A business you run with AI

Start a Press-Release Service business while you keep your day job

Small businesses have genuine news and no idea how to write a press release or which directories to submit it to. You find them, take one call to capture the story, and Actionist writes the release in their voice

Actionist writes, submits and tracks every release. You take the call and approve before anything goes out.

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Your AI workforce

$250+per press release, you set it

$15,000a year at 5 releases a month

6phases Actionist runs

Actionist operatesActionist App Store

Hundreds of small businesses, from new restaurant openings to local award winners and product launchers, have genuine news and no clue how to write a press release or which PR directories to submit it to. Starting a press release writing and distribution service normally means hours of interviewing clients, drafting and formatting each release, and manually logging into every PR site one by one. Actionist changes that. It is an AI agent that operates real apps the way a person does, so it can study the client's intake notes, draft the release in their voice, format it to wire service standards, and operate each PR directory on the desktop to submit it, all while you keep your day job.

You do not need a PR or journalism background, and you do not need to quit your job. You bring the client relationship and the twenty-minute call that surfaces the story. Actionist does the writing, the submissions and the tracking. You approve the release before it goes anywhere, and approve the pickup report before the client sees it.

start a press release service businesspress release writing business with AImake money writing press releasesAI press release distribution servicepress release agency for small businesses

Your opportunity

The opportunity

Why this works

Every high street has businesses with news worth publishing: a new location, a product launch, a local award, a community partnership. Most owners have never written a press release and would not know where to submit one.

Because Actionist drafts and submits each release in the background, you can serve more clients than a solo freelancer ever could, without a journalism degree and without leaving your day job.

What matters to you

Millions of overlooked stories
Small businesses generate genuine news constantly, from openings to awards to partnerships, and almost none of it ever reaches a journalist or a directory.
A clear, pay-per-result service
Clients understand what they are buying: a press release written and distributed. The value is obvious and the pitch is short.
Recurring distribution deals
A business with regular news, like a restaurant chain or a growing brand, becomes a monthly retainer Actionist handles without extra effort from you.
No journalism degree needed
Actionist knows press release format, industry standards and the right tone. You bring the conversation that surfaces the story.

Your projection

Run your own numbers

Your projection

Set the numbers, see the picture

Price per press release

$250

releases a month

Per month

$1,250

Per year

$15,000

Illustrative, based on the numbers you enter. Plus optional monthly PR retainer packages per client.

Getting started

What it actually takes to start

A press release service sounds like something only an ex-journalist or a PR agency can run. Actionist handles the craft and the submissions, so the bar to start is far lower than most people assume.

What you don't need

A journalism or PR background
Actionist knows the format, wire standards and the right tone for each industry.
To log into every PR directory by hand
Actionist operates each submission platform on the desktop for you.
A team or writers on staff
An office or agency setup
To quit your day job
The whole service fits around your evenings and weekends.

What you bring

A knack for talking to business owners
The twenty-minute call that surfaces the story is your edge.
A few evenings a week
Mostly approvals, a call, and a quick review.
A laptop and Actionist
That is the complete setup.

If you can hold a conversation with a business owner and describe what made their news worth sharing, Actionist can turn it into a published press release.

How Actionist works

How it works

How Actionist builds the business

You do not write or submit press releases yourself. Actionist does. Here is how the service works on any business idea, applied to a press release agency: you pick it and set your limits, the agent plans every task, works through them, and brings you only the few a person must do.

01
You pick your niche and set your packages
You choose which types of businesses to serve, set your per-release price and optional retainer rate, and decide how many clients you can handle each month. That is the only setup you do. Actionist plans and runs everything after this.
A clear brief Actionist can plan against.
02
Actionist maps every task and subtask
Actionist breaks the whole service into stages: prospecting, outreach, intake, writing, submission and reporting. Every task and subtask under each stage is mapped and ordered so you see the full scope in one place before a single email is sent.
A complete task plan for the service.
03
It schedules the work and works through it
Actionist schedules each task and works through them one by one, prospecting for new clients, drafting releases from intake notes, and submitting to PR directories in the background while you are at your job.
Steady progress without you driving it.
04
It assigns you the human-only tasks
Some tasks only a person can do well: the discovery call that captures the story and the relationship moment that closes the deal. Actionist flags those to you with everything you need, then carries on with the plan once you are done.
A short, clear list of the tasks only you can do.
05
It asks before anything client-facing goes out
Before Actionist sends a release to a client for review, submits it to a directory, or invoices for payment, it stops and waits for your approval. You decide how hands-on to be per task.
You stay in control of every client-facing move.
06
You keep your day job and check in
You run this around your job. Check the board when it suits you, approve what is waiting, and message Actionist over Telegram or Slack to change or nudge anything. The service keeps moving between your check-ins.
A service that grows around your schedule.

