I officially launched my RIA when I clicked send on the press release. After a week of unofficial ad-hoc marketing while my website was being finalized, it is now ready, so it is all systems go.
Coordinating a press release was something I was intending to do all along but when the time came, I realized it was something I wasnt prepared for. Not being one to miss a self-imposed deadline, I worked out what I wanted to say and aimed to get it out by 10:00 a.m. Not having ever sent a press release before, I went to some historical ones that I have been quoted in for inspiration. Using that template, I wrote my own and set out to find a service to release it.
I used PRWeb (
The total cost? Less than $500.
But, for most of the morning, I was having buyers remorse. Then at 4 pm, I went and checked the metrics of the first day. From the release at 10:30 am, it generated 4,500 headline impressions and 250 people have opened and read it. From within the press release, 35 people clicked the URL to visit my website.
Im not really sure if it was worth the money, but right now, exposure is what Im going for. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldnt pay that much. I cant see myself doing another press release anytime soon, so it may be worthwhile to do it like this every once in a while.
Dave Grant, CFP, a Financial Planning columnist, is the founder of Cary, Ill.-based planning firm Finance for Teachers. Hes also the founder of Fee Only Consulting, which focuses on developing the skills of Gen Y planners. In addition, hes the founder of NAPFA Genesis, a networking group for young, fee-only planners.
