Press Releases Versus Articles

In the content queue, I'm still seeing a LOT of press releases being assigned to the queue. 

Press releases should technically be just that, interesting bits of news to attract attention.  Writing a press release just for the heck of it or really trying to stretch to make up some news isn't exactly the point.  I realize that you're trying to use it as an SEO tool to get links into the site (because we've said in the past that it helps), but it's not a press release if it isn't news worthy. 

Instead, we should focus on writing articles.  It serves the same purpose and is actually better.  I've been looking/experimenting with sources to submit articles to, and have found some good ones to use (HG.org for example takes 2 seconds to submit to if someone already has a listing).  These places generally have higher PageRank, will provide a higher quality link (since the link from the article is more relevant) & many allow anchor text (anchor text is having words in the link like Los Angeles DUI lawyer versus a standard link like http://www.wedodui.com). Another good thing is that our writers can write one really good article & quick business/law firm summary that can then be distributed to several different article places.  1 article can give us 30 links let's say (once I compile the full list of quality article places) versus 1 press release that provides 1 or 2 links on PRLog.org…  (We do NOT want the same articles that go in these other directories to go in our ScorpD directories though.)               

This is NOT to say never do a press release because there are times when it SHOULD be done…  Examples of each:

Press Release

  • Law firm settles really a big case (or as a criminal defense lawyer has a newsworthy jury trial verdict)
  • Attorney gets a new award or accolade (elected to SuperLawyers, AV Rated, etc.)
  • Law firm expands into a new practice area
  • New attorney starts working for the firm
  • Law firm moves to a new building, or expands the actual office
  • Attorney writes a book or has an article featured in a magazine
  • At website launch, or the addition of a new feature like video
  • Anything newsworthy

Article

  • I want to help this guy out with his SEO.  I'm not quite sure what else to do & want to get links and Bunnz said I don't need more content on the site & to stop doing useless press releases. =)
  • Essentially any time other than the above examples