Are Press Releases Still Relevant?

If you Googled this and arrived here, probably not.

DON’T ALERT THE MEDIA

Happy Friday from East Hampton. I have a bunch of press opps for Real Simple. If you aren’t interested, I don’t care. Just skip to the main course, which is about press releases. While it is mainly written for people pitching themselves, it’s definitely useful for publicists to send to their clients.

New Here? Hiii!!!

My name is Amanda Lauren, and I write about interior design, lifestyle, and parenting/kids for Forbes, Real Simple, Yahoo, and Today’s Parent, among other publications. My newsletter is a mix of industry insights presented in a brutally honest way, plus media opportunities, so you can get your clients (or yourself) featured.

Also, follow me on Instagram because I’m thirsty and on TikTok (new account about decorating)!

Real Simple Opps

Please use Substack + Article Title as the subject line. Just have your qualified client answer the questions. No need to pitch them, thanks.

Mental Habits That Are Keeping Your Home Cluttered

Deadline: 9:00 am EST 7/14 (sorry for the tight turnaround)

Who: Coaches and Pro Organizers

Questions:

What are some mental habits that keep your home cluttered?

How can you change these habits or your home to stay tidy?

The Trick To Decorating Any Space Like A Pro? Stop Fighting Your Architecture

Deadline: 9:00 am EST 7/15

Who: Interior designers, maybe architects

A little bit of background, I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL. The biggest mistake most people make when decorating their homes is fighting their architecture. What do I mean by this? When you live in an industrial loft and fill it with traditional furniture (you should be arrested). Or if you live in a traditional home with gorgeous arches, mouldings, and charm, and you destroy it with an orange velvet sofa with an angled leg (life in prison).

I’d like tips for decorating around your architecture.

Other than looking up the year your home was built (unless it was gut renovated, but you get my point), how can you determine the era of the home and decorate it to suit the architecture?

What happens when you fight your architecture?

How can you make things blend if, for example, you have a modern home but like traditional furniture and vice versa?

Things to Look Out for at Yard/Garage Sales This Summer, Designers Say

Deadline: 9:00 am EST 7/16

Who: Interior designers

Questions:

What should you look for when shopping at yard or garage sales?

What are some good things to buy?

How do you know you’re getting something good?

What are some signs you shouldn’t buy something?

The article will be similar to this: https://www.realsimple.com/things-interior-designers-always-look-for-at-thrift-stores-11763492

Decor Trends Interior Designers Avoid When Staging a House

Deadline: 9:00 am EST 7/18

Who: Professional Stagers

Questions:

What are some interior design trends you should avoid when staging a house, and why?

Is there something better than the trend that is your go-to?

Surprising/Clever Ways to Use WD-40 Around the House

Deadline: 9:00 am EST 7/18

Who: DIY Experts, designers, contractors

Questions:

What are some surprising/clever ways to use WD-40 around the house?

Please share your DIYS in detail.

Should I Post A Press Release?

I’m going to be blunt: If you Googled the above or “Are press releases still relevant” and got here, probably no.

Let’s clarify something that gets confused way too often. The goal of PR is to get the public to care about you or your work through the media. The problem is that most journalists don’t care to read press releases.

The biggest reason? Journalists are overwhelmed. Most writers working for top publications receive at least 100 pitches per day, sometimes more. We’re drowning in emails, running on tight deadlines, and trying to stay afloat in an industry that’s constantly moving. What we don’t have time for is scrolling through 1000 poorly written words about a brand we’ve never heard of.

Here’s Who Should Have A Press Release

• People, places, and things that are household names.

If you do not fit into any of the above categories, please don’t waste your money to make yourself feel cool and important and impress your friends who aren’t really your friends because they don’t realize a press release on Yahoo Finance is pay for play.

And no, being on Famous Birthdays does not make you famous enough for a press release.

Paying to publish a press release is not the same as getting press coverage. It’s not journalism. It’s something you (or worse, Chat GPT) wrote, that you paid to post, often through a wire service that doesn’t guarantee any actual visibility.

Yes, there are times when pay-to-play media makes sense. That’s another post altogether…

If You Must Send One, Make It An Add-On

Unless you’re emailing the press release alongside a thoughtful, personalized pitch to someone who covers your topic area, you’re wasting your time—and probably your money.

Sending a press release with zero explanation or personalization isn’t just ineffective—it’s annoying. The more you do it, the more likely it is that your emails will get ignored. This isn’t just my opinion—it’s how most writers feel, whether they say it out loud or not.

I mean, I might block you.

Stop Using Press Releases to Save Money on PR

Here’s where things get especially frustrating. In addition to being a writer, I also work as a PR consultant. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on the phone with a potential client I don’t end up working with, and they say the following:

“We put out a press release.”

Did it do anything? Of course it didn’t. You don’t actually understand what PR is, and after I waste 27 to 35 minutes on this call, you still won’t because you’re short-sighted and potentially just being cheap.

Journalism involves storytelling. Perspective. A point of view. Real media coverage happens when someone else thinks your story is interesting enough to share, with their own take, tone, and audience in mind.

A press release doesn’t move the needle. Earned media—coverage you actually earn through strong pitches and genuine news value—does.

The Hard Truth Most People Don’t Want to Hear

Here’s the real reason many brands rely on press releases: it feels safer and cheaper than hiring someone to do actual PR.

And I get it. A lot of the people reading this might be small brands or solo entrepreneurs. You may not have the budget for a full-scale PR campaign. That’s okay. But you still deserve to know the truth.

A press release on its own, without a targeted pitch, without strategy, without context, is not going to get you what you want. Even if it shows up on Google. Even if it gets reposted on some low-tier aggregator sites. Even if it looks legit for five minutes.

So, do it right or don’t do it at all.

One more quick plug:

I have a course called Pitch Please. It’s helpful, it’s entertaining, and it can change your business forever. (It has and it will). If you don’t have the budget for PR, but you’ve got a few hours, you need this!

I also offer a larger package called Help Me Pitch. You get course access, I’ll write your pitches, and share a media list so you can hit the ground running. Click the link and scroll down for more info.

On a budget? Download this $47 pitch template. It’s really helpful.