Press Releases and SEO
 

Have any of you ever done press releases to get more inbound links?

Does google pass more or less PR from these types of websites?

Yes we do press releases among other social media to build links. The authority of the site does get passed through the links. I'm not really sure what you mean by more or less Page Rank. In comparison to what? Either way, part of linking building is diversification. Press releases should be thrown into the factor among other link building mediums.

I also wanted to point out, that you don't have to have the Press Release point directly to your money site you can do something like bellow.

Social Bookmarking > Press Release > Social Media > Money Site

or
Social Bookmarking > Press Release > Social Media >
Social Bookmarking > Article Directory > Social Media > Money Site
Social Bookmarking > Web 2.0 Profiles > Social Media >

Think outside the box.

What I meant is passing on more or less "JUICE" or "PR" whatever you want to call it.

PR is dumb

you might want to try something like UAW that takes 3 versions of the press release and spins each post with different combinations of the paragraphs

We have done press releases. Google seems to constantly change how they like them. It tends to be good then not then good...

Press releases are good. Just do it.