How I Started Digpu News Network
Kunwar Devender Singh (Founder Member)
My journey into the Digital Media and Content Curation industry began with a real-life incident in 2014. A client from Mumbai approached me to get a press release published on digital news platforms. At the time, I was working on various marketing projects.
To fulfill the client’s request, I approached some of the world’s top wire agencies in India and the USA. However, to my surprise, the publication links started disappearing within a couple of months. Initially, I received 190 publication links from USA publishers, but within 60 days, only 15 remained live, while the rest showed errors.
As I continued to publish and distribute press releases for more clients, I noticed that this link removal was a recurring issue. The primary reason was that none of the wire agencies were directly connected to news publishers; they routed PR content through other agencies like AP (Associated Press), Reuters, ANI, PTI, etc. The decision to keep content live on their websites was entirely up to the publishers, leading to the disappearance of published links. This meant there was “No Guarantee” of publication, even after paying a significant amount.
The Changes We Brought to the Digital PR Industry
The digital PR industry traditionally operated on a wire network model, where PR agencies claimed multiple publications without offering any guarantees, causing uncertainty. We introduced the concept of “Assured Publication,” a term that has become synonymous with Digpu News Network. We ensured that every story we managed was published with featured images, quality articles, and lifetime link validity. Additionally, we integrated hundreds of mainstream and regional digital news publishers into the PR industry, expanding its scope far beyond what was previously possible. Unlike the past, where published links would vanish within days, content distributed through Digpu remains permanent and secure. We also pioneered the inclusion of featured images and hyperlinks in digital press releases, transforming them from plain, text-only formats into dynamic and engaging presentations.
Affordable Cost
Before Digpu News Network entered the scene, publishing news in mainstream media was a privilege reserved for corporates and MNCs due to the exorbitant costs. This made it almost unaffordable for small businesses, individuals, startups, and MSMEs. However, through our exclusive associations, Digpu has managed to reduce the cost of PR publication in mainstream media by 98%.
Assured Publication
The entire digital PR industry relied on the wire network model for press release publications. PR agencies would claim multiple publications, but nothing was guaranteed, leading to widespread uncertainty in the industry. Assured Publication – a term coined by Digpu News Network – became our hallmark. Regardless of how we changed and revolutionized the market, assured publications, featured images, quality articles, and lifetime link validity remained the indispensable traits and the ultimate USP of Digpu News Network.
Mainstream Media
Mainstream channels were never part of the PR industry; press releases were only routed through news agencies. Digpu News Network introduced hundreds of mainstream and regional digital news publishers to the PR industry.
Link Validity
Previously, published links were often removed or disabled within days of publication. However, content distributed via Digpu News Network remains permanently live and will never be removed or deleted.
“Our most significant achievement in the industry has been transforming the way PR articles are published. Traditionally, these articles were in a plain format, lacking images and external links. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Digpu PR Team, we successfully changed this standard. Today, in 2024, the inclusion of images and external links in mainstream publications is a testament to our collective impact.”
Our Direct Associations
Based on my industry experience and market research, in 2018, we began forging our own network of regional and mainstream digital news publishers. By September 2019, we had established partnerships with 55 Indian digital regional news publishers, along with Indian mainstream platforms like the Hindustan Times Group (Hindustan Times, LiveMint, Live Hindustan, HT Bangla, HT Punjabi, Desi Martini), Network18 Media and Investment Ltd (News18, Money Control, Firstpost, Forbes India), and many others, including the Indian Express Group. This was the first time in the industry that Indian mainstream publishers were directly associated with us to publish PR content on their portals with a lifetime guarantee.
The Price Challenge and How We Made It Affordable
Our research into Indian media and journalism, following our initial challenging experience, revealed some astonishing results. We discovered that while most news channels in the country were focused on TRP journalism, with no space for promoting startups, SMEs, and small businesses, the situation for journalists in Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities was dire.
While major media houses enjoyed luxury and comfort, ground-level journalists were struggling for survival.
Affordable Mainstream Media
The biggest hurdle we faced was making publishing with premium news channels affordable and cost-effective. With time and extraordinary effort, Digpu overcame this challenge to the extent that many wire agencies today are lowering their prices just to stay relevant in the market. We can proudly say that this has been the “Digpu Effect.”
Assured Publication – The Name Given to the Industry
Regardless of how we have managed to change, shape, and revolutionize the market, assured publications and the lifetime validity of press releases remain the indispensable traits and ultimate promise of Digpu News Network.
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