In the fast-paced world of PR and media, staying ahead of the game is a must. Fear not, because Coyne PR’s MediaBytes series helps you dive into valuable insights from our ongoing media conversations to help navigate this ever-changing landscape. In this blog post, we will spill the tea on some key takeaways from recent media interactions that will help you avoid common PR pet peeves when it comes to media outreach.
To help you avoid common PR pet peeves and stand out amongst the everyday media clutter, consider the following outreach strategies that will help master the pitch:
- The power of personalization. Before reaching out to journalists, take the time to understand what they are interested in and currently writing about. The simplest way to do this is to follow their social channels and Muck Rack pages to tailor your pitch and show you have done your homework. For example, if you are pitching a product launch geared toward new moms, the pitch might not resonate with someone who does not have kids.
- Leverage a news hook. Incorporating a statistic or timely news angle will make your pitch stand out while providing an extra leg of credibility. And it will help writers provide the WHY NOW question when pitching their editors.
- Stop stalking. We all know it’s important to follow up, but the biggest pet peeve of all is when the media feels bombarded with repetitive emails. DO NOT text/call unless you have a very personal, friendly relationship. Most writers have noted they file your pitch for when the time is right. Constant contact could lead to a blacklist or, even worse, a blast on social media. (don’t trend for the wrong reason)
- Be authentic. Yes, you need to get the key message out there and highlight your client but avoid feeling sponsored and maintain a balance between messaging and getting to know your journalist friendly.
In summary, when it comes to PR and media, stay agile and adapt to the ever-changing landscape to stay ahead of the game. Don’t forget to check back with us regularly as we unveil fresh insights across the consumer travel and lifestyle space. We’re eager to hear your thoughts too. Have you noticed any feedback, pet peeves or trends that piqued your interest? We’re all ears, so feel free to share, as we’d love to hear from you!