Your agent team

Actionist is your whole team

You are one person. Actionist is the whole team. Here is every role it plays to find clients, write releases and report results, and the one part of each that stays with you.

~48 hrs/week of work by hand, run by your agents instead

Plan the service

sets up packages, rates and the full task plan

Executive Agent

Before the first prospect email goes out, your assistant sets up the service: packages, pricing and the task plan from intake to client report.

If you did this by hand

Research what PR packages competitors offerDecide on per-release and retainer pricingWrite up the service descriptionBuild the task plan from scratchRe-prioritise as the client mix changes

~5 hrs/ week

researching the market and building the task plan.≈ 3 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

One planevery stage, task and subtask

Day onescoped before you approach a client

Map the service stages
Breaks the business into prospecting, intake, writing, submission and reporting with every task under each.
Set the run order
Sequences tasks so each starts as soon as the one before it is complete.
Keep the plan live
Re-plans around your schedule and updates the board as client work comes in.

Your part

You set the niche, the price and the hours you can give. Everything after that, Actionist plans and runs.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Find businesses with news

prospecting and outreach

Sales Agent

Your sales agent finds small businesses with a genuine newsworthy event and drafts a short cold outreach that explains what a press release could do for them.

If you did this by hand

Search for local businesses with recent newsIdentify the newsworthy angle for each oneFind the right owner or manager to contactWrite every first message from scratchTrack who you have already approachedChase the ones who do not reply

~8 hrs/ week

prospecting, spotting newsworthy angles and writing outreach.≈ 4 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

A pipelineof businesses with a story to tell

Draftedoutreach ready for your approval

Build the prospect list
Finds businesses with a product launch, award, opening or milestone that a journalist could cover.
Draft the outreach
Writes a short message in your voice, naming the specific news angle and what a press release could do for them.
Follow up
Sends the polite nudge to prospects who did not reply, so warm leads do not go cold.

Your part

Outreach waits for your yes before anything sends. You approve the list and the message.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Book the discovery calls

first contact and scheduling

Reception Agent

When a prospect replies, your receptionist answers, qualifies them, and books the call straight into your calendar with everything you need to capture the story.

If you did this by hand

Reply to every interested prospectAnswer the same questions again and againOffer times that work for youSend the calendar inviteReschedule any no-shows

~3 hrs/ week

answering enquiries and arranging calls.≈ 2 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

Answeredevery reply, in your tone

Bookedinto your live calendar

Answer the reply
Responds to interested prospects, handles their routine questions and keeps them warm.
Book the call
Offers times from your real calendar and sends a confirmed invite to both sides.
Send a prep note
Emails the prospect a short list of what to have ready: the news angle, any quotes and any embargo date.

Your part

You take the discovery call itself. The agent makes sure it is in your diary with every detail you need.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Write the press release

drafting and formatting

Developer Agent

Your writing agent turns the discovery call notes into a press release formatted to industry standards, in the client's voice, ready for your approval.

If you did this by hand

Read the call notes and choose the headline angleWrite the lead paragraph to the inverted pyramidDraft the body with the client's quotes woven inFormat it to wire service standardsPolish the boilerplate and media contact block

~10 hrs/ week

drafting, formatting and iterating on press releases.≈ 5 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

Per clienta finished release in their voice

Readyto submit on your approval

Draft the release
Uses the intake brief and call notes to write the headline, lead, body and quotes in the client's tone.
Format to standard
Structures the release to wire service requirements: headline, dateline, lead, body, boilerplate, media contact.
Iterate on feedback
Takes your edits or client revisions and produces a clean updated version fast.

Your part

You give the final approval before the release goes to the client or to any directory. Nothing publishes without it.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Submit and track

PR directory submission and pickup monitoring

Technical Agent

Your technical agent logs into each PR platform on the desktop and submits the approved release, then tracks where it gets picked up across the web.

If you did this by hand

Log into each PR directory one by oneCopy the release into every submission formFill in the category and metadata fields on eachWait for confirmation and note the URLsSearch the web to find where the release wasBuild a results spreadsheet row by row

~9 hrs/ week

submitting to PR platforms and tracking pickup results.≈ 5 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

Multiple sitessubmitted per approved release

Loggedevery pickup URL for the client report

Submit to paid platforms
Operates paid PR wires on the desktop, filling in every field correctly and saving each confirmation.
Submit to free directories
Logs into free directories and submits the same release formatted for each platform's requirements.
Track where it lands
Searches for the release after submission, logs the pickup URLs and notes which outlets covered it.

