Baseball season is about to begin! All winter, the players honed their skills. The pitchers perfected their curveballs and sliders. Now, it’s time to “Play ball!”
And there’s no better time to perfect your pitch — your media pitch, that is. How do you get your company in the news? Have you established a few media contacts but still aren’t sure how to make the pitch?
I recently attended a media event where local TV personalities gave insider tips on getting your story picked up. Here are some highlights:
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Email – don’t call – your media contact.
Timing is everything. Don’t send a story idea the day before a big news event, such as an election. And don’t send it in the middle of a breaking news event. One week’s notice is good (they don’t plan too far ahead).
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Get to the point quickly. Include the subject and a contact name/number. Sell them on the story within the first paragraph. Provide specific details, but do NOT include email attachments.
They’re interested in people. Period. So spell it out for them; how does your story relate to people? Show how your story affects most or all of the viewing audience.
Visuals. Visuals. Visuals. As location is to real estate, visuals are to the media. Either provide the visual or tell them how to get it.
We hope you enjoy these tips, and let us know how it goes. We’d love to hear from you.
Happy spring and happy pitching from ECU — the experts who know how, when and where to promote you!
Anne Vogel, Writer/Editor
ECU Communications
