Once you've mastered the basics of pitch writing, it's time to level up. Advanced pitch strategies focus on deep personalization, perfect timing, and strategic follow-ups that separate successful PR professionals from the rest. Here's how to take your pitching to the next level.
Advanced Personalization
1. Reference Specific Recent Work
Go beyond "I saw your article on X." Reference specific details:
- •Mention a specific point or angle from their recent article
- •Connect your story to their previous coverage
- •Show you've read multiple articles, not just one
- •Reference their unique perspective or approach
Example: "Your piece on AI regulation last month highlighted the tension between innovation and safety. I thought you'd be interested in how our startup is addressing exactly that challenge..."
2. Connect to Their Beat Evolution
Show you understand how their coverage has evolved:
- •Note shifts in topics they cover
- •Identify emerging themes in their work
- •Position your story as the next logical step in their coverage
- •Show you're paying attention to their career trajectory
3. Use Data and Insights
Provide unique value in your pitch:
- •Include proprietary data or research
- •Offer contrarian perspectives backed by evidence
- •Provide industry insights they can't get elsewhere
- •Make your pitch valuable even if they don't cover the story
Perfect Timing
1. Day of Week
Research shows optimal days for pitching:
- •Tuesday-Thursday: Best days, reporters are in their workflow
- •Monday: Avoid - reporters are catching up from weekend
- •Friday: Risky - many reporters are wrapping up or planning weekend
- •Early morning (8-10am): Best time - reporters are checking email before meetings
2. News Cycle Awareness
Time your pitch around the news cycle:
- •Avoid major news days (elections, disasters, major announcements)
- •Pitch during slower news periods for better visibility
- •Use breaking news as an opportunity for timely commentary
- •Consider industry-specific news cycles (e.g., tech after earnings season)
3. Reporter-Specific Timing
Pay attention to individual reporter patterns:
- •Note when they typically publish (morning vs. afternoon)
- •Pitch when they're actively working on stories (check their recent activity)
- •Avoid pitching right after they publish (they're likely busy)
- •Consider their timezone and work schedule
Strategic Follow-ups
1. The Follow-up Timeline
Optimal follow-up schedule:
- •First follow-up: 3-5 days after initial pitch
- •Second follow-up: 1 week after first follow-up
- •Final follow-up: 1 week after second (then move on)
- •Never: Follow up more than 3 times on the same pitch
2. Adding Value in Follow-ups
Don't just say "following up." Add new information:
- •Share new data or developments since the original pitch
- •Reference a related story that just broke
- •Offer a different angle or perspective
- •Provide additional resources or sources
Example: "Following up on my pitch from last week. Since then, [competitor] just announced similar funding, which makes our story even more timely. Thought you'd want to know..."
3. Knowing When to Stop
Recognize when to move on:
- •After 3 follow-ups with no response
- •If they explicitly decline
- •If the story is no longer timely
- •If you've exhausted all angles
Don't burn bridges. A "no" now doesn't mean "no" forever. Maintain the relationship for future opportunities.
Advanced Techniques
1. The Exclusive Offer
When appropriate, offer exclusivity:
- •Offer exclusive access to data or insights
- •Provide first access to breaking news
- •Offer exclusive interviews with key executives
- •Make it clear what "exclusive" means (24 hours, first to publish, etc.)
2. The Multi-Angle Approach
Pitch the same story with different angles to different reporters:
- •Product angle for product reporters
- •Business angle for business reporters
- •Industry trend angle for industry reporters
- •Founder story angle for startup reporters
3. The Relationship Builder
Build relationships beyond pitching:
- •Share relevant information even when it's not about you
- •Congratulate them on great articles
- •Engage with their work on social media
- •Offer to be a source for future stories
Using HeyJared for Advanced Strategies
HeyJared's AI features support advanced pitching:
- •Deep personalization: AI pitch generation incorporates reporter's recent work and beat
- •Timing insights: Use Explore page to identify optimal timing for pitches
- •Multi-angle pitches: Generate different angles for the same story quickly
- •Follow-up tracking: Track which pitches need follow-ups and when
Conclusion
Advanced pitch strategies combine deep personalization, perfect timing, and strategic follow-ups. By going beyond the basics, you can significantly improve your response rates and build stronger relationships with reporters. Remember: every pitch is an opportunity to demonstrate value and build trust, even if it doesn't result in immediate coverage.
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