Your part

You decide which platforms to use per client tier. The agent handles the actual logins and submissions.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Handle client queries

updates, revisions and questions

Support Agent

Your support agent keeps every client informed, answers their questions about the release or the process, and routes anything that needs your call to you.

If you did this by hand

Reply to every client message manuallyExplain the process every time someone asksSend updates on where things standTake revision requests and pass them onKeep everyone calm and informed

~4 hrs/ week

answering client questions and keeping them updated.≈ 2 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

Answeredclient questions, with context

In the loopclients updated at every step

Answer the questions
Handles where-is-my-release and can-you-change-the-headline questions from your notes and the live plan.
Send progress updates
Tells clients when the draft is ready, when it has been submitted and when the pickup report is coming.
Flag the real ones
Routes questions that need your judgment to you over Telegram or Slack, with the full thread attached.

Your part

You handle the relationship calls and the decisions. The agent handles the routine back-and-forth.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Win repeat work

retention and referrals

CRM Agent

Your CRM agent keeps every past client warm and pitched at the right moment, so you get monthly retainer deals and referrals without any extra outreach from you.

If you did this by hand

Remember when each client last published a releaseWrite the check-in or retainer pitch yourselfKeep track of who owes a replyAsk happy clients for referrals at the right timeNote which clients have upcoming news

~4 hrs/ week

following up and keeping past clients on retainer.≈ 2 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

Trackedevery client and their release history

Timedfollow-ups and retainer pitches that go out

Keep the record
Logs every client, their news history and when to check back in for their next story or campaign.
Pitch the retainer
Drafts the monthly PR package pitch at the right moment, timed to when the client is likely planning their next announcement.
Ask for referrals
Spots the happy clients after a strong pickup report and drafts a referral ask at the right moment.

Your part

You approve the retainer pitch before it goes out. The agent never sends messages behind your back.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Run the back office

intake, invoicing and admin

Operations Agent

Your operations agent runs the intake process, raises the invoices and keeps the submission log so the admin never piles up between clients.

If you did this by hand

Send and chase the intake form for every clientWrite up each proposal from scratchRaise and send invoices after deliveryChase the ones left unpaidKeep the submission log accurate

~5 hrs/ week

intake forms, proposals, invoicing and submission logging.≈ 3 days a month you do not have, handled for you.

What your agent does

Collectedstory briefs, without the chase

Invoicedon delivery, then chased if late

Run intake
Sends the form that collects the news angle, quotes, embargo date and contact details, then chases missing answers.
Draft proposals
Turns an enquiry into a proposal with your package options and pricing, ready for your approval.
Handle invoicing
Raises the invoice on delivery, sends it to the client and follows up on anything unpaid.

Your part

You approve every proposal and invoice before it goes out. Money never moves without you.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →

Your task plan

The task centre

Every task it takes, and who does it

This is the plan Actionist builds to launch and run the press-release service: every stage, task and subtask. The work is spread across your agents, from finding clients to writing releases to submitting them and reporting results. Only the discovery call and a handful of approvals are left to you.

27 tasks·83 subtasks

Actionist 22You 1Approval 4Actionist handles ~81%

TaskStatusAssignee

Done

Executive Agent

Research what similar services charge per release

Done

Set a per-release price and an optional retainer rate

Done

Write a one-line description for each package tier

Done

Technical Agent

List the paid PR wires worth submitting to

Done

List the free directories for the base tier

Done

Note the login and submission steps for each platform

Done

Operations Agent

Done

Operations Agent

In progress

Operations Agent

An example plan Actionist builds for this service. Yours adapts to your packages, your niche and your pace.

Under the hood

What one automation looks like

Trigger·You approve a press release draft and mark it ready to submit.

read

Step 1

Google Docs

Run the final formatting check on the approved release

read

Step 2

Airtable

Pull the submission checklist for the client's package tier

Confirmation

Step 3

Human

You confirm which platforms to submit to for this client

write

Step 4

Google Sheets

Submit the release to each platform on the list and log the confirmation URLs

write

Step 5

Gmail

Send the client a note that their release is live with the first pickup links

Saved per run

~1 hrs

Runs / week

~4×

Approved, submitted and confirmed in one go.

The payoff

Your week

All it asks of you

Here is what a week looks like once the service is running. Your agents find prospects, write releases and submit them every day. You step in for the discovery call, a few approvals, and a quick check of what moved.

