Marketing

Purchasing a domain name is a must if you want a website or business email, and it’s affordable, at only around $10–$15 per year. However, there are ways to get a domain name for free. For example, a free domain is often included with other products small businesses need, like web hosting, all-in-one website builders, and email hosting. We’ll show you four options for how to get a free domain name for your business and help you decide which is best for you. 4 Ways to Get Domain Names for Free How to Set Up a Free Domain Name (With Any Option) A free web domain comes bundled with many web hosting plans, site builder plans, email hosting plans, or through a free domain registrar. Here are some of the available options and the pros and cons of each to help identify the perfect way to get a free domain name for your small business website. Click the tabs below to find out what you need to know about free domain registration: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What’s the best way to get a free domain name? The best way to get domain names for free is through other services your business needs, such as web hosting. For example, and both include a domain for the first year in the all-in-one website builder and hosting plans, and includes a free domain and unlimited free email addresses with purchase of its $2.95 per month Unlimited hosting plan. Simply select a hosting plan, follow the prompts to search for a domain, select an available domain, and buy web hosting. Learn more about the process with our step-by-step instructions for business domain name registration. How do I get a free email using my domain name? Many hosting plans offer free domain name registration and at least one free email account with a matching email address (e.g., name@yourdomain.com). offers the best value, with unlimited free business email addresses within its ultra-low-cost plan for just $2.95 per month in the first year. It also comes with many other money-saving extras such as unlimited website hosting, a free domain name, and free SSL certifications. How can I get a free website? There are many ways to get a free website, but the best way is to go with a reputable website builder that offers a free plan to start with such as , , or . Technically, WordPress.org is free to use, but you’ll still need to buy hosting, a domain, an SSL certificate, and pay for any plugins or premium themes, whereas free website builder plans are 100% free. Bottom Line If you’re looking for ways how to get a domain for free, your best bet is to get a legit and professional domain bundled with other services you need. Get your free domain through a WordPress web hosting plan for as little as $2.95 per month from , a free domain with a website builder like , or dedicated email hosting through from $1 per month. You Might Also Like… For help finding an available domain, get the expert tips on choosing a domain name. Now that you know how to get a free domain name, choose which CMS to build your site on. Interested in Gmail? Set up your Gmail business account for a professional solution.

An Associated Press, or AP Style press release is formatted according to AP guidelines. The first step in the process of how to write an AP style press release is to familiarize yourself with the guidelines. Next, identify a newsworthy angle and set up your press release’s header section. Then craft an attention-grabbing headline, write the body of your press release, add the boilerplate section, and distribute your press release. 1. Familiarize Yourself With AP Style Guidelines Established in 1846, The Associated Press (AP) is one of the largest, most trusted news agencies worldwide. It publishes a every year that governs how they want journalists to format content so that everything is uniform, no matter who is writing the story. The style guide covers everything about how to write an AP style press release from formatting conventions to punctuation rules. Here are some key AP formatting guidelines for press releases: Spacing: Use one space after a period (not two). Serial comma: Do not use a comma before the last item in a series. Perspective: Write your announcement from a third-person perspective (e.g., he/she/it/they) never first person (I/we) or second (you). Numbers: Spell out numbers between one and nine, then use numerals thereafter (e.g., eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, and so on). Dates: Use numbers for dates and abbreviate months with more than five letters. Headings and subheadings: Both headlines and subheadlines should have title case capitalization. Fonts: Use a common font, like Times New Roman or Arial. Font size: Use the following font sizes for various sections in your release—headline: 14 pt., subheadline: 13 pt. italics, body: 12 pt.) One way to ensure that your press release follows the correct formatting is to use . Not only can they distribute your press release to thousands of journalists and outlets, but they also offer affordable press release writing services by media-seasoned professionals. You can also learn how to write an AP style press release by using our template. It follows the proper press release format structure to ensure that media outlets, journalists, and search engines can find important information quickly. Download the template below, and use it as you write your announcement. 2. Find the Right Angle Before writing a press release, identify the best angle for your story based on the audience you want to engage and the journalists you want to cover your news. Keep in mind when approaching the media that the audience is not just journalists, but their readers, listeners, and social media and email followers as well. Finding an angle that will produce positive media coverage for your story can be challenging. To help, consider the following: Interests: What personal and professional interests does your ideal audience have? What are their hobbies? What do they read or watch? Values: What is most important to your target audience? Do they tend to support local businesses or specific causes? What corporate or social values do they look for in brands they do business with? Trust: Who do your potential customers trust? What businesses do they find credible? Habits: Do they have specific habits, like doing their financial planning once a year, vacationing in the same location every summer, or shopping for groceries every Friday? Location: Where are they located (e.g., in a certain city, state, region, country, or worldwide)? Jobs or industries: Are you looking to reach an industry-specific audience? Does your intended reader tend to work in specific types of roles or businesses? Lifestyle: What types of education, income, residences, and other lifestyle demographics are common to your audience? Once you’ve found an angle for your story and media pitch, it’s time to start writing your press release. As you do, incorporate details into your press release’s headlines and text that reflect the angle by explaining why your news matters to your intended audience. First time writing a press release? Read our article detailing what a press release is and how to use them. 3. Add Your AP Style Press Release Header At the very top center of the press release, you can add your business logo. Next, on the left-hand side, put your contact information. Include the following information in this order, with each on a new line: Contact name: Full name of the primary contact if the media has any questions. Phone number: A phone number with an area code that makes it easy to reach the primary contact. Email Address: The email address of the primary contact or a media-specific email address for the business. Website: The website URL of your company’s homepage or a landing page specific to your announcement. On the right-hand side, add your release instructions. These include the time and date when you want your announcement to be published. It should be in all caps. If your press release is ready to be distributed immediately, include the words “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” at the top of your press release. If you want the media to hold on to your press release for a certain time period, it is called an “embargoed” release. In that case, write “EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL [DATE AND TIME].” 4. Craft a Compelling Headline To write an AP Style press release, the headline should be at the top-center of your press release in title case just below the header section we created in the last step. It should be between 65 and 80 characters and in 14-point font size. Since the headline is usually the most eye-catching part of your press release, it should intrigue people to reading your press release. Here are three effective approaches for writing a headline: Tie your headline to a trending topic or current event: Aka “newsjacking,” this is the process of taking a story already in the news and anchoring your press release to it. For example, a recent natural disaster might be a good prompt for a press release about your nonprofit's mission to raise money for environmental efforts. Elicit emotion or encourage action: Use present tense in your writing to describe what your organization is currently doing. Ideally, you want to write a headline that is bold, exciting, and encourages some type of action (e.g., A Kindergartener Raised $54k for Disaster Relief and You Can Too) Include keywords: Keywords are words people use to find information through search engines. Use keywords in the headline and body of your press release to ensure that your release gets the most online visibility. For best results, place your keywords in the first one to three words of your headline or in the first 65 characters. You can also add a subheadline just below the main headline to provide additional insights or details. Subheadings are usually about 80-120 characters in length and appear directly below your headline. They should be formatted in 13-point Times Roman font and in title case to comply with AP Style formatting. Ideally, they should also be italicized to draw your reader's attention. The subheadline gives you another opportunity to grab the attention of journalists with your story’s angle and incorporate search-friendly keywords. 5. Write a Strong Lead Paragraph The first paragraph of your press release (sometimes called the “lead”) should be under 60 words and starts with the release date and location. The lead paragraph should be a concise summary of the most important information in your story, including the date and location. Add the Location and Date The first paragraph should begin with the date you want the release to go live and the city in which the press release originated. Many media outlets consider these details when deciding whether to pick up your press release. For example, you’ll often see notations like this that begin the first paragraph of a release: Santa Monica, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2018) — Put these elements in 12 pt bold font and use the proper format for state abbreviations, noting that eight states (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah) are never abbreviated. Below is a list of state abbreviations for AP style press releases, plus for Washington, D.C. (the District of Columbia): The AP guide also defines rules for abbreviating the names of months as follows: Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Answer the “Who, What, When, Where, and Why” in Concise Language Many readers won’t make it past your first paragraph, so give the most pertinent information here. Your goal is to summarize the entire press release in the first paragraph. You can start this paragraph by briefly answering the questions your reader will want to know. Be sure to keep it concise, in two to three sentences, with the goal of not exceeding 60 words. These are the questions your first paragraph should answer: Who: Who (e.g., business, organization, or individual) is releasing this information? What: What is the news the reader should know? When: When is this news, change, event, or hire taking place? Where: Where is this taking place and where can the audience learn more? Why: Why is this news important--who does it matter to? After writing a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention, use the following paragraphs to provide supporting details. Include an authoritative quote directly relevant to the news you are releasing and the angle of your press release to add credibility. The quote should come from someone who has a solid reputation in your industry or location or could be from your company’s CEO or another leadership role. 6. Write Your Boilerplate The boilerplate is the “about” section that appears at the very bottom when you write an AP style press release. It should include your company’s background, awards, amount of time in business, or anything else that might be interesting about your company or give your news more weight. The boilerplate should be under 100 words. For more detailed information, read our article detailing how to write a boilerplate for a press release. 7. Distribute Your Press Release After learning how to write an AP style press release and completing the steps above, it’s time to distribute your announcement. This is a crucial part of landing press. It’s how your press release gets into the hands of the journalists who can give your story (and your organization) additional media coverage. There are a handful of ways to get your press release into the hands of journalists and media outlets. You can build your own media list and distribute your press release directly, publish your story to your website, share it on social media, and get maximum exposure using press release distribution services like or . If you want to distribute your press release with a personal pitch and your news is of local interest, you can reach out to local journalists and media outlets directly. You can also build a list of media contacts in your industry such as trade publications, including writers that often cover stories like yours. However, to get the most exposure, using a press release service is the best option. They can distribute your news to thousands of newswire services, websites, and media outlets while also targeting distribution by email to journalists and newsroom editors who are actively looking for stories to cover. If you use a press release distribution service like , you can also easily monitor the performance of your press release. Your service includes analytics reports detailing your press coverage, from placements to views and link clicks. If not, you can manually monitor links and mentions using a backlink checker such as this from Semrush. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Are there any AP style press release best practices? Yes—when writing an AP style press release, there are some best practices that ensure you get the best results for your effort. These include choosing the right type of press release for your announcement, enriching your content with multimedia (e.g., images, video, and graphics), and condensing text into easily-scannable bullet points where you can. For more information, check out the complete list of press release best practices. What are the best free press release distribution services? There are ways to distribute your release for free, even if you don’t have a list of media contacts or the budget to pay for press release distribution. For example, use for short-term press releases (posted for 90-days) or for distribution to search engines. If your organization is a nonprofit, you can get free distribution from . Learn more about the best free press release distribution services. Do you capitalize titles in press releases? If you’re adhering to AP guidelines, you should use title capitalization for both your main headline and subheadline (if you include one). In addition, you can italicize the subheading. This helps to set it apart from the main headline and body of your press release visually, which in turn draws attention to captivate journalists and readers alike. Bottom Line AP style press releases follow specific style guidelines and are intended to be distributed through The Associated Press. They are used by organizations of all types that want to improve their chances of landing additional coverage. Correct formatting makes it easier for journalists to pick up and publish their stories. Skip the learning curve of how to write an AP style press release and let the experts at manage your announcement from start to finish. Seasoned media professionals will write, proof, edit, and target distribution, giving you the best chance at securing additional coverage of your news stories. You Might Also Like… Get more insights with these press release distribution tips. See how easy it is to create a press kit using our press kit template. Looking to build buzz with a newsworthy event? Check out our list of positive publicity stunts and find out why they worked.

