Any effective PR plan must focus on developing strong relationships with journalists, but this is frequently easier said than done. The daily onslaught of proposals that journalists must deal with keeps them extremely occupied. Hence, you’ll get off to a good start if you can avoid bothering them or consuming more of their time than is necessary. You need to make sure you’re pitching a narrative that’s pertinent to them, at the very least. Your media pitch must not only catch their attention right away but also hold it in order to secure that coverage. Yet it has been discovered that it frequently takes more than simply a strong story or angle to convince a journalist to take notice of you. When pitching a story to journalists, there are many methods to impress them, but there are also some tactics and behaviours that will almost surely irritate the living daylights out of them. A plan is designed by PR professionals or a competent PR agency on how the narrative can capture the interest of relevant journalists when a client introduces a product, enters a new market, or wishes to make a remark on a subject.
Consider the numerous “dos” and “don’ts” while pitching to journalists.
It’s crucial to pitch journalists properly if you want to obtain media attention for your company or group. You may get the same assistance from a PR company in Delhi, which will also inform you of all the dos and don’ts of pitching to journalists. The following are some things to remember:
Dos
- Check out the reporter and their area of expertise:
Make sure you comprehend the kinds of stories a journalist covers, their target audience, and their editorial style before you pitch to them. Before adding them to your target media list, do some research on each journalist you intend to pitch to make sure they are a good fit. Then, check their most recent publications to make sure your article corresponds to the subjects they usually cover. This will assist you in creating a pitch that will be more persuasive to them.
- Make your pitch unique and double-check the facts:
Don’t distribute boilerplate emails or press releases. Instead, spend the time tailoring your pitch to the specific journalist and the outlet they work for. Describe how your tale is a good fit for their readership by mentioning a recent article they wrote that you liked. Nonetheless, spending a moment to double-check pertinent information and correct grammatical, spelling, and formatting issues will be time well spent and will help you establish a positive rapport with any journalist. - Be precise and considerate of others’ privacy: Every day, journalists are inundated with pitches, so it’s critical that yours be succinct and direct. Make sure your pitch is easy to read and concentrate on the most crucial elements. To increase your possibility of getting a response, stick to email and in-person story pitching. Otherwise, there is a potential that the journalist will ignore your emails or messages.
- deliver value: The kind of media pitch you send will depend on what you have to offer a journalist. Additionally, make sure your pitch offers something of value to their audience because journalists are looking for stories that their readers will find interesting. Justify the importance, newsworthiness, and interest of your story.
Don’ts
- Aim not to overpromise:
You must be aware of what you promise and what you provide; there shouldn’t be a gap because that would be perceived poorly if you want to build brand loyalty for your company and keep customers. - Avoiding irrelevant pitches:
Make sure to only suggest articles that are pertinent to the journalist’s area and the media outlet they are published in. Before sending your pitch, it’s crucial to do your homework on the writer and the newspaper. It’s just a waste of time when you send the journalist irrelevant pitches. - Avoid being overly friendly or speaking in an aggressive or demanding manner.
Developing long-lasting connections with journalists takes work, but it’s a tactic that may actually benefit your customers and your company. Avoid becoming overly friendly with the journalists or add them to your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, etc., if you don’t know them well enough. As journalists get many proposals, it’s crucial to conduct yourself with decency and professionalism. The journalist will likely become annoyed if you speak in an aggressive or demanding manner. - Avoid mass mailing and continually pestering journalists to respond to your pitch:
A huge list of journalists should not be contacted by mass emails. It’s unlikely that this will get any press, and it could harm your standing in the field. You are significantly better off drafting a customised email to each unique person and newspaper given the number of emails that the majority of journalists receive every day.
While a courteous follow-up is perfectly acceptable, a harried journalist who might be on a deadline might find it annoying if you call or email them an hour after you submit the write-up. It can also make you appear pushy. On the other hand, it’s wise to move on and concentrate on alternative options if a journalist isn’t interested in your story.
Conclusion
If you want to generate some attention for your company, pitching it to journalists in the right way might aid in the smooth expansion of your company and the development of your brand name. Since journalists are among the busiest people you’ll ever encounter, they won’t want to give up more time than is necessary. There is a need to be precise, cut the bullcrap, get to the point quickly, avoid flowery language, and try to limit the length of your email to a few phrases. A PR agency in Delhi can give a breakdown of the entire process while shaping your ways of reaching your target audience and conveying your brand message to them in the best possible way.
