6 simple and effective tips for pitching the media

As a blogger and a former PR agency CEO, I appreciate the challenges of media pitching and blogger relations. But if any of my former staff ever pitched me like several recent “pros,” they’d be out the door—fast.

These PR pros fall into one of several stereotypes. The pitbulls won’t let go, refusing to take no for an answer. The piranhas won’t let you get in a word edgewise until you get angry and hang up. The weasels use every excuse in the book to try to convince you to cover their story or blog about their client, including pressure from the boss or client. And the skunks? Their pitches are redolent. You can smell them a mile away.

I guarantee, the social media pitches are no better either.

In light of this harsh assessment, here are six media and blogging pitch tips to remember:

1. Do your research. Read at least six to eight of the reporter’s or blogger’s recent articles/posts. Do they cover your product or industry?

2. Make sure it’s news. There’s a reason they call it “news” media. Make sure you’re not talking to yourself or “marketing.” Think benefits to their readers or audience.