Small Business Start-Up Idea - Press Release Distribution

It can be difficult for a small business to know how to get their press release seen by the right media outlets. This can result in the business wasting valuable money on a press release which nobody ever sees. Therefore, many businesses make use of a press release distributor (otherwise known as a wire service) experienced in handling the media. If you have experience of doing this previously or have many contacts in the media then this business could be right for you.  

Skills needed: You will need to be familiar with the press release procedure and have some kind of background in journalism.  

Business environment and set-up cost:  It is possible that you will have international clients who want to outsource their press release distribution, either because they cannot handle it themselves or because they want to test the market. This business is fairly inexpensive to start if you already own the basic equipment (computer, printer & scanner). The main cost to you will be information you might need to purchase regarding media contacts and media research. This kind of information can be quite costly but it will be a necessary purchase if you do not have a media contact database already. The overall start-up cost will range from £2,500 to £12,500 (3,000 - 15,000 EUR, 5,000-25,000 AUD/USD).  

Marketing Techniques:  

• Make sure your website is easy to find by using search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Participate in the pay-per-click schemes of the popular search engines
• Use viral marketing to get people to let their friends and colleagues know about your website
• Promote your service through your own press release distribution channels
• Use OnlineOffice to set up web-site, blog and online shop to promote your business online

Complimentary business ideas: You could offer a service which tracks the exposure of your press release across the media.  

Notes: The success or failure of this business depends mainly upon the accuracy of your media contact information. You must also be able to target the appropriate contacts for each press release or else you run the risk of annoying them with irrelevant information.  

Online examples & resources:  

• Express Press Release
• PR Web

For previous SME start-up ideas, look through the archive here  

3 Responses to “Small Business Start-Up Idea - Press Release Distribution”

1. Jen
   
   Said on July 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm

   Great information. This is a really good list of ideas.

   Thanks,

   Jennifer Thomas
   Muvar Software

2. Robert Moore
   http://www.business-sale.com
   
   Said on July 25th, 2008 at 10:32 am

   The Pims directory is a media contacts database. It lists all the newsletters, magazines, newspapers and journals along with the contact details and name of the person who would take press releases. Another source of media contacts might be the Brad directory that lists magazines etc that take advertising.

   Hope this helps

3. copywriting agency
   http://www.thewritingagency.com
   
   Said on July 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

   The obvious add on would be writing the press releases too - it can be a great source of extra income if you’re writing a couple of quality press releases every day.

Leave a Reply