How to Get a Free Press Release to Show Up in Google News, With Active Links

Use a free press release to tell the world!...or at least, Google News.

A press release can be a great promotion tool. Your announcement quickly reaches the desk (well, email inboxes) of thousands of news reporter, appears on the internet, and shows up in regular Google searches as well as Google News search results.

But publishing a press release can be a long, drawn-out, angst-ridden, and expensive affair.

Or...it can be easy, fast, and best of all, free. The key is knowing where to go. Here's how to publish a free press release that allow active links (working URLs), and have it show up in Google News.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. You can get a free press release with hyperlinks to appear in Google News.

   **Know the Ropes**

   There are several services available for publishing free press releases. However, only a few of these actually show up in Google News (which is where you want to be...No?). And fewer still allow you to use html, or publish active hyperlinks -- working URLs -- for free (most of the free services charge extra for hyperlinks, as much as $50 per URL).

2. Create a free press release at Media Syndicate.

   **Check Out Media Syndicate Press Releases**

   Actually, I've only found one free press release service that does all the following:

   1. Allows for easy, straightforward entry of your press release text

   2. Publishes most of the press releases that it receives, unless they are out-and-out spam (many PR sites have a high rejection rate for submitted press releases, especially from non-paying clients).

   3. Is routinely indexed by Google News

   4. Permits use of html in the press release

   5. Has active hyperlinks in the published release, to allow for working URLs in the final press release.

   The service is mediasyndicate.com (see Resources, below, for a direct link).

3. **Register Your Free Account**

   Register at mediasyndicate.com for a free account and you can begin submitting press releases right away.

Tips & Warnings

• You can submit releases for your eHow articles (see Resources, directly below, for an example)

• Be patient. It takes several days before a submission actually shows up in Google News searches.

• Although the press releases are free, you will be asked at the site for a contribution (minimum of $1), or to purchase additional services. It's your call. I believe that payment gives your release a higher priority, faster publication, and more visibility. But even totally free press releases will get published eventually. I always give them a contribution myself.

Resources

• Free Press Release Service
• PR for an eHow article