No matter what their income level, most people are preoccupied with personal finance. Personal finance issues dominate the media and are perennial topics for best-selling books, as well as seminars and late-night infomercials. Companies and entrepreneurs offering personal finance products, services, and workshops are discovering that a press release from a service such as Mass Media Distribution is one of the most efficient ways to reach – and establish credibility with – the people who most need their information.

People have always been concerned with personal finance: how to make money, how to manage the money they have, how to make more money. Personal finance issues dominate the media these days and are hot topics for best-selling books and widely advertised seminars by personal finance rock stars such as Suze Orman and David Bach. And as many insomniacs could tell you, personal finance is the focus of many late-night infomercials, most of whose toll-free numbers are probably better left un-dialed. Over the past few years, the entire subject of personal finance has taken on an air of urgency and gravity as the worldwide recession has deepened, and as corporations continue to fail, merge, downsize, outsource, or, in a desperate move to save their top executives’ jobs, simply opt for wide-scale cutbacks. As a result, unfortunately, more people are finding themselves out of jobs, and more are being forced to re-invent themselves and re-think their entire relationship to work and money. Personal finance, in other words, is not just a concern any more; for many, it has become a constant worry. Accordingly, consumers are flooded with personal finance information – and, increasingly often, misinformation – every day. How does an honest personal finance expert or organization wade through this muddy stream to reach consumers who really need help making their financial decisions? One very effective way is with a personal finance press release, advises Mass Media Distribution (www.massmediadistribution.com), one of the world’s premiere press release writing and distribution services.

A press release is one of the most economical and credible ways for a personal finance author or expert, or a personal finance advisory firm, financial services company, bank, credit union, or credit card company to get information out before the public. A solidly written personal finance press release will capture the attention of finance writers and journalists, and they in turn will share the information with consumers, as well as with personal finance professionals, via their print, broadcast, or online media outlets.

Credibility – and integrity – are particularly important to individuals or companies providing personal finance products or services. Not only is this due to the strict regulations governing the financial industry, but also because personal finance is a serious issue to consumers. And respected finance writers, reporters, and product reviewers add a level of credibility that really is not possible with advertising, company Web site copy, or even participation in social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. These strategies may all have their place in an overall promotional strategy, but they can’t perform the functions of a press release.

Established personal finance advisory firms and large financial institutions – as well as best-selling personal finance authors who have the support of major publishers – are more likely to be aware of the influence of a press release than are, for example, small, independent financial service entrepreneurs or companies. As anyone who watches prime-time TV knows, large media concerns, Wall Street firms, and credit card companies have budgets that allow them to mount expensive promotional campaigns. Even so, they still send out press releases on a regular basis. But a personal finance expert or financial company that is just starting out, or one that hasn’t used press releases previously, might not be aware of how productive a press release can be. If not, they need to educate themselves. In fact, many experts say a press release is critical not only to the successful launching of a new personal finance business, but also to the continued success of an established business.

It’s easy to understand why smaller personal finance companies might think that the best-selling authors, or companies with those big marketing budgets, have an unfair advantage over smaller players in their efforts to keep their names before the public. But that’s not necessarily the case, says Mass Media Distribution. A well-thought-out press release campaign can sometimes accomplish more than the most expensive marketing campaign. Again, however, the key is to get the attention of the right journalists.

As indicated above, any individual or company offering personal finance products, services, or information has at least one clear advantage at the outset: virtually everybody is deeply interested in financial topics. For that reason, the media have an insatiable appetite for financial-related stories with which to fill the swarm of dedicated personal finance-related magazines, Web sites, and television channels, as well as general-interest outlets such as newspapers, magazines, and radio and TV networks. Moreover, personal finance writers and reviewers are always looking for personal finance-related stories, and not surprisingly, they get many of those stories from press releases. However, cautions Mass Media Distribution, even if the topic is otherwise interesting to consumers, a poorly written or untargeted press release – or one that reads too much like an ad – is very likely to be ignored or discarded.

There are many reasons to issue a personal finance press release. One of the most common is the launch of a new book or other information product, or a new piece of personal finance software or a finance app or other product or service. Press releases can also be used to report other company news such as personnel changes, promotions, or company expansion or relocation. But personal finance-related companies should realize that a press release is not only for new product announcements, breaking news, or new developments or results. Companies marketing to the consumer or personal finance professional should take every opportunity to publicize their activities or their organization with a press release. Community involvement, such as participation in or sponsorship of a charity event or free personal finance workshop, can appeal to journalists hunting for an interesting story angle.

Furthermore, unless they’re time or event-sensitive, many press releases can be reworked and re-sent a few weeks after the initial distribution. For example, a press release about a new personal finance product or opportunity can be redrafted a few weeks later with additional news as appropriate – perhaps an announcement of better-than-expected early returns figures; examples of customers’ personal stories about their experiences with the personal finance product; and so forth.

No matter what the style or the intended purpose of the press release, it is still necessary to stick to the facts and avoid too much obvious self-promotion. Again, credibility is particularly important for any company or individual selling personal finance products, services, or information. This is where many neophyte press release writers stumble (and it’s another argument in favor of letting the pros write the personal finance press release). In any event, a press release that is sufficiently compelling just might motivate editors or producers to either use it as is or build a larger story or segment around it. And this is great free publicity for the personal finance company. In addition, the journalist gets a story with little effort, and consumers get information they need. Everybody gains.

The main point to remember about a personal finance press release is that good writing is crucial. Personal finance experts who aren’t sure about their own press release writing skills needn’t worry, as Mass Media Distribution uses professional writers to create effective releases.

Besides good writing, distribution is the other essential ingredient for a successful personal finance press release. Even a professionally crafted press release is a futile effort if it isn’t distributed to journalists who are interested in the subject matter. Mass Media Distribution uses a powerful “4-Way Distribution Process” that consists of reaching individual journalists by email; contacting newsrooms by wire services; posting online (including Google News); and RSS syndication to popular news sites. The company sends proof of distribution to each client, as well as links to help the client track hits to the personal finance press release online.

As indicated above, targeted distribution is also crucial, and Mass Media Distribution has a media list of more than 500 categories and over 800,000 media contacts – numbers that are growing daily – so the company can target individual journalists who are looking for personal finance related press releases. Another advantage is that each personal finance press release is sent individually rather than grouped with other releases, ensuring that every release gets optimal exposure.

A final point to keep in mind is that a single press release, though effective in the short run, can only accomplish so much. Multiple press releases over a period of time are necessary for a personal finance company to stay in the public eye. After all, as noted earlier, all consumers are on personal finance information overload, and regular exposure is the secret to success for any company that wants to reach them. For this reason, many of Mass Media Distribution’s clients choose a full press release campaign.

Personal finance matters are on everyone’s mind these days, and consumers often depend upon information they get from the mass media to make their choices of products, services, or even workshops that might help improve their financial situation. A first-rate press release is one of the best ways to ensure they get the personal finance information they need on a timely basis.