How to know when your press release has been picked up?

You've carefully written your press release, meticulously selected the right journalists, and sent it out with confidence. But what now? How do you know if your press release has actually been picked up by the media? This is a crucial step in the PR process because without concrete results, your effort is of little value. Fortunately, there are various ways to find out if your press release is receiving the desired attention. In this blog, we discuss how to measure whether your press release has been picked up and published.

The most direct way to find out whether your press release has been picked up is by monitoring where it has been published. Nowadays, there are countless tools that facilitate this process. Media monitoring services, like those of Presscloud, allow you to automatically track which publications have picked up your press release. These tools scan hundreds of websites, blogs, and social media channels, so you don't have to manually search for your story.

A practical example: suppose you sent out a press release about the launch of a new product. With media monitoring tools, you can precisely see which online publications have shared your news and even how many readers your story has reached. This gives you immediate insight into the impact of your release.

Another way to find out if your press release has been picked up is by tracking interactions with journalists. Often, you receive direct responses from journalists who are interested in your story and want more information. A journalist might call you for an interview or send a request for images. These types of interactions are a good sign that your release is attracting attention.

Make sure to respond quickly though. Journalists work with tight deadlines, and if you take too long to answer, their interest may wane. Ensure your contact information is always clearly visible and be prepared to answer questions.

An important aspect of sending out press releases is being able to track open and read statistics. With Presscloud's tools, you can easily see who opened your press release, how long they read it, and which links were clicked. This provides you with valuable information about which journalists have shown interest in your story, even if it hasn't been published yet.

This data also helps you learn from your previous press releases. If a large percentage of your recipients do not open the release, it may be useful to look at your subject line or timing. Is the message relevant enough? Is the moment well chosen? By regularly analyzing these statistics, you can improve your PR strategy and increase the chances that your press release will be picked up next time.

Not all publications notify you when your press release is posted. That's why a simple Google search can sometimes work wonders. Search for the title of your press release or specific phrases from the release to see if it has appeared online. This also works for blogs and smaller news sites that might fall outside the reach of monitoring tools.

In addition, it might be worth monitoring social media. Platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn are regularly used by journalists to share news. By using hashtags or search terms related to your press release, you can quickly see if your news has been shared.

If you regularly send out press releases or deal with a larger PR campaign, it may be useful to engage a paid monitoring service. These services provide detailed reports on the performance of your press release, from online publications to radio and television broadcasts. They also offer the ability to track brand mentions and your company's reputation.

At Presscloud, we offer comprehensive media monitoring as part of our PR solutions. This not only helps you see if your press release has been published, but also provides you with valuable insights into how your brand is being discussed in the media.