How do I find journalists to pitch?

Read publications covering your space—note bylines. Use tools like Muck Rack, JustReachOut. Twitter/X for journalist lists. HARO for reactive opportunities. Build relationships before you need them.

How do I write a pitch email?

Short (under 200 words), personalized, clear hook in first line. Why this story, why now, why you? Include key facts. Make journalist's job easy. Subject line is crucial.

Should I hire a PR agency?

Not initially—you know your story best. Agencies help at scale or for major launches. DIY PR works for most startups. If you hire, expect $5-15k/month minimum.

What's HARO and how do I use it?

Help A Reporter Out: journalists post source requests. Respond quickly with relevant expertise. Great for backlinks and quotes. Free tier works fine. Volume game—respond to many.

Should I send press releases?

Rarely—journalists prefer pitches. Press releases work for major announcements (funding, acquisitions). Wire services (PR Newswire) for wide distribution. Most startups over-rely on releases.

How do I prepare for an interview?

Know your key messages (3 max). Practice answering tough questions. Have data points ready. Speak in soundbites. Be honest—don't speculate or go off-record casually.

What's an embargo and how does it work?

Giving journalists early access with a set publish date. Useful for coordinated announcements. Only works with trusted journalists. Be clear about terms in writing.

How do I pitch podcast appearances?

Listen to episodes first. Pitch specific episode topics, not yourself. Explain what you'll teach their audience. Smaller shows often more receptive. Build from there.

How often should I follow up on pitches?

Once, after 3-5 days. No response = not interested (usually). Don't pester—journalists get hundreds of pitches. If topical, might try again with new angle months later.

What's a press kit and do I need one?

Collection of assets: company overview, founder bios, logos, photos, recent press. Makes journalist's job easier. Simple Notion page or PDF works. Update quarterly.

How do I measure PR success?

Media placements (quantity and quality), referral traffic, backlinks, brand mentions, search volume increase. Hard to attribute directly to sales—PR builds awareness.

Is trade press or mainstream media better?

Trade press for B2B often matters more—your buyers read it. Mainstream media for broad awareness or consumer products. Match to where your audience pays attention.

How do I handle negative press?

Respond factually if needed, don't escalate emotionally. Sometimes silence is best. Address legitimate issues, don't feed trolls. Prepare for crises before they happen.

What's the best time to do PR?

Around major milestones: funding, launches, big customer wins. Avoid competing with major news cycles. Monday-Thursday is best for pitching. Summers and holidays are slow.

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Solution illustration for I need press coverage and media mentions

Nice to Have

PR and Media Coverage Tools for Startups

Q: What makes a story newsworthy?

Timely, relevant, novel, impactful. Funding announcements, major launches, unique data/insights, trend commentary, founder stories. "We exist" isn't news—your angle matters.

Get your story in the spotlight

1-2 weeks

Founder, Marketing

About This Problem

You want to get featured in industry publications and podcasts but don't know how to pitch journalists or what makes a story newsworthy. You need a PR strategy that gets attention.

You might have this problem if:

✓No media mentions or press coverage
✓Don't know how to pitch journalists
✓Competitors getting press you want
✓No relationships with media
✓Launch announcements go unnoticed

Success Looks Like

Media placements achieved
Quality of coverage
Referral traffic from press

Relevant For

launch stagegrowth stagescale stage

PR tools for startups help you get featured in the publications your customers read without hiring an expensive agency. From finding the right journalists to crafting newsworthy pitches and tracking coverage, these tools give founders the systems to build media relationships and earn the press mentions that build credibility and drive traffic.

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Frequently Asked Questions

15 questions answered

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launch stage tools growth stage tools scale stage tools Take the startup checklist

About This Problem

You want to get featured in industry publications and podcasts but don't know how to pitch journalists or what makes a story newsworthy. You need a PR strategy that gets attention.

You might have this problem if:

✓No media mentions or press coverage
✓Don't know how to pitch journalists
✓Competitors getting press you want
✓No relationships with media
✓Launch announcements go unnoticed

Frequently Asked Questions

15 questions answered

PR and Media Coverage Tools for Startups

About This Problem

You might have this problem if:

Success Looks Like

Relevant For

Recommended Tools

Cision

Frequently Asked Questions

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PR and Media Coverage Tools for Startups

About This Problem

You might have this problem if:

Success Looks Like

Relevant For

Recommended Tools

Cision

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Problems

Content Marketing Tools to Attract Startup Customers

Influencer Marketing Tools for Startup Growth

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