Releases [affiliate links] are separate services that distribute through PRNewswire. You can usually pay less using one of these two services than if you go to PRNewswire directly. PRWeb is another popular service.

If you visit their websites hoping to be able to compare prices easily, you’re out of luck. Each has a variety of distribution circuits or levels such as local, city, state, national and international and, as a result, a wide variety of fees. You can expect to spend between $100 and $200 to distribute one press release to one major city in the U.S. and up to several hundred dollars per release for distribution to major markets. Call or email for a price schedule.

When my clients ask me how much a distribution service costs, I tell them they get decent distribution for about $300. 

FitSmallBusiness.com researched more than 15 press release distribution services to land at the top six—including the best overall—based on cost, word count, formatting, reach and customer service. Its survey results, released in July 2019, concluded that eReleases is the best service for companies that need the widest distribution possible at the lowest prices. See “6 Best Press Release Distribution Services 2019.”

Opportunity #79 to write a press release: Services for people with disabilities

If you’re adding services for people with disabilities, write a press release. That might include everything from special ramps they can use to enter your building to any technology-based services to help sight-impaired people who need to use computers.

Next: Questions to ask if they write your release.