How to Write a Pitch and Get Noticed
Would you like to write a pitch that works? Because I’d like to read one and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Much as I love blogging there are frustrations and one of them is getting hundreds of bad pitches each week, mainly from wannabe guest bloggers, agency press releases and anyone with a new product or service.
Sometimes when you reach a certain level of blogging success it feels as if you’re besieged by strangers emailing you about their new blog, website, book or business and asking you to help them promote it.
The first time I got a pitch email I was pleased because it told me my travel blog was on someone’s radar. That first time, and many times after that, I replied to pitch emails with a polite email like this:
I no longer feel guilty about that either because some of the pitch emails don’t seem to come from real people, or at least not from people with real communications skills, real passion for what they do or a real idea about how to get people to say yes.
So I decided to update an old post about How to write a pitch in case it’s something you’re struggling with. But first let’s look at what not to do when you write a pitch.
This is a prime example of how not to write a pitch email and includes an example of stilted writing in the use of “I have” instead of “I’ve”. This email sounds like it’s been written by a robot.
Call me old fashioned but I still think “Dear” followed by their first name is the ideal way to start an email or letter to someone you don’t know. If you don’t know their name find out what it is before emailing them. If you really can’t unearth a first or last name then you should either brush up on your detective skills.
Most people prefer to be called by their first names these days but I try to respect my elders and if I want to be formal, which an unsolicited email pitch calls for, I’d use a title and start the email “Dear Mr. Candy”.
Here’s another bad pitch email which shows that anyone can make mistakes.
A fellow web copy writer contacted me as part of a mass mailing via LinkedIn recently. This interesting email pitch case study highlights the dangers of mass mailings. Please bear in mind that I’m a professional web copy writer too and had connected with this copywriter on LinkedIn to support her endeavours. Then she sent me this:
But my ego’s still intact because she probably hadn’t actually read my profile – for starters it wasn’t that bad (admittedly not a Pulitzer prize winner but at least average) and it did at least say that I was a writer which would have been a red flag for her not contact me with her offer if she’d taken a moment to read it.
Even if she did mean to contact me I don’t think it’s a good plan to insult people and make them feel like idiots in a pitch.
To add injury to insult the entire email was in heavy bold lettering, with a lot of hideous italics thrown in. I’ve left it that way so you can see how unpleasant it looks.
The final nail in the coffin came when, because I’m inherently nosy (I am a writer after all) I decided to check out her LinkedIn profile to see what was so good about her profile writing. Sadly there was no link to it so I’ll never know.
Writing a pitch seems to be a minefield but it should be an easy process. If you’d like to know how to write a pitch that gets noticed read on.
The no pitch email just said he’d like to send me a copy of his book 180. Rob didn’t ask me to write about his book, didn’t request I review it and they didn’t pressure me in anyway. He didn’t call me by my husband’s name and I knew who he was because he’d commented on my blog many times. He never asked me to do anything which made me actually look forward to getting his books and reading it.
He just asked me if he could send me his book. So I agreed. How could I not? I like to read. He didn’t even have to ask me for my address because he had the intelligence and consideration to look for it on my blog and he found it all by himself.
The point is that all this successful ‘pitcher’ actually did was ask if he could send me his book and then send it. Clever isn’t it? So that’s why I say the secret of successful pitching is don’t pitch. You can check out Rob White’s fun personal development and success book 180 here.
Every blogger would like to read a pitch that works because we all want to help when we can. But no blogger can help everyone and nor should they try.
If you want to get attention for your product or service you have to work at it, but most of all you have to work out how to write a pitch that gets noticed not deleted.
What’s the best way for someone to pitch you?
Or get on the fast track with my book Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps. I guarantee it will help you improve your blog and grow your readership.
Much as I love blogging there are frustrations and one of them is getting hundreds of bad pitches each week, mainly from wannabe guest bloggers, agency press releases and anyone with a new product or service.
Sometimes when you reach a certain level of blogging success it feels as if you’re besieged by strangers emailing you about their new blog, website, book or business and asking you to help them promote it.
The first time I got a pitch email I was pleased because it told me my travel blog was on someone’s radar. That first time, and many times after that, I replied to pitch emails with a polite email like this:
“Thank you for contacting me. Sorry I can’t help you because my blog isn’t about remote control cyborgs so I don’t think your product will interest my readers.”Times have changed. Now a cursory glance is all an unsolicited pitch gets before I hit delete. Often I only read the subject of the email before I delete it.
I no longer feel guilty about that either because some of the pitch emails don’t seem to come from real people, or at least not from people with real communications skills, real passion for what they do or a real idea about how to get people to say yes.
So I decided to update an old post about How to write a pitch in case it’s something you’re struggling with. But first let’s look at what not to do when you write a pitch.
How Not to Write a Pitch Email
Let me show you a few samples of pitch emails I’ve received to give you an idea of the suffering innocent bloggers and business people like you and me are being put through. Take this as an example from a pitch email that recently turned up:“Hello Rich,Unfortunately, this company plundered the domain name registry to see who registered my blog address and came up with my husband’s name Rich, not my name Annabel. Getting someone’s name wrong or misspelling it is bad but reassigning their gender is worse.
I have been trying to reach you regarding…”
This is a prime example of how not to write a pitch email and includes an example of stilted writing in the use of “I have” instead of “I’ve”. This email sounds like it’s been written by a robot.
Call me old fashioned but I still think “Dear” followed by their first name is the ideal way to start an email or letter to someone you don’t know. If you don’t know their name find out what it is before emailing them. If you really can’t unearth a first or last name then you should either brush up on your detective skills.
