Below are some basic tips & resources to ensure your pitch is likely to be read by a journalist. These are the basics we’ve learned in our 2 years of experience:
Pitch Checklist
Make sure your pitch follows these steps at a minimum:
1: Make sure to make a compelling subject line that conveys some qualifications within the first 3-4 words. Example: “CEO Speaks About…” “Finance Expert on…”.
2: When crafting a pitch, never say anything directly self-promotional/branded unless it DIRECTLY relates to the opportunity at hand.
3: Keep your pitch relatively short and to the point. Journalists like to pull a single sound byte from a pitch, so 1-3 short paragraphs are all you need, with rare exceptions.
4: Always answer the opportunity’s question (or query) on the very first pitch or email unless specifically requested otherwise. Don’t reply with “I’d love to contribute to this opportunity, reach out to me at X!”.
5: Make sure to include a full URL to your homepage in your signoff/signature. If a journalist cannot locate your URL easily, then the likelihood of obtaining a link is greatly reduced.
6: Be respectful! Platforms like Help a Reporter Out are a great opportunity for many business owners and we need to keep it that way. Feel free to follow up to request a backlink, but please do not harass journalists if they have declined your request or not replied.
Linked Resources
1. Our 2 year case study on how links earned via Help a Reporter Out hold up in terms of removal
2. Help a Reporter Out backlink building 101 by PitchResponse Co-Founder Greg Heilers
