Comments on: The ABCs of pitching to influencers http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/ Engage. Innovate. Discuss. Thu, 24 May 2012 19:09:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: How to pitch to bloggers and influencers. « Michelle Ackerman's Blog http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37367 How to pitch to bloggers and influencers. « Michelle Ackerman's Blog Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:45:07 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37367 [...] light. There are a number of tips that can help PR professionals with pitching to bloggers. Jesse Stanchak, an editor at SmartBlog on Social Media and author of “The ABCs of pitching to [...] [...] light. There are a number of tips that can help PR professionals with pitching to bloggers. Jesse Stanchak, an editor at SmartBlog on Social Media and author of “The ABCs of pitching to [...]

]]> By: [Article Analysis] The ABCs of Pitching to Influencers « Open Opportune http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37366 [Article Analysis] The ABCs of Pitching to Influencers « Open Opportune Thu, 13 May 2010 19:32:41 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37366 [...] family? Today, we’re going to take a look at a great article from Smartblog entitled, “The ABCs of pitching to influencers“. Here are 4 keypoints that you should take [...] [...] family? Today, we’re going to take a look at a great article from Smartblog entitled, “The ABCs of pitching to influencers“. Here are 4 keypoints that you should take [...]

]]> By: CurveComms http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37365 CurveComms Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:11:03 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37365 Great post Jesse, As someone who is constantly pitching to bloggers, I'm glad I already knew your ABC's - but when I first started I certainly committed classic mistakes. I think reading the influencer's blog is one of the most important things you can do. A personal email to 10 bloggers is better than a cookiecutter pitch to 100 with only a 1% return rate. Great post Jesse,
As someone who is constantly pitching to bloggers, I'm glad I already knew your ABC's – but when I first started I certainly committed classic mistakes.

I think reading the influencer's blog is one of the most important things you can do. A personal email to 10 bloggers is better than a cookiecutter pitch to 100 with only a 1% return rate.

]]> By: jstanchak http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37364 jstanchak Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:21:10 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37364 Thanks Jeff -- I'm glad this struck a chord with you. I confess that half the reason I wrote this post is so I'd have a convenient rebuttal on hand for the next person who sends me a lazy pitch. Thanks Jeff — I'm glad this struck a chord with you. I confess that half the reason I wrote this post is so I'd have a convenient rebuttal on hand for the next person who sends me a lazy pitch.

]]> By: Jeff http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37363 Jeff Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:11:25 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37363 Every time I get an email or phone call, I turn on the BS detector. I ask the question you ask - Was it written to me? Is it personal? Is it helpful or a sales pitch? Are they pushy? is my curiosity piqued? Your blog post is spot on. Well done. Jeff Ogden, President Find New Customers "Lead Generation Made Simple" <a href="http://www.findnewcustomers.net" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.findnewcustomers.net</a> Every time I get an email or phone call, I turn on the BS detector. I ask the question you ask – Was it written to me? Is it personal? Is it helpful or a sales pitch? Are they pushy? is my curiosity piqued?

Your blog post is spot on. Well done.

Jeff Ogden, President

Find New Customers "Lead Generation Made Simple"
http://www.findnewcustomers.net

]]> By: Elisa Balabram http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37361 Elisa Balabram Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:26:18 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37361 Jesse, Great article! I've experienced the same frustrations too. One thing that bothers me is receiving an email from someone who sent the email to himself/herself and a Bcc to who knows how many editors! I suggest taking the time to personalize a press release and/or email pitch! Is it too much to ask for "Dear Jesse", and not Hello!? ;-) All the best, Elisa Jesse,

Great article! I've experienced the same frustrations too. One thing that bothers me is receiving an email from someone who sent the email to himself/herself and a Bcc to who knows how many editors! I suggest taking the time to personalize a press release and/or email pitch! Is it too much to ask for "Dear Jesse", and not Hello!? ;-)

