A pitch letter is a brief correspondence that is designed to provide specific story ideas to journalists in hopes of sparking their interest in the topic you are proposing or promoting.
For instance, if you have a cooking book, you might send a pitch letter to the editor of your local paper’s food section pitching a story idea on the top 5 foods we should never eat.
That angle is intriguing enough to make the reporter want more. Your pitch letter would briefly outline those foods, and then you might offer to set up an interview with you and highlight some healthy and easy alternatives for families to consider. Again, the key with a pitch
letter is to create interest in the mind o f the reporter or producer.
Make them say, “wow, that would be a great story!”
Whenever you send pitch letters, you should be prepared to follow up with the journalist to gauge their interest in the story. Also keep in mind that your letter should be no more than one page in length.
It can also be accompanied by a well-organized press kit, which can include a bio positioning you as an expert, a press release and
copies of other articles or been featured about you or your book. (this validates media you, shows depth of knowledge and shows that others have shown interest in the story.)
The press kit can also include show ideas or a talking points sheet that gives the journalist a few potential questions to ask you should they decide to interview you. SEE? Make their job easy!!!
Realize they are on constant deadlines and have little time me to dig through a stack of papers to find out who the guest was and what they are talking about.
See the Ministry Marketing Solutions Inc. website (press kits) to see the “one-sheeters” that I use. They work!
A VERY BRIEF NOTE ON PRESS KITS
Few people know how to use them effectively and if your press kit is
poorly done, it could do wind up working against you rather than for you—in fact, a bad press kit can very easily wind up in the garbage and that means no press for you!
As a publicist and a producer, I have seen a ton of press kits. Occasionally, I would receive a press kit that was useful and informative, but more often, the kits were too wordy, poorly organized, self-serving and just plain bad!
If you decide to add a press kit to your arsenal of media relations tools keep this in mind:
Journalists usually operate on a second by second basis and are constantly on deadline. The last thing they need is a 20-page, badly done press kit to wade through!
Make sure your press kit only contains information that is absolutely essential.
INSIDER SECRET: Use e-Press Kits (EPK) instead. These days, many people are opting to create electronic press kits made available for download on their websites. This is cost-efficient and convenient because it eliminates postage costs and journalists have the option of downloading the information in it if they really want it.
Just be sure to inform the journalist in your pitch letter or press release that they can get more info by going to your website.
Go to
www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com and hit "Press kit 24/7" to see how their EPK system works. It's great.
Also go to:
http://www.authorpresskit.net if you would like a great EPK. They will hook you up!
Go to:
www.PamPerryPRcoach.com
Posted By: Pam Perry
Sunday, December 14th 2008 at 2:36AM
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