If your product or service would make the perfect Christmas gift, now is the time to pitch many of the major magazines that have special holiday gift sections and work several months ahead.
But how do you know which publications are doing gift guides? Or which are doing feature stories on products that make great gifts? Or which publications actually want news about what you’re selling and promise not to throw the news releases in the wastebasket just because you haven’t bought an ad?
Help is on the way with The Gift List, a fee-based service that provides lists of media contacts for national and regional magazines, the top 250 newspapers, major wire and news services, and top radio and TV stations. Researchers contact media in all consumer categories that cover topics such as fashion, beauty, home decor, food and beverage, consumer electronics, books, entertainment, toys, travel and fitness.
The list includes names and contact information for reporters and editors, the kinds of products and services they want to feature, specifications for photos they want, when to pitch them, and deadlines. You can sort the information by category and even create your own customized media list. Your own list and marked records and notes are stored on their secure server. Last year’s list featured 24 categories of magazines. The list is updated weekly through September. Not surprisingly, some of the big PR agencies subscribe to this list, then use it to pitch their clients’ products and services.
Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of the early-bird $50 off discount. For more details, a list of pitching tips and a demo, visit their website.