Online press release distribution has become an integral part of most PR campaigns. Thanks to the internet, you can now get your news spread faster than ever before.
But just because you submit your press releases to a news directory, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be accepted. News websites have standards, and if your press releases don’t meet their guidelines, they will be rejected.
Here are the 8 most common reasons press releases get rejected online.
1. You submitted too many in a day – Press release directories want to make sure you’re not spamming them with a bunch of garbage content. That’s why a lot of directories only allow you to submit a certain number of press releases (usually just one) each day. If you try to exceed that number, your press releases will get rejected.
2. It has no news value – The purpose of a press release is to announce news, not to make a sales pitch. If your press releases don’t contain actual news, they will get rejected. Check out this post on what makes a press release newsworthy.
3. It contains personal opinions – Despite what you see on cable, news is supposed to be fact-based, not opinions. Your press releases need to be written from an unbiased point of view. Focus only on the facts. Don’t include unsubstantiated claims, speculation, or marketing hype.
4. You stuffed too many links – Most press release directories will only allow a certain number of links to be embedded in a single story. If you try to send in a press release with too many links, they won’t take the time to remove the extra links. They’ll simply reject it instead.
5. Duplicate content – Don’t try to resubmit old press releases, and don’t copy someone else’s press release. Your press releases need to be fresh and original. Duplicate content will likely get your press release denied.
6. It doesn’t meet the minimum word count – To help prevent shady PR people from cranking out a bunch of nonsensical press releases, many press release directories have instituted minimum word counts. In general, a press release must be at least 200-300 words to get accepted into most directories.
7. No contact info – You need to list a media contact at the bottom of your press releases. This includes a name and email/phone for the media to contact you if they want to follow up on your press release.
8. You didn’t proofread it – If your press release has typos or other grammatical errors, most quality press release directories will reject it. Always proofread your press releases before sending them out.
No matter which press release outlets you use, your press release will very likely get rejected if you make any of these mistakes. Always take the time to make sure you’re distributing well-written, newsworthy press releases that people will actually want to read.
What are some other reasons you’ve seen press releases get rejected for?
This article is written by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases (https://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. Download a free copy of the PR Checklist – a 24 point list of Press Release Dos and Don’ts here: https://www.ereleases.com/free-offer/pr-checklist/