Unfortunately, press releases just aren't what they used to be. If you're looking for legitimate journalists to notice you and your website, you're probably better off trying other means. Look into what is called "Social PR." Basically, one tactic is to engage with journalists on their own turf. Twitter is a great place to find and chat with journalists. But be careful; you don't want to "close on the first date" if you know what I mean. Don't try to pitch them a story right away. Build up rapport over time and then go in for the hook. So personally, I would invest time and money into that, rather than churning out press releases that don't really get seen anymore.

I hate to be "that guy," but I'm gonna say, "it depends." What I mean by this is it is highly subjective to the market you are in and the target you're going after. However, with that being said, let me share a few of my favorite growth-hacky-type ideas that you might want to consider using to grow your customer base: #1 - Produce a TON of content. Make it valuable, and don't cut corners. Then, promote it to your existing tribes. If you don't already have a tribe, see the bullet #2. #2 - Build a tribe. Get started at a place like triberr.com where you can connect your social profiles and your blog and share with likeminded folks. It takes time to get going, but you'll thank me for it later. #3 - Test every aspect of your landing pages. Use something like Unbounce (my favorite) to strip down every element of your pages and split test constantly. Get used to the fact that your landing pages are NEVER complete. They can always be improved. #4 - Build an email list from your blog traffic by using "content upgrades" or "lead magnets." Search Google for the specifics, but basically, you create free content that is related to each post on your blog that the reader can download in return for subscribing to your newsletter. It works like a charm! Let me know if you want me to go into further detail on any of this stuff.

One of the best things you could do to convert your visitors into signups is offer an exclusive free item that they can only get if they sign up. Often called a "UVP," or Unique Value Proposition, this would be something compelling such as a free book download that would entice them to subscribe right now. I'd recommend also using a popover form to ensure your visitors see the offer.