Constructing a Tailored Media List: A Comprehensive Guide for A' Design Award Winners

A Step-by-Step Approach to Building an Effective Media List in the Design Industry

Navigating the media landscape as an A' Design Award winner can be complex, yet rewarding. Creating a media list is a crucial first step in ensuring your award-winning work gets the attention it deserves. This guide provides a detailed roadmap for building your media list, from identifying relevant publications and journalists, to organizing your contacts and fostering meaningful relationships. Dive in to learn how to leverage the power of the media in the design industry effectively.

Determine Your Media Targets

The first step is to understand which type of media would be most relevant to your brand. Consider focusing on design and architecture publications, lifestyle publications, business and entrepreneurial media, and local and national newspapers. Examples of these include Wallpaper*, Dezeen, Designboom, ArchDaily, Dwell, Elle Decor, Vogue Living, Kinfolk, Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Wired, The New York Times, and The Guardian.

Tip: Beyond identifying the type of media, consider their audience. It is crucial that your work is seen by the right people. Conduct a reader or viewer demographic analysis if possible.

Research Relevant Journalists and Editors

With your target publications in mind, the next step is to identify the relevant journalists or editors within each publication. You can buy physical copies of your targeted magazines and newspapers and find the names of editors and journalists on the masthead. Also, you can visit the websites of your targeted publications and check their "Contact" or "About Us" page. Don't forget to utilize the impressum pages of the magazines, which are particularly useful for European publications.

Tip: Keep track of journalists who write about your niche regularly. They're likely to be interested in your work and could be great connections in the future.

Use Social Media and Professional Networking Sites

LinkedIn and Twitter can be powerful tools for identifying relevant contacts. You can search for journalists and editors at your target publications and make sure to verify that they cover design or related areas before adding them to your list. Following them on social media is not only a way to get their contacts but also an opportunity to understand their interests better, which will help you tailor your pitches later on.

Tip: Be an active participant on these platforms. Share your thoughts, comment on posts and articles, and start meaningful conversations.

Organize Your Media List

Once you've collected all this information, you need to organize it in an easily accessible way. A simple spreadsheet is often the most effective. Ensure that it includes the name of the journalist or editor, the name of the media outlet they work for, their position, their professional email address, phone number (if available), social media handles, and any relevant notes about the topics they cover or previous articles they've written.

Tip: Organize your spreadsheet in a way that makes sense to you. You could sort it by outlet type, journalist name, or any other criteria that helps you find the information you need quickly.

Building a Relationship

Don't just reach out to these contacts when you have news to share. Engage with them on social media, comment on their articles, and build a professional relationship. This can significantly increase the likelihood of them covering your story when you have news to share.

Tip: Be genuine in your interactions and show genuine interest in their work. It can go a long way in establishing meaningful relationships.

Keep Your List Updated

Journalists and editors often move around, so it's crucial to keep your media list updated. Regularly check your contacts and make necessary amendments. Updating your media list should become a part of your routine, as an up-to-date media list can dramatically increase your chances of gaining publicity.

Tip: Use news monitoring tools or set up Google alerts to stay informed about shifts within your media targets.

A' Design Award and PR Campaigns

It's important to note that as an A' Design Award winner, you're in a fortunate position. The A' Design Award and Competition prides itself on assisting its winners in gaining the recognition they deserve. It does this by communicating their award-winning work to relevant media contacts free of charge. This complimentary service is part of the comprehensive PR Campaign included in the A' Design Prize.

Tip: While you'll have support from A' Design Award, having your media list lets you control your narrative and build personal relationships with journalists and editors.