How many times have you come across a website (usually that of a startup) and seen several logos at the bottom advertising all the places they’ve been mentioned in the press? The usual suspects involve tech blogs that most of you have heard of but won’t be mentioned in this post.

This is essentially the equivalent of putting “As Seen on TV” on your product. It cheapens it.

I was a digital director at a global PR firm before starting my company. I’ll let you in on a little secret: Anyone who can communicate clearly, knows how to use email, and is persistent can get publicity. Even if your product is absolute garbage, if you can craft a relevant story that taps into a journalists agenda, you will get press.

(Quick aside: There are thousands of journalists I respect. Please don’t take this as a shot at those of you who take time to research, question, and write stories. You are true journalists, but there are many in your industry that are time-strapped page-view hoarding click-goblins that look for other people to write their articles for them. That’s who I’m referencing.)

Now I’m biased, but I believe using a company’s website to feature press mentions is a horribly selfish and useless practice.

A) If you’re getting so much press, shouldn’t people be finding it on their own, and not through your site?

B) If you want credibility, share testimonials from your prominent customers, not reporters who spent 5 minutes reading your press release.

C) Use the spare pixels on your website to convert and educate users, not send them away to another website. What’s wrong with you?

D) Media is no longer finite. Articles aren’t scarce and your press mention today is 10,000% less likely to be seen than 10 years ago. (Made up but believable stat)

E) The cardinal sin of being cool is calling yourself cool.

F) Let your product speak for itself instead of slapping a guarantee on the box.

Press is great! Go after it! Start and continue relationships with reporters and encourage them share your story for you. But don’t waste your time putting the icons of media outlets on your website. It’s far less valuable than you think it is.