Consumer tech PR: getting gadgets and apps reviewed

Story angles that work for consumer tech and apps

Journalists do not cover companies, they cover stories. These are the angles that most often earn consumer tech and apps coverage:

• Embargoed review units sent two to three weeks before launch
• A clear comparison with the market leader on price and features
• App milestones such as downloads, ratings and notable features
• Inclusion in seasonal buying guides

How to run consumer tech and apps PR yourself

1. Pick one story. Choose the strongest angle above and write it in one sentence. If you cannot, the story is not ready.
2. Build a short list. Find the 20 to 50 reporters who have covered consumer tech and apps recently. A short list that fits beats a long list that does not.
3. Write a personal pitch. Three short paragraphs: the news, why it matters to their readers, and what you can offer such as data, interviews or images.
4. Follow up once. Three to five working days later, add something new rather than "just checking in".
5. Track what lands. Note who replied and what they wrote about, so your next pitch is warmer.

What reporters on this beat want

• Lead with what changed for users, not the feature list. Tech reporters see hundreds of launches a week.
• Offer data the reporter cannot get anywhere else: usage numbers, a survey, or benchmark results.

Mistakes to avoid

• Launching in the same week as a major Apple, Google or Samsung event.
• Sending pre-production units that do not reflect the final product without saying so.

Who covers consumer tech and apps

InsightFuse lists 2,007 journalists, editors and producers whose role or outlet points to consumer tech and apps coverage, across 75 countries. Here is where they work and what they do.

Browse journalists on these beats

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Frequently asked questions