Press‍‌‍‍‌ release distribution sites have grown to be a vital part of the modern media and brand communication system. In fact, while there are merely regular submission means available, the use of premium features can significantly elevate one’s visibility, credibility, and consequently, engagement. So, what is it that these premium features have that makes it worthwhile to invest in them anyway? A closer look may help answer some of these questions.

Reasons for premium features’ importance

Numerous businesses are under the impression that simply publishing a press release anywhere will be enough to get the desired results. To be frank, this is very unlikely to happen. A simple submission could be seen by only a few outlets, while premium features are intended to broaden the audience and enhance the effectiveness of each press release.

As an example, premium services usually come with various targeted distribution options. Thus, one can imagine that the goal of sending a press release to a general database is replaced with the possibility of choosing certain industry-specific media outlets or journalists. Although it is not totally clear why some brands are indifferent to this, one thing is for sure: targeting significantly increases the likelihood of obtaining coverage. If you stop for a moment and think about it, it is quite weird that on one hand, people are willing to say their message many times in order to be heard, and on the other hand, they claim that reaching a limited but precise audience can make the difference between whether a press release is ignored or becomes a success.

Priority Placement and Highlighting

One of the functionalities that is talked about most in premium plans is priority placement. Usually, these releases show up at the top of newsletters, search results, or media feeds. It is a small thing, but one that actually makes a big difference. Ever wondered how come a certain release you cannot find in a long feed has never been brought up by you? Priority placement guarantees that a certain release will be looked at.

Besides that, some services allow "featured" or "highlighted" tags as well. They separate a press release from the rest visually, thus tempting the user to either click or share. The function is not a pledge of coverage; nevertheless, in the competitive field of the media, the fact that it matters is what counts.

Multimedia Integration: More than just text

These days, a large number of people are quite preoccupied, and their attention span is very limited; therefore, usually a simple text fails to catch their attention in the world of media. To deal with this problem, nowadays, most of the premium submission sites have come up with the idea to implement various multimedia materials such as pictures, videos, infographics, and logos alongside a press release. The main aim of the visual content is not to ‘decorate’ the press release, but rather, looking at the facts, it happens quite often that the reader is more drawn to a certain piece of information when he/she sees it visually, and in addition, visual content can quickly become the journalists’ favorite because it makes their job easier.

I would like to point out one thing: there are some PR teams that do not fully realize how powerful the correct use of visuals is. The inclusion of a short film or an infographic may sometimes double the opportunities for coverage, particularly if reporters are allowed to directly insert these items into the written pieces they are working ‍‌‍‍‌on.

Analytics‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ and Performance Tracking

One of the most significant premium features is detailed analytics. A basic submission generally offers very little feedback—just maybe a confirmation email. Premium options usually monitor opens, clicks, geographic reach, and journalist engagement.

By consuming this data, media teams get the opportunity to experiment and adjust their strategy regularly. For instance, a press release gaining popularity in a certain industry or region could become media outreach’s secret weapon. It’s somewhat ironic that these insights almost exclusively turn up wildly unexpected patterns.

SEO Optimization Support

Search engine visibility is becoming more and more crucial for press releases. Premium submission services are equipped with SEO features that lead the user through the process. They assist in keyword usage, meta description, and even headline optimization.

People often neglect the fact, but proper SEO can considerably increase a piece of text’s online visibility. Certain platforms just go ahead and generate SEO-friendly snippets from the text, while others provide advice on how to compose the release so that the search engine will rank it higher. I don’t get it completely, but here’s a thing: almost all companies are not doing it, although it is virtually free publicity if done right.

Social Media Amplification

In many cases, premium services have the capability for automated social sharing and social media publishing. As a result, not only can a media announcement be published via the organization’s social media accounts but also in the relevant groups and even accounts of partners.

That, in turn, expands the audience to those innovators who are not only journalists but also potential clients, investors, and industry peers. What is the reason behind it? The more platforms a press release accesses, the higher the opportunity of visibility, interaction, and eventually business impact.

Scheduled Distribution and Timing Control

Timing is the decisive factor in many cases. The great majority of such platforms allows for exact scheduling as a premium feature and also for the time of the release to be at the optimal hour, which functions well for the target audience. It is something that enables being very precise with the media pickup as a result, in particular, of time zones or regions.

What is the difference that it makes to send a release announcing the launch of the latest tech product very early on Tuesday morning as opposed to very late on Friday? It’s not rocket science; however, the impact of one’s coverage can be surprisingly large, and that happens just because the timing could be controlled.

Enhanced Support and Consultation

In addition to everything mentioned so far, premium deals commonly offer access to the direct help of PR professionals and platform experts. They can give you guidance starting with content and headline optimization and ending with distribution strategy suggestions.

Such expert support can be a great time saver as well as a powerful result enhancer. There are some teams who cannot do without it, especially when they have to deal with unfamiliar industries or approach prestigious media outlets.

Conclusion: Is it worth investing?

In a world where grabbing the attention of the media is getting harder and harder, the additional functionalities provided by the press release submission services’ premium accounts create real value. Besides features like targeted distribution and priority placement, analytics and multimedia integration are examples of the tools used to maximize exposure and engagement.

It is not merely the case of “spending more money” when the extra money is put into these features but rather the efficient utilization of the resources to make sure a press release reaches the target audience in the best possible format at the right time. To be honest, in most cases, when we talk about the correct usage, the difference in results is quite visible.

For any company that takes its media outreach seriously, considering the option of premium features is definitely more than just a decision—it’s a strategic ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌move.

Premium Features of a Press Release Submission Website