Most people prefer to be called by their first names these days but I try to respect my elders and if I want to be formal, which an unsolicited email pitch calls for, I’d use a title and start the email “Dear Mr. Candy”.
Here’s another bad pitch email which shows that anyone can make mistakes.
A fellow web copy writer contacted me as part of a mass mailing via LinkedIn recently. This interesting email pitch case study highlights the dangers of mass mailings. Please bear in mind that I’m a professional web copy writer too and had connected with this copywriter on LinkedIn to support her endeavours. Then she sent me this:
Email Subject: Your LinkedIn Profile Needs Help!That got my attention so I opened the email and read this:
“Why is your LinkedIn profile so weak?“I have to give this woman credit for being proactive in seeking work and her offer of $50 to rewrite a LinkedIn profile seemed like a reasonable deal. So good in fact, I might have even forwarded it to a few people if I hadn’t felt so insulted at being told my profile was weak.
But my ego’s still intact because she probably hadn’t actually read my profile – for starters it wasn’t that bad (admittedly not a Pulitzer prize winner but at least average) and it did at least say that I was a writer which would have been a red flag for her not contact me with her offer if she’d taken a moment to read it.
Even if she did mean to contact me I don’t think it’s a good plan to insult people and make them feel like idiots in a pitch.
To add injury to insult the entire email was in heavy bold lettering, with a lot of hideous italics thrown in. I’ve left it that way so you can see how unpleasant it looks.
The final nail in the coffin came when, because I’m inherently nosy (I am a writer after all) I decided to check out her LinkedIn profile to see what was so good about her profile writing. Sadly there was no link to it so I’ll never know.
Writing a pitch seems to be a minefield but it should be an easy process. If you’d like to know how to write a pitch that gets noticed read on.
How to Write a Pitch That Works
I could share many more bad email pitch examples but let’s move on to how you should write a pitch:- Never pitch strangers by email or any other way. Build a relationship with them first on Twitter or by commenting on their blog. Unless you have some connection with them before you write your pitch your email will be deleted straight away.
- Be sincere and personal.
- Get your facts right and show them you’ve read their blog. Most bloggers love to support and help the readers who support them.
- Mention something you’ve done for them – linked to their blog, left comments, shared it on Facebook, subscribed to their newsletter, or bought their latest product.
- At the very least find out the person’s name and spell it right.
- Use the normal language and abbreviations you’d use if you were speaking to someone so you don’t sound like a robot.
- Be formal when you write a pitch and use Dear as the opening address. Unless you don’t know their name in which case you’ve not got much of a chance.
- Avoid using exclamation marks in pitch or emails. They never inspire confidence in a business situation.
- Don’t insult the person you’re trying to win over
- Always include a link to your blog and other social media profiles like Twitter and Facebook.
- Don’t do a mass mailing – you waste everyone’s time.
- Make sure the email isn’t all in an ugly font or bold lettering.
- Write a brief pitch. This isn’t the time to write an essay. Emphasise the benefits and let them know the best way to move forward.
- Thank them for taking the time to read your email.
- Don’t pitch at all.
How to Write a No Pitch Email Pitch That Works
I love to use author and blogger Rob White as an example of how to write a great pitch because he sent me a email once that followed all the rules above including the last one: don’t pitch.The no pitch email just said he’d like to send me a copy of his book 180. Rob didn’t ask me to write about his book, didn’t request I review it and they didn’t pressure me in anyway. He didn’t call me by my husband’s name and I knew who he was because he’d commented on my blog many times. He never asked me to do anything which made me actually look forward to getting his books and reading it.
He just asked me if he could send me his book. So I agreed. How could I not? I like to read. He didn’t even have to ask me for my address because he had the intelligence and consideration to look for it on my blog and he found it all by himself.
The point is that all this successful ‘pitcher’ actually did was ask if he could send me his book and then send it. Clever isn’t it? So that’s why I say the secret of successful pitching is don’t pitch. You can check out Rob White’s fun personal development and success book 180 here.
Every blogger would like to read a pitch that works because we all want to help when we can. But no blogger can help everyone and nor should they try.
If you want to get attention for your product or service you have to work at it, but most of all you have to work out how to write a pitch that gets noticed not deleted.
What’s the best way for someone to pitch you?
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Interestingly since you included the Pretraveller blog in your list of top Australian bloggers (thanks again by the way!) I have noticed a trend where marketing people must obviously search on that topic, find your article and then click through to my blog. Sure enough when I see a click through from your article I will then receive a solicitation. Some of them are interesting but many I have put in the circular file.
I will definitely plan to use your tips for the next time I search for guest posting opportunities!
I think marketing people use those round up lists of blogs to find people a lot – if only they’d read this post and get the pitch right – or just not do it at all in most cases
That sounds like a good plan
Lol
How about doing a write-up on how to follow up on pitches? I’ve had quite a few less than polite responses when I’ve turned pitches down, or not replied. Choice words included. Like that’s going to help!
Oh you get that from time to time – very professional… not!
Good post and chimes with me as I’ve recived three really good pitches this week for things that will work well for my blog. One from a PR who I know but two others don’t know me but they know the blog clearly and pitched specifically to me. I feel flattered!! And the pitches are for travel and camera topics so ideal for me.
However, when I pitch people myself… which I ought to do a whole lot more… I’ll be re-reading this post!!
Sounds like you and the PR people are doing the right thing. I guess that’s why we keep reading the pitches because every now and then one of them is gold