how to get featured in media as a solopreneur (without a PR agency)
I have gotten coverage in niche publications, been quoted in industry articles, and appeared on several podcasts. I have done all of this without hiring a PR agency, without paying for press releases, and without knowing any journalists personally before reaching out.
the truth is that media coverage for solopreneurs is more accessible than most people think. journalists and podcast hosts are actively looking for real practitioners who can share genuine experience. they are tired of corporate spokespeople reading from scripts. that is your advantage.
this guide covers the exact methods I use and the mistakes I have made along the way.
why media coverage matters for solopreneurs
before I walk through the tactics, let me be upfront about what media coverage actually does for a one person business. it does not directly generate sales in most cases. what it does is build credibility that makes everything else easier.
when a potential client sees you quoted in a recognizable publication, the trust barrier drops significantly. when you pitch to speak at a conference and your bio mentions media features, you are more likely to get accepted. it compounds over time.
I have found that even one solid media mention can be repurposed across your website, social media, and email signature for months.
for more on this, see our guide on how to build a personal brand as a solopreneur with ai .
method 1: HARO and Connectively
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) rebranded to Connectively and has gone through some changes, but the core concept remains the same. journalists post queries, and you respond with expert insights.
how it works now
Connectively sends out daily emails with journalist queries organized by category. you scan for relevant ones, write a thoughtful response, and hope the journalist picks you as a source.
what this costs: free for basic access, $19/month for premium filtering
my approach that gets responses
I have sent probably 200 HARO pitches over the past two years. my response rate is around 12%, which I am told is above average. here is what works for me.
I keep my responses short, usually 150 to 200 words. journalists are getting dozens of responses and they do not have time to read essays. I lead with my most specific insight or data point, then add one sentence of context about who I am and why I can speak to this.
the biggest mistake I see is people treating HARO responses like LinkedIn posts. do not sell yourself. answer the question directly with something useful.
| HARO tip | why it works |
|---|---|
| respond within 2 hours | early responses get more attention |
| lead with a specific number or result | journalists love concrete data |
| keep it under 200 words | editors scan, they do not read |
| include a one-line bio | makes it easy to credit you |
| avoid jargon | most journalists are generalists |
method 2: Qwoted
Qwoted is like HARO but with a more curated feel. the platform matches you with journalists based on your expertise profile, which means you get fewer but more relevant opportunities.
how to set up your profile
I spent about 30 minutes building my Qwoted profile and it has been worth the investment. the key is being specific about your areas of expertise. do not list “marketing” as a broad category. list the specific things you can speak to, like “solopreneur growth strategies” or “SEO for small websites.”
what this costs: free for sources
I have found that Qwoted works better for B2B and tech topics. if your expertise is in those areas, prioritize this over HARO.
method 3: podcast guesting
this is honestly my favorite method for getting media exposure. podcast guesting is easier to land than written press, gives you more time to share your story, and the episodes live forever as searchable content.
finding the right podcasts
I look for podcasts with 50 to 500 episodes that are still actively publishing. these shows are hungry for guests and their hosts are usually responsive to pitches. the mega podcasts with millions of downloads are not realistic targets when you are starting out.
here is my process for finding targets:
- search Apple Podcasts and Spotify for keywords related to your expertise
- look at who your peers have been featured on (check their “as seen on” pages)
- use Listen Notes to find podcasts by topic and filter by episode count
- check if the podcast has had guests similar to your profile
the pitch that works
I send a short email, usually 5 to 7 sentences. I mention a specific episode I enjoyed (and I actually listen to part of it), explain what I could talk about, and share one interesting angle or data point that would make for good conversation.
| pitch element | example |
|---|---|
| personal reference | “I loved your episode on X, especially the point about Y” |
| your unique angle | “I bootstrapped to $10k MRR using only organic channels” |
| topic suggestion | “I could break down the exact content strategy that worked” |
| credibility proof | “I have been featured in [publication] and run [business]” |
| easy close | “happy to work around your schedule” |
response rate I get: about 25 to 30% from cold pitches, which goes up significantly after you have a few appearances to reference.
method 4: Twitter/X pitching
journalists are incredibly active on Twitter/X, and many of them openly ask for sources. I follow about 50 journalists in my niche and engage with their content regularly before ever pitching them.
the long game approach
I spend about 15 minutes per day engaging with journalist tweets. not generic “great post” replies, but genuine responses that add insight. after a few weeks of this, when I send a DM with a pitch, they already recognize my name.