Effective email marketing can boost brand awareness, spawn conversions, and provide a quick, cost-effective avenue for sharing vital information with customers and prospects. From knowing what types of emails to send to how to increase open and click rates, or scheduling marketing emails at the best possible time, these eye-opening email marketing statistics show you how to improve your marketing strategy. Here are the most relevant email marketing engagement metrics for 2022: General Email Marketing Statistics 1. There are more than 4 billion email users worldwide In 2021, there were 4.26 billion email users worldwide—more than half the world’s population of 7.9 billion people. The number of email users is expected to increase to 4.6 billion by 2025. This number includes areas without dense or widespread technology access, so an even higher percentage of your audience has an email address if you are a marketer in a developed or tech-dense country. 2. Nearly 90% of Americans use email 89.45% of Americans over the age of 15 use email. Ninety percent of users aged 15 to 24 use email, as do 93.6% of those aged 25 to 44. At age 45 to 64, usage drops back to 90% (still by far the vast majority of U.S. adults), and at over 65, the email use rate is 84.1%. 3. 306 billion emails are sent every day 306 billion emails were sent per day in 2020, on average. In 2025, it’s projected that 376 billion emails will be sent every day. While some of these emails are unwanted or spam mails that go straight to people’s junk folders, email marketing statistics show that many more emails are wanted and welcomed communications people voluntarily signed up for. 4. 64% of small businesses use email marketing According to Campaign Monitor’s email marketing statistics, email marketing is the second-most popular marketing strategy for small businesses, with 64.1% of small businesses reporting that they use email promotions. Only Facebook marketing beats email in popularity. These numbers validate that email marketing is useful for businesses of all sizes. Statistics About Email Marketing ROI 5. Email marketing has a $36 ROI (return on investment) Out of all marketing channels, email delivers the biggest bang for the buck. A dollar spent in email marketing generates a $36 return on investment in 2022, according to recent email marketing statistics by Litmus. This puts email promotions as a low-cost, high-yield marketing channel recommended for even low-budget businesses. When you consider that many email marketing software platforms offer free plans, the potential ROI for small businesses is even higher. If you’re new to email marketing, we recommend . It’s intuitive and easy to use, and you can send marketing emails completely free until your list size goes over 2,000 contacts. 6. Email marketing revenue will hit $11 billion by 2023 According to Statista, the global email marketing revenue is $7.5 billion. With its current rate, it is projected to reach $11 billion by the end of 2023. Although there are new business owners who question the relevance of email marketing in 2023, the numbers strongly suggest that now is an excellent time to invest in this marketing channel to ensure a solid ROI. Want the great ROI but not sure how to start? Learn how to use permission-based email marketing to grow your small business in a few simple steps. 7. 37% of businesses are increasing their email marketing budget A key email marketing trend highlighted by Litmus in 2022 was that the majority of brands increased their email marketing workload for the year. Because of the steady ROI, 37% of businesses also increased their email marketing budget. In fact, only 1.3% of businesses that use email promotions are making cuts. 8. The highest ROI is seen in “Email My Cart” campaigns The ROI for “Email My Cart” campaigns generated 54.9% more revenue per email than the second-highest converting campaign. This goes to show that although the average ROI in email marketing is at a good rate already, you can boost the return on investment even higher by optimizing the type of campaigns you have according to your product or service. 9. Top performers of email marketing achieve ROI greater than $70 For every dollar invested into email marketing, top performers achieve an ROI greater than $70. Maximizing email marketing ROI consists of email personalization, utilizing triggered email campaigns and strategies, as well as automation. Improve your ROI with a few simple clicks using an email marketing platform like . On their website, you can find easy-to-use automation tools, beautifully designed campaigns, and powerful data analysis. They offer a free plan for small businesses and an option to unlock all their customization features for a monthly rate. Average Conversion Rate Stats of Email Marketing 10. Email marketing has an average conversion rate of 15.22% The average conversion rate is 15.22% for email marketing campaigns based on the number of click-throughs. This data was reported by Barilliance, which stated that they defined conversions as completed purchases in their study. This type of conversion rate highlights how effective your landing pages are, the strength of your offer, and the appropriateness of your segment audience to your products. Improving these factors will ultimately improve your conversion rate. 11. Email gets you nearly 5x more buyers than social media Sixty percent of customers who purchase products say that they bought because of a marketing email. In contrast, only 12.5% of customers say that they considered clicking the “buy” button on a social media promotion. Social media is still important for marketing, but data shows that emails are more effective in producing conversions. 12. “Email My Cart” emails yield the highest conversion rates The most effective triggered email type by conversion rate is "Email My Cart." It triggers after a customer has added an item to their cart and then attempts to abandon the session. These customers have added items to their cart, clearly demonstrating purchase intent. B2B Email Marketing Stats 13. More than 85% of B2B marketers rely on email marketing The Content Marketing Institute’s report on business-to-business (B2B) content marketing uncovered how vital email marketing was to B2B marketing in 2020. Eighty-seven percent of B2B marketers use email for content distribution, while 85% of B2B organizations use email marketing software to assist them in their overall content marketing strategy. In the same study, email newsletters were found to be the best content type to nurture leads in a B2B setting. 14. B2B feature announcements have the highest click-through rate (CTR) In 2021, B2B marketers stated that their marketing emails for new products or new features announcements yielded the highest click-through rate. It can help to improve your campaign’s total CTR by using email promotions for B2B announcements. 15. 64% of B2B marketers achieved their business goals with email marketing HubSpot Blog Research found that in 2021, 64% of B2B marketers confirmed that their email marketing strategy helped in meeting their business goals. This goes to show that an email marketing campaign can be key to building a strong brand presence, lead generation, conversion, and customer loyalty for B2B organizations. Strategy-related Email Marketing Statistics 16. Newsletters & welcome emails are the most-used formats Litmus’ 2021 State of Email report shows that the most-used forms of email marketing are: 81% Newsletters 79% Welcome emails 75% Products 72% Sales or promotions 71% Events 62% Onboarding or post-purchase 45% Customer winback 43% Blog 41% Subscriber re-engagement 35% Cart or browse abandonment 31% Birthday, anniversary, or other milestones 29% Customer satisfaction (ratings, reviews, or net promoter score/NPS) 27% Replenishment or subscriber renewal reminder 14% Back in stock or waitlist emails 17. Segmentation makes people more likely to click through Segmenting your email contact list can massively increase open and click-through rates. One email marketing statistics study found that a segmented email campaign can get open rates as high as 94% and click-through rates of 38%, compared with a typical unsegmented email campaign with a 42% open rate and a 4.5% click-through rate. The increase in open rate is the most commonly cited reason marketers use segmented email campaigns, with 82% of marketers touting that benefit. 18. Triggered emails perform 3x better than email segmentation/blast Segmented emails, which are different lists based on different customer attributes, work much better than general email blasts. However, according to research, triggered emails (e.g., welcome, post-sale, cart abandonment, based on website activity, and so on) are three times better and by far the most effective at getting opens and click-throughs. 19. 80% are more likely to buy from a brand that personalizes the experience Segmenting is the key to personalized experiences, and eight out of 10 consumers are more likely to make a purchase from a brand that personalizes the experience. To make it easier for you, 83% also say they’re willing to give you more information so you can create a personalized experience. 20. The ideal email length is 50 to 125 words Emails with 25 words have response rates of less than 45%, while 25 to 50 words yield over 50% response rates. Fifty to 125 words yield 51% responsiveness, and then rates decline again over 125 words, according to email marketing stats. 21. The ideal subject line is 6 to 10 words Keep subject lines short and sweet! Most mobile devices don’t display many characters, and you want to catch your customers’ attention. Email marketing statistics show that subject lines between six and 10 words long have over a 20% open rate, while less than five words have a 16% open rate, and over 10 words will get you an even lower open rate than that. Customer names, song lyrics, or movie titles are good ways to get your customers to click when you don’t have much space. 22. The best emails are simple (third-grade reading level) Emails that have a third-grade reading level have the best response rate—at 53%. This is followed by emails written at a kindergarten reading level, which have a 46% response rate. Email marketing statistics show that high school-level emails get a 45% response, while college-reading-level emails only get a 39% response rate. 23. Permission-based emails get opened 82% of the time The overall open rate for emails is only 21%. However, if customers signed up for the emails, that email marketing statistic skyrockets to 82%. This goes to show the importance of adopting a permission-based email marketing strategy for your small business. If you can get customers to sign up for your mailing list, they are much more likely to open your emails. In addition, if your subject line is personalized with the customer’s name, they are 50% more likely to open it than if it doesn’t. For more ways to personalize emails, scroll down to the trends section below. Best Times to Send Marketing Emails 24. Friday is the best day for click-throughs To make sales from your email campaigns, you need customers to open your emails and click through to your site. Overall, the industry rate for click-throughs from emails is just 2.13%. However, if you send your emails on Fridays, that email marketing statistics rate increases to 2.7%. 25. Tuesdays are the best days for email opens Email marketing statistics show that Tuesdays have the highest open rates of the whole week in 2022. On the other hand, according to email marketing statistics, Tuesdays also have the highest rates of unsubscribing from emails. If customers are most likely to be annoyed on Tuesday mornings, you might not necessarily want your email to be at the top of their inbox. That said, the unsubscribe rate on Tuesdays is still much lower (0.2%) than the open rate (18.3%), so don’t worry too much about it. 26. 10 a.m., 2 p.m. & 7-10 p.m. are the peak times for email opens Most people open emails in the morning, when they are getting ready to work or in the middle of getting things done, specifically at 10 a.m. At 2 p.m., many office workers will start opening emails again as the afternoon lull hits and they look forward to finishing the workday. This is a great time to send emails if you are targeting office workers as your audience. Then again, in the evening, between 7 and 10 p.m., people will often open promotional emails on their own time as they relax and wind down, do some online shopping, and chill on their phones before bed. 27. Abandoned cart emails are most effective within 20 minutes Customers abandon online carts all the time. Seventy-seven percent of online shoppers who put items in their shopping cart on a website will then click away from the website without checking out. That is a huge loss of sales, and it can mess up your sales by making your inventory appear lower than it actually is, preventing other customers from buying those items. Fortunately, following up by email is highly effective at getting customers to come back and check out their carts. Sending an abandoned cart email within 20 minutes has a 5.2% conversion rate, and that email marketing stat goes down the longer you take to send out your triggered email. Mobile Email Marketing Stats 28. More than 70% of people read emails on their phones While the number of people reading emails on mobile devices was less than 50% in 2019, that number is now over 70%, according to campaignmonitor.com. Of these, most check their email in the mornings on their phones. 29. The device matters for your subject line Only the first 30 characters of your subject line are visible on the iPhone email app, so make sure the first 30 characters count. You don’t have to get the whole message across in that short a space, but you need to catch their attention so they’ll click on it. 30. Emojis in email marketing subject lines are good Gone are the days when emojis were considered unprofessional. Nowadays, including emojis in your subject line can increase your open rates by as much as 56%, per email marketing statistics posted by OptinMonster. Emojis can grab readers’ attention, set the tone of the email, and convey a sense of fun. Industry-specific Email Marketing Statistics 31. Media & entertainment have better stats than most other industries When you divide the email marketing statistics up by industry, media and entertainment have strong opening rates (22.49%) and click-through rates (4.98%), and the lowest unsubscribe rates (0.18%). These numbers are a compilation of data from Mailchimp, HubSpot, Campaign Monitor, and GetResponse, via Kinsta. 32. Government-related emails have the highest open rates The highest open rates of all industries in 2022 are for government organizations. In fact, government-related emails have an open rate of 28.77%, followed by hobby brands with a 27.74% open rate. 33. Emails from hobby brands yield the highest click rates Despite having slightly lower open rates than government-related emails, hobby brands have the highest click rates for email marketing campaigns. In 2022, the average click rate for hobby-related emails is 5.01%. Stats Point to Email Marketing Trends 34. