Evaluation Criteria - Press Release Distribution

topseos, the independent authority on search vendors, has done the research into the best press release distribution practices. Since launching in 2002, our research and rankings only show companies that have proven they are the best. Companies on our list have excelled in submission process, optimization, distribution network, analytics, and support.

The first part of our evaluation reviews the submission process. Does the vendor provide an online submission process, or is it handled through email?

Next we assess the optimization capabilities offered by the vendor. Does the press release distribution service provide search engine optimization tools or other ways to help make sure the release is optimized to reach the target audience? Do these tools help to identify keyword density or other important ranking factors?

The size of the distribution network is another important factor when choosing a PR distribution firm. Are the releases picked up by various online news feeds or is it left to work its way through the organic results?

A fourth component evaluated is the vendor's analytics. How many times is the headline being viewed? How many full-page reads have there been? Does the vendor provide detailed statistical information for your PR?

Lastly, we evaluate the customer support offered by the vendor. How does a company help clients to process their press release submission? What kind of response time do you receive on questions that are submitted? If there is a revision that needs to be taken care of, how long does it take to update that information?