We all know how devastating it can be to have your seemingly ideal pitch fall flat. Whether the writer gave you a reason or not, it’s important to be able to adjust and learn from these situations in the future. We’ve pulled together 5 fool-proof steps to nailing that perfect pitch:
- Know the story: Restaurants open and close daily, businesses launch new products, and people and places win awards. In order to make your pitch stand out, you must know what makes your client stand out. Take the time to get to know them and what’s lying beneath the surface.
- Timing is everything: Does your pitch coincide with a larger holiday or event in the area? Great! Use that as an opportunity to connect the two. Be sure that you’re giving writers ample notice as well. This especially goes for long-lead publications.
- Narrow down your audience: You wouldn’t pitch a food and wine festival to an auto industry magazine, so be sure to narrow down your contact lists appropriately. Also, be sure you are in contact with the correct editor or writer at each publication. If you aren’t sure, use a trusted source like Cision or ask!
- Keep it short and sweet: Writers get dozens if not hundreds of pitches a day. Get straight to the point, and keep it catchy.
- Individualize it: There is nothing worse than receiving a generic email with a big ask. While perhaps appropriate if you’re emailing thousands of people, it’s important to take time to individualize each pitch for each writer. Did they recently write about the coffee your hotel client is now serving? Mention that! It shows the writer you’ve taken time to respect their work.
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