The Short Answer
Press releases distributed through wire services (PR Newswire, Business Wire, etc.) do NOT build meaningful backlinks.
The links from syndicated press release sites are nofollow, temporary, or both. Google has explicitly said they don't count press release links as endorsements — their spam policies make this clear.
So Are Press Releases Useless?
For direct link building? Mostly yes.
But press releases serve a different purpose that CAN lead to links indirectly.
The Indirect Path
A well-crafted press release about genuinely newsworthy information can:
The press release is the spark. The journalist's article is where the link comes from. That's essentially digital PR at work.
When to Use Press Releases
When NOT to Use Them
If it wouldn't make the news without a press release, the press release won't make it news.
The Verdict
Don't use press releases as a link building tactic. Use them as a distribution mechanism for genuinely newsworthy content. For actual link building, invest in creating linkable assets instead.
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