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed email marketing 55.5% of marketers sent more emails than before the pandemic, and 49.1% increased the frequency of marketing email sends vs 14.9% who said they sent fewer emails and 29.6% who said they sent the same. The pandemic also impacted the effectiveness of marketing emails: Email open rates for March/April 2020 were 4% higher year over year Email click rates grew, even more, increasing from near 0 to 20% from February to March 2020 During the same two-month time period, the click rates for restaurant emails went through the roof, increasing from about 8% to over 70% The growth rate of direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce increased with the onset of the pandemic, and with that, a massive uptick in DTC email marketing 35. 45% of marketers say keeping lists engaged is a top challenge With an ever-increasing reliance on email marketing for brand communication, 45% of marketers say their biggest challenge is maintaining an engaged list. Among the other priorities marketing professionals are working on now are: 37% Reducing spam complaints 34% Increasing email contact list size 33% Achieving measurable ROI 29% Integrating email data with other software and systems 28% Successfully leveraging email personalization 22% Mobile optimization 36. Top factors used in email personalization Nine out of 10 marketers surveyed in Litmus’ 2021 State of Email report said personalization is a must-have, not a “nice to have.” Email personalization is known to increase open, click, and conversion rates, but what personalization tactics are on the rise? The tactic with the largest percentage of increased use is customer or prospect segmenting, which rose from 49% to 64% from 2020 to 2021. The most-used personalization tactic for email marketing is an identifier, such as a name, company name, or other profile data. 37. 41.5% say email marketing is essential for brand success In 2019, just over 32% of marketers said email was a must-have for company success. That number rose to 39.8% in 2020 and 41.5% in 2021, per Litmus’ 2021 State of Email report. Bottom Line Email marketing is a profitable investment that can help you grow your business. Consider these email marketing stats as you build your small business email marketing strategy or to improve future campaigns. You Might Also Like… Can’t get enough statistics? Check out our list of branding statistics and get the website statistics you need to build a stronger online brand. Find the right platform in our list of the best email marketing software for small businesses. Email marketing is just one of a dozen cheap or free small business marketing ideas.

The average billboard cost in the U.S. is $850 for a four-week campaign, and varies based on ad format, circulation, demographics, and impressions. Plan to spend from $750 to $1,500 a month for physical billboard campaigns in rural areas, $1,500 to $2,000 in small to midsize cities, and $14,000 and up in larger markets. Digital billboards can cost from $10 per seven-second spot to over $15,000, depending on the billboard’s location, ad duration, and frequency. If your vision is big but your ad budget is small, try self-serve digital billboard ads for as little as $10 a day. Your ad will display on a digital billboard for 7.5 to 10 seconds per “blip” based on your budget. Plus, with no long-term commitment, it’s risk-free to try. How Much Billboards Cost in the U.S. In the United States, how much billboards cost is determined by the geographic market, out-of-home (OOH) rating, and whether it’s a physical or digital board. Physical billboards cost from $750 to $14,000 a month (or more, depending on the market). Digital billboards cost as low as $10 a day per 10-second “blip” with , or for dedicated digital billboards, from $1,200 to over $15,000 per month. Billboard Costs in Representative U.S. Cities at a Glance Data Source: BluelineMedia.com Additional Billboard Advertising Costs The billboard rental price is not the only expense that affects how much a billboard costs. Chances are you’ll want to hire a professional graphic or video designer, which ranges from around $150 with  freelancers to as much as $500 per hour. You’ll also need to pay for the cost of materials for physical billboards, and may need to pay for billboard installation. Here’s a closer look at additional costs for billboard advertising: Design costs: The costs associated with billboard design typically range from a $150 one-time fee with a Fiverr freelancer to $150 to $500 per hour, depending on if you choose a freelancer or a professional billboard design agency. Materials costs: Vinyl is the standard material used for physical billboard ads, and it costs around $1 to $1.50 per square foot. Installation cost: This may be included in your monthly rental rate, but check with your provider to confirm. Factors That Affect the Cost of Billboard Advertising In most cases, billboard advertising cost is referenced in cost per mille (CPM), or cost per thousand impressions. These are affected by circulation, demographics, and impressions. Together, these factors inform the billboard’s out-of-home (OOH) rating, as determined by , an audience location measurement tool. A billboard’s OOH rating is based on three factors: Circulation: Circulation is the total volume of traffic that passes the billboard, as derived from transportation authorities. The circulation does not take into account whether passersby see your ad. Demographics: A billboard’s demographics are a breakdown by age, gender, and income level of people who typically pass a billboard. Expect to pay more to advertise in locations that reach people with higher income levels. Impressions: Impressions are the likely number of people who actually see the ad, based on the size of the billboard, visibility, the speed at which people are passing, and other factors. This is derived from the circulation and the location of the billboard. Pros & Cons of Billboard Ads Billboards can be expensive, difficult to read, or inflexible, but may still be beneficial given their potentially high exposure and simple, targeted message. In addition to considering how much a billboard ad will cost, you should familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of billboard advertising before committing to a board. Traditional (Physical) Billboards vs Digital Billboards Physical billboards have some advantages over digital billboard advertising. For example, placement of physical billboard ads is widely available because the infrastructure has existed for several decades in the U.S. Additionally, printed advertisements are not subject to glitches and power outages, unlike digital billboards. On the other hand, digital billboards can be more effective as they are more dynamic, may be animated (and more attention-grabbing), and can be targeted based on time of day and more. Digital ads also provide small businesses on a budget with cheap billboard options. For example, with , your ad budget can be as little as $10 per day. How to Choose a Billboard Location Billboard location is the most important consideration when choosing outdoor advertisement. Factors that influence the effectiveness of a billboard include traffic speed, proximity of the sign to the road, and traveler destination. If you decide that a billboard is right for your business, evaluate several locations before choosing the one that will target the most potential customers. The factors that play into the desirability of a billboard spot include: Traffic speed: People are more likely to see your ad if they’re on a congested highway than on a train route where travelers pass at 40 mph. Therefore, you should choose a billboard located on a street with a low-speed limit or on a roadway susceptible to traffic congestion. Proximity of the billboard to the road: The distance of a sign from the road affects how visible it is to passing drivers. For that reason, pick a location close enough to the road to be legible. Traveler destination: Consider whether you’re advertising your business to locals or people who are just passing through town. Also, consider whether people are likely to visit your business on the way to or from work. This type of data is generally available from the company selling the billboard space. However, it’s also a good idea to visit the location before committing to billboard advertising. Make sure you analyze where your customer base is coming from and put the billboard exactly where they’re most likely to see it. Alternatively, you can research digital billboard locations regionally or nationally through providers like . They have more than 1,600 billboards, you can search by state, and you can start with digital ads for as little as $10 per day per “blip.” How to Rent a Physical Billboard Location If you’ve already chosen a billboard location, note the advertising company next time you pass the sign. The company name is usually listed below the image on the structure itself. Some of the largest billboard companies in the U.S. are , Clear Channel, and CBS Outdoor, but there are many local and regional providers. How much a specific billboard will cost will largely depend on the provider and location. Who Billboard Advertising Is Right For Billboard advertising can work well in many scenarios, from building brand awareness to driving web traffic or generating interest in a cause. For example, young businesses can leverage local advertising on billboards to build a brand presence regionally. In fact, billboards located on highways that advertise local businesses are extremely actionable because the audience is already nearby. In addition, billboards are a great way to promote brands that don’t necessarily need immediate conversions but want to generate leads, such as for a law or medical practice. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not billboard advertising is right for your business, consider the following questions: Does your product pass the eight-second rule? If you can’t make your pitch in eight seconds, billboards are probably not the right channel. The non-animated, static nature of traditional billboards is also ineffective if your message requires interpretation. Is your product relevant to a mass audience? If your product is only relevant to a small percentage of the population, you’ll waste a lot of money on “unnecessary” billboard impressions. For example, a distributor of vegan food products likely only appeals to the 7% of Americans who identify as vegan. The main benefit of billboard advertising is that you can reach a large number of people within a specific geographical area. This is great for those starting a business and local businesses in general, whose target audience is very broad, yet within one geographic area. Let’s take a look at some billboard examples and what types of businesses they’re best suited for: Billboard Examples & Who They Are Best For Everyone eats, so restaurant billboards are effective for local advertising. However, a local business that offers in-home chefs for high-end clients may not be a great candidate for billboards as it has a narrow audience. Businesses that will do well with billboard advertising are: Restaurants Retail stores Real estate agents Law firms Financial institutions Medical facilities Fitness centers Educational institutions Professional sports teams Home services (e.g., heating and oil, landscaping, construction) Nonprofits and public service announcements Keep in mind that not only should billboard ads fit your audience type, but also your marketing goal. Generally, the purpose of billboards is not to convert buyers on the spot, but to boost general awareness of a local business, service, or organization. Below are some more examples of billboard ad designs that can generate brand awareness and help to drive web traffic or leads. Companies with household names like Coca Cola don’t need to advertise. It’s not as if anyone has forgotten it exists and yet large, national companies like Coca Cola spend millions on advertising each year—billboard ads included. Small business advertising typically uses billboards to generate local awareness (e.g., to let you know that there’s some great restaurant in town or a new apartment complex coming soon). Alternatively, large companies often use billboards to stay top of mind, which helps generate more sales. Worried billboard ads might break the bank or not sure you want to commit to billboard ads? Try using , where any business can advertise with any budget—no contract required. With , your billboard design will appear as a 7.5- to 10-second “blip” on a rotating digital billboard, locally or nationally. Get started with today. Frequently Asked Questions What other outdoor advertising options are there? Billboards aren’t the only type nor the cheapest outdoor advertising option. For example, there are transit ads at subway, train, and bus stops. Lamp post banner ads and kiosks are great for visibility from foot traffic. Another form of outdoor ads are mobile ads, which appear on the sides of buses, trucks, and other large vehicles. They are more flexible than traditional billboards because they move with the traffic flow rather than being static. How can I install a billboard on my property? To install a billboard on your property, first look into local ordinances to confirm they’re permitted under local zoning regulations. Call your local city or county government to find out how your property is zoned. If consistent with zoning requirements, you can go ahead and construct the billboard yourself. Expect to invest around $2,000 to $10,000 for a standard billboard or $20,000 to $30,000 for a digital billboard. Can I lease land to an advertising company for billboard ads? Advertising companies like and actively seek new locations for billboard advertising space and enter long-term leases with property owners for the use of their land. If you work with an advertising company, their team will typically handle everything, including construction, client acquisition, and replacing the ad. On average, expect to earn around 40% to 60% of the net revenue yielded by the sign. Bottom Line Billboards are a great way to encourage viewers to take action or simply introduce your brand to a broad audience. How much a billboard costs depend on the format and potential reach of your ad. While vinyl billboards typically cost $750 per month or more in rural areas and $14,000 per month or more in larger markets, digital boards can cost $10,000 per month or more depending on the location. The cost of billboard advertising can be formidable for a startup or small operation. However, Blip Billboard’s digital billboards allow you to build brand awareness at a fraction of the cost. Start for as little as $10 a day with a no-risk plan that doesn’t require a long-term commitment. You Might Also Like… Get more inspiration by checking out our list of creative ideas and billboard design tips. Maximize your results by using other local advertising channels in conjunction with billboards, such as radio advertising. Get a list of more than a dozen effective marketing materials for small businesses.

