Master Class #95: Making the Most of Media Relations
Pitching and placing is not just a numbers game. It's about getting your story in the right outlets so it reaches the right eyes.
The first step in any good media relations campaign is research. What are the most read publications in your niche? What types of stories do those publications usually run? Do they prefer feature pieces or short news briefings?
Once you've developed a strong, targeted list, you can move on to the fun part: pitching. When pitching a journalist, it's important to personalize. You don't want the journalist feeling like they're just one name on a list of emails. Address them by name, tell them exactly why your story fits their audience, and thank them for their time.
Finally, following up is a must in the media relations cycle. Journalists are inundated with emails every day, so if you aren't consistently reaching out, your pitch will just get lost in the flood. Don't just follow up via email, either. Get on the phone and call them. That one simple step makes you stand out from the rest.
At Jaffe Communications, we take the guesswork out of media relations. We handle everything from the preliminary research, to pitching, all the way to follow ups. So if you have a story you want to get in front of the right eyes, make sure to give us a call.
