PR Daily Offers Tips To Improve Pitching Strategies
PR Daily advises on what to stop worrying about when pitching to journalists, and how to rechannel that energy into more effective strategies. This can help improve pitching success and build stronger relationships with journalists.
Original reporting · prdaily.com
Original: “4 things to stop worrying about when pitching”
Read “4 things to stop worrying about when pitching” at PR Daily →
How this was written. The 5:45 wrote this article with a language model from PR Daily’s reporting (model: @cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast); it describes that reporting rather than adding to it. The original, linked above, is the full story.
Key points from PR Daily’s report
- The timing of sending a pitch may not be as crucial as previously thought, and trying to guess the best time based on aggregate data may not be worth the effort.
- Complimenting a journalist's recent work may not be as effective as thought, especially if it is vague and general.
- Hitting journalists across multiple platforms at the same time can be counterproductive and come across as overly aggressive or creepy.
- Not hearing back from a journalist right away does not necessarily mean the pitch is unsuccessful, as PR is a long game.
- Spending time exploring a reporter's back catalog and preparing principals for interviews can be effective strategies for improving pitching success.
According to PR Daily, the timing of sending a pitch may not be as crucial as previously thought. Every journalist's routine is different, and trying to guess the best time based on aggregate data may not be worth the effort. PR Daily reported that even if the perfect time to send a pitch is found, it could still be thwarted by factors such as the journalist being on vacation or having a story fall through.
Journalists' schedules and routines vary greatly, with some checking pitches at unusual hours, while others may only look at pitches when they need a quick replacement for a fallen-through story. This unpredictability makes it difficult to determine the best time to send a pitch, and PR Daily suggests that it is not worth stressing about.
Another common practice that may not be as effective as thought is complimenting a journalist's recent work. While flattery can be appealing, vague and general praise may not get very far, especially when it can be easily generated by AI. PR Daily advises that unless specific commentary on a specific part of a story is provided, it is better to skip this step and focus on researching the journalist's beat and matching the pitch to it.
Hitting journalists across multiple platforms at the same time can also be counterproductive. While it is not bad to contact people on multiple platforms, PR Daily suggests giving it some breathing space and waiting a few days before following up on social media. This can help avoid coming across as overly aggressive or creepy.
Not hearing back from a journalist right away can be frustrating, but PR Daily reminds us that PR is a long game. Sometimes, a journalist may have genuinely missed the initial email, and a follow-up can prompt a response. Other times, a journalist may stay silent for months before circling back with interest in the pitch.
Instead of worrying about these factors, PR Daily advises spending time exploring a reporter's back catalog to understand what they cover and the types of bylines they accept. Preparing principals for interviews and thinking outside the box to explore trade publications, local publications, and creators can also be effective strategies.
By rechanneling energy into these areas, PR professionals can build stronger relationships with journalists and improve their pitching success. PR Daily suggests that building a foundation with niche sources can help boost credibility with larger publications and ultimately lead to more successful pitches.
Questions and answers
What is the best time to send a pitch to a journalist?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as every journalist's routine is different. PR Daily advises not to stress about sending pitches at specific times.
Is it effective to compliment a journalist's recent work in a pitch?
Not necessarily, unless specific commentary on a specific part of a story is provided. Vague and general praise may not get very far.
How often should I follow up with a journalist after sending a pitch?
PR Daily suggests giving it some breathing space and waiting a few days before following up on social media to avoid coming across as overly aggressive or creepy.
