Are Press Releases Still Relevant in Today’s Age of Social Media?

With so many people focusing on new media and social media, should you even think about PR and press releases?

What is a press release? 

You often think of newswires and dot matrix printers spilling out the content inside a newsroom. Yet, there’s a general perception that PR and press releases are antiquated, that it no longer applies in today’s world of digital media. 

But are these perceptions accurate?

You’d be surprised to know that there is actually an entire industry behind it where people are finding success. It’s actually still relevant in today’s age of social media.

In short, press releases still work!

If done right, it might actually be the most effective strategy for your business. And as a B2B Digital Marketer, you have to consider how to do press releases correctly and the opportunities you can gain from them.

In this episode, Mickie Kennedy shares more about how you can do just that and why PR and press releases are still relevant in today’s age of social media.

Mickie Kennedy believes that with some effort and a little money, the possibilities are endless. He is an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. Mickie founded eReleases 22+ years ago after realizing that small businesses desperately need a press release service they can actually afford, giving them access to the media and to a national newswire – all with a personal touch. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry from George Mason University. His press releases have resulted in articles being published in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg, and many more prestigious new outlets. 

Mickie lives in Baltimore County with his family and two feuding cats. He enjoys British science fiction and acknowledges an unhealthy addiction to diet soda. He still writes poetry most Monday nights (virtually) with a group of fellow misfits in Brunswick, Maryland.

Podcast Timestamps/Outline

01:03 – Introduction

01:54 – About Mickie Kennedy, PR, and press releases

03:15 – Why do press releases have a perception of being antiquated?

09:14 – Case study: auto repair shop

12:12 – Data in press releases

14:17 – Consistency in press releases

16:44 – How to put together a compelling quote

19:18 – What works and what to avoid

25:35 – How to get leads from a press release

29:51 – Where do press releases fit in your marketing mix?

36:43 – Budget reallocation

40:59 – Connect with Mickie Kennedy

Memorable Quotes

“No matter how good you are with Google ads or Facebook ads, take something that would cost $200-$400 and turn it into 16 million dollars, it’s very difficult if not impossible to do. But with PR and press releases, it could really go far.”

“People seem to return to the press release when the market crashes, and there’s a good reason for that. It is the leverage effect that happens, it is the fact that with some thought and creativity, you can leapfrog your investment and you don’t need much of an investment.”

“At the end of the day, people love stories. People love things that they can identify with.”

“There are so many opportunities for you to create your own news; get it out there.”

Episode Links and Resources

Mickie’s website: https://www.ereleases.com/ 

Mickie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/publicity/ 

Digital activity ROI assessment: https://b2bdm.com/digital-activity-roi/

More episodes related to publishing: https://b2bdm.com/writing-book-to-establish-authority/