How to Get Featured in Magazines — Without a PR Agency
Most women think magazine features are only for big brands with PR budgets. They're not. As the editor of Anne Louise Magazine, I can tell you that editors are actively looking for great stories — and a well-crafted pitch from the right person beats an expensive PR agency every single time. I have featured women who simply emailed me cold with a genuinely interesting story. No agency, no following, no previous press. Just a good subject line and a clear hook. This guide will show you exactly how to do it.
Five things editors want you to know
The cold email works. I've featured women who emailed me out of nowhere. A good subject line and a clear hook is all you need to get opened.
Don't wait until you're "big enough." Editors aren't looking for the biggest business — they're looking for the most interesting story.
Never attach images to a first email. It will go straight to spam. Include a shared folder link instead — always.
Tailor every pitch. One line showing you've actually read the magazine goes a very long way. Editors spot batch emails instantly.
Follow up once, then move on. A single polite follow-up two weeks later is perfectly appropriate. More than once is annoying.
The Pitch Process — Step by Step
Research the Magazine
Read 2–3 recent issues. Understand their tone, their readers, and the kind of features they run. Find the masthead — your list of who to approach.
Build Your Media Pack
Gather your key assets — bio, high-res headshot, website, social links, milestones. Host images on Google Drive or Dropbox with a shareable link. Never attach.
Write Your Pitch Email
Keep it short. One paragraph on who you are, one on your story hook, one clear ask. The subject line is everything — spend real time on it.
Send & Track
Use their submissions page to find the right contact. Note the send date. If no reply in two weeks, send one polite follow-up, then move on.
Reply Promptly When They Do
When an editor responds, reply within 24 hours and provide whatever they ask for quickly — editors work to tight deadlines and a slow reply can lose you the feature entirely.
What Goes in Your Media Pack
Your media pack is the document that does the heavy lifting once an editor opens your email. A well-structured Google Doc works perfectly — no designed PDF needed.
High-res (at least 1MB). Clean background preferred.Check your lighting. Images break or make a feature, so concentrate on getting the best photos you can. Link to a shared folder — never attach directly.
Written in third person. Lead with the most interesting thing about you, not your job title.
2–3 sentences on what makes your story interesting — what the editor uses to pitch you internally.
Instagram, LinkedIn, and your website. Editors check these to gauge your brand and reach.
If product-based: high-res on white or lifestyle background. 3–5 images is enough. Images break or make a feature, so concentrate on getting the best photos you can. Tip: Look at competitors websites for ideas, a bad image can stop you getting featured. Nice background. Good lighting and check the positioning. Check out this advice on product photography by ADOBE.
Links to any existing features. Shows you're press-ready and builds credibility instantly. Don't panic if you haven't been featured yet elsewhere!
Offer 2–3 specific angles. This does half the editor's job and significantly improves your chances.
"Write your media pack in your own voice. It stands out immediately — and it's what makes an editor want to meet you on the page."Linsey — Editor, Anne Louise Magazine
Where to Host Your Images
Never attach images directly to a pitch email — it triggers spam filters and creates a poor first impression. Host everything in a shared folder and include the link instead. If you're service-based, this folder is where your headshots and brand photography live — not just product shots.
Google Drive
Shared folder, set to "anyone with the link." Free, organised, reliable.
✓ RecommendedDropbox
Great for large files. Free tier is more than enough for a media pack.
✓ RecommendedWeTransfer
Good for follow-up sends. Free links expire in 7 days — not for the initial pack.
Your Own Website
A /press page on your site is the most professional option of all. Bonus: You can check stats to see if being viewed!
✓ Most Professional
Copy-Ready Email Templates
Always personalise these. Text in [square brackets] is where your details go. Text in italics are editor's notes — don't include them in the actual email.
Service-based business? The Expert Comment template is your most powerful starting point. Pitching yourself as a go-to expert source leads to regular, ongoing coverage — far more valuable than a one-off feature, and much easier to land than a full profile. Use the Initial Pitch template to tell your founder story, and skip the Product Feature tab entirely.
What a Media Pack Looks Like
You don't need a designed PDF — a well-structured Google Doc is absolutely fine. Here's how to lay it out:
Media Pack — [Your Name / Business Name]
Example Structure01 · About Me
[Your name] is a [job title / founder] based in [location]. [2–3 sentences on your story — third person, warm and human, not corporate.] [Why you started, who you help, what problem you solve.]
