PR Resources Worth Paying For
It’s hard to make a top of the most popular PR-related sites around the world – the profession is rather complex, covering everything from fashion to entertainment, travel, technology, news and business. The following is an attempt to create a professional resource; a list of sites that are not only popular but also provide quality information and resources for PR professionals, journalists, business owners, and so on. Some of these sites offer free access and free information, and some offer access to their services for a fee (either membership or subscription). All these sites have been tested and reviewed by our staff – we did not include in this list sites with poor performance, or sites we haven’t tested. If you want to recommend your PR resources for inclusion, please use our contact form.
Business News
Forbes Magazine – one of the most trusted resources for the world’s business and investment leaders, providing them the uncompromising commentary, concise analysis, relevant tools and real-time reporting they need to succeed at work, profit from investing and have fun with the rewards of winning. Forbes.com includes real-time original reporting on business, technology, investing and lifestyle; stock and mutual fund quotes; comprehensive company profiles; people profiles; and so on.
BusinessWeek – global source of essential business insight that inspires leaders to turn ideas into action. Through content, context, and collaboration, BusinessWeek moderates global conversations and moves business professionals forward.
AdAge – a magazine, delivering news, analysis and data on marketing and media.
AdWeek – print to online advertising trends, advertising professionals can read all about the latest advertising news at Adweek.
MediaPost – media, marketing and advertising professionals’ leading resource for complete news coverage, engaging events, a focused social network, and comprehensive industry jobs, directories and research.
PRWeek – a vital part of the PR and communications industries in the US, providing timely news, reviews, profiles, techniques, and timely research for in-house and agency professionals.
News Distribution Outlets
PRWeb – Online news and press release distribution service for small and medium-sized businesses and corporate communications.
PR Newswire – news and information distribution services for professional communicators.
Business Wire – commercial news distribution. Thousands of member companies and organizations depend on Business Wire to transmit their full-text news releases, regulatory filings, photos and other multimedia content to journalists, financial professionals, investor services, regulatory authorities and the general public worldwide. A professional service, highly recommended.
MarketWire – newswire service offering press release distribution, media contact management, multimedia, media monitoring services and other workflow solutions for public relations, investor relations, journalists and other communications professionals.
PR.com – A cross between a public relations and advertising entity, PR.com is a directory of businesses, products and services, a press release distribution service, job search website, and online publication of articles, reviews and celebrity interviews.
24-7pressrelease – an effective press release distribution service offering an affordable alternative to expensive PR and press release promotion services. Submitting press releases with 24-7 Press Release is always free but they also offer enhanced distribution packages.
Public Relations Software
Vocus On-Demand Software for Public Relations addresses the critical functions of PR including media relations, news distribution and news monitoring.
Sysomos – brings business intelligence to social media, providing instant and unlimited access to all social media conversations to quickly see what’s happening, why it’s happening, and who’s driving the conversations.
DNA13 – on-demand software for real-time reputation management.
PIER Systems – Web-based software for managing crisis communications, business continuity, press release distribution and public relations.
Nielsen BuzzMetrics services and solutions uncover and integrate data-driven insights culled from nearly 100 million blogs, social networks, groups, boards and other CGM platforms.
Reputation Defender – particularly MyEdge, a solution for owning your Google results.
Radian6 – listen, measure and engage in social media. Scan over 100 million sites and sources, from blogs and comments to photos, videos, forums, public Facebook groups, and Twitter.
WordStream – is a Keyword Management solution for continuously optimizing & expanding PPC and SEO efforts involving large numbers of keywords.
Email Marketing
SendBlaster – a free (desktop) bulk email software, a mass email marketing program and a bulk emailing sender.
VerticalResponse is an easy-to-use, web-based marketing tool that helps you grow your business through email marketing, online surveys, and direct mail postcards.
Lyris – create, send and track email marketing campaigns and email newsletters (they also have a web analytics solution – LyrisHQ).
We will follow up with more PR resources, including publishing solutions, CMS, CRM software, and more.
About the Author
Mihaela Lica is senior partner at Pamil Visions PR and editor at Everything PR. She is a widely cited authority on search engine optimization and public relations issues (BBC News, Force for Good, Reuters and others), with an experience of over 8 years in online PR. Mihaela writes occasionally for SitePoint, Search Engine Journal, and other online publications. Follow Mig on Twitter or send her an email at mig [at] pamil-visions [dot] com.
There is enough warning in the article, and a big big warning at the beginning of the trailer, stating RESTRICTED 
Please put a warning on the trailer. There is very disturbing material in it. Not fair to watch thinking it ...
Sleeky20x, I know everyone hates a price increase. But honestly, do you feel the new services and content justify it? ...
i sold my x box 360 a few months ago. i loved xbox but ive saved about $300 since i ...
I think this is a problem Ive always played Live and i really like the how the prices are now ...
Did the Old Spice campaign result in increased sales? 
John, You are correct, take me to your leader. LOL
Always,
Phil (I think therefore I am) 
Comment by Tessa Carroll on 1 December 2009:
Thank you so much for this list of PR resources. It’s always interesting to see what others are using for their PR efforts and try new things that they suggest. PR is always changing. As professionals, we need to stay on top of updating trends so that we can be the most effective for our clients. Thank you again, Mihaela!
Tessa Carroll
http://www.blogs.vbpoutsourcing.com
Comment by Lauren Vargas on 1 December 2009:
Thank you for including us on this great list of resources for PR professionals.
Lauren Vargas
Community Manager at Radian6
@VargasL
Comment by john on 1 December 2009:
You have a Vocus affiliate link on this site.
Comment by Mihaela Lica on 1 December 2009:
Right, John. However, we are not getting ANY financial compensation for that link. The folks at Vocus happen to be our friends, and the link is complimentary, like the link for AltSearchEngines. The affiliate ID for Vocus is merely a way for the company to monitor the traffic sent from our site.
Comment by john on 1 December 2009:
So how do I get a free link?
Comment by Mihaela Lica on 1 December 2009:
LOL. You actually don’t, not so soon, not so fast – unless you have an incredible website you want us to review.
For any other links, there are several options: become a Pamil Visions friend (in the true meaning of the word), or purchase a banner space.
Comment by Nick Shin on 1 December 2009:
Disclosure: I am the Search Marketing & Social Media Specialist @Marketwire.
A great list you compiled especially the business news resources. You covered all the major publications.
Nick (@shinng)
Comment by Susannah on 3 December 2009:
Ha, way to give it to John, Mihaela! Thanks again for the mention
Pingback by The Tiger Woods Scandal Digital Media Frenzy Reflected by Trendrr.com on 3 December 2009:
[...] of the term. It’s not the only service of this kind, we’ve recently listed a few here, but it is one of the rare such services that offer free accounts. Of course, the reports will not [...]
Pingback by Top 100 PR Websites and Resources of 2009 [Part II] on 12 December 2009:
[...] Resources of 2009 [Part I]2009/12/11 — The Guardian Makes Waves with a Top 100 List2009/12/01 — PR Resources Worth Paying For2009/04/17 — PR Tools You Cannot Do Without – VOCUS Solutions2009/03/26 — PR Newswire Now [...]