The best press release distribution services offer both maximum exposure and select targeting of media by location and niche. This ensures your release gets seen by your intended audience and journalists who want to cover what you’ve written. We’ve analyzed dozens of press release services and narrowed the list down to the top seven options based on features, services, and value for the price. Based on our criteria, here are the best press release distribution services for small businesses: : Best press release service for small businesses overall : Cheapest press release distribution services : Best press release services for those wanting to hyper-target niche audiences : Great for small businesses wanting to reach U.S.-based journalists and media outlets : Best for brand building through white labeled press releases (Cision): Top press release distribution services for data-driven marketing teams : Best press release wire services for international placements Best Press Release Distribution Services at a Glance See fullscreen table × EIN Presswire: Top Press Release Distribution Service Overall *Plans must be used within 365 days With plans starting at $99.95 for a single press release, and premium plans with set pricing for either 5 or 25 press releases, is one of the most affordable PR distribution services in the market. Send your news out to a variety of high-quality media channels all over the world, from print and TV to social media, and target distribution by industry or location, all in just a few hours. Embedding media in your story is free with EIN Presswire. This makes it a great option for those wanting to send a video news release, as video can be embedded in your release at no cost. You are limited to just one image in the Basic plan, so if you want to include multiple images, check out instead, as you can include up to five images with any plan, including the free one. EIN Presswire is also one of the quickest ways to distribute press releases as well. Turnaround of your story is fast, with an average of a one-hour editorial process if you submit your press release during working hours. After two hours of your press release being distributed, you’ll be able to see your report through the dashboard and by email. Affordability, reach, and quick turnaround makes EIN Presswire our overall best pick, but they don’t offer proofreading or press release writing services. For the most thorough proofing and editing, choose or , which offer plans with built-in proofreading services. Alternatively, for an all-in-one writing and distribution solution, choose , which tops our list of the best press release writing services. EIN Presswire Pricing & Features offers plans ranging from $99.95 for a single press release to $399 to distribute 5 press releases or $999 for 25 press releases. No matter which plan you purchase, you have to use it within 365 days (one year). The Basic Plan includes one distribution channel, social media targeting, and a 700-word limit. Subsequent plans offer five distribution channels and up to 2,500 words. All plans offer targeting by industry and location (by state or for an additional fee internationally), plus embedded media. Standout features include: Affordable, especially for multiple press releases (as low as $39.96) Same-day distribution Analytics reports (review performance through placements, views, clicks, and so on) Generous 700-word count for its lowest-priced plan Multimedia embedding included for free Industry, regional, and international targeting available Leave your press release in the hands of the experts and get your press release distributed affordably by EIN Presswire. IssueWire: Cheapest Press Release Distribution Services offers the cheapest press release distribution plans, including one that’s free. However, the free plan and first two paid tiers display ads, and no media placements are included. Small businesses on a budget looking for the most credibility and reach should opt for either the Tier 2 or Tier 2 Pro plan. Like , IssueWire customers can publish multiple press releases and save vs single-release distribution pricing. IssueWire distributes to just over 300 outlets and up to 16,000 in reach, unlike the massive reach you can get with , so it’s not the best choice if maximum exposure is a top priority for you. IssueWire offers more than just the cheapest press release distribution services on our list. It offers affordable writing services as well, making our list of the best press release writing services, just like eReleases. Prices are clearly indicated on the website, starting from $10 for 200 words optimized and written for your industry. One thing lacking with IssueWire, though, is the ability to target your release’s distribution by location or industry (though you may contact them for queries on a custom solution). Those wanting to target specific industries or niche audiences should use or , while those wanting targeting options and the widest distribution among U.S. media should choose . IssueWire Pricing & Features pricing includes plans ranging from free to $65 at the highest tier. The free, Tier 1, and Tier 1 Pro plans display ads, so the Tier 2 or Tier 2 Pro plan is better for small businesses when budgets allow. The free plan doesn’t include any guaranteed placements or even indexing for online searches, but all paid plans do. IssueWire also allows more anchor links and embedded images than most other services on all of its plans. Standout features include: Cheapest press release service—starting from free or paid plans from $21 Guaranteed placement in 145 to 300-plus media outlets, including Google, Yahoo!, Google News, Bing News, and Apple News placements Pro plans estimate from 9,000 to 16,000 in reach Two highest-tier plans include major news networks and affiliates, as well as finance industry-related networks No extra cost to embed YouTube or Vimeo videos All plans, including the free one, include a search engine optimization (SEO) audit of your content, making it the best press release service for SEO Optimized press release writing services available for an extra, but affordable, fee Get your news published without a hefty price tag with low-cost press release services from IssueWire. Newswire: Best Service for Targeting Specific Audiences is among the most well-known press release services and has been named best in customer satisfaction and best in class (science, process, and technology). It stands out for allowing you to easily and extensively hyper-target press releases domestically (regionally, by state, or nationally), internationally, by industry, and even by journalist. As such, it is best for small businesses seeking highly targeted distribution options. For an additional fee (starting at $350), Newswire offers press release writing services. It also has a three-tier editorial process for all press release distribution plans, which start at $349. Admittedly, Newswire is more expensive than most of the other providers on our list, including our top pick, . Plus, embedding video costs extra, unlike with . Newswire Pricing & Features *Not guaranteed pricing includes plans starting at $349 for a single, domestic press release. The most basic Newswire Digital plan also offers one industry list for targeting and analytics reporting (multimedia embedding comes with an additional fee). All plans come with a three-tier editorial process to ensure the quality of your press release. Advanced plans provide distribution to thousands of outlets, state and social media distribution, and additional analytics reports. Standout features include: Three-tier editorial process to ensure error-free, high-quality press releases 500-word count limit Targeting by industry, location, and more Engagement analytics Reports of where your press release was published Video and multimedia embedding (as an add-on for an additional fee) Reach the right people in the right places to amplify your press release and gain the media attention using Newswire. eReleases: Widest Press Release Distribution to U.S. Media Businesses wanting wide distribution among U.S.-based media outlets and journalists will find to be the best press release company thanks to its massive database. eReleases has over 1.7 million journalists and social media influencers in its database, and you can rest assured that your press release won’t end up in any spam folder. eReleases is also a good option when you need a press release writing and distribution solution for reaching niche industries. eReleases’ editors write press releases targeting journalists by industry, then distribute them to journalists who signed up specifically to receive these press releases. Like , eReleases doesn’t have a small business budget-friendly entry-tier plan (try or ). However, you can send your release directly to the inboxes of thousands of journalists and editors with a $150 direct-to-journalist add-on in the two lower-tier plans (or included in the upper-tier Pro plan). This could be a huge advantage for small businesses trying to land additional media coverage. eReleases Pricing & Features pricing includes plans that range from $399 to $699 per release. All plans offer syndication via thousands of outlets, two attached images, unlimited hyperlinks, and next-day distribution. Depending on the plan, you get distribution for releases between 400 and 600 words, distribution to between 90 and 150-plus sites, and between one and three targeted lists by industry and location. Standout features include: Highly targeted distribution by niche Database of over 1.7 million to target (journalists, editors, and social media influencers) All plans have optimization built-in Minimum 400-word count One to three targeting lists by industry and state In-depth analytics reporting Option to embed for an additional fee Press release writing offered for an additional $349 Next-day distribution Get your press release in front of the largest U.S. audience using eReleases. Linking News: Best White Label Press Release Distribution is the best white label press release distribution company on our list. White labeling removes the distribution company’s branding, in turn making your branding more prominent, and making your business look more professional. It’s a great option for startups seeking funding or aggressive growth as well as any small business looking to build a strong brand through a PR strategy. At $159, it’s not the cheapest option for publishing a media release, but it’s significantly less expensive than adding white labeling to an equivalent plan. For example, to get placement on major news sites with PR Distribution, you need the Web Plus plan at $199 and white labeling will cost an additional $30. Linking News is great for white-labeled press releases, but it doesn’t offer much else compared to other providers. For example, it lacks ancillary services for press release writing that you can get with affordably or as an add-on with . Also, there are no targeting options, so if you want to directly target specific audiences, go with . Linking News Pricing & Features pricing ranges from $159 to $1680 for white label press release distribution. While this doesn’t offer extensive reach at the most cost-effective price, it could be worth it for companies that need to put their best brand impression forward. Those looking to attract investors and brands looking to quickly build a national brand presence would benefit most. The main standout feature for Linking News is in its white labeling, which comes with: An easy-to-use WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) online submission editing tool that will be familiar to those who have published blog posts or submitted forms that allow formatting 24- to 48-hour turnaround time Guaranteed placements No publication on Linking News.com’s feed or display of its branding on your release or distribution report Leverage white labeled press release services to build your brand’s presence and reach thousands of media outlets, journalists, and influencers using Linking News. PRWeb: Best Distribution Service for Data-driven Teams stands out by offering comprehensive analytics and reporting of where your press releases are published. Reports are offered in real time and by email. This helps prove the impact of your announcement and its value to your business. As such, PRWeb is best for data-driven marketers who want to ensure their press release strategy is working to meet business goals. One thing missing from Cision PRWeb plans is regional targeting, as you will find with . However, as a bonus, PRWeb also includes editing and proofreading services on all plans except for the Basic plan. Still, it’s not an all-in-one solution for professional press release writing and distribution like and . PRWeb Pricing & Features pricing ranges from $99 to $405. Basic and Standard plans offer permanent placement on PRWeb and SEO tagging to help your content reach your desired audience. Higher-tiered plans additionally offer between one and three industry