🔍 Overview
Once a press release enters Publishing status, the distribution process begins immediately across all selected channels. This article explains what you can and cannot do at each stage — and what happens to your credits and published copies if you take action after submission.
⚙️ Understanding Press Release Statuses
Before taking any action, it helps to know what each status means:
- Draft: Your press release has been created but not yet submitted. You can freely edit or delete it at this stage.
- Pending: Your press release has been submitted but has not yet been distributed.
- Publishing: Your press release is actively being distributed to news channels and syndication networks.
- Published: Distribution is complete. Your press release is live across all selected channels.
🚫 Can I Cancel a Press Release in Publishing Status?
No. Once a press release moves into Publishing status, cancellation is not possible. The distribution process starts the moment you confirm submission, and content is sent to external news networks in real time. There is no pause or recall mechanism once this process begins.
This means:
- You cannot stop distribution mid-way through the Publishing stage.
- You cannot retract or unpublish content that has already been sent to syndication channels.
- Editing the press release inside Search Atlas will not update or remove copies that have already been distributed externally.
Important: Any tool or suggestion indicating that a press release can be "unpublished" after distribution is inaccurate. Once content is live on external networks, Search Atlas has no ability to remove it on your behalf.
💳 What Happens to My Credits?
Credits are consumed at the point of submission — when you confirm and send your press release for distribution. Here is what to expect:
- Credits are non-refundable once a press release enters Publishing status, regardless of whether you later delete the record inside the platform.
- Deleting a press release from your Search Atlas dashboard removes it from your account view only — it does not retract distributed copies or return your credits.
- If distribution encounters a technical error before completion, our team will review credit eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
🗑️ What Happens If I Delete a Press Release After Publishing?
Deleting a published press release inside Search Atlas only removes it from your dashboard. It does not:
- Remove the press release from external news sites or syndication networks where it was distributed.
- Retract any indexed copies from search engines.
- Refund any credits used for the original distribution or any additional channel expansions.
If you purchased distribution to additional channels after the initial publish, those credits are also non-refundable once distribution has been triggered.
✅ Best Practices Before You Submit
To avoid issues, review the following before confirming submission:
- Proofread your press release carefully, including the headline, body, and all metadata fields. All fields must be complete before the Publish button becomes active.
- Confirm your selected distribution channels match your goals — you cannot downgrade channels after submission.
- Double-check that the content is final. There is no edit or recall option once Publishing begins.
- Ensure your account has sufficient credits for the channels you have selected.
🆘 Need Help?
If you believe your press release encountered a technical error during distribution, or if you have questions about your credits, we are here to help. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.