Every marketing leader faces the same question: Should we spend our budget on paid ads — or invest in PR distribution?
On paper, ads are the faster route. You pay, you get clicks. But the moment you stop paying, the visibility vanishes.
Press releases, on the other hand, work like long-term digital assets — building brand credibility, backlinks, and trust that compounds over time.
At TS Newswire, we’ve seen marketing heads from SaaS startups, e-commerce founders, and Fortune 500 PR teams shift their budgets toward earned media — and for good reason.
💸 Paid Ads: Fast But Fragile
Paid ads are like caffeine — they work instantly, but the effects fade quickly.
You might see clicks and impressions, but few users trust an ad that says “Sponsored.”
And when budgets tighten, ad campaigns are usually the first to go.
Most importantly, ads don’t help your long-term SEO or authority — once they stop running, your brand disappears from search results.
🗞️ Press Release Distribution: Credibility That Compounds
Press releases, when distributed through platforms like TS Newswire, appear on Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, and AP News — giving your brand the visibility that feels organic and earned.
These stories stay alive for years, continue to rank on Google, and often get syndicated by partner sites.
In short, one press release can keep bringing traffic, backlinks, and brand awareness long after you’ve stopped spending.
📊 ROI Comparison Table
| Metric | Paid Ads | Press Release Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | Ends with budget | Long-term visibility |
| Trust Level | Low (sponsored tag) | High (media coverage) |
| SEO Impact | None | Strong (backlinks + indexing) |
| Cost Efficiency | Recurring spend | One-time investment |
| Perceived Authority | Transactional | Thought-leadership boost |
🧩 Real-World Example
A SaaS startup we worked with spent $3,000 on social ads and saw 10,000 clicks — but zero investor leads.
The same startup later distributed a press release through TS Newswire to Yahoo Finance, generating over 40,000 organic impressions, 12 backlinks, and an inquiry from a major partner — all within a month.
That’s the difference between paid exposure and earned recognition.
💬 Why Marketing Leaders Are Shifting Budgets
In 2025, C-level marketers and SEO heads are re-evaluating how they measure success.
They’re not just chasing traffic — they want trust signals.
They’re looking for ways to make Google recognize their brand as authoritative.
And that’s precisely what a well-executed press release does:
It strengthens brand E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
🧭 Conclusion
Paid ads buy attention.
Press releases earn it.
If your brand’s goal is to build credibility, drive SEO value, and attract decision-makers, PR distribution wins every time.
