An online press room (or online media room, news room, etc.) can be a beneficial addition to the website of any home, small, or online business, although it’s something many small businesses never develop.

What is an Online Press Room?

An online press room is almost like an interactive media kit. It’s where members of the media (and often general visitors as well) can view past news coverage and mentions of your business, products, or services, your archived news (press releases / news releases), obtain media-specific contact information, and more.

Benefits of an Online Press Room:

• It can make the company look larger, more important, or more professional.
• By showcasing past news coverage, it shows members of the media that others have already deemed the company “newsworthy.”
• It serves as an archive of past news and achievements.
• It serves as a communications “headquarters” between the company and members of the media.

What Should an Online Press Room Look Like?

An online press room can be integrated into your site without anything special visually. What’s important in a press room is the content and the ability for members of the media to interact with the company in some way.

Common Online Press Room Components:

• Press Release / News Release Archives
• Past Press Mentions
• Detailed Company Bio
• Executive / Owner Bio(s)
• Built-In Search Function
• Ability to Subscribe to the Company’s Latest News
• Detailed Media Contact Info
• Company Fact Sheet
• Product Fact Sheets if Appropriate
• Photos / Multimedia (executive photos, product photos, high resolution logos, videos, audio interviews, etc.)
• Media FAQs (questions that members of the media may have, laid out for them ahead of time – these can be answered in the press room, or just the questions to inspire interview questions; often used that way by artists and authors)