Perfecting Your PR Pitch

If there’s one thing we know as a Franchise Public Relations Firm it's how important perfecting your big PR pitch can be.  Finding a great story, solid facts, quotes and human interest isn’t always enough to get your story picked up.  Perfecting your PR pitch, however can turn all your hardwork into a solid story and maybe even breaking news.  Here’s a list of what we think will help secure your PR Pitch:

Sell it!- Just like a good salesman, you need to sell your story.  You need to emphasize key points and think like a reporter.  Put yourself in the shoes of a reporter or journalist and consider what they want to hear because after all, it is their choice on what stories they want to cover and what stories they disregard.   

To call or email?- Perhaps it’s a reporter's busy nature or our technology obsession as a society, but these days most reporters today would rather be emailed with PR pitches then bombarded by phone calls with pitches and this is something to take into account.  This could make or break whether or not your story is read.  If you do not know the reporter and know his/her preference, send the pitch by e-mail.  If you are worried about your pitch being discarded, you may send a fax too.  Just be careful about how you go about contacting reporters, especially when you do not know their preferred method of contact.  

Follow-ups- Undoubtedly, follow up calls are one of the most crucial parts of the PR pitch process.  Following up shows your commitment to your story and needs to happen within 48 hours of pitching your story.  Depending on the timeliness, you can send a brief follow-up via e-mail.  If timeliness is not an issue you should follow up within a week of the pitch.  Calling may not be the best way to follow up.  Call if the reporter you wish to reach has let you know that it is okay to call.  If you believe the pitch and story warrants a call, keep it as brief as possible.  When you call ask: “Is this a good time to talk?” or “Do you have a minute to hear a quick PR pitch?” or “Would you prefer an e-mail, or do you have a minute to hear a quick PR pitch?” or something along those lines. 

If you have questions or comments on securing or improving your PR pitch, feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.