this takes patience but it has the highest conversion rate of any method I use. when a journalist already knows you as someone who adds value to conversations, they are much more likely to quote you.
what to do when a journalist asks for sources
many journalists tweet things like “looking for founders who have experienced X” or “anyone have data on Y?” these are gold. respond immediately, publicly, with a brief and useful answer. then follow up in DMs with more detail.
timing matters. I have notifications turned on for certain journalists. the first few responders almost always get picked.
method 5: press release services
I am going to be honest, I think press releases are the least effective method on this list for solopreneurs. but there are situations where they make sense.
if you are launching something genuinely newsworthy, like a unique tool, a significant milestone, or releasing original research data, a press release can get you on the radar of journalists who cover your space.
| service | cost | distribution |
|---|---|---|
| PRWeb | $99 to $389 | basic to premium |
| Newswire | $199+ | targeted industry |
| EIN Presswire | $49.95 | budget option |
| PR Newswire | $350+ | enterprise level |
my recommendation: only use press releases if you have actual news. “solopreneur launches website” is not news. “solopreneur’s tool processes 1 million data points in first month” might be.
method 6: building direct media relationships
this is the long term play that pays the biggest dividends. every journalist I have worked with started as a cold contact and became someone I could email directly when I had something relevant.
how I maintain relationships
after a journalist quotes me or I appear on a podcast, I send a thank you email within 24 hours. I share the piece on my social channels and tag them. then I add them to a simple spreadsheet with notes about what topics they cover.
every month or two, I scan my list and send a quick note to anyone whose recent article I genuinely found interesting. no pitch, just “I read your piece on X and thought the point about Y was spot on.”
this has resulted in journalists reaching out to me when they need a source, rather than me always chasing them.
building your media kit
even as a solopreneur, having a simple media kit makes you look professional and saves journalists time. mine is a single page on my website with:
- a 2 to 3 sentence bio
- a professional headshot (I paid $50 for this and it was worth every cent)
- 3 to 5 topics I can speak on
- links to previous media appearances
- my contact information
you do not need anything fancy. journalists care about whether you can provide useful quotes, not whether your media kit has fancy graphics.
for more on this, see our guide on how to build a personal brand as a solopreneur with ai .
common mistakes to avoid
pitching too broadly. do not send the same pitch to 100 journalists. personalize every single one. I would rather send 10 tailored pitches than 100 generic ones.
being too self promotional. journalists want sources, not salespeople. share insights and let your expertise speak for itself.
giving up too early. my first 20 HARO responses got zero replies. it takes time to figure out what works. keep going.
ignoring small publications. a quote in a niche blog with 5,000 readers in your exact target market is worth more than a mention in a general publication with 500,000 readers who do not care about what you do.
realistic timeline and expectations
here is roughly what my media coverage journey looked like:
| timeframe | milestone |
|---|---|
| month 1 to 2 | set up profiles, start responding to HARO, pitch 5 podcasts |
| month 3 to 4 | first HARO quote published, first podcast appearance |
| month 5 to 6 | 3 to 5 media mentions, starting to get inbound requests |
| month 8 to 12 | regular media features, journalists reaching out directly |
it is not fast, but it builds on itself. each feature makes the next one easier to land.
frequently asked questions
how much time does media outreach take per week?
I spend about 3 to 4 hours per week on media outreach. that includes scanning HARO queries, engaging on Twitter/X, and pitching podcasts. the time investment decreases as you build relationships and start getting inbound requests.
do I need a website to get media coverage?
technically no, but practically yes. journalists will search for you before using you as a source. a simple website with your bio, expertise areas, and contact info is enough. it does not need to be fancy.
what if I do not have impressive credentials?
you do not need a fancy title or big company name. journalists want real experience and specific insights. “I grew my newsletter from 0 to 5,000 subscribers in 6 months” is more interesting than “I am a marketing director at a Fortune 500 company.”
should I pay for a PR agency as a solopreneur?
in most cases, no. a decent PR agency costs $3,000 to $10,000 per month, which is hard to justify for a solopreneur. the methods in this guide cost almost nothing and work well if you are willing to put in the time. save the agency budget for when your revenue justifies it.
how do I handle it when a journalist misquotes me?
it happens occasionally. reach out politely and ask for a correction. most journalists will fix minor errors. for significant misquotes, a calm email explaining what you actually said usually resolves it. do not make it confrontational.
for more on this, see our guide on how to outsource your marketing as a solo founder (with.
related reading
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