lists for targeting, proofreading, 1,200-plus site syndication, and video and image embedding. Standout features include: Real-time analytics reporting with advanced metrics tracking such as potential audience size, press release views, search visibility, multimedia engagement, click-through rates, traffic sources, and social media shares on the Standard plan and above Placement on PRWeb and PR Newswire industry feeds (both are Cision companies) Search engine optimization (SEO) tagging Multimedia attachments available on all plans Four-hour press release turnaround as an add-on for Advanced plan users Get the most comprehensive performance data for your team by using PRWeb. PR Distribution: Best for International Syndication stands out for its multi-wire plans that publish your news to a wide range of international outlets starting from $799. All plans include social media distribution, sharing and placement on Google, Bing, and Yahoo! Sites (just like ), as well as financial feeds. Unlike the others on this list, PR Distribution is an all-in-one solution. You can purchase writing services starting at $149, and a multitier editorial process comes bundled with the Web Pro and higher plans. If you purchase both at the same time, you can save up to $50. Plus, there’s no limit to how many words your release can have, which is also unmatched by the providers on this list. PR Distribution also allows you to spend an extra $30 if you want to white label your press release. What this does is remove PR Distribution branding, so that your audience won’t be aware that you used a third-party distribution service. For another $15 ($45 add-on), your distribution report can be branded with your logo. Combined, this makes for a stronger brand presence when your story is viewed. PR Distribution is also a good choice for small businesses that want to use press releases to build links, as long as they can afford to pay $399 or more for plans that include placement on high-authority websites like Moz and Ahrefs. This consists of all major search engines as well as ABC, CBS, Fox, and each networks’ affiliates. However, only upper tiers ($399-plus) include the multilayer editorial process you get with all plans. PR Distribution Pricing & Features plans range from $99 to $1,999. Its entry-level plan includes guaranteed press release placements (including search engines like Google and Bing). All plans allow for unlimited word counts, which is not often found with press release companies. Advanced plans include many more additional placements on TV outlets and a multitiered editorial process, similar to Newswire. You can also save by purchasing multirelease packages: save 25% with a six-release package, save 35% when you pay for 12 releases, or max out your savings at 50% by purchasing a 24-release package. Standout features include: Guaranteed placements in a minimum of 25 traditional and digital outlets on the Web Pro plan and above Unlimited word counts for all plans Cheapest way to distribute press releases worldwide National, regional, local, and industry targeting; great for local press coverage International placements in upper-tier plans Performance reports included on all plans (analytics require higher-tier plans) Attached and embedded multimedia available on all plans Packages for businesses that consistently use PR Permanent press release hosting on PR Distribution Submit your press release now and start building links both nationally and internationally by choosing PR Distribution. How We Evaluated the Best Press Release Services The best providers make it possible for small businesses to affordably send out media announcements and employ features that allow them to stand out for a greater chance of coverage. For this reason, we compared prices, services, features, and inclusions to determine which provides the best value for small businesses. The criteria we used to evaluate the best include: Budget-friendly for small businesses and startups Number of syndication outlets Ability to send to journalists and editorial staff by email Audience targeting capabilities and options Minimum and maximum press release word count Allowed multimedia inclusions and formats Extra services like proofreading, editing, and writing services Publishing, tracking, and analytics reporting Based on our expertise, the service that offers the best affordable yet comprehensive targeting to get your news in front of the right people is . Starting at $99.95 for a single press release across top search engines, major news sites, U.S. TV and radio, plus worldwide outlets, EIN Presswire makes sure your press release gets to where you want it to go. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How much does it cost to distribute a press release? Pricing starts around $99 with leading services like , but depending on the features you want, it could increase to several hundred dollars. Alternatively, it’s entirely possible to issue a press release for free on your own or by using a free service like . However, to get targeting, extensive reach, and guaranteed placements, it’s best to opt for premium press release distribution services. What’s the best way to distribute a press release? To distribute a press release, first write one yourself or hire a seasoned professional through a press release writing service like . You can also hire a freelance writer through platforms like for as low as $5. Then purchase a plan from a press release distribution service, submit your release, and monitor its engagement. It’s fairly simple to do, but see a breakdown of how to send a press release here. How can I distribute a press release for free? There are ways to distribute a press release for free. Check out our list of the best free press release services available—but keep in mind that these services are somewhat limited and may not get your news in front of the right audience. You can also distribute your press release for free by building your own list of journalists and media outlets and submitting your release to them by web forms or email (however they choose to be contacted). You Might Also Like… See what a press release is and what it can do to help you build a strong brand and grow your business. Get all the tools and guidance you need—download our free press release template and get tips for writing your first media announcement. Unsure if you should write a press release? See some of the different types of press releases there are.

Blogging is a content marketing tactic that helps business websites gain online visibility to increase brand awareness, website traffic, and sales. To help you blog more effectively, we compiled a list of over 30 business blogging statistics. The blog statistics below will not only open your eyes as to the potential return on investment (ROI) of blogging, but will also give you the insights needed to build and launch a successful blog. Here are the business blogging statistics you need to know, including how a blog can help you grow your business more quickly. You can also download an infographic of all these statistics for easy reference—no email sign-up required. General Business Blogging Statistics 1. 81% of consumers trust blog content Trust in public information sources is at an all-time low in many categories (13% for government, 10% for media reports, and just 8% for advertisements), but blogs are still a trusted source of information. In fact, based on blogging statistics by BlogHer, 81% of U.S. consumers say they trust the information and advice they read on blogs. 2. 90% of businesses use some kind of content marketing Blogging statistics published on HubSpot show that of the 90% of businesses engaged in content marketing, blogging is the third-most popular tactic being used. The other top tactics include creating videos and e-books. It’s worth noting that blogging is arguably easier to execute than video and e-books as well since both can be significantly more costly in terms of both time and money. 3. Nearly 80% of businesses use blogs for marketing A total of 78.9% of bloggers report that their blog delivers marketing results. The biggest response was “some” results (54.2%), followed by “strong” results (24.7%). These blogging stats tell us that blogging is an effective way of growing your business and that it is not difficult to make your blog produce results. 4. 77% of Fortune 500 companies have blogs Blogging statistics demonstrate that smaller companies can benefit from using a blog to drive web traffic and establish themselves as industry experts. But how about large and established companies? Before 2019, about half of the top 200 Fortune 500 companies had a blog. As of 2020, the number of Fortune 500 companies with blogs increased to 77%. Even when you’re already at the top, stats show that blogging is an essential marketing tool. 5. 62% of companies outsource content marketing Producing content is not a universal skill, even for marketers. Sixty-two percent of companies outsource content marketing. This includes content writing and applies to things like social media marketing, email marketing, graphic design, search engine optimization (SEO), and content planning. In small businesses, marketers, and sometimes even the business owner, have to wear all these hats in addition to others. Even on a small budget, you can get help with your blog and content marketing efforts. Turn to to find affordable freelance professionals skilled in one or multiple aspects of small business content marketing, with per-project pricing from $5. ROI of Business Blogging Statistics 6. Business blogs can increase web traffic by 55% Companies that use blogs have 55% more website visitors and get 97% more inbound links. These blog statistics are based on a study conducted among 1,531 HubSpot customers (mostly small- and medium-sized businesses). Getting more visitors to your website is more beneficial to you since it means more people to convert to leads and sales. 7. A blog can increase your conversion rate by 6x Blogging is the cornerstone of a search engine optimized content marketing plan. Businesses that don’t have a blog can expect their standard website conversion rate (purchases compared to site visits) to be about 0.5%. With a blog, statistics show that your conversion rate is likely to rise to around 2.9% on average. 8. Content marketing generates 3x the return of traditional tactics Business blogging statistics aside—wondering if the time and money needed to succeed with a blog are worth it? Overall, content marketing costs 62% less than other forms of marketing and produces three times the return on investment for every dollar spent. 9. Content increases brand affinity among eight out of 10 consumers Eighty-one percent of consumers said they felt more positive about a business as a result of reading a brand’s custom content online, and 70% said they felt closer to the brand. Blog content is an ideal way to offer expert advice and even assistance (such as “how to” articles) to your target audience, in turn building trust and making your brand their preferred resource. Business Blogging Statistics About Blog Content 10. Bloggers who spend 6+ hours writing a post report 31% better results The better the content is, the better your results are likely to be. But is there a point of diminishing returns? Not according to Orbit Media Studios—at least, not below the benchmark of 6-plus hours. Most bloggers spend about four hours on average writing posts, but bloggers who spend six or more hours writing a post report 31% better results. Readers are looking for high-quality content, and Google prioritizes search results based on quality content and the user experience. That means the bar keeps getting higher for content creators who want to be competitive in this space. 11. Top-earning bloggers are 6x more likely to do their own research Bloggers who make over $50,000 a year are 5.8 times more likely to conduct independent research and publish case studies than less successful bloggers. They are also five times as likely to have a podcast, 4.5 times as likely to publish videos, and 3.7 times as likely to publish interviews. 12. Most people read blog articles to learn something new A leader in the world of content marketing, HubSpot research found that 33% of people read blog posts to learn something new, 20% do so to be entertained, 12% are looking for news or trends in their industry, and 9% want all three. What does this blogging statistic mean for you? The content on your blog needs to be developed with these motivations in mind. First and foremost, don’t write an article just because you want to rank for a keyword. Your article needs to say something that isn’t already well-covered in related articles online to deserve space on the internet. If the information isn’t new, how can you present it in a new light or from a fresh perspective? Second, write conversationally and with engagement in mind. Be thought-provoking and passionate about your topic or point of view. If you can, be funny—especially when stating the obvious. Not everyone can write like a stand-up comedian, but bloggers have to be successful in delivering information in an entertaining way, free of jargon and technicalities. Lastly, think outside of the box of your brand and its products and services. How can you educate your reader about your industry on new developments and trends (including trends that just happen to point to your business as a great solution?) 