Press Loft

[John Hesketh]

I currently use pressloft.com to send press release out to pr and press contacts. Does anyone know of any other company online that provides a similar service as theres is a good service but a little pricey?

Thanks

John

[eventdomain]

Journalists do NOT visit these databases for stories. You need to hire a proper Public relations agency.

[John Hesketh]

I know that they use them especially for prize requests, and image requests, but not sure on the numbers

[eventdomain]

The numbers are very low eg: 800 pageviews - but thats mainly for businesses that have already legitimately made it into the real press via agency campaigns. The real power comes from article mentions in newspapers, and not from online press databases.

[publicityheaven]

www.responsesource.com is very good for distributing press releases to real journalists

Press Loft has its place, especially for images etc

Remember the key thing: A press release is just a communication tool. If you don't have a good story to tell, it doesn't matter how good your distribution method is

[fourblankwalls]

It depends on whether you actually want to release a press release or use the PR websites to increase your google back links. We use several PR companies to increase our page ranking but in general i think you have to hire a proper PR company to get you into magazines etc.

[publicityheaven]

in general i think you have to hire a proper PR company to get you into magazines etc.

That does help, but you can also do a great job of doing your own PR. All is revealed in my book, posted to you free (see signature) (sorry for the blatant plug)

[n_snell]

Hi guys,

As the owner of Press Loft Im naturally biased! But I'd just like to add a few points into the discussion.

We generate 100-200 pieces of Press Coverage each day for the companies featuring on the site through journalists coming to our site to download, and feature clients' images e.g Sunday Times Style, Express, Livingetc, etc etc - of course with a good PR agency a company is going to get even more coverage than just using Press Loft alone. (I also run a PR agency so I can vouch for this)

But for those companies who cannot the services of afford a good PR agency - Press Loft is a great option at £125 and £200 a month.

In addition PR agencies use us to boost their clients PR coverage and online Press Offices are now another part of the PR Toolkit & Marketing Mix.

I hope this post shows shows that its not a case of Online Press Offices vs PR Agencies - if you can have both - brilliant, but if you can only afford one then Press Loft is a very affordable, successful and easy to use PR Tool.

Warm Wishes
Nicola

[eventdomain]

through journalists coming to our site to download, and feature clients' images


Images in a press release - must be a new thing?

PR Tools are nothing compared to getting into trade mags, local & national papers. They cannot be compared when media done properly can get in front of millions of readers.

I've used both, and can say 100% that using an agency gets the superior result every time, and even Response source & its sister site Source
Wire delivers nothing, sadly bcos we have done both and that's our proof.

It's crazy to think that PR database sites can beat the power of the real media at any capacity - even local, bcos it can't. Although, their might be some small advantage for a site's backlinks or possibly for sites already heavily in the media - apart from those two, I doubt the advantages of being listed and as a company we don't bother with PR databases ourselves.

I do think these PR databases are heavily used by companies to extract contact data, possibly to spam, sell it on or for cold calling purposes, since these businesses are seen as brand new start ups and ripe for a sales call.

[n_snell]

Hi eventdomain,

ref your point on 'images on press releases'

It really depends what sector you are in but images in a press release are absolutely vital for 'product based' companies and press releases - which is what Press Loft is perfect for. If you don't have accompanying high res image, it is advisable not to send a product press release as it will frustrate the journalists who will generally only feature products when the high res images are already provided by the company.

This has been accelerated by the fact that many publications no longer have the budget to shoot products in-house so having your own high res images available for the journalists is becoming even more important.

However, if you are in a service-based company, images arent so crucial (Press Loft only generates coverage product-based companies so i imagine wouldnt work for you if you are services based)

I dont know about the other PR Tools - but Press Loft certainly doesnt sell on its data.

Hope this helps
Nicola

[eventdomain]

It really depends what sector you are in but images in a press release are absolutely vital for 'product based' companies and press releases - which is what Press Loft is perfect for. If you don't have accompanying high res image, it is advisable not to send a product press release as it will frustrate the journalists


PR agencies, to my knowledge DON'T send images along with releases as standard or for startup campaigns. IF images are required, it will be requested by the newspaper personally, in the form of a 'Press Pack' - and that's only when the company has been written about a lot.

However, if you are in a service-based company, images arent so crucial

We have evidence that proves otherwise :D Some national papers print an image as standard for service businesses eg: The Times, Daily Mirror etc. I'd say that the public would like to know exactly who is behind a company and who they are dealing with. How many times have you visited a website and found zero credibility, I bet its often, so don't see the harm in that at all.

[n_snell]

In my PR Agency - being consumer product specialists we always send a low res image with the release and ensure we have an accompanying high res on file & on Press Loft - we would never send out a release a) without embedding a low res shot b) without a high res available.

But thats just us - i cant vouch for others.

It sounds like you know your stuff on the services side of PR. However, I do know that Press Loft works at generating publicity for products and that images are very important in the success of a PR campaign for a consumer product based company - whether its done in house, via an agency or via a Press Office.

[moo]

I agree with n_snell, we always send low-res images out with releases, so the journalist can see what we are talking about. Images can determine whether the product is featured or not!

To give you all my thoughts on press loft. I have taken advantage of the free trial and found many journalists downloaded images. These were mainly from local or regional titles.

I get more results through direct contact with journalists. However, for businesses that cannot afford an agency Press Loft to a great tool.

Louise