Comments on: How Do You Pitch http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/ .....a chance to start the day off right. Mon, 21 May 2012 15:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: DanielleCyr http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-1624 DanielleCyr Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:48:47 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-1624 Thanks for commenting, Heather! I couldn't agree more that there is a difference between following up and stalking. It's always frustrating when you limit your outreach attempts and are respectful of people's time, but are still perceived as the stalker breed. <br><br>That said, I'm happiest to read that you, and others, mix outreach mediums. I've recently heard more of my peers saying they only reach out across one medium and I was anxious to see if it was a trend! Thanks for commenting, Heather! I couldn't agree more that there is a difference between following up and stalking. It's always frustrating when you limit your outreach attempts and are respectful of people's time, but are still perceived as the stalker breed.

That said, I'm happiest to read that you, and others, mix outreach mediums. I've recently heard more of my peers saying they only reach out across one medium and I was anxious to see if it was a trend!

]]> By: heatherwhaling http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 heatherwhaling Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:09:11 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-1623 I think as PR people, we hear from quite a few journalists who *say* they don't want follow up phone calls. I'm sure that's because they're inundated with crappy pitches and just-as-useless follow-up phone calls. That said, if you have a good story to pitch, most reporters don't mind a polite follow-up attempt. In fact, I've had reporters ask me to contact them again if I haven't heard back from them about a particular story. <br><br>The key is being respectful of their time. When I'm pitching, I start by sending an email. Then, depending on the reporter, I'll either send another email or make that phone call. But, when I make the call, I avoid calling at deadline and I ask the reporter if now is a good time. The reporter will be much more open to hearing your pitch if they think you understand where they're coming from.<br><br>There's also a difference between following up and stalking. If you get no response after a couple attempts, odds are they're not interested. :)<br><br>Great post, Danielle!<br><br>Heather (@prtini) I think as PR people, we hear from quite a few journalists who *say* they don't want follow up phone calls. I'm sure that's because they're inundated with crappy pitches and just-as-useless follow-up phone calls. That said, if you have a good story to pitch, most reporters don't mind a polite follow-up attempt. In fact, I've had reporters ask me to contact them again if I haven't heard back from them about a particular story.

The key is being respectful of their time. When I'm pitching, I start by sending an email. Then, depending on the reporter, I'll either send another email or make that phone call. But, when I make the call, I avoid calling at deadline and I ask the reporter if now is a good time. The reporter will be much more open to hearing your pitch if they think you understand where they're coming from.

There's also a difference between following up and stalking. If you get no response after a couple attempts, odds are they're not interested. :)

Great post, Danielle!

Heather (@prtini)

]]> By: Alex Aizenberg http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-1622 Alex Aizenberg Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:54:43 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-1622 Great post, you raise great questions, and important ones at that.<br><br>Personally, what has worked for me is to mix and match based of internal intel (i.e. other PR pro's or journos advice), external outlooks (i.e. previous stories) and then i proceed via a combo... email first always, followed shortly by phone if timing is of the essence, or later if no deadline in sight.<br><br>Overall though, I really enjoy phone pitching and chewing the fat with my media counterparts live... however, respecting others' needs, i always proceed with caution and understanding that journos (as our teams) are busy busy busy especially under the current environment... so i always start with being mindful of deadlines and always, ALWAYS, giving the opportunity to turn me away at the door ("Is this a good time to talk? yes, i can definitely call back!")...<br><br>I wouldn't want to have anything replace the phone, it's a lifeline of the industry, and honestly levels the playing field... even if people have caller ID... Great post, you raise great questions, and important ones at that.

Personally, what has worked for me is to mix and match based of internal intel (i.e. other PR pro's or journos advice), external outlooks (i.e. previous stories) and then i proceed via a combo… email first always, followed shortly by phone if timing is of the essence, or later if no deadline in sight.

Overall though, I really enjoy phone pitching and chewing the fat with my media counterparts live… however, respecting others' needs, i always proceed with caution and understanding that journos (as our teams) are busy busy busy especially under the current environment… so i always start with being mindful of deadlines and always, ALWAYS, giving the opportunity to turn me away at the door (“Is this a good time to talk? yes, i can definitely call back!”)…

I wouldn't want to have anything replace the phone, it's a lifeline of the industry, and honestly levels the playing field… even if people have caller ID…

]]> By: TJ Dietderich http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 TJ Dietderich Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:53:47 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-1621 I typically pitch and follow up only via e-mail, but then again I deal with very few traditional journos. Phones are so messy. Agreements are made that no one has hardcopy notes on, voicemails get lost, yadda yadda. I typically pitch and follow up only via e-mail, but then again I deal with very few traditional journos. Phones are so messy. Agreements are made that no one has hardcopy notes on, voicemails get lost, yadda yadda.

]]> By: laurenfernandez http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 laurenfernandez Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:33:15 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-1619 You have to mix it up. Reporters are different ages and like to receive information in every which way. Some reporters still like faxes. Some only prefer e-mail. I've actually landed more national level hits by sending hard copy press kits than e-mailing an electronic version. The first thing is to make sure the information is newsworthy, then research how to best send the information out. Follow-up should be a different avenue IMO. You have to mix it up. Reporters are different ages and like to receive information in every which way. Some reporters still like faxes. Some only prefer e-mail. I've actually landed more national level hits by sending hard copy press kits than e-mailing an electronic version. The first thing is to make sure the information is newsworthy, then research how to best send the information out. Follow-up should be a different avenue IMO.