All the best,

Elisa

]]> By: @KristinaSummer http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37362 @KristinaSummer Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:05:11 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37362 You definitely make some great points, and ones that more PR pros should pay attention too (In addition to being a blogger I am also a PR pro as well, although I swear I have never pitched stretch mark cream!). I liked the part about keep it brief, don't oversell and remember that they are not there to do you a favor. Also - it is great if you can tie your pitch to an existing event, story or holiday as Gordon mentioned. It makes everybody's work easier. Great post - I'll have to share it around the office! You definitely make some great points, and ones that more PR pros should pay attention too (In addition to being a blogger I am also a PR pro as well, although I swear I have never pitched stretch mark cream!). I liked the part about keep it brief, don't oversell and remember that they are not there to do you a favor. Also – it is great if you can tie your pitch to an existing event, story or holiday as Gordon mentioned. It makes everybody's work easier. Great post – I'll have to share it around the office!

]]> By: Gordon http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37360 Gordon Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:10:11 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37360 I have one for you: "P": Provide a great STORY about the product that you know the media's audience (that you have researched) will like. In other words, don't force the media person to create the story...you provide it for them. Example: I have a client (yes, I'm a PR guy) who makes excellent organic dark chocolates. Rather than pitch the story like this: "Hi KXXX! My client makes super-great chocolate! You will love it!", I created a specific story about chocolate that was also tied into a specific date: February, National Heart Health Month. Headline: "Chocolate: Medicine for a Woman's Healthy Heart" Story (summary): "February is National Heart Health Month. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that protect the heart. Women even more than men. My client can speak about dark chocolate and the health benefits. Oh by the way...she also makes dark chocolate." I sent out the release to the local TV stations, and within 45 minutes a producer called and booked my client onto her program. You can read about it here (scroll down a bit):<a href="http://productivepr.com/work_examples.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://productivepr.com/work_examples.htm</a> THAT is the power of a good story. And that's why I always do it that way. Gordon P. Productive PR The "non-corporate-zombie" PR guy I have one for you:

"P":
Provide a great STORY about the product that you know the media's audience (that you have researched) will like. In other words, don't force the media person to create the story…you provide it for them.

Example: I have a client (yes, I'm a PR guy) who makes excellent organic dark chocolates. Rather than pitch the story like this: "Hi KXXX! My client makes super-great chocolate! You will love it!", I created a specific story about chocolate that was also tied into a specific date: February, National Heart Health Month.

Headline: "Chocolate: Medicine for a Woman's Healthy Heart"
Story (summary): "February is National Heart Health Month. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that protect the heart. Women even more than men. My client can speak about dark chocolate and the health benefits. Oh by the way…she also makes dark chocolate."

I sent out the release to the local TV stations, and within 45 minutes a producer called and booked my client onto her program. You can read about it here (scroll down a bit):http://productivepr.com/work_examples.htm

THAT is the power of a good story. And that's why I always do it that way.

Gordon P.
Productive PR
The "non-corporate-zombie" PR guy

]]> By: @Evertouch http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37359 @Evertouch Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:28:02 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37359 Jesse, you make some good suggestions. Another great tactic is to ask a clarifying question on an article or topic and that can start a dialogue and then a soft pitch can be made. I tend to focus more on quality than quantity so that may be an option for everyone, but it has generated some of my best third party blogs. Jesse, you make some good suggestions.

Another great tactic is to ask a clarifying question on an article or topic and that can start a dialogue and then a soft pitch can be made. I tend to focus more on quality than quantity so that may be an option for everyone, but it has generated some of my best third party blogs.

]]> By: @Organic_PR http://smartblogs.com/social-media/2010/04/12/the-abcs-of-pitching-to-influencers/#comment-37358 @Organic_PR Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:12:37 +0000 http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia/?p=9696#comment-37358 Ask questions! Ask me how I prefer to interact, what I'm working on, what I might be interested in for the future, or if you should even email me again. Anything except form pitches. Bad pitchers tend to be so focused on selling me that they don't stop to learn about what I really want. The current client pitch might be all wrong but they might have something else that works great if they would stop to find out. Ask questions! Ask me how I prefer to interact, what I'm working on, what I might be interested in for the future, or if you should even email me again. Anything except form pitches. Bad pitchers tend to be so focused on selling me that they don't stop to learn about what I really want. The current client pitch might be all wrong but they might have something else that works great if they would stop to find out.

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