You’ve got an exciting brand, a great product, and a strong story—so when is the right time to contact the media?
Timing is everything in PR. Reach out too early, and your news might get forgotten. Reach out too late, and you’ve missed the opportunity entirely.
To help you nail your timing, here’s a breakdown of when to pitch journalists and influencers so your story actually gets picked up.
1. Understand Media Timelines
Before you reach out, you need to understand how different types of media work.
- Long-lead media (print magazines) – Plan 3–6 months in advance
- Short-lead media (online publications, digital magazines) – Plan 4–6 weeks in advance
- Daily news sites & blogs – Plan 1–2 weeks in advance
- Influencers & social media – Plan 1–4 weeks in advance
Pro tip: If you’re pitching for holiday gift guides, summer fashion roundups, or seasonal trends, reach out way earlier than you think—major magazines start curating lists months in advance!
2. Best Times to Contact Journalists
Journalists work on deadlines, and your email is just one of hundreds they receive daily. Reaching out at the right time can make all the difference.
- Best days to pitch: Tuesday–Thursday (avoid Mondays & Fridays)
- Best time to email: Between 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (when journalists check emails but aren’t overloaded yet)
Avoid:
- Monday mornings (inbox chaos)
- Friday afternoons (mentally checked out for the weekend)
- Late at night (your email will get buried by morning)
Pro tip: If your email gets lost in the flood, send a polite follow-up 5–7 days later (but no more than twice!).
3. When to Contact the Media About Your Brand
Now that you know the media’s schedule, let’s talk about when you should reach out based on what you’re pitching.
If You’re Launching a New Brand or Product
- Long-lead media – Start pitching 3–6 months before launch
- Online media & influencers – Start pitching 4–6 weeks before launch
- Last-minute hype – Start pitching 1–2 weeks before launch
Example: If your fashion brand is launching in September, you should start pitching to print magazines in April–May, online media in July, and influencers in August.
If You Want to Be in a Holiday Gift Guide
Major magazines work 4–6 months ahead!
- Christmas gift guides in print magazines – Start pitching in June–July
- Online holiday guides – Start pitching in September–October
- Influencer gift guides – Start pitching in November–early December
Pro tip: Don’t wait until November to pitch major publications—it’ll be way too late.
If You Have a Big Brand Announcement (Rebrand, Collab, Expansion, etc.)
- Long-lead media – Pitch 3+ months in advance
- Online media – Pitch 1–2 months before the announcement
- Influencers & social media – Pitch 2–4 weeks before the announcement
Example: If you’re launching a designer collab in September, start pitching magazines in June, online media in July, and influencers in August.
If You Have a Seasonal Product or Trend-Based Story
- Spring/Summer features – Start pitching in December–February
- Autumn/Winter features – Start pitching in June–August
Pro tip: Journalists love trend-driven pitches. If your beauty product aligns with a rising skincare trend or your fashion brand fits an upcoming colour trend, pitch it early!
If You Want to Be Featured in a News Story
- The sooner, the better! If your pitch is tied to a trending topic, act fast—journalists are working on tight deadlines.
- If a breaking news story relates to your brand (e.g., a sustainability law change and you run an eco-friendly brand), reach out within 24–48 hours.
4. Best Times to Contact Influencers
Influencers don’t work on the same strict editorial schedules as journalists, but timing still matters.
If You’re Sending PR Gifts
- Influencers with large followings (100K+) – Reach out 1–2 months in advance
- Micro-influencers (under 100K) – Reach out 2–4 weeks in advance
Example: If you want influencers to post about your product for Valentine’s Day, start reaching out in early–mid January.
If You’re Running an Influencer Campaign
- Small, short-term campaigns – Contact influencers 2–4 weeks in advance
- Larger, multi-influencer campaigns – Contact influencers 6–8 weeks in advance
Pro tip: Popular influencers book collaborations far in advance, so don’t leave your outreach until the last minute!
5. What If You’re Too Late?
Missed the ideal pitch window? Here’s how to salvage the opportunity:
- Find a fresh angle – If you missed Christmas gift guides, pitch a “New Year’s Must-Haves” angle instead.
- Target digital-first media – Online publications have shorter lead times than print.
- Leverage influencers – They can create content faster than traditional media.
- Pitch for next time – If you missed this year’s opportunity, plan ahead for next year!
Getting featured by the media isn’t just about what you pitch—it’s about when you pitch. By aligning your outreach with editorial calendars and deadlines, you’ll massively increase your chances of landing press coverage.
So, take a look at your PR plans, mark your calendars, and get pitching at the right time!