By Gina Cuclis

As I said in a recent presentation to individuals from nonprofits, press releases are no longer just for the press. I encourage organizations to have online newsrooms and post press releases on their websites. But if your small business or nonprofit isn't prepared to do that, you can still take advantage of online opportunities by posting press releases on free press release distribution sites. You can then promote your press release using Facebook, Twitter or your e-mail list.

Example from a Sonoma City Councilwoman

Sonoma City Councilwoman Laurie Gallian donated the first six months of her council pay to provide a scholarship for a 2010 Sonoma Valley High School graduate to attend Santa Rosa Junior College this fall. I wrote a press release and took a photo of Laurie and the scholarship winner. I sent them to Sonoma Valley's two community newspapers. The weekly Sonoma Sun ran the press release with the photo in its July 29, 2010 print edition. The press release is also on the Sun's website. The twice-weekly Sonoma Index-Tribune included information from the press release in a July 30, 2010 article about the cost of city government, which mentioned council pay.

After the press release was picked up by the community newspapers, I got further mileage by posting the press release with the photo to EarthPublisher.com.

Laurie doesn't have a website, but she does have a Facebook profile. So I posted links to the EarthPublisher.com press release on the walls of her and my Facebook profiles.




I also tweeted a link to the EarthPublisher.com press release.




There are several other free press release distribution sites from which you could do this. I like EarthPublisher.com, because it allows you to include a photo.

Comments or helpful insights about this PR tip or others on this blog are always welcome.