Most small business owners have had this moment: you have something genuinely worth sharing (a new location, a partnership, a product launch, a big milestone), and then you realize you have no idea how to get anyone outside your current audience to care.
You can post on social media (and watch it get buried under a thousand cat videos). You can email a few local reporters (and hope you do not land in the “maybe later” folder). Or you can use a press release distribution service that already has the pipes connected to journalists and media outlets.
That is where eReleases comes in. In this review, I will walk through what eReleases does, what makes it different, what it costs, and how a small business can get the most value from it.
Affiliate disclosure: I am an eReleases affiliate, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link. I only recommend tools I believe are a good fit for small businesses, and I aim to keep this review honest and useful.
Contents
What eReleases Is and What It Is Not
At its core, eReleases is a press release distribution service built for organizations that want serious reach without hiring a full PR agency on retainer. If your mental image of PR is a team of people in headsets calling reporters all day, eReleases is not that.
Instead, think of eReleases like a well-connected courier. You bring the news, they help polish it, then they distribute it through established channels so it can land where journalists, editors, and industry outlets actually look.
What eReleases Does
- Distributes your release nationally through Cision PR Newswire (and, per their FAQ, also via the Associated Press newswire for customers), which is a big deal if you care about legitimacy.
- Provides editorial review before your release goes out, which helps you avoid common mistakes that make editors hit delete.
- Offers targeting options (by industry and other add-ons), so you are not just blasting your news into the void.
- Gives reporting (like their WireWatch report) so you can see where your release appeared online.
What eReleases Does Not Do
- It does not guarantee media coverage. No reputable service can promise a reporter will write a story about you. Newsworthiness still matters.
- It is not the cheapest option. If your goal is “get something posted somewhere” for the lowest price, there are budget services. The tradeoff is often reach, quality control, or both.
- It cannot replace your own marketing. A press release is a spotlight, not a full lighting system. You still want a good landing page, offer, and follow-up plan.
Why Small Businesses Use eReleases
Small businesses do not usually struggle to create things worth talking about. They struggle to distribute that story in a way that feels credible.
Here is a quick “kitchen table” example.
Owner: “I just opened a second location and hired six people. Why is nobody covering it?”
Friend: “Did you tell the media?”
Owner: “I posted it on Instagram.”
Friend: “That is telling your followers, not telling the press.”
eReleases exists for that gap. It is designed to help you get your news in front of the right audiences, using distribution channels that already have trust.
When eReleases Makes the Most Sense
- Launching a product that solves a clear problem in a niche market
- Announcing a new business, a new location, or a major expansion
- Sharing a partnership, acquisition, or major client win (when you can name it)
- Promoting a notable event, award, certification, or research report
- Creating a credibility asset for investors, partners, or larger customers
If your “news” is basically “we exist,” you can still do a release, but you will get better results when there is a clear hook. eReleases helps you present the hook well, but it cannot invent one for you.
Key Features That Make eReleases Stand Out
A lot of services will happily take your money, publish your release on their own site, and call it a day. eReleases has a few practical advantages that tend to matter more for small businesses than fancy dashboards.
1) Distribution Through Cision PR Newswire
eReleases distributes releases through Cision PR Newswire for national distribution. That matters because PR Newswire is one of the best-known names in press release distribution, and it is a channel many media outlets and professionals recognize.
For small businesses, this is the difference between “I posted something on the internet” and “I distributed through an established newswire.” That credibility can influence how your announcement is perceived, even by people who never read the full release.
2) Editorial Review (A Quiet Superpower)
Most entrepreneurs can write. The problem is that press releases are a specific kind of writing. They have conventions, structure, and a certain tone. Editorial review helps you avoid the classic traps:
- Headlines that read like ads instead of news
- Walls of text with no scannable structure
- Missing details journalists need (who, what, when, where, why)
- Over-the-top claims that raise eyebrows
In other words, eReleases helps you show up to the party with your shirt tucked in. You still need a good story, but you will not trip over your own shoelaces.
3) Targeting Options and Add-Ons
Small businesses are often best served by relevant reach, not just more reach. eReleases packages include targeting (such as industry targets), and there are add-ons for things like additional targeting, local saturation, influencer lists, and other enhancements. This is useful if your business is in a niche where the right set of editors matters more than raw numbers.
4) WireWatch Reporting
After distribution, eReleases provides a WireWatch report showing where your release appeared online. This is valuable for two reasons:
- You can document placements and mentions for your own credibility and sales process.
