1. Create a Stand Out Subject Line

Journalists' inboxes are flooded with hundreds of PR pitches daily. Make your subject line attention-grabbing and interesting enough for them to want to open your email. Get creative and pique the reader's curiosity. An exciting subject line alone can dramatically increase your chances of getting a piece published. 

2. Write Efficiently

As journalists are sifting through pitches, they don’t have time to read multiple pages of content. Include who, what, where, why, and how at the beginning of your pitch, then include supporting information. It’s best to keep the length between one and three paragraphs. Feel free to attach a document such as a press release with additional details, but keep your email as to-the-point as possible.

3. Find a Way to Make Your Story Connect

Relevancy and timeliness are two major components journalists are looking for when weeding through PR pitches. Find a way to connect your story to current events or trends and show the value of your content. Consider why a journalist would want to publish your story and demonstrate how your story can connect to their specific audience.

4. Do Your Research

Demonstrate your knowledge of the publication and the journalist you are pitching to. You wouldn’t want to pitch a story for a beauty brand to a tech magazine, so it’s important to understand the type of stories a particular journalist or publication would want to publish and gear your pitch towards them. Your knowledge of their previous work and writing style builds credibility with journalists, and can help you get more pieces published in the future. 

5. Always Proofread Before Hitting Send

To have your pitches seriously considered, always double check your work. Be sure that the formatting is clean, your purpose is clear, and your writing is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Don’t be afraid to ask a colleague to review your work before sending. This attention to detail in all your work will only add to your reputation as a trusted professional.