]]> By: Marie Baker http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-1620 Marie Baker Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:07:53 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-1620 This is a great post and you raise some good questions. It's difficult to come to one answer really. Every journalist/producer is different. I've encountered the "don't ever call me on the phone, ever!" responses, as well as the "Next time can you leave a voicemail with as much detail as possible and just don't bother e-mailing because I never read them" (oh yea, I'm serious). I think it is all dependent on the person you are pitching.<br><br>My rule of thumb is that if I know it's a good pitch, and it's relevant to that individual's interests/beat and I haven't heard back, then I will follow up with a phone call if I don't get an answer via e-mail. This is a great post and you raise some good questions. It's difficult to come to one answer really. Every journalist/producer is different. I've encountered the “don't ever call me on the phone, ever!” responses, as well as the “Next time can you leave a voicemail with as much detail as possible and just don't bother e-mailing because I never read them” (oh yea, I'm serious). I think it is all dependent on the person you are pitching.

My rule of thumb is that if I know it's a good pitch, and it's relevant to that individual's interests/beat and I haven't heard back, then I will follow up with a phone call if I don't get an answer via e-mail.

]]> By: DanielleCyr http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-560 DanielleCyr Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:48:47 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-560 Thanks for commenting, Heather! I couldn't agree more that there is a difference between following up and stalking. It's always frustrating when you limit your outreach attempts and are respectful of people's time, but are still perceived as the stalker breed. <br><br>That said, I'm happiest to read that you, and others, mix outreach mediums. I've recently heard more of my peers saying they only reach out across one medium and I was anxious to see if it was a trend! Thanks for commenting, Heather! I couldn't agree more that there is a difference between following up and stalking. It's always frustrating when you limit your outreach attempts and are respectful of people's time, but are still perceived as the stalker breed.

That said, I'm happiest to read that you, and others, mix outreach mediums. I've recently heard more of my peers saying they only reach out across one medium and I was anxious to see if it was a trend!

]]> By: heatherwhaling http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-556 heatherwhaling Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:09:11 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-556 I think as PR people, we hear from quite a few journalists who *say* they don't want follow up phone calls. I'm sure that's because they're inundated with crappy pitches and just-as-useless follow-up phone calls. That said, if you have a good story to pitch, most reporters don't mind a polite follow-up attempt. In fact, I've had reporters ask me to contact them again if I haven't heard back from them about a particular story. <br><br>The key is being respectful of their time. When I'm pitching, I start by sending an email. Then, depending on the reporter, I'll either send another email or make that phone call. But, when I make the call, I avoid calling at deadline and I ask the reporter if now is a good time. The reporter will be much more open to hearing your pitch if they think you understand where they're coming from.<br><br>There's also a difference between following up and stalking. If you get no response after a couple attempts, odds are they're not interested. :)<br><br>Great post, Danielle!<br><br>Heather (@prtini) I think as PR people, we hear from quite a few journalists who *say* they don't want follow up phone calls. I'm sure that's because they're inundated with crappy pitches and just-as-useless follow-up phone calls. That said, if you have a good story to pitch, most reporters don't mind a polite follow-up attempt. In fact, I've had reporters ask me to contact them again if I haven't heard back from them about a particular story.

The key is being respectful of their time. When I'm pitching, I start by sending an email. Then, depending on the reporter, I'll either send another email or make that phone call. But, when I make the call, I avoid calling at deadline and I ask the reporter if now is a good time. The reporter will be much more open to hearing your pitch if they think you understand where they're coming from.

There's also a difference between following up and stalking. If you get no response after a couple attempts, odds are they're not interested. :)

Great post, Danielle!

Heather (@prtini)

]]> By: Tweets that mention How Do You Pitch :PRBreakfastClub -- Topsy.com http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Tweets that mention How Do You Pitch :PRBreakfastClub -- Topsy.com Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:57:20 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-561 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Heather Dueitt and MRB Public Relations. MRB Public Relations said: How do YOU pitch? http://tiny.cc/64mkF #publicrelations [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Heather Dueitt and MRB Public Relations. MRB Public Relations said: How do YOU pitch? http://tiny.cc/64mkF #publicrelations [...]

]]> By: Alex Aizenberg http://prbreakfastclub.com/2009/10/08/how-do-you-pitch/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Alex Aizenberg Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:54:43 +0000 http://prbreakfastclub.com/?p=920#comment-554 Great post, you raise great questions, and important ones at that.<br><br>Personally, what has worked for me is to mix and match based of internal intel (i.e. other PR pro's or journos advice), external outlooks (i.e. previous stories) and then i proceed via a combo... email first always, followed shortly by phone if timing is of the essence, or later if no deadline in sight.<br><br>Overall though, I really enjoy phone pitching and chewing the fat with my media counterparts live... however, respecting others' needs, i always proceed with caution and understanding that journos (as our teams) are busy busy busy especially under the current environment... so i always start with being mindful of deadlines and always, ALWAYS, giving the opportunity to turn me away at the door ("Is this a good time to talk? yes, i can definitely call back!")...<br><br>I wouldn't want to have anything replace the phone, it's a lifeline of the industry, and honestly levels the playing field... even if people have caller ID... Great post, you raise great questions, and important ones at that.

Personally, what has worked for me is to mix and match based of internal intel (i.e. other PR pro's or journos advice), external outlooks (i.e. previous stories) and then i proceed via a combo… email first always, followed shortly by phone if timing is of the essence, or later if no deadline in sight.

Overall though, I really enjoy phone pitching and chewing the fat with my media counterparts live… however, respecting others' needs, i always proceed with caution and understanding that journos (as our teams) are busy busy busy especially under the current environment… so i always start with being mindful of deadlines and always, ALWAYS, giving the opportunity to turn me away at the door (“Is this a good time to talk? yes, i can definitely call back!”)…

I wouldn't want to have anything replace the phone, it's a lifeline of the industry, and honestly levels the playing field… even if people have caller ID…

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