How to Use Twitter to Meet Journalists

If you want to be in the media, consistently, it's vital to build relationships with journalists. They are the ones who can give you the "yes" and let you get your message out to the world.

One tool that can be particularly useful in building these relationships is Twitter. Whether you are active on it or not, it's a great resource to have in your back pocket.

Below are some tips on how to use Twitter to connect with journalists:

1.     Follow journalists in your industry - This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to follow the journalists who cover your industry. This allows you to see the stories they're working on and engage with them in real time.

2.     Engage with your journalists - Once you've identified the journalists in your industry, it's time to start engaging with them. Retweet their stories, reply to their tweets, and comment with your thoughts on what they cover. They do notice who does this and this is the first step in relationship building... show them the love.

3.     Use Twitter lists - Twitter lists are a powerful tool for organizing your followers and keeping track of the journalists you are connected with. Create a list of journalists in your industry and monitor it regularly for what they are covering. This will help you stay on top of the latest news and trends and make it easier to engage with the journalists who matter most to you.

4.     Be respectful - Remember that journalists are busy people, so be respectful of their time. Don't spam them with tweets or DMs, and don't be pushy about getting coverage for your business. Instead, focus on building a genuine relationship with them based on mutual respect and trust of your industry.

By following these tips, you can use Twitter to connect with journalists and build lasting relationships. Whether you're looking to get coverage for your business or simply stay on top of the latest news in your industry, Twitter can be a powerful tool.

One of my very first television appearances came from me tweeting the journalist saying "I loved that story you just aired." She replied back and said, "If you know of any other businesses that would fit that segment, let me know." I sure did! It was my product, fashion accessories for medical devices. I didn't get the "yes" right away but she loved my product and eventually we found a fit - National Healthy Foot Month in April.

That started a very long relationship with that anchor that is now a great friendship. In fact, when she left the news desk to become an entrepreneur, I helped her and even named her new company.

Don't overlook the value of building relationships with journalists. And yes, ANYONE can do it. I walk the walk and do this everyday in my own business. It's time for you to up level your visibility and stop being the world's best kept secret! Use Twitter to connect with journalists. Pitch them a great story. Land in the media and go from Established to Known™.

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Christina Daves is a PR Strategist and the Founder of PR for Anyone®. She helps products, services, and brands go from Established to Known™ through media. She is the best-selling author of two books on the topic, has personally appeared in over 1,000 media outlets, and together with her clients has over 1 billion views and over $100 million in sales from free publicity. 

Want to regularly land in the media? Join me and Cindy Ashton every week at Pitch Club Cafe where we work with our clients on their pitches right there, live, and they send them in. The success rates are off the charts because we are pitching right then and there. Are you ready?