13. Seven out of 10 people prefer articles to ads Ads probably won’t ever go away, but they are a lot less important for customers than content. Seventy percent of customers say they prefer to learn about a company through an article rather than an ad. Consumers like to feel like they understand what they are getting and have a relationship with the company they are buying from, and blog content does this for you. Eighty-two percent of customers find that reading custom content makes them feel more positive about the company, and 90% of customers feel that custom content is useful. These business blogging statistics show that blogs don’t just help you show up on Google. They also make you more interesting and useful to your customers. 14. Visuals produce 94% more views Incorporating relevant visuals can increase views of your content by 94%. Images are a staggeringly effective tool in boosting engagement with campaigns on nearly every digital marketing channel. Visual content also helps you get clicks and shares on social media, and can make your content easier to understand. 15. Top-performing posts have more than 7 images Articles with more than seven images generate 116% more organic traffic than those with none, based on the State of Content Marketing 2022 Global Report of Semrush. Nor does it have to be hard (or expensive) to come up with many high-quality, relevant images for your blog posts. For example, you can subscribe to for $16.50 a month and get unlimited downloads of images, videos, and graphics for your blog. Even more affordable, you can access thousands of free images and edit them to perfection on sites like and . Both platforms also allow you to upload your logo, custom fonts, and choose default colors to make designing images for your website and blog a breeze. 16. Articles with videos get 83% more traffic As far as business blogging statistics, the Semrush report cited above also shows that articles with videos get 83% more traffic than those without. This blog statistic is based on a study conducted by Semrush on 500,000 top-performing articles. Want to get starting with a video blog? Our comprehensive guide can help you start a vlog (video blog) in eight steps. 17. Listicles get shared 2x as much Listicles (articles of lists, like statistics articles, examples articles, and tip lists) are shared twice as frequently as other blog post formats. Listicles break information down into small, easy-to-digest bites, and keep readers’ attention by giving a lot of helpful information in a concentrated format. If you’re looking for content ideas based on proven business blogging statistics, listicles are a great place to start. Plus, should you need help coming up with content ideas, you can turn to the HubSpot blog ideas generator for inspiration. 18. 59% will share an article without even reading it People share content on social media for many reasons: to entertain or educate others, to define themselves, to build relationships, and to spark engagement, to name a few. But of all the blogging statistics you read here, this one might surprise you: 59% of people will share an article link on social media without having read the article beforehand (or reading it afterward). The takeaway? Make sure you are hitting search intent on the head with your title, URL, and optimization, so that your articles get found when people are looking for something helpful to share online. And join the 69% of bloggers who have social share buttons on their site to make it even easier for their content to go viral. Business Blog Statistics on How Often to Blog 19. Blogging 4 times a week drives 3.5x more traffic Posting regularly is important based on several business blogging statistics. If you’re wondering how many blogs per week to post, you should know that blogs that post four times or more per week get three-and-a-half times more traffic than blogs that only post once per week. If four (or more) seems daunting, aim for two to four posts per week, per Rock Content. For small business owners and one-person marketing teams, writing even one blog post a week can be a challenge time-wise. In this case, the best option to grow your business through blogging could be to hire a freelance search engine optimization (SEO) copywriter through . For as little as $5 to $25 per article, you can get blog content written by professional writers with expertise in your industry and target audience. Even if you are already blogging, this can be a great way to supplement your efforts and increase your blog posting frequency. 20. Blogging statistics show that daily posting is still the best Four times per week is much better than once per week, but if you can manage to publish every day, you should. According to this business blogging statistic, blogs that publish every day have a 128% increase in the likelihood of reporting “strong success” in their outcomes. 21. 7 a.m. is the best time to post blog articles This may be one of the business blogging statistics you hadn’t considered before. A study of 170,000 blog posts showed that the time of day people are most likely to read blog posts is between 7 and 10 in the morning. If you schedule your posts to go live just before that window, they are more likely to show up fresh in people’s feeds at the right time. 22. 70% of successful bloggers promote their content It’s getting harder to get clicks from social media—even through Google search. According to blog statistics, 50% of bloggers say it has gotten harder to get traffic from Facebook. Nearly 20% say it has also gotten harder to get traffic from Google. One thing that sets successful bloggers apart is that they promote their blogs proactively. Seventy percent of bloggers who make over $50,000 a year off from blogging actively promote their blogs, while only 14% of bloggers who make less money make the effort to self-promote. Statistics Show the Relationship of Blogging to SEO 23. Sites with blogs have 4x more indexed pages Not only does Google like fresh content, it likes sites with growing content. Blogging statistics show that websites with blogs have 434 more indexed pages than their counterparts. All of this content means there are exponentially more ways for customers to become aware of your brand, research your products and services, and decide to choose your business over those of your competitors. 24. Leads gained through inbound SEO close more often Who doesn’t love a high-performing lead source? According to OptinMonster, search-generated leads have a 14.6% close rate vs just a 1.7% close rate for leads gained through outbound marketing tactics like advertising and direct mail. 25. Content creation is the most effective SEO tactic We might be stating the obvious here, but to rank in online search, you need content. Content creation is, therefore, the most effective SEO tactic, and 72% of online marketers say it’s the absolute best tactic for SEO. 26. 80% of online searchers ignore paid ads Up to 80% of people searching online ignore paid ads in search engine searches, instead preferring to scroll down to the organic search results to find what they are looking for. This means that even if your competitors are showing up above you in ad-specified links at the top of search results, you can still get more clicks if you have good organic content with well-researched keywords showing up in their searches. 27. 70% of bloggers recycle aging posts When it comes to search engine optimization, or SEO dominance, fresh content is king. This is even more true when it comes to people doing buying research. If they click on your blog post and find that it’s more than a couple years, they might just click away. It might still have great information that is very relevant today, but they don’t know that. As far as they know, based on the date stamp, it’s old news. This is why 70% of bloggers update their old posts regularly. It’s an easy source of content because you already wrote it. All you have to do is check which information is still correct, what is outdated, and which new developments to add. Updating content is much less work than writing a completely new article from scratch. And for your site visitors, it assures them that they are getting the most up-to-date information. It helps you show up on search engines too, as they tend to prioritize newer information over older ones. 28. Long-form posts perform the best In the early 2010s and teens, you’d find content writing advice recommending that you aim for several hundred words—enough to give some good information, but not enough to overwhelm readers. In fact, 600 to 800 words was a common number to shoot for with blog posts. Now, longer content performs better. Semrush found that in 2020, blog posts with 7,000 words or more got the most shares and the best SEO performance. 29. However, the average blog post length to aim for is 1,500-2,000 words The average blog post length has risen considerably over the past five or so years. Long-form posts (2,500 words or more) can be the most useful—and therefore are often the most shared and highest ranking—but not everyone wants to read a super-long blog post. According to BrightEdge, the average blog post should be around 1,500 to 2,000 words. The best length for your industry or business type could be less or more. A quick way to check top search engine results pages (SERPs) for keywords you want your site to rank for is to use a free keyword research tool like . It will show you the top 100 sites ranking for a keyword, and you can then check top-ranking articles to see how long they are, how they’re incorporating related keywords, and what type of search intent they are writing to answer. Statistics on How & Where Blog Articles Are Read 30. More than 4 out of 10 will skim your blog post Among the business blog stats we learned from HubSpot is that 43% of readers admit they skim blog posts rather than consuming every word. This is one reason bloggers need to master the art of putting the most important information first (in the article, in lead-in paragraphs, and so on) and using callouts and headlines to draw readers to the most critical information. 31. The majority of people will read your blog on Chrome More than 60% of internet users use Google Chrome worldwide, including 65% of desktop users and over 60% of mobile users, and over 46% of all U.S. internet users. This might look like only a bit over half, but the next runner-up, Safari, only has about 19% of users (Statista). If you have to choose which browser to optimize your content for first, choose Chrome. The last thing you want is for most of your potential customers to click away because the formatting that shows up on their screens is terrible. 32. More than half of Google searches happen on mobile Not only do you have to make sure your blog posts format correctly for the top browsers, but they need to provide a good user experience on every device type. Every month there are more than 100 billion searches on Google, and more than half of them happen on mobile devices. To make sure your content is mobile-viewer-friendly, avoid long paragraphs. Use bullet lists and subheadings to break up and organize your content and take time periodically to view your articles on mobile devices. If you haven’t chosen a blogging platform yet, consider . All of its templates are built with white space to break up content blocks, and they are fully mobile-responsive, to ensure your site looks great on any device. Concerned about how much starting a business blog will cost? Our article detailing the average cost of website design for small businesses shows how any startup, entrepreneur, or small company can build a website, even on a super-tight budget. Bottom Line Over and over again, business blogging statistics show that adding a blog to your website can be a huge bonus to your marketing strategy. It's proven to be more affordable than advertising while reaping the same benefits of increased visibility, awareness, and traffic to your website (or even physical store). Plus, unlike pay-per-click ads, a high-performing blog post can repeatedly attract and convert site visitors, producing a return on investment many times greater than its cost. You Might Also Like… Can’t get enough stats? Check out the business branding statistics you need to know to build a strong brand presence, online and off. Need a cheap way to build your website and blog? is one of the best cheap website builders, with blog plans that include unlimited storage for $5 a month. See how to use your blog as part of a lead and sales-producing SEO content marketing plan.