03 · Key Milestones
- Founded [business] in [year]
- [Impressive stat — members, customers, revenue milestone]
- [Award, press mention, or notable achievement]
- [Anything particularly interesting or unusual]
02 · My Story Hook
[The most interesting, surprising, or relatable thing about your journey. Write this as if you're telling a friend, not submitting a CV. What would make someone stop and read?]
04 · Suggested Angles
- [e.g. "From corporate to kitchen table: building a business as a single mum"]
- [e.g. "Why I stopped chasing followers and built a paid community instead"]
- [e.g. "The founder redefining what success looks like"]
05 · Images & Links
- Headshots: [Google Drive link]
- Brand imagery: [link]
- Website: [URL]
- Instagram: @[handle]
Magazines to Approach
Most major publishers don't maintain public editorial pitch pages — their contact forms are for subscribers, not press enquiries. The most reliable approach is to visit the magazine's website, find the masthead to identify the right editor, and email them directly. Links below go to each magazine's homepage. The gold notes are Linsey's editorial observations from her own experience as a publisher.
Weekly for smart, independent women. Strong career and entrepreneurship content with an emphasis on real stories told without cliché.
Fashion-forward lifestyle weekly with strong career and business coverage. Excellent reach with professional women in their 30s.
Hearst publication aimed at women 35+. Strong features on life, work, and women doing interesting things on their own terms.
Huge readership. Features real women's stories, particularly business success stories with a relatable, grounded angle. Very accessible for first-time pitches.
Hearst title loved by half a million readers. Real homes, artisan makers, rural lifestyle, gardens, and food. Very open to small independent businesses with a story rooted in craft, countryside, or sustainable living.
One of the UK's most prestigious interiors titles, published by Future. Covers elegant home design, gardens, and lifestyle. Strong digital presence and welcomes real home features and expert contributors.
Hearst title focused on stylish but achievable interiors. Real home makeovers, decorating trends, and product placement. Particularly good for home décor and interiors product businesses.
Modern, design-forward interiors title from Future. One of the most approachable UK interiors magazines — welcomes homeowner submissions, not just designer-led projects. Strong digital editorial team actively seeking new voices.
Established in 1897 and still going strong. Covers rural property, interiors, gardens, arts, and country pursuits. Strong readership among affluent UK and international audiences. More traditional in tone but open to relevant pitches.
Fashion-led interiors title that merges cutting-edge design with lifestyle. Covers designer profiles, trend-led home features, and stylish products. Readership skews design-savvy and aspirational.
Published by People Inc. and read by over 7 million, predominantly women. Covers home organisation, practical living, cooking, and wellbeing. Known for its clean, uncluttered aesthetic and actionable content. Very receptive to real-life stories.
Hearst's flagship US interiors title with a huge digital audience. Covers decorating trends, real homes, designer profiles, and product recommendations. Strong appetite for real transformation stories and product discovery.
One of the highest-circulation magazines in America. Covers home decorating, garden design, cooking, and family lifestyle. Approachable, warm tone. Readership is broad and values practical, achievable content.
Hearst's US country lifestyle title. Covers home décor with a rustic, cosy angle, DIY projects, gardens, recipes, and small-town living. Warm, nostalgic tone with broad appeal. Great for artisan and craft-based businesses.
The world's most influential interiors and architecture title. High-end, design-led, and globally read. Harder to get into but worth the effort for established businesses with genuinely stunning visual assets.
Iconic US lifestyle title covering home, cooking, entertaining, crafts, and garden. Heavily DIY and project-led. Warm, instructive tone. Strong appetite for clever ideas, beautiful products, and inspiring people with a domestic creative angle.
Australia's number one magazine with 2.3 million readers, published by Are Media. Covers home design, renovating, gardening, cooking, and entertaining. Warm and approachable — the most accessible entry point in the Australian market.
Are Media's premium interiors and garden title. Beautifully photographed real homes, design trends, and expert garden advice. Strong reputation and loyal readership among design-conscious Australians.
Are Media title covering modern interiors, renovation, garden design, and outdoor living. Contemporary and style-forward with a broad, design-savvy Australian readership. Particularly strong on renovation stories.
Australia's premium design and style magazine. Features high-end Australian and international homes, interior design, art, architecture, and travel. Aspirational, beautifully produced, and globally minded.
Are Media title celebrating relaxed country living, artisan makers, heritage homes, and rural lifestyle. Warm, authentic tone with a loyal readership. Very welcoming of small independent businesses with a genuine country or craft story.
