How to Get Press for Your Startup in 2024
Last Updated: By TRUiC Team
Public relations (PR) for startups is one of the most important activities to get your business off the ground. It involves creating a positive image for your company and generating publicity through various channels.
In this guide, we will teach you all about how to get PR for startups in 2024. We will also provide some tips on finding the best PR services for your business.
Ways to Get Press for Your Startup
If you want to connect with your audience and get PR for your startup, there are a few tried and true methods you can use.
The strategies below will help grow your brand and give your business a chance to attract the right customers.
Develop a Press Release Strategy
PR for startups starts with creating an effective strategy that works for your business. This means getting your customer profiles fine-tuned, finding a range of publications from small to large, and developing an angle that sets your business apart.
Developing your press release strategy ahead of time will save you a lot of time and energy down the road, from making pitches to publications that wouldn't be interested in your story. You can use a service like eReleases or Sitetrail to help you distribute your startup’s PR, but you'll also want to find a range of sites to work with.
Reach Out to Relevant Journalists
You might think it would be easy to pick up the phone or send an email to a journalist, but the fact is, most journalists are bombarded with requests. The best way to reach out and get PR for your startup is by developing a relationship with relevant journalists before you need anything from them. You can do this by adding them to your media list, sending them helpful tips or articles related to their beat, or connecting with them on social media.
When you do reach out, make it easy for them by having a well-written pitch and giving them all the information they need upfront. Make sure you are tracking all the journalists and publications you speak to by creating a spreadsheet and listing them all.
Get Involved in Your Community
Good press speaks for itself, and you don't have to go scouring the web for journalists if you're already getting involved in your community. Local news outlets are always looking for new stories, and if you're hosting an event or doing something newsworthy, they will be more likely to write about you.
Being a part of your local chamber of commerce or other business networking groups is also a great way to get involved and get PR for startups. Oftentimes, the organizations you are involved in will get their own press and you can use it to get more awareness.
Create a Social Media Presence
You cannot ignore social media as a startup business owner because if you have a well-maintained social media presence, you can get a ton of awareness for your startup without all the high costs of marketing.
Not only is it a great way to connect with your target audience, but it's also a powerful tool for getting PR for startups. You can use social media to share your company's news, announcements, and blog posts. You can also interact with journalists and influencers in your industry.
Make sure you are active on major social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You can also create a profile on Help a Reporter Out (HARO) to get connected with journalists who are looking for sources. You want to make sure you are interacting with your followers and also potential journalists that could be covering your story.
PR Tips
Now that you have an idea of what needs to be done to get press for your startup, let's take a look at some tips to make the process easier.
1. Make Your Story Relevant
News outlets aren't going to write about stories that don't matter to their audience. Before you start pitching journalists, make sure your story is relevant and will resonate with the people who read the publication.
If you go to a news outlet website, they will almost always have a section for advertisers that lists demographics. Look through the reports and determine how you can pitch a story the news outlet can't deny. The more relevant your pitch and story to the publication, the more likely they will be to publish it and make it a centerpiece of their site.
2. Develop Relationships
Journalists are just people, and in order to get better press for your startup, you need to develop relationships with them. You can do this by adding them to your media list and sending them helpful tips or articles related to their beat.
Follow them on social media channels and give insightful comments about their work. You want to make sure your comments are genuine so you can build authentic relationships that will help you long-term. Finding journalists that write articles you actually like will help you find one that matches your business style and message.
3. Increase Online Presence
PR doesn't have to always be someone else covering your story; in fact, you can put yourself out there and create your own news buzz. Guest posts are a great way to get your name and company in front of a new audience while also providing valuable content.
Podcasts have blown up over the last decade, and it's easier than ever to get interviewed and become a more authoritative presence in your niche. Combine the two, and your name and startup will be in front of your audience quicker than it took to find journalists to cover your story.
4. Do Your Research
Picking random journalists to work with or choosing the top publications in the world will make it difficult for you to get covered. Instead, do your research and find publications that are a good fit for your story.
Look at their website, social media channels, and past articles to see if they would be interested in what you have to say. You can also try looking up the journalist's contact information and sending them a pitch directly.
5. Perfect Your Pitch
When you start reaching out to publications, you'll want to have a pre-written pitch ready to go.
Your pitch should be short, sweet, and to the point. It should also include all of the information a journalist would need to write a story about your startup, such as who you are, what you do, why it's important, etc.
Sending a generic press release is not going to get you the results you want. You need to put in the time to personalize each pitch and make it relevant to the journalist and publication you are sending it to.
PR Services
1. Sitetrail
When you're wondering how to get press for your startup SiteTrail is the company to get it done. They work with top publications like Bloomberg, Forbes, and Business Insider. It doesn't matter what industry your startup is in either. Sitetrail can work with all of them.
Price:
- Press Release & Editorial News: $399
- Unlimited Press Releases: $199/month
- Weekly Writing & Distribution: $899/month
- Premium Brand Awareness: $4,950/month
- Accelerated SEO, PR & Google News: $6,000/month
Features:
- Well-crafted articles
- Google News additions
- Do-follow links
- Press releases
2. EIN Presswire
EIN Presswire claims to be the world's largest press distribution service, and it's hard to disagree based on the relationships they've built with Google, Bloomberg, and other high-profile publications.
Price:
- Basic: $99.95
- Pro+: $399
- Corporate: $999
Features:
- News releases
- Multiple distribution channels
- Placement on major news sites
3. eReleases
If you're wondering how to get press for your startup, then eReleases is one of the best solutions. They focus on small businesses, which means they work with journalists in a large range of different niches. The database they have includes 1.7 million contacts with over 700,000 bloggers and social media influencers.
Price:
- Buzz Builder: $299
- Newsmaker: $399
- PR Pro: $599
Features:
- Placement in major news outlets
- Search engine optimization
- Industry targeted lists
Find more services with our full guide to Best Press Release Services for Startups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get free press?
You can get free press by writing your own articles and then submitting them to publications. This is a great way to get exposure for your startup without having to spend any money.
How do you get interviewed by the media?
One way to get interviewed by the media is to reach out to them and offer yourself as an expert on a certain topic. You can also try attending events and networking with journalists.
Where do journalists find their stories?
Journalists find stories by receiving phone calls, seeing articles in a publication, using HARO, or by word of mouth. Online social networks are another way journalists can find stories.