By definition, publicity stunts are designed to capture public awareness, generate viral sharing, and earn media coverage. While these events can be notoriously high risk, the potential payoff in the form of massive amounts of press makes the gamble worth it. To get ideas for a public relations (PR) stunt to increase positive brand awareness for your business, here are some of the best examples of publicity stunts to draw from. Here are 20 crazy publicity stunt examples that actually worked: 1. Oral-B Drone Deliveries Publicity Stunt Early in the global pandemic, Oral-B came up with a PR stunt, intending to ensure their brand-new high-tech Oral-B iO toothbrushes could be delivered safely. In August 2020, a fleet of Oral-B’s special delivery drones and robots were sent out to deliver toothbrushes to the press and influencers. Over the course of four days, multiple deliveries of the iO toothbrush were made across the U.K., delivering the products with absolutely zero human contact. Why it worked: Despite the global panic about the pandemic, this publicity stunt example from Oral-B was a winner. It showed a perfect mix of technology and inventiveness in bouncing back and adapting to social distancing guidelines implemented by the government. Amid the collective anxiety, this PR stunt ultimately worked by offering hope for a new normal. 2. Red Bull’s New Moon Event Red Bull is known for its outlandish, publicity-generating antics and events. For example, on March 20, 2018, it hosted a New Moon Party, where people in wingsuits jumped out of helicopters above the tallest building in Los Angeles. Surprisingly, this publicity stunt wasn’t all that crazy by Red Bull standards. However, the event caused a stir because the jumpers—fitted with a sparkler mechanism—dropped at sunset, leading those on the ground to believe comets or UFOs were descending on the city. Why it worked: Red Bull has always been known as the “extreme child” of caffeinated beverage companies, but even brand devotees didn’t see this one coming. It not only captured media headlines but cemented its brand’s public image as dangerously exciting. 3. Visible Mobile’s Accidental Typo PR Stunt The definition of publicity stunt is simply something done to get the public’s attention, and sometimes, that happens by accident. At first glance, Visible Mobile’s advertisement looked like just about any other mobile phone ad you might find strewn across a city. And yet, upon further inspection, where most other providers offer unlimited messages with their services, this ad boasted unlimited massages. While it’s ideal for publicity stunts to be planned in advance, Visible Mobile took the opportunity to turn a typo into a PR win. Instead of explaining it off as a typo, Visible summoned the assistance of masseuses and offered free massages to passersby. Why it worked: It owned up to its mistake and began offering a pop-up massage stand, allowing the public to enjoy the company’s grammatical error. But, more importantly, it helped to create a warm fuzzy feeling toward the brand—something mobile service providers aren’t known for and rarely manage. 4. Virgin Galactic Plans to Offer Flights to Space While the air travel industry tends to struggle to stand out and build a strong brand, Virgin excels—so much so that it’s going as far as space. As of May 2021, it is in the process of entering into commercial service for flights to space. News of the program and the idea that the general public could go to space have landed a great deal of press. In fact, excitement has grown further as it became public news that several celebrities have already signed up to go to space. Why it worked: Though this PR stunt doesn’t necessarily directly benefit Virgin Airline’s bottom line, it does increase brand awareness while developing its image as the airline that can take you beyond your wildest dreams. 5. Lego MRI Scanners Donation On February 23, 2022, LEGO foundation announced a donation of 600 LEGO magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to hospitals worldwide. What was initially a passion project was piloted with new training material for hospital staff. Lego’s donations were released in the hopes of helping children cope with the fear of MRI scans, turning a stressful experience into a positive and playful one. Since the release of its prototype, LEGO MRI scanners have been used to help hundreds of children aged four to nine annually. Why it worked: Lego used the power of play to create a playful and comfortable hospital environment for children, encouraging role-play and dialogue to allow them to understand the process more easily. Hospitals revealed that these MRI models effectively ease children’s worries about their MRI scans. 6. Tinder’s Dozens of Dopes Date In a 2018 publicity stunt, meaning to drive brand awareness, Tinder held a PR stunt in New York City’s Union Square, where one woman invited dozens of unsuspecting men on the same date. The men were unaware that the date would involve many others, so they were surprised when they arrived to see a group of men and their date standing on a stage. Why it worked: The stunt went viral as a social media marketing campaign, giving Tinder a lot of free press. It may be a laughable and low-cost stunt, but it landed Tinder free press and served as a conversation piece. It’s debatable whether the stunt was in line with the dating app’s brand image, but some argue that it displayed female empowerment. After all, the app has historically been known as a male-driven hookup platform. 7. KFC’s Brand PR Stunt Ad Visible From Space In 2016, the fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) had the cosmic idea to create the first advertisement that could be seen from space. While most would never see the ad in person, it created a buzz after it found its way onto Google Maps and the corresponding Google Sightseeing Blog. Why it worked: Longstanding businesses like KFC often suffer from consumer fatigue and need to work hard to stay top-of-mind. This outrageous marketing stunt got press coverage from several outlets, reaffirming KFC as an oversized fixture in the fast-food world. KFC managed to do so with this creative ad stunt—showing us that its fried chicken is tops wherever in the galaxy you are. 8. Daytona 500 Comes to New York City Days before the Daytona 500, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series vehicle showed up in one of the busiest parts of New York City. It then remained parked there for three days, collecting tickets and eventually a boot (which had to be custom-made to fit the race car’s tire). Why it worked: Despite the bustle surrounding busy NYC streets, the race car was attention-grabbing. It was out of place, and with the ever-growing number of tickets, the car was almost comical—looking as if the race car had speeding tickets. It effectively piqued the interest of locals and served to promote the upcoming Daytona 500 event—all for a pretty cost-effective price compared to other forms of advertising in downtown NYC. 9. Uber’s $63 Helicopter Rides Uber took its ridesharing services to new heights when it started offering promotional helicopter rides to Uber users. It started the service in 2012 by chartering Uber helicopter rides from New York City to the Hamptons, giving upscale weekenders a way to get to the beach in style. The concept, while not long-lived, was surprising, though not illogical for a transportation company. Why it worked: This worked because it demonstrated that Uber is forward-thinking in terms of transportation services. It’s a good example of how a business can create a positive PR stunt connected to its normal product offerings, but unique and exciting enough to attract media attention. 10. Taco Bell 'Buys' the Liberty Bell Back in 1996, Taco Bell played a joke on the nation when it submitted press releases to major news outlets—from The New York Times to USA Today—stating that it was purchasing the Liberty Bell. The response was a countrywide outrage at the atrocious idea of a Mexican-themed fast food restaurant buying America’s foremost symbol of freedom. Why it worked: This legendary campaign from Taco Bell cost the fast-food giant upward of $300,000. That may sound like a lot, but Taco Bell got the last laugh. Priceconomics reported that they got around $25 million in free publicity from the stunt. It wasn’t a stunt that helped with the branding or even its image in the public eye, but it successfully got the taco giant plastered in the news. 11. Reese’s Giant Chocolate Bar Rivalry In January 2020, there was fierce competition for the world’s biggest chocolate nut bar to celebrate that year’s Super Bowl. At first, Snickers unveiled its largest chocolate bar at 4,700 pounds (the weight of 43,000 single Snickers bars put together). They were immediately certified by Guinness World Records. However, just two weeks later, Hershey’s broke this record with a massive 5,900-pound Reese’s Take 5 chocolate bar. Why it worked: The Super Bowl is the biggest television event of the year in the U.S., so brands use this to tie their biggest ad campaigns to football’s biggest game. Hershey’s overtook the biggest brand advertisement of the season with a chocolatey record of their own. The fact that it only took two weeks for them to break the record is an impressive “trick play” that everyone was surprised to see. 12. Jaguar’s Fastest Barrel Roll in a Car When luxury automaker Jaguar released its first midsize SUV, it decided to make a media splash by teaming up with the Guinness World Records. To capture mass attention and show that Jaguar was capable of more than high-end sedans, it devised a scheme to break a world record. It completed the fastest barrel roll in a vehicle using its very own SUV. Why it worked: Breaking a world record is usually a good way of getting press, but Jaguar used the stunt to show people how rugged its new SUV was. The awe-inspiring, dangerous stunt gained the media’s attention while helping to construct a sporty, more rugged brand image in the eyes of consumers. So naturally, the affair increased interest in its new SUV. 13. National Geographic’s Public T-Rex PR Stunt What appeared to be an injured T-Rex (Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur) strapped to the back of a flatbed truck was seen cruising around the streets of London in what turns out to be a bizarre PR stunt brought to you by National Geographic. Naturally, the strange sight caught a great deal of attention. Why it worked: It’s not every day you see a life-sized dinosaur replica, and never mind one being driven throughout the city. Not surprisingly, this put a lot of eyes on National Geographic and landed it a great deal of free press. 14. Tesla’s First Car in Space PR Stunt Tesla doesn’t do much traditional advertising, but that doesn’t mean it’s not heavily marketing in other ways—including with publicity stunts meaning to generate buzz. In 2018, Tesla launched one of its Roadster models into space via a SpaceX rocket ship (both brands owned by Elon Musk). The spaceward stunt had a 50% chance of failure, but Musk opted to go for it anyway, landing them boasting rights as the first automaker in space. Why it worked: Naturally, Tesla’s out-of-this-world stunt got a lot of press. What it also did was position Tesla in the minds of consumers as a high-end, modern, and “out-of-this-world” automaker—setting it apart from other luxury automobile manufacturers that are often deemed stuffy and boring. 15. McDonald’s Women’s Day Flip McDonald’s showed its support for women on International Women’s Day in 2019 by flipping its logo upside-down. Consumers around the world were caught by surprise to see the iconic golden arches flipped on its head. Many were left wondering if it was a prank, causing the PR stunt to gain a lot of press. Why it worked: This stunt was a clever, low-cost way of showing McDonald’s support for women. In fact, it started several conversations about gender-based workplace biases. The stunt was met with some negativity from those who thought it overlooked the deeper meaning behind Women’s Day, though it did give McDonald’s the stage to share its stance on gender equality. 16. Bitcoin Fake Protest Protests don’t sound like a PR stunt, yet they’re surprisingly common—and it’s not just about protesting against a rival brand. Companies are even staging protests at their events and against their own companies. For example, Bitcoin staged a protest of 8,500 people at the 2018 Consensus Blockchain Conference in NYC with the goal of getting press in a market flooded with noise. Why it worked: Years later, we can see that Bitcoin’s goal was achieved. The idea behind the stunt was to gain the attention of people who have not yet invested in Bitcoin. While this is undoubtedly a risky stunt that gambles with negative press, it did manage to garner serious attention from the public—and publicity. 17. Richard Branson’s Publicity Stunt Around the World Virgin Airlines’ famous CEO Richard Branson has proven himself to be something of a PR stunt expert and adventurer over the years, participating in several stunts landing the airline media headlines. One of his biggest stunts, however, involved a trek around the world—not in an airplane, but in a Virgin Airlines’ hot air balloon. Why it worked: The first attempt to not only cross the Atlantic, but the world, in a hot air balloon was fascinating to many; it wasn’t a trek most people thought possible. To add even more press-fuel to the fire, the stunt ended with a crash, leading to near-death headlines that the media (and world) love. One would imagine this to be a black mark for Virgin Airlines, but it proved to be the opposite, showing that airlines are the safe mode of transport for globetrotters. 18. Frank’s RedHot Digital Spin the Bottle In celebration of Frank’s RedHot 100th Celebration, they decided to livestream a massive Spin the Bottle party with plenty of exclusive prizes on the line. Instead of kissing, the game included dares, truths, and surprises for the fans. They aired the livestream on February 2, 2020, the night of the Super Bowl. Viewers from anywhere could participate just by responding to prompts using the competition’s official hashtag. It was a hit with fans, including celebrities, with notable names like Donnie Wahlberg getting into the game. Why it worked: During the 2020 Big Game, almost every viewer was hooked on Frank’s RedHot party game, and their fans dominated Twitter conversations among brands without a single ad. Everyone was hoping to win the grand prize: $36,500, equivalent to $1 for every day Frank’s had been running in the market. 