Do you know about this "shortcut" to getting press coverage?🤯

Hey, founder fam!

By the time you read this email, I’ll be halfway to The Berkshires for the weekend. I don’t travel often so when I do get the chance to leave Hoboken, I try to make the absolute most of the opportunity.

I get the sense that the past few weeks may have been EXTRA busy for many people (gearing up for summer launches and campaigns most likely) so I’ll try to keep this newsletter short and sweet. 🍬

STAY PLUGGED IN

• Wealthtech: The natural next frontier for developments within Fintech

• Give a warm welcome to The Mint: SF’s newest Fintech accelerator

• Fintech may be a mature industry but there are still massive white spaces to capitalize on—this startup for retirement-age individuals is proof

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Do you have questions you’d like answered about press coverage? Now’s your chance to tell me what you’d like to have answered next in this newsletter!

This newsletter is still ~brand new~ and growing so rather than choosing my weekly topics based on what I think y’all want to hear, I think it’s even more valuable for me to hear what your questions are and provide detailed answers in the newsletter.

All you have to do is fill out this super easy Google Form and each week, I’ll choose one question to answer. (hint: If you have more than one question you want answered, throw them all in—the more the merrier!)

Have you ever wanted media opportunities filling your inbox? Here’s how you can get closer to making that a reality

When I was in journalism school, one of my professors introduced my class to HARO. It stands for Help A Reporter Out and it’s a website where writers and reporters can post an inquiry for a source or expert commentary on a specific topic and get answers from experts to meet their deadline.

It can be a nifty way to get someone’s expertise, especially if you’re a reporter who doesn’t know where to start looking for a source or if the topic is super niche.

However, it also works the opposite way—experts (aka, YOU ALL) can use the website to find opportunities to get featured on media sites and in blogs.

To be considered for source opportunities, you’ll have to join the HARO website by signing up. The website has a bunch of rules for sources but here are some of the biggest things to keep in mind:

1. When you sign up, you’ll receive 3 emails a day, M-F with media requests for sources (hint: to avoid inundating your inbox you might want to create a separate email address just for handling these emails).

2. You must have clear, reasonable expertise in the topic you’re offering expertise in (otherwise, you’ll have to explain why you’re the right person to speak to the topic).

3. You must NOT send plagiarized content to journalists—all input you send must be your own.

4. Don’t pitch products to journalists unless they specifically ask you to.

Be sure to read up on the rest of the rules (hyperlinked above) before signing up.

This website can be such a gem when it comes to finding feature opportunities that even some PR professionals use it for finding opportunities for their clients!

Just keep in mind that when they say you will be emailed threads with a bunch of requests, they aren’t kidding!

Also, another word of advice: If you see a media request that you’re a great fit for, respond ASAP. Journalists’ inboxes will be FLOODED with responses from sources, sometimes within minutes.

I once used a similar website for finding a source (but it was specific to financial advisors and financial planning media requests) and within 15 minutes of posting my request, I got 6 financial advisors reaching out with interest in being interviewed by me.

I don’t say this to discourage you from responding if you don’t jump on it immediately; I say this to tell you not to take it personally if you don’t land the very first opportunity you respond to. It never hurts to put your name and expertise on a reporter’s radar anyway.

ANOTHER piece of advice: In many cases, if you’re responding to a media request, you should be prepared to jump on the phone or reply to emails within the hour. Many reporters who post their requests are typically looking for a quick turnaround (not all, but some) so unless the reporter tells you that it’s fine to schedule some time to chat in the future, assume that they may want your commentary that same day.

HARO is probably as close as you’ll get to having a “shortcut” to press coverage, but beware: don’t abuse HARO’s powers, and make sure the media requests you’re replying to are a genuine strong fits for your background and expertise. This will allow you to have the most impact and get your name and startup in front of the right audience.

And if you do wind up getting featured or at least establish contact with a reporter, remember to nurture that connection so they’ll be more likely to reach back out to you in the future!

COME JOIN ME

SUCCESS DOESN’T HAPPEN IN A SILO. IF YOU’RE A FIRST-TIME FOUNDER, I HAVE JUST THE THING FOR YOU.

I created a community that’s meant to help you learn, grow your skills, get advice from other fellow founders, and get connected to the right resources. Come join me at The F-Word (the F stands for Founder!)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If you’re spring cleaning your wardrobe, don’t forget to spring clean the things that occupy your energy, too. Unsubscribe from emails you don’t even open so you’ll only get notifications for things you care about (that goes for SMS marketing campaigns, too!). Finally cancel business subscriptions (and personal subscriptions) you don’t need anymore so you aren’t painfully shocked when you get charged again.

KEEP UP WITH ME

Are you a founder looking for an investor? Submit your startup here and I’ll make an intro!

That’s all for right now. If you’re loving this newsletter, don’t forget to forward it to a friend who can also use some of these tips.

Catch you in the next one!

—Jasmin, Founder & EIC of Capital J