5 PR Tools That Actually Work for Founders in 2025
By Zach Schleien
Most PR tools are built for agencies, not founders. Here are the 5 I actually use to land press coverage without a PR team.
Most PR tools are built for agencies with six-figure budgets. If you're a founder doing your own press outreach, you need tools that are affordable, effective, and designed for people who don't have a dedicated PR team.
Here are the 5 I actually use - the same tools behind my 200+ media features.
1. PressPitch AI
What it does: AI-powered press pitch generation, journalist discovery, and media outreach - all in one platform.
Why I use it: I co-founded PressPitch AI with Stefan Ciancio because we saw how painful the PR process was for founders. You fill in your story details, and the AI generates a journalist-ready pitch. Then you search for relevant journalists by topic, outlet, and location - and send personalized pitches directly from the platform.
Best for: Founders who want to do PR themselves without learning an entirely new skillset. The AI handles the craft; you bring the story.
Key features:
- AI pitch generation with credibility markers and news hooks
- Journalist database searchable by topic and outlet
- Media Radar alerts when journalists cover your niche
- Direct email outreach from the platform
2. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
What it does: Connects journalists who need sources with experts who can provide commentary.
Why I use it: HARO sends daily emails with journalist queries. When a journalist is writing about dating apps, startups, or marketing, I respond with a brief expert quote. This is how I've landed features where I wasn't even the main story - I was the expert source.
Best for: Building authority through quoted commentary. You won't get full profiles from HARO, but you'll get mentions in high-authority publications that boost your SEO and credibility.
Pro tip: Respond within 30 minutes of the email going out. Speed matters more than perfection.
3. Google Alerts
What it does: Sends you an email whenever a keyword appears in new online content.
Why I use it: I set alerts for my name, my company names, my competitors, and key industry terms. This serves two purposes: monitoring my own press coverage and finding opportunities to pitch.
When a journalist writes about a topic I'm an expert in, I reach out and offer additional commentary. "I saw your piece on [topic]. I have a unique angle: [brief pitch]." This warm outreach converts significantly better than cold pitches.
Best for: Media monitoring and finding warm pitch opportunities. Free and simple.
4. LinkedIn
What it does: You already know. But most founders underuse it for PR.
Why I use it for PR: Journalists are on LinkedIn. When I find a journalist I want to pitch, I connect with them on LinkedIn first. I engage with their content. I build a relationship. Then when I pitch via email, they recognize my name.
This relationship-first approach has led to some of my biggest features. The Forbes feature for a 21-year-old founder started with a LinkedIn connection.
Best for: Building journalist relationships and warming up cold outreach.
5. Your Own Email
What it does: Exactly what you think.
Why it's the best tool: No tool replaces a well-crafted, personalized email sent directly to the right journalist. Every tool on this list is a means to an end - getting your pitch in front of the right person. The email is where the actual magic happens.
My framework for pitch emails:
- Subject line: Specific + newsworthy + clear ask
- Opening: Reference their recent work (shows you've done homework)
- Pitch: The story in 3 sentences
- Proof: Credibility markers (numbers, press, credentials)
- Ask: Clear next step ("Happy to jump on a quick call or send more details")
The Stack
These tools work together:
- Google Alerts finds opportunities
- PressPitch AI crafts the pitch and finds the journalist
- LinkedIn warms up the relationship
- HARO provides supplementary expert mentions
- Email delivers the pitch
No agency. No $10K/month retainer. Just a founder with the right tools and the right subject lines.
Ready to start landing press? Try PressPitch AI and generate your first pitch in minutes.
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