Thanks to the growing demand across the market, many companies opt for a press release package to get their important announcements into the world. You’ll find no shortage of agencies, including us at BTCWire, that will handle bulk press release distribution for a fee.
But how do you know if you’re overpaying for your current package? Depending on which service you choose, you could be paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars. As such, you want to be sure that you’re getting the most value for your money. Luckily, we’ve come up with a few ways to determine if you’re being charged fairly or not:
Determine the Cost Per Publication
In virtually every press release package, you’re given a breakdown of what you’ll be getting, including the number of publications that your release will be sent to. While it is not the only thing that makes the package valuable, it is one of the core selling points. As such, a good way to review the value you’re getting is to determine the cost you are paying per publication.
Suppose your current press release package costs $250 and includes access to 50 publications. This means that you are, on average, paying $5 per publication that the release is sent to. It is then up to you to determine whether or not this is worth the cost and this logic can be applied to most press release packages you will find anywhere.
Consider the Quality of Publications
While getting the cost per publication of your press release package is beneficial, it is not the only metric you should lean on. You also need to consider the quality of said publications. After all, there are hundreds of publications in the world and they are not the same in terms of readership, prestige, and so on. A package might see you paying a high amount per publication but might grant you access to especially popular or prestigious ones. In that case, you’re paying extra for the status and this might very well be worth it to you. On the flip side, you might feel that the ‘level’ of publications you’re getting for the amount you’re paying is not worth it.
As a rule, look through the list of publications your package gives you access to and look into their quality. This will help you to decide whether or not you are happy to pay the current amount attached to it.
Consider the Press Release Package Add-Ons
As we’ve said, the publications themselves are not the only thing to consider with a press release package. You also have to look at the add-ons and other benefits that might come with it and just the price. For example, we at BTCWire offer guaranteed publication in all of our packages. So you’re not just having your release submitted to them but can be sure that they will appear. We also offer editorial assistance, images, metrics, SEO optimization, and so on.
When you’re deciding if a press release package is fairly priced, list all the add-ons and ask yourself how much you would pay for each individually. Hiring an editor to assist with your press release will cost you at least $20 to $25 per hour. An SEO expert will charge you around the same amount, and you’d have to pay for software to compile metrics for you. Put a dollar amount on each of these and decide if the press release package is saving you money or not (keep the publications themselves in mind as well). Ultimately, analysing the add-ons will give you a clearer idea of what value you’re getting for your money.
Compare the Market
One way to know if you’re overpaying for your press release package is to compare what you’re getting to other options in the market. The same way you compare products on one site to those on another, look at several press release distribution services and look at the packages they offer. First, consider the price and the number of publications. Using the same steps as we mentioned earlier, consider how much your current provider charges per publication and what others would charge. Then, consider the quality of the sites in question to decide whether the price difference is worth it. Finally, consider the add-ons you may or may not be getting.
Sure, another agency might seem like a better option because they charge less but there is no point in using them if you’ll end up having to pay for the add-ons afterwards. With all these, you should have a clear idea of whether you can do better cost-wise.
Rate Your Satisfaction
At the end of the day, you are a customer and whether or not you remain with a business should depend on how satisfied you feel with it. Ask yourself if your current press release package provider has been meeting your needs. Do they deliver on time? Does their customer service help you when you need them?
Remember that switching providers carries an element of risk and this has to be accounted for. If you’re considering changing providers, calculate how much money you’ll be saving and ask yourself if it is worth the peace of mind you enjoy with them. If it is, you may want to remain with them. If not, feel free to switch press release package providers.
Conclusion
A press release package can be a way of saving time, effort, and money to get your business updates out as quickly as possible. But as we’ve highlighted in this article, there are ways to make sure that you aren’t overpaying for them. These essentially boil down to determining how much you are paying for each publication you’re given access to while also factoring in the quality of these publications and the other add-ons that come with the package. Finally, you should compare the different options in the market while also considering how satisfied you are with your current service provider.