• Press releases are vital to maintaining a good and fresh image of your company. 
• PRs are also a great way to resolve issues regarding any public uproar, e.g. following a public scandal about a company's board of directors.
• Read on for our pick of the best press release websites available, including free and cheap press release services.

A press release is a pseudo-news story, written in the third person that seeks to demonstrate to an editor or reporter the newsworthiness of a particular person, event, service or product. Fraser Seitel, an American public relations consultant and author, refers to press releases (PR) as being, “the granddaddy of public relations writing vehicles”.

Press releases are vital to maintaining a good and fresh image of your company. In addition, PR is a great way to resolve issues regarding any public uproar. For example, McDonald's ™ might release news about how they have donated millions to poverty-stricken countries right after a detrimental reveal on how lavish the lifestyles of McDonald's ™ board of directors are.

PRs are important because it propagates to any available channel there is out there in the world. It’s up to the public relations department to decide where the press releases go to because; referring to the earlier example, not all countries are concerned about the lifestyle of McDonald's ™ board of directors.

Here’s a list of websites that you should check out:

1. Get The Word Out

Get The Word Out specialises in only sending press releases out to editors and journalists. This site doesn’t have a page that shows published articles that are sent out by them.

2. Seeking Media

Seeking Media is a Melbourne-based company. Prices for a PR are reasonable compared to others, plus, there are many options to customise where you want to aim your PR to.

3. PRWire

PRWire is a NSW-based company. They place importance on PRs that are related to Australia and New Zealand.

4. Press King

Press King is a French company. Their website and PR writing is simple and user-friendly. Prices are rather expensive; there’s a PAYG option or a monthly subscription.

5. Newswire Today

Newswire Today's website offers a range of services from free submission of PRs to premium articles distribution for a reasonable price.

6. Press About

Press About is another user-friendly website that also offers help in writing PRs. Prices are charged for the number of PRs you want.

7. Business Wire

Business Wire is a Berkshire Hathaway company. Provides a wide range of services not only in PRs but also Investor Relations (IR) and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

8. Web Wire

Web Wire is an American company that is founded in 1995. States that they are pioneers of other interest press release websites. Clear with the prices they charge and services coming from it.

9. Free Press Release

Free Press Release is another American company. They provide a great service of free online PRs.

10. PR (Yes, it's called PR)

PR don’t specialise with just PRs. Business listings and job search is also in their area of mastery. Prices for PRs are cheap compared to others listed above.

Choosing the right company to join for publications of your PRs is important. Take note of their reputation, specialities, targeted influences and price. Make sure that the PR is newsworthy, properly labelled and aimed at sending a message to avoid disappointment from either having your PR edited or not having your PR published. PRs aren’t cheap if made frequently but as the saying goes, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”.