Combine SEO and PR for Compounding Visibility

Ask a founder how they’re handling PR and SEO, and you’ll usually hear two different stories. One involves trying to get mentioned in the press, the other — figuring out how to climb Google’s search rankings. But here’s the thing: these aren’t separate goals. Done right, your PR efforts can also support your SEO — and vice versa.

That’s especially true when you’re using a press release distribution service. These platforms don’t just send your news out — they help it land in places that matter. If your announcement gets picked up by media outlets and they link back to your website, you’re not just getting a visibility boost — you’re also gaining valuable SEO equity. For a startup with limited time and budget, that kind of two-for-one impact is a huge win.

This isn’t just a theory — it’s backed by data. According to the Semrush Digital PR guide, one of the clearest benefits of digital PR is that it earns both media hits and search authority. Editorial backlinks from credible sources improve your site’s search ranking over time. That means each good press mention doesn’t just get attention in the moment — it builds long-term authority that can help drive organic traffic for months to come.

So how do you make it work?

Start by rethinking what’s “newsworthy.” You don’t need a huge funding round or flashy launch. Maybe you’ve noticed a customer trend, have internal data to share, or just published something insightful. The goal is to make your story relevant — not just promotional.

And then be smart with your links. A strong press release should point readers (and journalists) to something meaningful — like a resource, blog post, or product page. If that content is genuinely helpful, it increases the chances that media outlets will keep the link when they cover your story.

Timing matters too. If your announcement connects to a larger industry trend or conversation, it’s far more likely to get picked up — and linked. The more relevant your angle, the more SEO benefit you’ll get.

After launch, track the results. Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs can show you who linked, how often, and whether your rankings moved. These metrics help you see what kinds of press activities deliver both visibility and SEO performance — and help shape your strategy moving forward.

When you treat SEO and PR as partners, not silos, your content starts to compound. Every story you share builds more trust and more authority. And that’s how small brands earn big visibility — not just once, but again and again.