PR People: How Exactly Does This Press Release Service Work?

[GC3]

A friend of mine received a link to this offer via email (be sure and scroll down to the part of the page with logos of all the different outlets they have access to):

authorityalchemy (dot) com/597-prs-99/

Since joining BHW a month ago, I've found a number of users who have offered a similar service: pay a nominal fee (often less than $100), and they will post your press release to a myriad of different sites (the majority of which are local CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC affiliates).

I'm new to the world of SEO, so my questions for the more experienced is: how are these people posting press releases and other content to so many legitimate sites so quickly and cheaply?

 

[Soucha]

I believe through paid PR syndication platforms....most aren't free.

 

[GC3]

So is this company taking a loss when they offer 3 press releases for $99? Is it possible they're just using one of these syndication platforms and mark up their service a little for profit?

 

[jumbug]

Sorry if this sounds like I'm jacking your thread but what exactly is a press release?
And how do you gain from them?

 

[GC3]

A press release is a written statement from a company that explains the release of a new product, service, or some other announcement. Websites typically post these verbatim and indicate that its a release directly from the company (as opposed to a reporter or other third party writing about said product/service). It's essentially an advertisement that publications will run, usually for a fee.

What's unusual about this service is that they're charging very little for many, many posts across some fairly legitimate (albeit not heavily read) sites affiliated with the larger news networks. It's a great way to create a large number of solid backlinks

 

[jumbug]

A press release is a written statement from a company that explains the release of a new product, service, or some other announcement. Websites typically post these verbatim and indicate that its a release directly from the company (as opposed to a reporter or other third party writing about said product/service). It's essentially an advertisement that publications will run, usually for a fee.

What's unusual about this service is that they're charging very little for many, many posts across some fairly legitimate (albeit not heavily read) sites affiliated with the larger news networks. It's a great way to create a large number of solid backlinks

So if someone is launching a startup they could get a press release and it'll be published in big news sites?
If that is the case then that's amazing

 

[Soucha]

So is this company taking a loss when they offer 3 press releases for $99? Is it possible they're just using one of these syndication platforms and mark up their service a little for profit?

Well, of course they are profiting from providing the service but usually they pay for access to the syndication services.
There are many free syndication resources available as well if you google for them but the free ones don't usually provide access to the top tier networks.