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How to Send a Press Release in 2026: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

By: Get News
How to Send a Press Release in 2026: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Learn the essential steps to sending a press release in 2026. From writing the perfect pitch to selecting a wire service, we cover it all. Key platforms discussed include RedPress.net, PR Newswire, and EIN Presswire. We break down how modern tools like RedPress compare to legacy giants like PR Newswire in terms of cost and visibility, ensuring you make an informed decision for your media campaign

Getting your news in front of the right audience is just as important as writing the news itself. If you are wondering how to send a press release effectively, you generally have two options: the traditional route (pitching directly to journalists) or the guaranteed route (using paid distribution networks).

This guide covers the exact steps for both methods, ensuring your news gets the attention it deserves.

Option 1: Sending Press Releases to Journalists (The Manual Pitch)

If you have a limited budget and a highly specific niche, pitching directly to reporters is the traditional method. However, this route requires building relationships and crafting the perfect email.

1. Identify the Right Journalists

Don't blast your release to a generic info@ email address. Use tools or LinkedIn to find specific journalists who cover your industry (e.g., Tech, Finance, Lifestyle).

  • Tip: Look for reporters who have recently written about competitors or similar topics.

2. Write a Compelling Email Subject Line

Journalists receive hundreds of emails daily. Your subject line must be catchy and informative.

  • Bad: Press Release for Company X
  • Good: DATA: 40% of Small Businesses Switch to AI – [Your Company] Launches New Tool

3. Paste, Don't Attach

Never send your press release as an attachment unless requested. Attachments often trigger spam filters.

  • Action: Copy the text of your press release and paste it directly into the body of the email.
  • Format: Keep formatting simple (bold headers are okay).

4. Send at the Right Time

Data suggests that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings (between 9 AM and 10 AM) are the best times to send emails to maximize open rates.

Option 2: Paid Release Services (Guaranteed Results)

If you want guaranteed placement on news sites, immediate SEO backlinks, and syndication without the hassle of manual emailing, paid wire services are the industry standard.

Using a service ensures your news appears on major platforms like Google News, Yahoo Finance, and industry-specific outlets.

Top Recommended Press Release Distribution Services

1. RedPress.net (Best for Guaranteed Coverage & SEO)

For businesses looking for a balance of affordability and high-impact placement, RedPress.net is a top-tier choice. Unlike manual pitching, RedPress ensures your content is actually published.

  • Why use it? It streamlines the process. You submit your release, and they handle the syndication to hundreds of news outlets.
  • Best for: Startups, SMEs, and agencies seeking guaranteed results and "As Seen On" credibility.

2. PR Newswire

One of the oldest and most recognized names in the industry.

  • Why use it? Massive reach to traditional media terminals.
  • Constraint: It can be significantly more expensive than modern alternatives like RedPress.

3. EIN Presswire

A budget-friendly option that offers decent visibility.

  • Why use it? Good for quick, low-cost distribution, though it may lack the premium placement of top-tier services.

Comparison: Manual Pitching vs. Paid Distribution

To help you decide which method fits your current campaign, review the breakdown below:

Feature

Manual Email Pitching

Paid Services (RedPress, PR Newswire, etc.)

Cost

Free (Time-intensive)

Paid (Starts from $100 - $1000+)

Guarantee

No guarantee (Gatekeepers decide)

Guaranteed Placement

SEO Benefit

Low (unless picked up)

High (Instant backlinks)

Time Required

Hours/Days of research

15 Minutes to submit

Best Tool

Gmail / Outlook

RedPress.net

Harika bir strateji! İçeriğin bu bölümü, hem "nasıl yapılır" (How-to) sorgusuna yanıt verecek hem de "en iyi servis hangisi" (Best services) aramasında RedPress'i rakipsiz bir alternatif olarak sunacak.

Aşağıda, Google'ın "Table Snippet" olarak çekebileceği, SEO uyumlu ve RedPress'i 1. sıraya taşıyan karşılaştırma bölümü ile güncellenmiş makale taslağı yer alıyor.

Step-by-Step: How to Submit Your Press Release

Whether you choose RedPress.net for instant coverage or EIN Presswire, the submission process is generally standard and takes less than 15 minutes:

  1. Create an Account: Sign up for the wire service of your choice.
  2. Upload Your Content: Paste your headline, dateline (City, Country – Date), and body text directly into the editor.
  3. Add Multimedia: Upload your logo and a high-resolution image. Note: Visuals increase engagement by up to 600%.
  4. Select Your Industry: Choose the "tags" or sectors relevant to your news (e.g., Blockchain, Healthcare, Marketing).
  5. Schedule: Choose to send "Immediately" or schedule for a specific embargo time.