Australia's most popular independent design publication with 655k+ Instagram followers. Covers real Australian homes, gardens, art, furniture, and homewares. Known for championing independent designers and makers.
Britain's fashion bible since 1916, published by Condé Nast. The most prestigious fashion and beauty title in the UK. High-end, visually driven, and aspirational. Harder to crack without strong visuals, but not impossible with a genuinely compelling story.
Hearst's luxury fashion and beauty title. Covers high-end style, beauty, culture, and influential women. More editorial than commercial, with a sophisticated, intellectually curious readership. Strong appetite for women with interesting stories.
Hearst's fashion-forward monthly for women who want to be first to know. Covers global trends, beauty, culture, and career. Strong appetite for fresh voices, independent brands, and women doing interesting things. More accessible than Vogue.
Hearst's high-energy women's title covering beauty, fashion, relationships, and culture. Enormous reach — 2.5 million Facebook followers. Energetic, empowering tone. One of the most accessible of the major fashion titles for first-time press approaches.
Future Publishing title combining high-gloss fashion and beauty with intelligent journalism. Covers style, beauty, career, and global women's issues. Readership skews smart, ambitious, and socially aware. Particularly good for founder stories with a broader social angle.
The definitive beauty authority from Condé Nast. Entirely dedicated to beauty — skincare, makeup, hair, and wellness. Product-focused and review-driven. If you have a beauty product or service, this is the most targeted title to pitch in the Condé Nast stable.
The global fashion authority, published by Condé Nast. Sets the agenda for the entire industry. Extremely high standards for visual content. Worth pitching if your brand has a genuinely distinctive aesthetic and a compelling founder story. Condé Nast editor email format: firstname_lastname@condenast.com.
Hearst's flagship US luxury fashion and beauty title. Intellectual, elegant, and culturally engaged. Strong record of championing women who are doing interesting things beyond fashion. Hearst editor email format: firstname.lastname@hearst.com.
Hearst's global fashion powerhouse — the world's biggest-selling fashion magazine. Covers fashion, beauty, culture, and career with a forward-thinking, feminist perspective. More accessible than Vogue for independent voices and brands.
America's leading beauty authority, published by Condé Nast. 100% focused on beauty — skincare, makeup, haircare, and wellness. Known for its Best of Beauty awards, which are hugely influential for product-based beauty businesses.
One of the highest-circulation women's magazines in the world. Covers beauty, fashion, relationships, career, and pop culture. Bold, empowering, and inclusive tone. One of the most accessible major US titles for first-time press approaches.
Fashion, beauty, and celebrity style — now a digital-only brand following the end of its print edition in 2022. Still a significant online audience with strong social reach. Good for product-based businesses and founder features pitched to the digital team.
Published by News Corp under Condé Nast licence. The authoritative voice in Australian fashion for over 60 years. Monthly runway coverage, trend reports, celebrity news, and beauty. Publishes under vogue.com.au — editor email format typically firstname.lastname@vogue.com.au.
Published by Switzer Media. Relaunched in 2021 after a brief closure and going strong. Australia's number one fashion magazine covering luxury style, beauty, and culture. Strong track record of championing Australian designers and creative entrepreneurs.
Are Media title combining high-gloss fashion and beauty with real women's stories and intelligent journalism. Covers style, beauty, career, and social issues. Readership skews smart and ambitious. Particularly receptive to women who have built something and have a compelling story to tell.
Independent Australian bi-monthly with a cult following. Covers fashion, art, culture, and lifestyle with a smart, sarcastic, curious voice. Champions independent makers, artists, and small creative businesses. One of the most approachable and distinctive Australian titles for indie brands.
Australia's leading independent beauty publication, founded by Eleanor Pendleton. Expert-curated beauty content with a focus on education and honest reviews. Huge digital and social following. Very receptive to independent beauty brands with a genuine story behind the formulations.
Are Media's ELLE Australia returned to print in 2024 after a three-year digital-only period, publishing four editions a year. Covers fashion, beauty, and culture for style-conscious Australian women. Strong digital audience alongside the revived print edition.
UK-based publication covering startup stories and founder journeys. Very open to featuring smaller, independent businesses — a great first-press option.
Long-running UK SME publication focused on founder interviews and business leadership. Best suited to established businesses with milestones to share.
Platform celebrating women in all areas of life. Strong community focus and closely aligned with FEHQ values. Particularly good for service-based businesses.
FEHQ paid members automatically receive an editorial feature on Anne Louise Magazine as part of their membership. No pitch required — this one is already yours.
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