Are you still using the traditional press release?

It goes without saying that social media has transformed the way we communicate, why not include your public relations strategy in the transformation.

“Be prepared to alter the way you think about press releases.” David Meerman Scott

The Social Media Release (SMR) enables 2-way conversation and takes advantage of social media, multimedia, and search engine optimization (SEO).

Web 2.0 changed the rules for press releases. Let us consider what PR 2.0 has to offer:

1) Gain broader exposure – Leverage your press release, not only will it reach traditional journalists and publishers, but your company’s story will reach bloggers and your buyers directly.

2) Tell your story – Brian Solis has said, “A Social Media Release should contain everything necessary to share and discover a story in a way that is complementary to your original intent; but, the difference is, how they find it and the tools they use to share and broadcast.”

3) Search Engine Optimized – Optimize your release with keyword rich and relevant content that search engines love. Not only is your social media release search engine friendly, but by creating great content it becomes people friendly and that will encourage sharing and conversation.

4) Browsers to Buyers – Integrated links encouraging visits back to your website is the ultimate success report card. Driving qualified traffic directly to a free trial, downloadable white paper or a landing page sends them directly into your sales process.

Getting Started: Video Overview of the Social Media Press Release

Here are some exceptionally helpful tools to keep you focused and on target:

Whether you use traditional or a social media press release there is no excuse for poorly written, irrelevant and untargeted press releases.

The Definitive Social Media Release Template

PRWeb’s: Quick Guide to Writing Your First Online Press Release

How to Write Compelling Social Media Releases Template

CNW Groups: Benefits of Engaging Traditional Media and Social Media

Top 5 Online News Wire Services

BusinessWire
PRWeb
PRNewswire
Market Wire
CNW Group Canada

5 Free Online Press Release Services

PR.Com
Press Release Point
Newswire Today
Wire Service Canada
National PR Wire

Top 2 Online Tools for Creating Your Own Social Media Press Release

Pitch Engine is not another wire service. It’s a social platform that enables PR to effectively package stories and share them with journalists, bloggers, and influencers worldwide via the social web.

PRX Builder allows anyone to create an online press release. PRX Builder is a simple wizard that walks you through each step. Write your content, insert links, add images and video.

Top 4 PR 2.0 Book Recommendations

If you are an avid reader like I am, or enjoy having the best resources, then consider adding these to your bookshelf – after you read them of course.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott

Putting the Public Back in Public Relations: How Social Media Is Reinventing the Aging Business of PR by Brian Solis

PR 2.0: New Media, New Tools, New Audiences by Deirdre Breakenridge

Guerrilla P.R. 2.0: Wage an Effective Publicity Campaign without Going Broke by Michael Levine

What are your thoughts? Do you have additional links or information I can include in this guide? Please leave a comment or connect with me on Twitter.