Press releases are still one of the most underrated tools in digital marketing. They have the power to make your brand visible to journalists, improve your website’s SEO, and even position your business as a thought leader in your industry. But here’s the truth: most press releases fail because they are either written without SEO in mind or optimized so poorly that they do more damage than good.

At Pearson Hardman, we’ve worked with businesses across industries and seen the same pattern repeat: brands put time, effort, and money into press releases but unknowingly commit mistakes that prevent them from achieving results. What could have been a powerful SEO asset ends up as just another forgotten piece of content floating on the internet.

In this article, we’ll break down the top 5 press release mistakes that harm your SEO, explain why they’re harmful, and show you exactly how our strategy at Pearson Hardman helps brands avoid them and transform press releases into high-performing SEO assets.

Mistake #1: Keyword Stuffing Instead of Strategic Optimization

One of the most common press release mistakes is keyword stuffing. Companies often overuse their target keyword in every line, thinking it will help them rank higher. But the reality is different: Google flags it as spammy, and journalists lose interest the moment they see a release written more for bots than humans.

At Pearson Hardman, we focus on strategic keyword placement. Instead of stuffing, we use semantic keyword optimization. That means your focus keyword appears naturally in the headline, introduction, and a few subheadings, while secondary and LSI keywords flow smoothly throughout the content. This not only makes the release SEO-friendly but also keeps it engaging for real readers.

We’ve seen this approach work wonders for clients: their releases not only rank but also get picked up by media outlets because they read like actual news stories—not keyword traps.

Mistake #2: Writing for Algorithms, Not Humans

Many businesses forget that press releases are not just for Google—they are for journalists, industry experts, and potential customers. When releases are written only with algorithms in mind, they lose their storytelling element. And without a strong story, no journalist is going to bother publishing it.

Pearson Hardman’s philosophy is simple: humans first, search engines second. Our press release writers are trained to blend journalism with SEO. That means we craft content that captures attention, offers a newsworthy angle, and still respects SEO best practices.

For example, when announcing a product launch, we don’t just write “Company launches new product.” We turn it into a compelling narrative—why this product matters, how it solves a problem, and why the market should pay attention. That’s how our clients secure both organic traffic and media coverage.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Backlinks and Anchor Text Strategy

Press releases are golden opportunities to build backlinks, but many companies either forget to include them or use generic anchors like “click here.” This is one of the biggest lost opportunities in PR SEO.

Our strategy at Pearson Hardman is very deliberate. We integrate contextual backlinks into press releases—linking to high-value landing pages, case studies, or resource guides on your website. Instead of weak anchors, we use descriptive text that improves search rankings while encouraging readers to explore more.

For example, if you are announcing a sustainability initiative, we’ll link to your detailed sustainability report with an anchor like “Read our full sustainability strategy here”. This way, we don’t just boost SEO, we also guide readers deeper into your brand story.

Mistake #4: Publishing Duplicate or Thin Content

A huge mistake businesses make is publishing the exact same press release everywhere. Distribution platforms pick it up, but since the content is duplicated word for word, Google filters it out and rankings drop. Thin content—press releases that say almost nothing—also fail to gain traction.

At Pearson Hardman, we follow a content differentiation strategy. For every client release, we create a strong master version and then slightly adapt it for different distribution platforms. This avoids duplication issues while maximizing coverage. We also ensure that every release is rich with quotes, statistics, case studies, and multimedia elements, making it valuable both for journalists and for SEO.

This approach means that when your release is published across multiple channels, Google sees them as unique contributions instead of duplicates.

Mistake #5: Poor Distribution and Bad Formatting

Even the best-written press release is useless if it’s not distributed properly. Many companies rely only on free, low-quality PR sites or forget to format their release for readability. The result? A press release that no one reads, and one that doesn’t perform in search engines.

Pearson Hardman combines premium distribution networks with SEO formatting best practices. We distribute through high-authority PR sites, media outlets, and industry-specific platforms that matter to your audience. At the same time, we structure the release with:

• Short paragraphs for easy reading

• Clear H2/H3 subheadings for SEO

• Bullet points for key takeaways

• Visuals like images, charts, or infographics with proper alt text

This way, your press release is not just published—it’s noticed, read, and shared.

How Pearson Hardman Turns Press Releases into SEO Assets

At Pearson Hardman, we don’t treat press releases as one-off announcements. We treat them as strategic SEO content pieces that can drive long-term results. Our process involves:

1. Keyword Research & Content Planning
   We identify high-CPC and high-traffic keywords relevant to your announcement.

2. Storytelling + SEO Integration
   Our writers craft press releases that journalists love while keeping SEO structure intact.

3. Backlink Strategy
   We include contextual backlinks and optimize anchor text for authority and relevance.

4. Distribution Across High-Authority Networks
   We ensure your release reaches both media outlets and search engines.

5. Analytics & Performance Tracking
   We don’t stop after distribution. We track impressions, backlinks, and rankings to show real ROI.

This holistic approach ensures your press release doesn’t just get published—it performs, drives traffic, and strengthens your brand authority online.

Conclusion

Press releases can be one of the most powerful digital PR and SEO tools, but only if they’re executed correctly. By avoiding mistakes like keyword stuffing, poor storytelling, ignoring backlinks, duplicating content, and weak distribution, you can unlock their true potential.

At Pearson Hardman, we specialize in turning press releases into strategic SEO assets that don’t just inform, but also rank, engage, and convert. With the right approach, your next press release could be more than an announcement—it could be the spark that elevates your entire digital presence.

Ready to see how Pearson Hardman can transform your PR strategy? Let’s create press releases that work for both people and search engines.