- You can repurpose those links in marketing: social proof, investor decks, media pages, and outreach.
Pricing and Value: What You Should Know
Pricing is usually where small businesses hesitate, and I get it. You are not trying to impress anyone with your marketing tools. You are trying to grow revenue.
As of this writing, eReleases lists packages starting at $399 per release, with higher tiers offering more words, more industry targeting, and additional features. There are also volume discounts if you buy multiple releases.
Is that “cheap”? No. Is it potentially a smart spend? Often, yes, if your release has real news and you have a plan for what happens after distribution.
How To Think About ROI Without Guessing
Press release ROI can feel fuzzy because the value is not only “a sale today.” It can also look like:
- A partnership opportunity that shows up because someone saw your announcement
- A credibility boost that helps convert higher-value clients
- More branded searches and mentions over time
- Media assets you can reuse across your website and campaigns
A practical way to evaluate it is to ask: What would one solid outcome be worth? If one new client covers the cost, or one partnership puts you in front of a new audience, the math gets a lot easier.
How To Get Better Results With eReleases
Here is the part most reviews skip: distribution is not magic. The press release is a tool, and like any tool, results depend on how you use it.
Write for Humans, Not Algorithms
Yes, you can include links and keywords, but the goal is clarity. A release should answer the obvious questions quickly. If a journalist needs to reread your first paragraph three times, you are asking too much.
Lead With the News, Then Support It
A common mistake is warming up for two paragraphs before saying anything. Put the news early, then follow with supporting details, a short quote, and a clear boilerplate (your company description).
Have a Landing Page Ready
If your release sparks interest, where do people go? Build a page that continues the story, offers a next step, and makes it easy to contact you. Press attention without a place to send it is like filling a bucket with a hole in the bottom.
Repurpose the Release
Once it goes out, do not let it sit there like yesterday’s coffee. Turn it into:
- A blog post or announcement page
- An email to customers and partners
- A short social campaign using key lines and stats
- A “Featured In” or “News” section on your site
Pros and Cons: The Straight Talk
What I Like About eReleases
- Credible distribution through Cision PR Newswire (plus AP distribution referenced in their FAQ), which is a meaningful differentiator.
- Editorial review that improves the quality of your release and your odds of being taken seriously.
- Targeting options that can help small businesses reach relevant outlets instead of just chasing volume.
- Clear reporting through WireWatch so you can document results and reuse placements.
- No membership fee (per their FAQ), which is nice if you only send releases occasionally.
What To Consider Before You Buy
- It is an investment. If you are operating on fumes financially, you may want to wait until you have a truly newsworthy angle.
- Coverage is not guaranteed. Distribution is guaranteed, pickup is earned.
- You still need a strategy. The best results happen when your release supports a larger campaign.
Verdict: Is eReleases Worth It?
For many small businesses and entrepreneurs, yes, eReleases is worth it, especially when you have legitimate news and you want a distribution partner that takes quality seriously.
If you are deciding between a bargain service that mostly posts your release on low-impact sites versus a more reputable option with editorial review and established distribution, eReleases is the kind of choice that feels like buying the sturdier ladder. You may not think about it every day, but you will be glad you did when it matters.
If you want to give your announcements a professional shot at being seen, and you like the idea of distribution through PR Newswire paired with editorial guidance, eReleases is one of the strongest small-business-friendly options I have found.
Next step: If you plan to use eReleases, start by brainstorming your most newsworthy angle, gather a strong quote, and prepare a landing page. Then you can focus on what eReleases does best: getting your story out into the world through channels that carry weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eReleases Guarantee Media Coverage?
No. eReleases guarantees distribution through Cision PR Newswire and provides reporting, but media coverage depends on whether journalists consider your announcement newsworthy.
Is eReleases Good for Brand-New Businesses?
It can be, especially for a grand opening, funding announcement, partnership, or a launch with a clear hook. If you are simply announcing that you exist, consider waiting until you have a stronger story.
What Makes eReleases Different From Cheaper Services?
The big differences are credible distribution (including PR Newswire), editorial review, and targeting options. Many low-cost services emphasize volume over quality and may not provide the same level of reach or legitimacy.
How Often Should a Small Business Send Press Releases?
Only when you have real news. For many small businesses, that is a few times per year: major launches, expansions, partnerships, awards, or notable milestones.
