5 Tips for Pitching to the Media

We get it.

You want to build brand authority. You want to be the go-to in your industry. You want to build credibility, affinity, and trust. The only problem is that you don’t know where to start.

Getting in front of the media is what you’re missing- and it’s not as out of reach as you think.

Whether it’s in the form of a podcast, feature story, contributor article, summit, or blog post, getting your name out there and showing what you know can do will do wonders for your business.

When you’re pitching to the media, keep these 5 things in mind…

1. Do your Research

Pitching the editor-in-chief or solely pitching giant publications is not always the best idea. Do your research and look for contributors, freelancers, and staff writers at bigger publications and look for smaller platforms that align with your brand. Think podcast, blogs, and contributor articles.

2. Keep it Tailored – It’s not all about you

Writers and editors get dozens of pitches every single day. Standing out is essential. Keep it short and know who you’re pitching and how you can help THEIR audience. Make your pitch all about THEM, not about you.

When you are creating your pitch list, make a note of recent projects the content creator has worked on and mention them in your pitch.

3. What Makes you Special? What’s your story?

Be honest with yourself- what makes you and your business unique? Before you even think about pitching, know your brand, know your story, determine your message and what your best angles will be. What does your brand have in common with who you are pitching?

If this question is stressing you out, or if you are struggling to find an answer that feels authentic to you, reach out to a mentor and discuss it together or ask your clients how they would describe you and your business.

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4. Make it Actionable

A “call to action” is essential when making your pitch to a journalist – and it must be clear and to the point. Before signing off, give your “ask”- for example: “If you’d like more information or think ____ would be a good fit for a story you are working on, let us know.”

5. Follow-up!

Follow-ups are the key to success. Make a schedule, build a tracker spreadsheet, and always follow up with the contacts you pitch (unless an automatic reply says explicitly not to). The majority of successful pitches happen when you have an active follow-up process.