How to get featured on CNN, ABC, and NBC for free

Create a compelling story, examine three business examples, explore five storytelling formats for pr, and use guiding questions to craft your own story tied to current events for maximum publicity.

Emphasize a compelling story as the heart of any pitch, since media loves narratives and stories drive publicity, illustrated by brand case studies.

Explore three brand case studies of different sizes that use storytelling for viral PR, including Ellen's selfie, Atomic Tom, and finish, highlighting simple narrative formats and five powerful storytelling types.

Explore the five core storytelling formats for brands—quest, revenge, stranger in a strange land, love story, and rags to riches—and learn to craft compelling narratives for external or internal audiences.

Identify timely angles that align with current events to boost publicity. Leverage media cycles and seasonal news windows, from new year to holidays.

Identify the heart of your story through conflict and your quest, outline three challenges and three successes, and craft a resonant founder narrative with timely headline potential.

Explore real case studies showing how to get featured on major media outlets for free, from zero-cost stunts to timing and techniques for coverage.

Launch a participatory dress like Steve Jobs Day to honor Steve Jobs and spark shareable engagement, attracting Time.com, CNN, and NBC coverage.

Discover how to gain free media coverage by staging a unique event, building media relationships, and leveraging connections to secure features on ABC, Univision, and the Houston Chronicle.

Launch a participatory public meditation project that grew from a solo mall session and blog to city-wide flash mobs, earning features in Leitman magazine and a German publication.

Explore how to leverage media partnerships and strong writing or video content to boost brand awareness, gain exposure on outlets, and build lasting relationships with journalists.

Create a press release that actually gets read by journalists by mastering its real purpose, optimal length, and essential do's and don'ts for securing coverage.

Understand the real purpose of a press release as an internal tool and catch-all document for journalists. Avoid automated, off-topic emails and refine your pitch with a well-structured release.

Learn to write a press release as an objective article with quotes and data. Use a clear structure—headline, intro, body, about, contact info—and note embargo or exclusive if relevant.

Learn when to send a press release around launches or notable product updates, and how validators, journalists, and publications can cover timely news without overloading reporters.

Learn to craft concise, compelling press releases by testing headlines and subject lines, personalizing outreach to five to ten journalists, and avoiding attachments while staying on topic.

Identify your market by pinpointing the target audience and their problem, then create a detailed ideal customer with demographics, psychographics, online behavior, and competitors to guide media outreach.

Build lasting media relationships by engaging with journalists before you need them, meeting in person, seeking feedback, and staying visible by reading and commenting on their work.

Retarget the same story to media outlets with different angles and timely pitches. Reach lower-level contacts, reference prior outreach, and tailor follow-ups to interns or associate editors to increase response.

Learn how to find media contact information for online journalists, avoid contacting editors-in-chief, leverage offline media, and use a ready-to-send template that taps friends and family networks for your brand.

Learn to find the least busy media contacts, follow publication hierarchies, and craft transparent, concise pitches via contact forms that build relationships with writers, editors, and freelancers.

Discover how independent bloggers unlock free features by building journalist relationships, identifying suitable publications, and ethically reaching out to reporters with a standout pitch.

Find contact details in mastheads and email editors to pitch your story, and consult editorial calendars to plan six months ahead for print lead times, credibility, and branding.

Learn how to leverage friends and family connections to get media coverage by packaging a strong narrative, creating a press release, and reaching out to the right contacts.

Prepare the media story materials and contact the media via email, positioning the email to be read, and learn when to call, engage in person, and avoid social media pitfalls.

Prepare a concise email and press release, a dedicated landing page with demo video and high-quality images, plus product specs and prices to share with journalists.

Pitch via email by sending a short, three-paragraph message to the press that establishes context, adds a validating statistic, outlines the product, and uses a concise subject and validators.

Ask journalists about their contact targets, submission processes, and editorial calendars by phone, then email your story instead of pitching verbally.

Deliver a 30-second in-person journalist pitch that conveys your quest story and press release. Practice concise, consistent messaging across emails, and follow up with context-rich messages and business cards.

Learn how to pitch journalists via social media without appearing spammy or pushy, and why other channels are preferred unless a compelling, timely story requires a careful social touch.

Avoid sending off topic pictures, automated emails, or paying for coverage. Learn when persistence helps, why you should not assume coverage, and get a behind-the-scenes look at publications.

Learn to balance persistence with politeness, respect a journalist's busy calendar, and limit follow-ups to one; seek feedback when a pitch is declined to improve future coverage.

Avoid off-topic pitches by researching journalists and tailoring outreach to their content. Focus on connecting with 5–10 journalists for personal, meaningful outreach rather than mass emails.

Avoid automated emails that lack subject lines, are impersonal, or include attachments and copy-pasted signatures. Forge personalized, concise outreach to secure free media features on CNN, ABC, and NBC.

Never assume coverage until you see the published piece, as space or timing can derail features after interviews. Adapt by pursuing fresh angles and timing to protect your media outcomes.

Avoid paying for coverage to protect reader trust and ensure unbiased reviews. Learn how pay-to-play practices blur ad and editorial lines and how to attract media attention without payment.

Learn to make the media come to you by acting as a media company and using networks like Reddit, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Medium, plus Herro to get featured.

Publish purposeful content to gain online traction and attract coverage from big media sources, and learn platform-specific storytelling like Gary Vaynerchuk.

Discover how help a reporter out connects journalists with expert sources, and why replying within 15 minutes boosts your chances of being featured.

Discover how Reddit's front page rewards unique, non-promotional content that resonates with a male-dominated audience, using upvotes and memes. Master timing, subreddits, and viral potential.

Explore how Imgur hosts images, fuels front-page viral posts through upvotes, and builds a distinct community culture and lingo that boosts brand visibility.

Explore how Facebook leverages vast data for advertisers and how unpublished dark posts enable precise audience targeting with minimal investment.

Discover effective Pinterest tactics by targeting a female audience with infographics and women-friendly content, and assess how the new ad platform could affect outreach.

Leverage Instagram influencer partnerships to build visibility and attract publicity with platform-native content that gets shared, targeting the right demographics for free media coverage.

Explore how Medium's voting and editor curation boost front-page reach for technology and business articles. Learn to position yourself as a media channel and attract readers with compelling content.

Use creativity and fun to secure free pr as media shifts toward entertainment and curators of cool; stand out with bold, brand-connected, out-of-the-box ideas.

See how parody websites and creative design generate free publicity by using Kickstarter-style profiles and interactive resumes to showcase branding, marketing, and design chops.

Leverage events to spark massive publicity by creating participatory, visually engaging experiences that drive awareness and brand engagement through viral moments and live broadcasting on Periscope and Meerkat.

Explore PR stunts that attract attention and spark free publicity by aligning bold ideas with your brand, from a productivity blogger's slap for focus to the Red Bull space jump.

Use video to deepen personal connection by sending short, personalized clips to reporters instead of emails, making outreach stand out and feel engaging.

Brainstorm brand-related events and stunts, including possible Guinness world records or team records, to attract local and national media and build ongoing publicity.