A few pitching tips: fast pitch or slow pitch (but no curve balls)
- 11 Comment
I’m lucky to have a great network of professionals–truly lucky. I definitely do not “know it all” about the public relations profession and do not claim to. What I do have is access to some of the greatest minds around, mostly through social media. I also like to ask a lot of questions. Even when I think I have the most concrete opinion on something, I’ll read a tweet, post or email from someone who opens my mind to a new and better way of doing things.
That said, today I asked my Twitter network, “What is the ONE thing you consistently do to make your pitches excel?”
Without fail, I received some great responses.
#1 Be a reliable source, transparent and ready to facilitate. Don’t end up like the control freak PR person I mentioned in yesterday’s post.
#2 Answer this question to yourself first, “why should the reporter care?” If you haven’t done this yet, DON’T PITCH!
#3 Listen to your client/business and find out where they WANT TO be seen. Make a media dream list of all the places that mean success to the client/business. (Nice job of promotion in this tweet, too!)
#4 Don’t make the reporter work for the important information. Have the necessary information included in your pitch. It’s a delicate balance between providing enough information and too much.
#5 Virtually stalk the reporter you are pitching. Okay, this sounds funny, but it works. Pay attention to where they are writing. Do they have their own blog in addition to their day job? Check it out.
#6 Not everyone wants to receive your news. Have you offered a journalist a chance to “opt out” of your media list? While it reduces your media distribution list, it allows you an opportunity to target your pitches and reduce cluttered inboxes for journalists.
11 Comments on this post
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Used Tires said:
Great compilation of tips, I just may be able to pitch after all!
Till then,
Jean
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 am -
Chris said:
good tips and I agree with listening first and pitching a best solution is usually the best long term strategy.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm -
Human Resource Management said:
Pitching been great technique, but no one taken such serious you given some effective tips for effective pitching.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:46 am -
Cartoon Bears said:
I have my own business expanding rapidly. I am looking to find creative ways to market and network with business professionals looking for another money making opportunity. Any suggestions or ideas that have maybe worked for you? The best thing to me has been word of mouth.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm -
generic pharmacy said:
SUPER compilation of online pitching tips, I just may be able to pitch after all!
August 26th, 2009 at 3:47 pm -
printing said:
Hi,
Thanks for sharing these nice tips of pitching.It is really a nice post with have a good info.keep it up….September 2nd, 2009 at 6:42 am -
sarki ara said:
Usufel tips. Thank you for sharing.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm -
kolbasti dinle said:
Great tips. Thank you for sharing.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:39 pm -
iyi resimler said:
tip 3 and tip 5 are interesting. thank you for sharing.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:41 pm -
direk izle said:
interesting tips. thank you
February 12th, 2010 at 4:57 pm -
Laptop Carrying Cases said:
These are good tips for anyone that is trying to pitch something to the media. It can sometimes be a challenge to capture people’s interest and still provide all the facts that they want.
March 4th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
