Avoid Sending the Same Pitch to Every Journalist
Every single journalist out there can spot a copy/paste job within seconds; they get pitched around the clock every day with generic requests. Make your pitch completely personalized and tailored specifically around them and the media outlet they work for.
You are more likely to receive a favorable response if they sense your request is genuine and wasn’t part of a blanket pitch. Also, don’t simply change the name and media outlet. If you mistakenly send a request to someone at TechCrunch but the pitch says how much you love reading Mashable, you risk blacklisting your startup. Don’t be lazy: if you want the results, be willing to put in the effort.
Don’t Make Your Pitch Sound Like a Press Release
When was the last time you read a press release that blew your socks off? I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that your answer is “not in a very long time, if ever.†Most press releases are boring fluff composed of a few company statistics mixed in with some equally boring quotes. If you craft your pitch to sound like a press release, don’t expect a response. Short, packed with details and right to the point wins every time. If they understand your startup and you can grab their attention in a few sentences, it greatly increases your odds of getting a reply back.
While every startup is going to require a specialized pitch for their brand, these tips can help you gain some traction when going after media exposure.
A version of this article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.
Jonathan Long is the Founder & CEO of Market Domination Media, a digital marketing agency specializing in creative outside the box branding campaigns designed for aggressive online growth. Connect with him on Twitter. Jonathan also founded EBOC, an exclusive private community for entrepreneurs and business owners.
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