Elements of a good media pitch
Are you putting together media pitches, but feel like something is missing? I have great news; we are going to go over all of the key elements of what makes a good pitch so that you know to make your pitches stand out!
Strong subject line
The subject line of your pitch is the first thing a reporter, producer or editor will see. This is where you must instantly grab their attention. Use subject lines that are witty, controversial, enticing, or cut straight to the point. When writing your subject line, it is essential to connect it to something timely or relevant to the person. And make sure it’s not too long! That is the number one pet peeve I hear from the media and if the subject line is too wordy or long, they just hit delete.
Intention
Before you start writing your pitch, think about your goals and what your intended purpose is.
- To support a launch?
- To be educational?
- To be informative?
- To be authoritative or establish credibility?
Explain why you are pitching and clarify the outcome that you want to achieve with a call to action.
Relevance/ News peg
This highlights the importance of news pegs. Include why your pitch is relevant and why their audience is going to want to hear your story or your tips/ guidence. Use a strong news peg to make your pitch timely and newsworthy. This is the perfect place to include data, quotes, and community input to make your pitch stronger.
Personalization
We are always talking about research. Research media outlets as well as reporters, editors, or journalists who you are sending your pitches to. Personalizing your pitches ensures that whomever is reading them will be more likely to engage with you. Personalization shows that you did your research and you know exactly why your story needs to be picked up; it also helps you send correspondence to people who are more likely to be interested.
Value
Every pitch you send should add value. What about your story is new and necessary? Tell your reader why you are contacting them and how your insight will benefit them and their audience. Be sure that your pitch is clear, to the point, and contains information and data to back up your story.
When adding value to your pitch, talk about your content. Your content should align with the brand and audience of the media outlet and show them precisely what you have to offer.
Call-to-action
Tell your reader what they need to do next. Your call to action can:
- Encourage them to follow up with you for an interview
- Ask them to share your pitch with their team
- Encourage them to ask questions
Leave them with a call to action that makes them want to take the next step. Be sure to include your contact information so they can reach back out to you! Write your email address for them again, even though you have just emailed them. Make it easy for them to quickly follow up with you.
Pitching is challenging, but having all the elements in each of your pitches will help you create more successful pitches. If you want some help crafting perfect pitches, let us help you!