Submitting Same Press Release to Multiple Sources

[TKIGWebTeam]

I've never considered this as a good practice, but is there any benefit to submitting a press release to one PR source, then going to other PR sources and submitting the same content? My main goal, currently on one project, is the soul purpose of link building and backlinking.

I see this as duplicate content, although I am seeing competitors submitting the same press release multiple times trying to reap some sort of benefit from it. In my honest opinion, I would rather submit 1 different press release each week throughout the course of a month to a quality site like PRLog or PRweb.

Comments? Opinions? I would really like to hear them.

[UPform5]

I think its okay, because you're paying for service and its pure white hat, its just like using adwords and msn at the same time.

[MarloSchneider]

The one instance I feel submitting to multiple sources is ok is if the sources are actual people.  Typically if you submit a press release to a journalist or a relevant source they will not use the exact copy you gave them, but quote or cite it.

[TKIGWebTeam]

Thanks for the reply. I agree at this being worth a test. As I have stated in a response to "Highland" below, this is definitely NOT a primary SEO strategy by any means. Just another supplement to what we have been doing.

I've also been weary doing this due to Google's "content farm" update... I just need to make sure we are utilizing sites that have not been penalized as of late, which in my studies I have found them to be the article sharing sites more so than sites like PRWeb or PRLog, etc.

[TKIGWebTeam]

Thanks for the reply! I figured as much for going little to no benefit... Just needed to reassure my stance before I present my thoughts back to upper management and co-workers.

[TKIGWebTeam]

This is definitely never my "primary" source for SEO. It is mainly just an addition to the currentl link building strategies already in place.

My main concern was the fact some individuals in the office don't understand SEO very well and wanted me to send our our PR's multiple times. I think they misunderstood my explaination at sending them out at the most once per week and using different sites to do this. I really just wanted to get another solid answer of "No" to reassure myself.

I do like your idea of just putting the PR on the site and letting people link out to it. I am planning on converting the PR's into PDF files and then putting them on our site as well. Problem is, I don't want to submit the same release 5 different times, then put it on the site. I'm more for the submit once, post on the site for visitors to view.

To be truthfully honest, the competition we have is doing a lot of this for SEO purposes. They are trying to rise up organically as our industry prepares for a possible change in the market. I see a consistant number of companies pushing out PR's, with lack of purpose other than to help them with backlinks. Once again, not primary, but definitely part of their strategy. I think this is the main reason my co-workers feel that they should do the same, which I am telling them, "No, lets put one out per week at the most... Maybe just 2 per month."

[Highland]

I've never been a fan of the whole PR-as-primary-SEO method. PR was intended to "get the word out" to as many sources as possible. It's paid off for us in a few instances because a local TV station has picked it up a couple of times and given us a TV story (with an accompanying website article, although not often with links). As far as SEO... it's a lot of work for little reward. Since your PR is likely identical to many sources, it would indeed be pared back in the SERPs where only one would count and the rest would be considered duplicate.

In short, I wouldn't run a mass PR solely for SEO reasons (especially not as a reliable source of links). PRs can get quality backlinks, but only as a bankshot. Instead, I would put the PRs on your sites and see if people will link to it. If it's well written and interesting, you could get some good one-way links. I am willing to bet your competitors are not doing PR for SEO.

[elephantseo]

There is no benefit is submitting the same press release over & over, as you said it is duplicate content. It can be beneficial to rotate the press release distribution service on different press releases because you will get backlinks from unique domains. Take a look at PR Newswire & PR Web.