How to Use Press Releases to Gain Local Media Backlinks

To use press releases effectively for gaining local media backlinks, focus on crafting newsworthy, valuable content that local journalists want to cover and then distribute it strategically to local media outlets and journalists.

Key steps include:

• Create a compelling, newsworthy press release that offers unique or valuable information rather than just announcements (e.g., funding). Including local relevance or data can increase interest from local media.

• Localize your press release by referencing local market data, government programs, or partnerships to make it more appealing to local outlets.

• Distribute your press release through targeted channels, such as local newswire services or PR distribution platforms with established contacts in local media. This increases the chance your release will be picked up by local journalists who may write original stories linking back to you.

• Follow up tactfully with local journalists after distribution to encourage coverage without being intrusive.

• Leverage social media and storytelling alongside traditional distribution to amplify reach and engagement, which can indirectly boost backlinks when local media pick up your story and create original content.

• Timing matters: Send your press release on optimal days (Tuesday to Thursday, mid-morning) to improve the likelihood of journalist attention.

While direct backlinks from press release syndication often carry no SEO value due to nofollow or noindex tags, the real benefit comes when local media create original stories based on your release and link to your site, thus earning valuable backlinks.

In summary, to gain local media backlinks via press releases, focus on valuable, localized content, use targeted distribution to local media, follow up professionally, and combine with social media efforts to maximize original coverage and backlinks.