Five things editors want you to know before you pitch!
09. Feb, 2012 
5 Comments
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Vines- handmade ceramic focal pendant by: kylieparry
Five things editors want you to know before you pitch!
Before you a) pick up the phone to call an editor, b) attach multiple, high-resolution images to your pitch, c) slight a competitor, d) attempt to bypass an assistant editor or e) mail a mass press release, read this:
Editors are ALWAYS looking for new material and if they’re not knocking on your door then it’s your job to get the story or idea to them. But when pitching, there are a handful of simple rules that show you “get it,” or respect the space an editor, writer or blogger needs to see if it will work for their pages. Ignoring this basic etiquette can undermine your chances of getting coverage. Alternatively, being easy to work with will often land you multiple placements over time!
Know the pages you are pitching. Magazines and blogs have working formulas with pages that are formatted similarly every day/week/month. Does your product look like it could be plugged on to the page you’re pitching as it currently exists? Then it’s likely a good fit. Similarly, don’t expect an editor to cover services when their pages are all product-driven. Do your homework first before reaching out.
Resist the urge to call. Media types are always on deadline and if you call to “explore opportunities” not only is it a telltale sign that you haven’t put in the time to read or get to know their pages, you will also leave a lasting first impression…….but not the one you intended.
Refrain from sending attachments and high-resolution images. Embed one low-res (72 dpi) image into the email instead of sending large files that slow or clog an inbox.
Skip the antiquated press release. A concise, well-written paragraph or two and a crisp well-lit image are enough to pique an editor’s interest. If they want to know more, they’ll go directly to your website, so make sure that it is press-ready before reaching out.
Don’t dismiss the editorial assistants and assistant editors. Not only are they gatekeepers to senior editors (and likely writing lots of copy on the side) they will one day BE the senior editor.
By Amy Flurry, author of Recipe for Press, Pitch Your Story
Available at:
www.recipeforpress.com $23.95
About The Author
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Fantastically informative article. Thanks for all the help on making a purposeful pitch.
Right to the point. Thanks!
Thanks for publishing this article! As a website editor, I think the first tip is the absolute MOST important, but I would expand it a bit. I like to publish a variety of quilt patterns, so they don’t all need to look the same, but I do appreciate submissions that are timely. In the publishing world, we often work months ahead of time, so it’s important to send in submissions for certain seasons or holidays well in advance.
Everything here is so true, except for one bit: While you shouldn’t send hi-res images that clog up in-boxes, do send at least a 300dpi or 300kb image (or a few) that an editor or writer can use immediately. As a writer and editor, I know that sometimes we tend to choose the content that is easiest to submit for layout (i.e. no waiting for the seller or PR person to reply with hi-res pics), so that we can quickly move on to the next item on our to-do list. If you didn’t give us good images, we’ll just pick something out from the CD that another company had sent to us.
Another alternative could be to make your images download-ready on PicasaWeb and give editors the link in your pitching email.
Very informative.Bought the book and have poured through it several times now.Taught me a lot!