If you’re looking to get your book featured in the media, one of the most important things you should do is research journalists and media contacts online. This will help you identify the right people to pitch your story to while making sure your pitch is relevant to their interests.
How to Research Journalists and Media Contacts
Use Social Media
X formerly known as Twitter is a great resource for finding journalists who cover your topic area. Simply search for relevant keywords or hashtags, and then take a look at the profiles of the people who are posting about those topics.
Use Online Databases
There are a number of online databases that list journalists and media contacts, such as Cision or Muck Rack. Some of these databases are free to use, while others require a subscription.
Use Google Alerts
Google Alerts is a free service that will send you email updates whenever someone publishes something new online about a topic that you’re interested in. This can be a great way to find new journalists who are covering similar topics.
Do Your Research
Once you’ve found a few journalists who you think might be a good fit for your story, take some time to do some research on them. Read their articles, watch their videos, and listen to their podcasts. This will help you get a sense of their style and interests, and make sure your pitch is relevant to their work.
Once you’ve found a few journalists who you think would be a good fit for your story, you’ll want to start pitching them.
How to Write a Successful Pitch:
Keep it Short and Sweet
Journalists are busy people, so they don’t have time to read long pitches. Get to the point quickly, and make sure that your pitch is clear and concise.
Be Specific
Don’t just tell the journalist that you have a great story for them. Tell them what the story is about, and why they should care about it.
Proofread your Work
Typos and grammatical errors will make you look unprofessional, so make sure to proofread your pitch before you send it off.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to successfully researching and pitching journalists and media contacts online for coverage that promotes you and your book.
Drop us a note to get more guidance from our team experts!