5 Things to do Every Time Before You Pitch
We’ve all been there.
You have a great story to tell. Or a new product or service to launch. And you know the PERFECT media outlet for your news. But where do you even start? How do you break through the clutter and get your pitch noticed?
But before you hit 'send' on your pitch, make sure you follow these five rules and you'll have a far greater chance of getting your pitch read, responded to, and getting a key placement for your brand!
1. Keep it short and sweet
What's your lede? What's the hook? If you're not getting to the point until the fifth paragraph, I promise you that your pitch will get tossed right in the digital trash can. Be concise and purposeful with your word choice to lock in interest from the start. Get creative - share key stats to support your story, or lean into a trend that everyone is talking about now.
2. Introduce yourself right away
Don't make the person you’re pitching try to figure out who you are - or why you're emailing. Tell them who you are, who your brand is, and why you’re reaching out. Keep it personal - even if you’re pitching multiple media outlets, make sure you note a recent story they covered or why you think this pitch is perfect for them. DO NOT under any circumstance, use mail merge to pitch contacts - people know when it’s an impersonal pitch and if you do this, your pitch is only going to get noticed for the wrong reasons — and you probably won’t get any responses.
3. Make it easy to contact you. And make sure your brand information is current.
Don't assume people know how to contact you. Include every way to connect with you (email, phone number, social media handles, etc). Link all of these methods of communication with hyperlinks to your profiles or website to make it that much easier.
If a media contact isn’t familiar with you, or hasn’t heard of your brand, the very first thing he/she/they will do is do a quick Google search to see if you’re legit. So make sure your brand social channels and website are current before you reach out to anyone.
4. Proofread. And read it again after that!
Don't rely on spell-check alone - it doesn't understand your tone or intent. Proofread your pitch and ask a friend to review it, too. Resources like Grammarly can help fix cringe-worthy errorrs that can cost you a story opportunity. Did you notice that spelling error in the last sentence? If you did, you can bet that the media contact will, and they will not be as forgiving. Didn't spot the error? That's exactly the reason to have a trusted friend or colleague proof-read for you.
5. Be honest and be yourself!
Never misrepresent your brand or yourself. You will immediately lose credibility and any future outreach will not be looked at seriously.
Also, don’t feel like you have to sound like a robot when you share your news. Showcase your personality! It’s good to stand out in a meaningful way.
These 5 rules are what we use as the bare minimum before we send a pitch.
If you're ready for more insight and refined strategies to pitching yourself like a total pro, you're in luck!
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