Build Your Media List in 45 Minutes Without Paying for a Database
The fastest media list shortcut in the industry starts with a simple Google search and it will outperform any paid database you could buy.
You don't need a paid database. You need 5–10 journalists who cover your beat, at outlets your audience actually reads. Here's how to build that list in under an hour.
The journalist who covered your competitor is the journalist who would cover you. They already cover your space, they already understand the category, and they're not a cold contact they've already demonstrated interest in exactly what you do.
Google your two or three closest competitors. Find every article written about them in the last 12 months. Note every byline. That's your starting list journalists who have already demonstrated they'll cover businesses like yours.
For each journalist, record:
- Name and current outlet. Always verify on LinkedIn before you pitch. Journalists move constantly pitching someone who left months ago signals you're not paying attention.
- Their specific beat. Not just "tech" or "business." What do they actually cover and what angle do they consistently take?
- How they prefer contact. Many journalists state this in their bio. If they say no cold pitches, respect it.
- One article you've read. This is what turns a cold email into a targeted pitch. Without this, you're guessing.
Stop chasing the biggest outlets. An article in the trade publication your customers actually subscribe to is worth more than a brief mention in a national they've never read. Build vertical credibility first it's also significantly easier to secure.
5–10 names is enough to start. The complete media list template and how to personalize pitches by outlet are in Lesson 2 of the course.