How can I find the email address of a magazine executive online?

I need to get in touch w/ someone listed on a magazine's masthead. I tried asking the magazine's customer service rep but they don't give out that info. What else can I do? Any suggestions? How might I find her contact info online?

Searching for an email address is not like looking up a phone number. While some email services publish the addresses of their clients in directory format, there is no standard or requirement to do so. Many people ask that their email addresses not be published due to the increasing amount of junk and spam mail they receive. While there is no guaranteed method of obtaining the email address you desire, there are a few techniques to employ in your quest.

Step OneSearch through previous email correspondence. If the person has sent you an email in the past, there is a possibility you still have their email address in your Inbox or Saved mail folders. Search your files using a keyword that includes the person's name.

Step TwoSearch your business cards to see if you have one for the person in question. People often list all of their professional contact information on their business cards.

Step ThreeSearch the websites of all the organizations the person is affiliated with. Universities often have directories on their websites that list students, faculty and staff email addresses. Law firms, non-profit organizations and realtors generally do the same. Smaller companies occasionally list their staff members email addresses online. If not, try calling the company and asking for the information.

Step FourSearch the Internet for the name of the person. If they have published anything online, participate in certain listserves or mailing groups, or are involved in professional organizations, their email address may be listed online. Google helps find publications, websites and products affiliated with the person you are searching for.

Step FiveSearch for the person's name in popular email search directories such as Yahoo! and Bigfoot.

Step SixIf all else fails, enlist the help of a Usenet newsgroup. These are web environments where you ask for help locating someone you believe to have an email address.

Try using LinkedIn - What you need to do is search for people with LION (Linked In Open Networkers) next to their name, see if you can get a few of these people added to your connections.

Then do a search of their Second Tier connections. There is a good chance that you will be able to contact the person you are looking for there.

Or an easier way, but may not work is to us LinkedIn Answers. Ask this same question, but don't ask for the email address, just ask if someone knows the person you are looking for. Then start a dialog with that person and see if they will connect (introduce) you to the person you want to get in touch with.

See LinkedIn address in Sources below.

It is very difficult to get to top management. You didn't say what the title of the person you are looking for is. Customer Service doesn't know that information - they are often a 3rd party company and are not in the location of executive management.

You can try calling the main number for the company (not a toll free number) and asking for the person. Some people do answer their own phone.

Lastly you can write a letter - via old fashioned USPS mail.

Wish I knew who you were trying to reach and for what and I could help you much better!