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The Journal — Page 23 of 26

Earlier field notes.

Older guides from the Instant Press team. Newest posts live on page one.

Press Release Marketing: The Honest Explanation

What press release marketing actually is, when it works, when it doesn't, and how to use press releases as a marketing tool without wasting money.

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How to Write Press Releases for Trade Publications

Trade publications are different from mainstream media. Here's how to write press releases that trade editors actually pick up.

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Answer Engine Optimization for Startups (On a Budget)

A scrappy AEO playbook for startups that can't outspend incumbents: what to prioritize, what to skip, and how to build AI visibility without a big budget.

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The Buy-a-Google-Knowledge-Panel Scam (Don't Fall For It)

Why you can't buy a Google knowledge panel, how the scam works, and what to do instead if you actually want one.

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How to Distribute a Press Release in 2026

Every distribution method ranked: wire services, direct pitching, owned channels, and the newer options. What works, what's waste, and how to choose.

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How to Get on TV as an Expert (The Playbook)

The real process for landing TV segments as a subject matter expert: finding producers, crafting the pitch, preparing for the hit, and building on it.

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How to Make Your Brand Show Up in ChatGPT Answers

The practical guide to getting ChatGPT to mention your brand when users ask about your category, product type, or competitors.

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How to Rank in Perplexity Answers

How Perplexity decides which sources to cite and brands to mention, and what you can do to show up in its AI-generated answers.

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Do Press Releases Still Work for SEO in 2026

The honest answer on whether press releases still help SEO, what they actually do, and when they're worth the effort.

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What Is a Boilerplate in a Press Release (Explained)

The boilerplate is the 'About' block at the end of a press release. Here's what it should contain, what to leave out, and how to write one reporters actually use.

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What Is AEO in Marketing (The Honest Definition)

AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. Here's what it actually means for marketers, how it differs from SEO, and why it matters in 2026.

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Answer Engine Optimization for Healthcare Brands

How healthcare brands should approach AEO in a regulated, trust-sensitive category: content standards, citation building, and measurement.

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Answer Engine Optimization for Real Estate Agents

How real estate agents can build AI product visibility in a hyper-local, trust-sensitive category where most agents don't show up at all.

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Answer Engine Optimization for SaaS Companies

How SaaS companies should approach AEO: the query inventory, the content system, the press work, and the measurement that actually moves AI visibility.

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How to Cite a Press Release in APA Format (7 Examples)

Citing a press release in a paper? Here's the exact APA format — print, web, and corporate sources — with 7 worked examples you can copy.

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Google Knowledge Panel vs Google Business Profile: Key Differences

Two Google features people confuse constantly. How they differ, which one appears when, and which actually moves the needle for your business in 2026.

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How to Pitch Journalists and Actually Get Replies

The real playbook for writing pitches reporters respond to: research, subject lines, opening lines, the ask, and the follow-up.

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How to Optimize Your Content for AI Answer Engines

The content-level playbook for getting your pages extracted and cited by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.

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Press Release Distribution vs Newswire: The Real Difference

What the terms actually mean, how the services differ, and which one you actually need for your announcement.

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Press Release Keywords: What Actually Helps SEO

How to think about keywords in press releases in 2026, what still helps for SEO, and what's wasted effort.

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Who Actually Gets Google Knowledge Panels (And Who Doesn't)

The real criteria Google uses to decide who gets a knowledge panel, why most applicants never qualify, and how to know if you actually have a shot.

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AI Press Release Generators: Do They Actually Work

An honest look at AI press release generators in 2026: what they're good for, what they're terrible at, and how to use them without embarrassing yourself.

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12 Real AEO Examples Driving Citations in 2026

Want your brand cited in ChatGPT? Here are 12 real AEO examples with what each brand changed, why it worked, and the citation lift it produced.

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