How to collect contacts to send out site launch Press release?

[uniquejosh]

Hi all,

I am going to launch my websites. I am thinking about collecting the contacts of online, offline media and send them the press release, hoping they would be interested in mentioning my site launch in their media. Do I have to find PR expert to do this for me? Or is there any ways for me to do this by myself? Any suggestions? Thank you very much

[rogerd]

Josh, there are a few ways you could do this. One, of course, is to hire a PR firm. Another would be to launch your release through a service that is read by many media types, and will also get your release into the news services. In my experience, most reporters, writiers, and editors monitor their topics at Google News and/or Yahoo News to keep up with developments as well as see what their competition is up to. Bloggers, of course, do the same.

Even if you go the electronic route, I'd still cherry-pick the most important publications and writers in your topic and contact them personally. Good luck!

[uniquejosh]

Thank you very much for the useful information. : )

[andye]

Josh, you don't say what country you're in.

For the UK, you need the Guardian Media Guide. That has details for all major news outlets. Then you can ring them up and find out which journalist covers your particular area.

As you seem to have assumed everyone else is in the same country as you, that probably means you're American, and I don't know what the US equivalent is.

Best wishes.

[uniquejosh]

Thank you very much, Andy, I am in the UK too. The information is very useful to me.

Josh

[henry0]

Rogerd,
If I understand the G news concept
one needs to first publish a PR to its own site
then submit that url to G news?

Is that the corect route?