While an effective form of marketing, the press release has not been as effective since the advent of search engine optimization (SEO). That doesn’t mean you can’t get your news out there; it just means you need to be strategic with how you do it. There are many ways to optimize your press releases for SEO, and that’s what this article will help you with! Here are eight tips to help optimize your press releases to get more people reading your reports online.
Step 1: Research the words your target audience uses
If you want your press release to reach your target audience, you need to use the same language they do. Start by researching the words and phrases they use when discussing your product or service. You can use tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Google Trends to get started. Once you know what keywords to focus on, start using them in your headlines and other content elements.
Step 2: Use Keywords in Headlines
Your headlines should be attention-grabbing and include the keywords you want to rank for. For example, if you’re a Vancouver-based business, some good keywords to use in your headlines could be Vancouver on-page optimization or local SEO British Columbia. If you’re looking for guaranteed SEO services, contact us today!
Step 3: Tailor your Keywords to Specific Media Outlets
If you want your press release to be picked up by local media outlets, include keywords specific to Vancouver and British Columbia.
For example, try having phrases like Vancouver on-page optimization or local SEO British Columbia. You can also hire an SEO specialist Vancouver to help you with this step.
These professionals know how to optimize press releases to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Some of the top-tier firms offer guaranteed SEO services as well.
These professionals know how to optimize press releases to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Some of the top-tier firms offer guaranteed SEO services as well.
Step 4: Add an Image
Including an image with your press release can help boost your SEO. Here are a few tips:
- Make sure the image is relevant to the topic of your press release.
- Include keywords in the file name of your image.
- Use alt text to describe your idea and include keywords here as well.
- Don’t forget to include a caption for your photo – this is another opportunity to use keywords.
- When you’re linking to your vision, use keyword-rich anchor text.
- Make sure the website you’re hosting your photo is fast and optimized for SEO.
- Last but not least, share your pictures on social media!
Step 5: Create Subheadings with Keywords
When creating your press release, include subheadings with keywords important to your business. This will help optimize when people search for those terms. As a BC SEO specialist, I recommend the following tips:
- Do your research – find out what keywords are most relevant to your business and industry, and use them throughout your press release.
- Keep it keyword-rich – in addition to using keywords in your subheadings, make sure they’re also sprinkled throughout the body of your press release. However, please don’t overdo it, or you risk being penalized by Google.
Step 6: Add Links within your article body
It needs to be well-optimized if your press release has a chance of ranking in search results. Here are 8 tips to help you optimize your press releases for better SEO:
- Do your keyword research. Find out which keywords and phrases potential customers use to search for businesses like yours. Then, use those keywords throughout your press release – in the title, body, and keywords section.
- Make sure your press release is newsworthy. No one will want to read or share it if it’s not exciting or timely.
- Write a catchy headline that includes your target keywords.
- Use subheadings to break up your text and make it easier to read.
Step 7: Get High-Quality Backlinks from Stakeholders in your Industry
One way to make your press release more visible is to get high-quality backlinks from stakeholders in your industry. This will help improve your search engine optimization (SEO). Here are eight tips to get started:
- Find out who the influencers and stakeholders are in your industry. You can search for key terms on social media, Google, and other search engines.
- Reach out to these individuals and ask if they would be willing to link to your press release. Many will be happy to do so if it is relevant to their audience.
- Make sure your press release is high quality and informative. These types of releases are more likely to be linked to than those that are poorly written or lack information.
Step 8. Include Mentions of Your Company’s Target Keywords on Any Other Relevant Pages on your Website
Your website’s home page, product pages, category pages, and even blog posts are all potential places to mention your target keywords.
Just use them sparingly and only when they fit naturally into the content. A good rule of thumb is to include 1-2 mentions of your target keywords per 100 words of text.
Any more than that, and you run the risk of coming across as spammy. When targeting multiple terms at once, try grouping them by using brackets or dashes to emphasize their connection.
It may also help if you create a list or table with each keyword appearing in alphabetical order and its corresponding synonyms below it for easy reference later. For example
