To distribute a press release, prepare it as news, then use three channels: a distribution service that posts it on news sites, a short pitch to reporters who cover your field, and a dated page on your own site. Send it on a working day morning. The price depends on reach, word count, targeting, media and writing.
- Prepare the headline, dateline, first paragraph, a quote, the boilerplate and a media contact before you choose a channel.
- There are three channels: a distribution service, pitching journalists directly, and your own newsroom page. They work best together.
- Send on a working day morning in your readers’ time zone, and publish on your own site at the same moment.
- Price depends on reach, word count, targeting, media and whether the writing is included.
- A distributed release is labeled as a press release. It is not coverage, and nobody can promise a journalist will write about you.
What to prepare before you distribute
A release gets read when it is news and when it is easy to check. Have these ready before you choose a channel.
| Item | What it should hold |
|---|---|
| Headline | The news in one line, with your company name |
| Dateline | City and release date, at the start of the first paragraph |
| First paragraph | Who, what, when, where and why, in two or three sentences |
| Quote | One or two lines from a named person at your company |
| Boilerplate | A short About paragraph that says what the company does |
| Media contact | A name, an email address and a phone number |
| Image | A logo or photo you own the rights to |
| Link | One page on your site with the full details |
The press release generator lays a draft out in newswire format, and the press release headline checker tests the headline before you send it. For the About paragraph, the company boilerplate generator writes a short, a medium and a long version.
Three ways to distribute a press release
| Channel | How it works | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distribution service | A newswire posts the release on its network of news sites, labeled as a press release | A dated public record on many sites, fast | Posting is not coverage, and most links are nofollow |
| Pitching journalists | You email the release to reporters who cover your field | A story written by a journalist | Takes time, and nobody can promise a story |
| Your newsroom page | A dated page on your own site that lists every release | The original copy that people and AI assistants can find | Reaches only the people who visit |
The three work together. Post the release on your newsroom page, send it through a service, and pitch the few reporters who would care.
How to pitch journalists directly
- Find reporters who wrote about news like yours in recent months. Their past articles show what they cover.
- Write to each one by name. Put the news in the subject line.
- Keep the email to three or four sentences: the news, why it matters to their readers, and what you can offer, such as data, a demo or an interview.
- Paste the release below your message instead of attaching it.
- If you share the news early under an embargo, state the date and time, and keep to it.
- Follow up once, a few days later. Then let it go.
A pitch can go unanswered. No service can promise that a journalist will write about you.
When to send a press release
| Choice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day | A working day, away from public holidays and big news in your field |
| Time | Morning in your readers’ time zone, so the release is fresh when they start work |
| Planned news | Give journalists the release under embargo a few days early, then send it on the wire at the set time |
| Your site | Publish on your newsroom page at the same moment the wire sends |
| Timely news | Send it while it is still news: a launch on launch day, results on the day you announce them |
If the date matters, ask the service how far ahead it needs the approved text.
How to check where your release was published
- Ask the service for its report. A good report links every page that ran the release.
- Search the exact headline in quotes on Google and Google News, then again a week later.
- Set a Google Alert for the headline and for your company name.
- Check your analytics for visits from news sites in the days after.
- A few weeks later, ask ChatGPT or Perplexity a question your news answers, and see whether they mention it.
Save the list of links early. Pages that ran a release can come down over time, and the list is the proof you show customers and partners.
Rather have the release written and sent for you? See press release distribution
Press release distribution cost
Five things set the price of a distribution service:
| What drives the price | Why it costs more |
|---|---|
| Reach | A national newswire network costs more than a post on one site |
| Length | Plans set a word limit, and some charge for extra words |
| Targeting | Industry, state or country lists can be extra |
| Media | Images and video can be add-ons |
| Writing | Some prices include the writing, others charge for it |
Published prices per release, from each service's pricing page, checked on 22 October 2026:
| Service | Plans | Price per release | What changes between plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRLog | Free to Premium2 | $0 to $99 | Free carries ads; Premium adds syndication to 200+ sites, Premium2 to 500+ |
| 24-7 Press Release | Simple Post to Mass Media Visibility | $29 to $479 | From its own site only, up to PR Newswire national distribution |
| eReleases | Buzz Builder to PR Pro | $399 to $699 | 400 to 600 words and one to three industry lists, all sent through PR Newswire |
| Newswire.com | Starter to Feature | $399 to $965 | Digital Journal on Starter, AP News from Basic, Yahoo and Nexstar on Feature |
| PR Newswire | Not published | Quote on request | Distribution scope, geographic reach and added services |
eReleases charges $150 for each extra 100 words and $300 to write the release. Newswire.com says its prices cover unlimited words and images.
AIGROW's press release distribution service has three fixed prices, paid once, with the writing included:
| Package | Price | What it adds | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $99 | 500+ news publishers, 100+ TV and radio network sites | Launches, openings, awards, new hires and local news. |
| Authority | $349 | AP News, USA Today, Barchart, StreetInsider | News that should sit on national news sites. |
| Finance | $690 | Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider Markets, The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, National Post, 300+ North American finance and news sites | Funding rounds, results and news aimed at investors. |
Each release is written from your brief and sent only after you approve the draft. If it is not published, you get a full refund.
Sending releases for clients
An agency that sends releases for clients can also show each client whether AI assistants name them once the news is out. AIGROW's agency programme sells AI visibility monitoring per client seat, with a white-label monthly report under your logo, and done-for-you services at wholesale prices.
Sources
Official pricing pages checked on 22 October 2026:
- PRLog pricing
- 24-7 Press Release pricing
- eReleases pricing
- Newswire.com pricing
- PR Newswire distribution
Prices change. Check the service's page before you buy.
Put your news on 500+ news publishers
Written from your brief, sent after you approve it, refunded if it is not published.
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