Is a Media Database Right For Your Business?
Time and accuracy are two essential pieces of media outreach success.
But, as a public relations professional, you’ve likely found yourself juggling multiple tasks all while trying to navigate the fast-paced nature of the industry.
It’s no shock you feel overwhelmed.
Keeping track of media contacts’ whereabouts, preferences, and the latest news from your industry is a job in itself.
If you don’t have a reliable media database, these efforts feel next to impossible.
We get it and it’s why we’re proud to introduce our Media Database, the most accurate on the market.
But, before we dig into the details about us, let’s talk more about the basics.
In this comprehensive blog post we’ll cover:
- What’s a media database?
- What are the benefits of using one?
- How to choose the right one for your business
- Best practices to get the most out of your investment
What’s a Media Database?
A media database is a critical tool to a public relation professional’s success. It’s a repository of media contacts, their information, and relevant details including:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone Number
- Publication
- Beat
Having access to a media database streamlines the media outreach process by giving professionals the tools they need to manage contacts and outreach which can improve the odds of securing earned media mentions.
What are the benefits of using a media database?
This tool gives you immediate access to a list of media contacts to help you quickly identify relevant individuals to pitch your news stories.
As we mentioned before, our Media Database is the most accurate on the market. That’s because we combine artificial intelligence with human review to add and delete contacts weekly.
The result is an up-to-date collection of media contacts.
Accuracy Matters
The more accurate the information, the more effective your media outreach is, as outdated, or even incorrect contact details can hinder your communication efforts.
A Personalized Approach
A trusted Media Database gives you the confidence needed to do your job to the best of your abilities and build awareness for your company.
That’s because when you have the correct details, you can create a more personalized approach to your outreach efforts.
You can create personalized media pitches that speak directly to the contact. You can include details about their past work, their interests, and more.
Doing this humanizes your approach and betters your odds of the journalist picking up your story.
Improved Strategy
As a result, you’ll gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your media outreach.
What’s working? What’s not?
You’ll get answers to these questions and more to refine your strategies and optimize your efforts.
How to choose the right media database for your business
There are countless media databases on the market. How do you know which is the right fit for your company?
Here are four factors to consider when vetting your options.
Users
Who in your organization will need access? Determine that number and look for databases that accommodate your anticipated needs. Are there upcharges to add more users in the future? Can more than one person log in at a time?
At Newswire, when you subscribe to our Media Suite you gain access to our Media Database and can add as many users as you want to your account.
Features
What do you need this tool to do for you?
Do you need specific filters and capabilities?
Does it need to integrate with other software applications?
Our Media Database seamlessly connects with our Media Pitching platform to streamline your media outreach efforts.
Budget
Compare the pricing plans of the various providers.
Look at subscription fees and additional costs associated with upgrades and premium features.
Support
You’ll have questions you want answers to. How easy is it to get the information you want when you need it?
When doing your research, look at the company’s communication options.
Do their times of support and communication methods work for you?
Carefully considering these factors will help you get a better feel if the provider is the right fit for your business.
Best practices for using a media database
A media database, just like any tool, is only as effective as you make it.
Follow these best practices to get the most out of your efforts.
Get organized.
Organization is a foundational piece of successful outreach. Organize your lists in a way that makes sense for you.
Create lists based on categories, locations, industry, or even areas of interest.
Personalize your pitches.
Before sending an email, take time to learn more about the person on the other end of your pitch. Include anecdotes about their interests and past work. Tailoring your pitch can increase the likelihood of capturing the journalist’s attention.
By following these best practices, you can make the most of your media database and save time and resources in your media outreach efforts.
A well-maintained media database will allow you to build relationships with journalists, generate earned media coverage, and achieve your communication goals more efficiently.
Is a Media Database worth the investment?
How much do you value your time and resources?
That’s a question you need to honestly answer.
Streamlining the process and allocating your saved time and resources to other bottom-line improving initiatives makes it a worthwhile investment.
Newswire’s Media Database
Schedule a free demo and get a behind-the-scenes look at our Media Database and how it can help you reach the right journalists for your news.