You

About an hour

across the whole week, mostly in the evenings

5 touchpoints · about 70 min all week

Your agents

Every working day

prospecting, drafting, submitting and reporting in the background

7 jobs running in the background

Your team

Mon

Your part

10 min

Approve this week's outreach batch

On shift

DARACASATA

13 tasks today

Drafts each press release from the intake brief in the client's voice

Books discovery calls and sends prep notes to incoming prospects

Tue

Your part

25 min

Take one discovery call

On shift

SAOADARACASA

16 tasks today

Answers client questions and drafts updates for your review

Runs intake forms, raises invoices and keeps the submission log

Wed

Your part

All handled

On shift

SATASAOADA

15 tasks today

Finds businesses with a product launch, award or opening and drafts the outreach

Submits approved releases to PR directories and tracks where they land

Thu

Your part

10 min

Approve a press release draft

On shift

RACASATASAOA

15 tasks today

Books discovery calls and sends prep notes to incoming prospects

Keeps every past client warm and times the retainer pitch

Fri

Your part

10 min

Approve the client pickup report

On shift

OADARACASA

14 tasks today

Runs intake forms, raises invoices and keeps the submission log

Drafts each press release from the intake brief in the client's voice

Sat

Your part

15 min

Skim the weekly summary

On shift

TASAOADARACA

17 tasks today

Submits approved releases to PR directories and tracks where they land

Answers client questions and drafts updates for your review

Sun

Your part

All handled

On shift

CASATASAOA

13 tasks today

Keeps every past client warm and times the retainer pitch

Finds businesses with a product launch, award or opening and drafts the outreach

Your full team runs in the background, every day.

Approve this week's outreach batch10 min
mon · A quick yes before the agent sends.
Take one discovery call25 min
tue · The call only you can do.
Approve a press release draft10 min
thu · Final read before it goes to the client.
Approve the client pickup report10 min
fri · Check the links, then send.
Skim the weekly summary15 min
sat · What shipped, what is next.

Your team, every day

SA
Sales Agent
Finds businesses with a product launch, award or opening and drafts the outreach
DA
Developer Agent
Drafts each press release from the intake brief in the client's voice
TA
Technical Agent
Submits approved releases to PR directories and tracks where they land
RA
Reception Agent
Books discovery calls and sends prep notes to incoming prospects
SA
Support Agent
Answers client questions and drafts updates for your review
CA
CRM Agent
Keeps every past client warm and times the retainer pitch
OA
Operations Agent
Runs intake forms, raises invoices and keeps the submission log

The payoff

What you walk away with

No journalism degree
You never write the release
Actionist knows press release format and wire service standards, so you focus on the client relationship, not the craft.
Around your job
Run it while employed
Actionist prospects, drafts and submits in the background, so you build this without quitting your day job.
Monthly
Recurring retainer income
Clients with regular news become monthly retainer deals the agents handle, so revenue is not only per-release.

Before and after

Doing it alone vs with Actionist

On your own

~33h / week

every job below lands on you

With Actionist

minutes to review

it runs all 9 in the background

1Writing the release
8h/wk
Hours per release, done by hand
You study the intake notes, learn the inverted pyramid format, draft the headline and body, and re-do it until the client is satisfied.
ActionistOff your plate
A formatted draft in the client's voice
Actionist reads the intake brief and call notes and drafts a correctly formatted release ready for your single approval.
2Submitting to PR directories
6h/wk
Logging into every site one by one
You create accounts on each PR platform, paste the release into every submission form, fill in the metadata and wait for confirmations.
ActionistOff your plate
Submitted across all platforms in the tier
Actionist operates each PR directory on the desktop, fills in every field and logs every confirmation URL in your tracker.
3Finding clients to pitch
5h/wk
Manual search for businesses with news
You browse social media and local news, note which businesses have an angle worth pitching and track who you have already approached.
ActionistOff your plate
A ranked list with the angle identified
Actionist researches businesses with product launches, awards or openings and ranks them by news strength, ready for your outreach batch.
4Tracking pickup and coverage
3h/wk
Checking every site manually
You search for the release title across the web, note which outlets ran it and build a coverage spreadsheet row by row.
ActionistOff your plate
A pickup log and report built for you
Actionist monitors for the release after submission, logs every pickup URL and assembles the client report in one step.
5Client outreach
3.5h/wk
Writing every cold pitch yourself
You draft a personalised message per prospect, name their specific news angle and track who responded and who did not.
ActionistOff your plate
Drafted pitches queued for your approval
Actionist writes a personalised message per prospect naming the specific angle and queues it for your approval before anything sends.