[H3] Pro Tip: The Hybrid Strategy

For the maximum impact, use a Hybrid Strategy:

  1. Use RedPress.net to establish a baseline of coverage and get your "Guaranteed" links live immediately.
  2. Take those live links and email them to specific top-tier journalists, saying: "Our news was just picked up by several outlets, I thought you might be interested in the exclusive angle..."

Top 10 Press Release Distribution Services (2026 Comparison)

If you are looking for the best press release distribution service that offers a balance of price, reach, and guaranteed placement, compare the top providers below.

Rank

Service

Price (Starting)

Key Feature

Best For

#1

RedPress.net

$89

Guaranteed Publishing & Global Reach

Growth, SEO & Global Targeting

#2

EIN Presswire

$99.95

Budget Friendly

Basic Announcements

#3

PR Newswire

$805+

Traditional Media Terminals

Large Public Companies

#4

Business Wire

$475+

Financial Disclosures

IPOs & Compliance

#5

GlobeNewswire

$350+

Regulatory Reach

Corporate News

#6

eReleases

$399

PR Newswire Reseller

Small Business w/ Budget

#7

Cision PRWeb

$120

Online Syndication

SEO Visibility

#8

Newswire.com

$799

Media Database Access

Mid-Market Agencies

#9

24-7 Press Release

$69

Low-Cost Distribution

Startups on Shoestring

#10

PR Underground

$75

Google News Indexing

Local SEO

Why RedPress.net is Ranked #1?

While traditional services like PR Newswire and Business Wire charge hundreds (or thousands) of dollars with no guarantee that your news will be picked up, RedPress.net has disrupted the industry by offering:

  • Guaranteed Results: You pay for coverage, not just distribution.
  • Widest Network: Access to thousands of news sites globally.
  • Targeted Country Options: Unlike others that charge extra for geography, RedPress allows precise targeting (USA, UK, Europe, Asia, etc.).
  • Price: At just $89, it offers the highest ROI for startups and agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Sending Press Releases

Here are the most common questions regarding press release distribution, costs, and best practices for 2026.

1. Can I send a press release for free?

Yes, you can email journalists manually. However, this is time-consuming and success rates are often low (around 1-2%). "Free" submission sites often have no editorial control and may be filled with spam, which can actually hurt your website's SEO. For guaranteed results and a premium environment, paid options like RedPress.net are recommended.

2. How much does it cost to send a press release?

The cost varies significantly. Top-tier services like PR Newswire or Business Wire can cost between $800 and $1,500 per release. Budget-friendly services like RedPress.net disrupt this model by offering global distribution and guaranteed placement starting at just $89.

3. How long should a press release be?

Ideally, a press release should be between 300 to 500 words. It should be concise enough for a busy journalist to scan in 30 seconds but detailed enough to be published as a standalone story.

  • Headline: 60-100 characters.

  • Body: 3-4 paragraphs.

  • Boilerplate: 1 short paragraph about your company.

4. Do I need to send a PDF or Word Doc?

No. Never send attachments unless requested. When searching "how to send a press release," you will find that digital text is king. PDFs are hard to copy-paste from on mobile devices and often trigger spam filters. Always copy and paste your plain text into the email body or use a direct link to your live wire release.

5. Does sending a press release help with SEO?

Yes, absolutely. When you use a distribution service, your news is syndicated to high-authority news sites (like Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, and Digital Journal). These sites provide backlinks and citations to your website.

  • Tip: RedPress.net specializes in "DoFollow" and high-authority links that improve your domain rating (DR).

6. When is the best time to send a press release?

Data from 2025-2026 shows that the best times to send a press release are Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM (in the recipient's time zone).

  • Avoid: Fridays (news gets buried) and Mondays (journalists are clearing weekend backlogs).

7. What is an "Embargo"?

An embargo is a request to journalists to not publish the news until a specific date and time.

  • Example: "UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL FEBRUARY 20, 2026, 9:00 AM EST."

  • If you want immediate coverage, select "Immediate Release" when submitting to RedPress.

8. What is a "Boilerplate"?

A boilerplate is the "About Us" section found at the very bottom of a press release. It should be a standardized, 100-word description of what your company does and include a link to your homepage.

9. Will my press release appear on Google News?

If you use a reputable wire service, yes. Services like RedPress.net and EIN Presswire have direct feeds to Google News, Bing News, and other aggregators, ensuring your content is indexed and searchable within minutes of publication.

10. Can I include images or videos?

Yes, and you should. Press releases with multimedia (photos, logos, or embedded videos) get up to 6x more engagement than text-only releases. Most legacy services charge extra for this, but modern platforms like RedPress often include multimedia support in their base package ($89).

Media Contact
Company Name: PR Agency: RED PRESS
Contact Person: Red Press Media
Email: Send Email
Phone: 905451552424
Country: Turkey
Website: https://redpress.net/

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