19. Tinder’s 'Swipe Right to Adopt a Dog' Publicity Campaign In 2014, Tinder used its dating platform in a surprising new way, aimed at connecting singles to dogs available for adoption. The promo stunt was conducted in partnership with a U.S. animal rescue organization, creating a feel-good attitude toward the dating app. This was undoubtedly a boon, as the app has long had a reputation for facilitating risqué connections. Why it worked: The Tinder stunt successfully generated over 2,000 matches—or adoptions—in its first week. This showed that the platform’s design could be applied to charitable efforts and have a positive impact. In the saturated dating app market, companies struggle to set themselves apart, which successfully positioned Tinder as a company with a uniquely altruistic, pet-loving bent. 20. Israeli Food Bank’s Cause-based Publicity Stunt In an effort to increase public awareness of hunger and starvation, the Israeli Food Book distributed dinner plates across the city, setting them in sewer grates like a dish rack, with the message “too many people eat on the streets.” The low-cost publicity stunt provided evidence that creativity can overcome a low budget for landing publicity. Why it worked: By bringing the marketing campaign to the streets in an obscure way, the nonprofit effectively captured the attention of locals, bringing awareness to their message. In return, the cause received an increase in public donations. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What are the best tips for getting PR? Getting public relations, or PR, coverage isn’t easy, but there are ways to improve your chances of getting your story on the news without the need for a crazy publicity stunt. This includes everything from understanding what is considered newsworthy to creating an event that people will talk about, promoting a positive brand image, making connections with journalists, and knowing how to send a press release. What is a press release? A press release is a statement distributed to the media that explains the essentials of a piece of news or event in 300 to 500 words. They need to follow a standard press release format and be distributed effectively to gain the media’s interest. Before you hold your publicity stunt, make sure you issue a press release to the media. Learn how to write a press release that will get picked up step-by-step, including a free template you can download and use as you follow along. What are the best outlets for distributing a press release? There are several good press release distribution services, including and . The best outlet for distributing press releases for your business or event depends on how often you send press releases, how many outlets you want to reach, your budget, and your target media channels. It also depends on whether you need writing services plus distribution—for this, we recommend . Bottom Line Done right, these PR stunt examples show that publicity events can be an effective way for businesses to market themselves and gain larger audiences. Brainstorm your own campaign by coming up with an interesting and creative idea, developing a strategy, and reaching media outlets with press releases. For a faster, more affordable, and less risky way to land press quickly, send a press release using a reliable distribution service like . You Might Also Like… Need to avert negative publicity? See how to write a crisis press release in a few simple steps. Get help from the pros—let the best digital marketing agencies for small businesses put your business on the map. To grow your small business, check out our list of cheap and free small business marketing ideas.

The definition of a press release (also known as a news release or media release) is a concise document that presents newsworthy information in journalistic style. It discusses the who, when, where, how, what, and why of a news story or announcement for the purpose of getting additional media coverage. They also follow a specific format that may vary slightly depending on the type of press release issued. Press release services like eReleases have mastered the art of writing press releases and distributing them for maximum impact. Take advantage of their affordable services to get the most media coverage for your company’s story. The Purpose of Press Releases Ultimately, the purpose of press releases is to earn positive media coverage. This could be proactive, such as building brand awareness, announcing an expansion, or launching new products or services. Alternatively, the purpose of a press release could be reactive, such as to counteract negative media coverage or explain why something went wrong. A press release should be purposeful and tie back to specific business goals. For example, marketing press releases can be issued to get local media news coverage of company milestones and new product and service offerings. Brands can garner local and industry coverage with news media releases announcing prominent new hires or industry breakthroughs. Here are some of the common business goals that drive the issue of press releases: Brand awareness: Press releases can increase brand awareness in multiple ways. For example, services like can place press releases in news outlets for specific regions, industries, and audience demographics. They also send press releases to individual journalists and publication editors who frequently cover stories intended for your same target audience. Also, businesses will often issue press releases before publicity stunts to ensure maximum media coverage. Brand image: Media releases can be used to position your organization in a positive light. For example, you might use press releases to showcase philanthropic events you’re hosting or recent donations. They can also be issued for brand image repair, such as a crisis press release issued following negative press or to show how your company responded to fix a problem in your business. Professional credibility: A positive newsworthy announcement—like a new business launch, a merger, a new hire press release, or an award announcement—helps to position your company as a more credible one. Industry leadership: Press releases can secure your business’ reputation as an industry leader. A product breakthrough, for example, can position your company as a leading innovator in your industry. You can also tout your company’s successes in press releases targeted at journalists and media outlets covering your industry's news. New leads: With exposure comes the potential to gain leads. Press releases allow you a positive means to get your company before new target audience members. You can even include a call to action that contributes to lead generation, such as a link that leads to a high-converting landing page on your website. Sales: When announcing a product, merger, acquisition, or new business launch, a press release can help attract prospective buyers to your new endeavor. Often, this targeted exposure leads to more sales. Events: Get the media to attend and cover your events, such as open houses, grand openings, or VIP customer events, by issuing a media advisory in advance of the occasion. A great way to learn more about what a press release is and how to use them effectively is to see how other businesses use them. See how other companies have used press releases to target specific business goals by checking out these press release examples. You’ll find more than a dozen examples of highly effective media releases for inspiration to write your company’s story. Then, when you’re ready, read our article detailing how to write a press release step-by-step. It includes a free press release template you can download and use to write your press release more easily and increase your chances of gaining additional media coverage. How Press Releases Work Businesses create and send press releases to share newsworthy information with journalists and media outlets. These press contacts and media outlets are also actively sourcing newsworthy press releases. When they find a press announcement with news they think will capture their audience's interest, they will write a story about it. This gives the organization publishing the press release free publicity and may even produce a significant amount of additional exposure. Thus, the key to a successful press release is having a meaningful story or significant announcement. For example, various types of press releases might be distributed to cover anything from the announcement of a new product, a merger or acquisition, or to announce a significant new hire, such as a C-level executive. However, it won’t matter how well-written your press release is if it doesn’t actually contain a compelling story. Journalists are looking for stories that are relevant, timely, and of interest to their audiences—whether due to prominence or proximity. Learn more about what to include and ways to increase the chance your story will be picked up by the media in our article on what makes a good press release. Why Use the Press Release Format Press release elements, like the headline, subhead, and body, are specifically designed to pique the interest of members of the media to gain additional coverage. Other components, such as media contact information, images or videos, links to additional resources, and the press release boilerplate section, provide guidance to help journalists and media outlets easily produce additional coverage. Press releases that are compelling and distributed effectively are more likely to earn positive media coverage, increasing brand awareness and interest in a business with its target audience. You can see the format media professionals use and get a free template in our article with the steps for how to write an AP style press release. For the best chance of earning more coverage, press releases need to not only follow the right format, but also be written and distributed effectively. From finding the right angle to tips for writing and sending your press release, read through our list of press release best practices. Top Press Release Resources for Small Businesses Now that you know what a press release is, make sure you have all the tools and resources you need to write a press release that gets picked up. Here are some of the top resources for writing and distributing press releases, including affordable, cheap, and free tools and services: Press release writing: is our top pick overall for best press release writing services. However, for the most affordable press release writing, freelance writers at are your best bet. Press release distribution: Targeted distribution within your desired locale, industry, and audience is key for getting the highest return on investment with press releases. Check out our list of the best press release distribution services, topped by . Copy optimization: In addition to writing your release with the right format, you can also increase its visibility in online search engines like Google using keywords. tops our list of the best tools for keyword research, and you can use it to research up to 10 keywords daily for free. Free press release templates: From how to write a boilerplate to specific types of press releases, we have preformatted press release templates you can use to simplify and speed up the process. For the template most likely to appeal to journalists, use our AP press release template and step-by-step guide. Free services: Even if your budget is zero, you can use press releases to build your brand and promote your business. Check out our list of the best free press release distribution services. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is a press release advertising? In a sense, yes, a press release is a form of advertising. It’s a brand-sponsored media announcement intended to produce positive press for your business on a specific topic. It also typically requires the investment of marketing or advertising funding, whether you choose to hire a professional to write your press release or get the most exposure through paid distribution platforms like and . Is a press release the same thing as a media alert? Press releases and media alerts are different. A press release includes important information journalists need to decide if a company story would interest their target audience. A media advisory (or media alert) is an invitation issued asking journalists to attend an event and invite their audiences. For example, a media alert may contain an invitation to attend a new book launch vs a book press release that simply announces its publication. How do you write a press release? The process of how to write a press release that will get picked up by the media begins with developing a newsworthy angle and setting up a document in a standard press release format. Next, write engaging copy backed by supporting elements like images, charts, graphs, or video. Learn more about what your press release should include and get a free template with the proper press release format. Bottom Line Press releases are the best means for sharing company news and announcements with journalists to get publicity for your business. To successfully land coverage, your release needs to be relevant to journalists and your target audience, and must be distributed to the right outlets and individuals. If you’ve decided that you want professional help to write and distribute your media announcement, you can’t go wrong with . eReleases provides a one-stop shop for press release writing, proofing, search optimization, and both geographic and industry-targeted distribution. You Might Also Like… Download our free press kit template and learn how to build a media kit to increase your brand’s presence among your target audience. Learn more about , which tops our list of the best press release distribution services. Learn how to incorporate press releases into your SEO content marketing plan to build authority for your brand and increase your website’s visibility.