Press release creation and distribution in Search Atlas is handled by **Signal Genesys**, accessible at `app.signalgenesys.io`. You log in with your Search Atlas credentials. This article covers the most common questions.

## How do I create a press release?

In Search Atlas, go to **Authority → PR Distribution (Press Releases)** and click the **New Release** button. Three methods are available:

- **Write manually** — fill in the headline, body, and summary yourself
- **Use a template** — start from a pre-built structure for common announcement types
- **AI-assisted** — provide a topic and key points; the platform drafts the full release (costs 1 HDC)

Required fields are: headline, body, summary, and company/contact boilerplate.

✅ Once all required fields are filled, the Publish button becomes active.

## What is Signal Boost and does it rewrite my press release?

Signal Boost is a distribution amplification option available at no additional HDC cost. It does **not** modify any content — your headline, body, and all text fields are completely untouched. Signal Boost optimizes the routing and timing of distribution submissions to maximize outlet pickup. You can safely enable it without worrying about your content being altered.

## What news outlets does Search Atlas distribute to?

Available distribution channels include Frankly (local broadcast affiliates), AP News, MarketWatch, Digital Journal, USA Today, GoMedia, Benzinga, and Newsmax, among others. Each channel has its own HDC cost — USA Today, for example, guarantees one direct placement at 100 HDC.

⚠️ The distribution network is primarily focused on US and North American outlets. International customers in the UK, Europe, and other regions will find limited guaranteed pickup outside of AP News and Digital Journal.

## What does the "blog headline field is required" error mean when publishing?

This error occurs when Signal Genesys requires a headline to be filled before distributing to specific channels. Make sure your press release has a headline that is not blank and meets the minimum character requirement (typically at least 10 characters). If you're using a template, the headline field may appear empty — scroll to the top of the editor to locate and fill it.

## My Signal Genesys API token failed and I can't publish. What do I do?

API token failures are typically caused by a session expiration or a backend connectivity issue between Search Atlas and Signal Genesys. Try: (1) logging out of Signal Genesys and logging back in, (2) refreshing the page to force a new token, (3) contacting support if the failure persists — they can check the token status on the backend and reissue if needed.

## What is the HDC cost for a complete press release with distribution?

| Action | HDC Cost |
| --- | --- |
| AI-generate content | 1 HDC |
| Generate a content variation | 3 HDC |
| Editorial review by a human editor | 10 HDC |
| Signal Boost | 0 HDC |
| Distribution per channel | Varies (e.g., USA Today = 100 HDC) |

All press release costs use Hyperdrive Credits (HDC) — the same unified balance used for Link Lab placements and other premium services.

## Can I publish a Content Genius article as a press release?

Content Genius is for writing SEO articles; it does not connect to press release distribution channels. To distribute content to news outlets, you must create the press release inside Signal Genesys. You can copy content from a Content Genius article and paste it into Signal Genesys, but the distribution step must happen inside Signal Genesys specifically.

## My press release shows as Published but a specific channel has no URL. What happened?

A press release can have an overall status of "Published" while individual distribution channels report no pickup. This means the release was submitted to all your selected channels, but a specific outlet didn't pick it up. This can happen with any outlet, including USA Today. ⚠️ Contact support with your press release ID and the specific channel — they can investigate and, if a guaranteed channel failed, arrange a credit or resend.

## Do I need a separate API key for Signal Genesys?

No. Your **Search Atlas API key** (from Settings → API Keys in the main dashboard) is the same credential used to authenticate against the Signal Genesys API. No additional API key is needed.

## How do I require a Brand Vault setup before creating a press release?

Signal Genesys uses your Brand Vault for automated content generation. If you attempt to create an AI-generated press release without a Brand Vault set up, the platform will prompt you to configure one first. Go to the **apps-grid icon → More Features → Brand Vault** in the Search Atlas header, set up your brand profile, and then return to Signal Genesys to continue.

💡 **Tip:** Setting up Brand Vault once lets the AI pre-populate your company boilerplate on every future press release.

## Is there an editorial review option before distribution?

Yes. For 10 HDC, a human editor reviews and polishes your press release before distribution. This is recommended for high-stakes announcements where tone and accuracy matter. Select the Editorial Review option before clicking Publish.

## The GBP project dropdown always selects the wrong project when creating a press release. How do I fix this?

This happens when the Brand Vault for your intended GBP project is not linked or visible in the Press Releases section. Steps: (1) Confirm a Brand Vault exists for the correct GBP project — go to Brand Vault and verify the project is listed. (2) In the Press Release creation form, explicitly select the correct Brand Vault / GBP project before generating content — do not proceed if the dropdown is auto-populating incorrectly. (3) If the correct project does not appear in the dropdown despite having a Brand Vault, contact support — they can verify the Brand Vault is properly linked to the GBP project in your account.

## I'm getting a "blog headline field is required" error when publishing a press release. What does this mean?

This error from Signal Genesys means a required field in your press release form is empty or not recognized. ⚠️ Check: (1) the **Headline** field is filled in and not blank, (2) the **Subheadline** is present if required by the selected distribution template, (3) the press release body has enough content. If all fields appear filled, try: refreshing the Signal Genesys form, re-typing the headline field from scratch (a copy-paste hidden character can sometimes cause validation to fail), then resubmitting. Contact support with a screenshot if the error persists after re-entering the headline.