1Client communication
2.5h/wk
Every question lands on you
Clients email asking where their release is, what sites you submitted to and when they will see results, and you answer each one yourself.
ActionistOff your plate
Updates handled, escalations flagged
Actionist answers the routine questions and sends progress updates, routing only the judgment calls to you over Telegram or Slack.
2Client reporting
2h/wk
Building the report from scratch
After every submission run you compile the pickup URLs, write a summary and format it into something presentable to send the client.
ActionistOff your plate
A polished pickup report ready to approve
Actionist builds the report from the submission log, adds links to the top placements and writes the summary for your single approval.
3Invoicing and payment
1.5h/wk
Invoices raised when you remember
You write up the invoice after delivery, remember to chase the ones unpaid and lose track of who owes what across multiple clients.
ActionistOff your plate
Invoiced on delivery, chased if late
Actionist raises the invoice the moment a release ships and flags any overdue payments so you are not the one following up.
4Winning retainer deals
1.5h/wk
Pitching repeat work yourself
You try to remember which clients have upcoming news, think of the right moment to pitch a monthly package and draft the message from scratch.
ActionistOff your plate
Timed retainer pitches drafted and sent
Actionist tracks when each client last published and drafts the monthly PR retainer pitch at the right moment for your approval.

That is roughly 33 hours of work handed off every week, while you keep your day job

The tools

The apps Actionist operates

View Actionist App Store

Stay in control and start

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Trust and control

You stay in control

This is your reputation and your clients' news. Actionist drafts and submits releases only after you approve them, keeps a log of every action, and never reaches a client or a directory without your say-so.

You approve every release before it goes

No release is sent to a client for review or submitted to a directory until you have read and approved the final version.

Every submission is logged

Each platform Actionist submits to is recorded with the confirmation URL, so you have a full audit trail for every client.

Your accounts, your relationships

Actionist works inside your own logins and inboxes. You keep ownership of every client and every platform account.

Choose how hands-on it is

Set approval modes per task, from approving every outreach message to letting routine follow-ups run on their own.

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FAQ

Questions about this idea

Do I need a PR or journalism background to start this?

No. Actionist knows press release format, wire service standards and the right tone for different industries. You bring the client conversation that surfaces the story. The twenty-minute discovery call is the one thing only you can do well, and it is the genuine human edge this service runs on.

Which PR directories and sites does Actionist submit to?

Actionist operates the desktop browser to log into and submit to whichever platforms you include in your package: paid wires like EIN Presswire, free directories like PRLog and OpenPR, and any niche sites relevant to the client's industry. You set the tier; Actionist submits to every site on the list.

Will Actionist send a release to a directory without me approving it first?

No. The release only leaves your control in two steps, and you approve both: first the client sees the draft and signs off, then you approve the final version before Actionist submits to any directory. Nothing goes live without your yes.

How does Actionist write in a small business's voice?

Actionist reads the intake brief and the notes from your discovery call, including the client's quotes, the tone and the specific angle you captured. It uses that context to draft the release in the client's language, not generic PR copy. You review and approve before it goes anywhere.

What counts as a story worth writing a press release about?

Product or service launches, award wins, new locations or hires, community events, partnerships and charitable work all make solid press release material. Actionist can help you evaluate the angle when you are qualifying a prospect, so you only pitch businesses with a story worth telling.

Can I really run this around a full-time job?

Yes. Actionist prospects, drafts and submits in the background during the day. Your part is a handful of evenings: approve the outreach batch, take one discovery call, read and approve the release draft, and check the pickup report before it goes to the client. That is around an hour a week per active client.

How do I get paid?

Actionist raises the invoice in Stripe at the agreed per-release rate and, once you approve, sends the client a payment link alongside the pickup report. Repeat clients on a monthly retainer are billed on a cycle Actionist manages.

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Your opportunity

Why this works

Run your own numbers

Set the numbers, see the picture

What it actually takes to start

How Actionist works

How Actionist builds the business

You pick your niche and set your packages

Actionist maps every task and subtask

It schedules the work and works through it

It assigns you the human-only tasks

It asks before anything client-facing goes out

You keep your day job and check in

Actionist is your whole team

Plan the service

Your task plan

Every task it takes, and who does it

What one automation looks like

The payoff

All it asks of you

What you walk away with

Doing it alone vs with Actionist

The apps Actionist operates

Stay in control and start

Already run this business?

You stay in control

Questions about this idea

Start the business you keep thinking about.