How do you follow up with the media after sending your pitch?

1 Know your audience

Before you write your pitch, you need to research your target media outlets and their audiences. What kind of stories do they cover? What are their editorial guidelines and preferences? Who are their readers, viewers, or listeners? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your pitch to their interests, needs, and expectations. You want to show them why your story is relevant, timely, and valuable for them.

2 Write your pitch

Your pitch should be concise, clear, and catchy. It should summarize the main points of your story, explain why it is newsworthy, and demonstrate your credibility and expertise. You can use the inverted pyramid structure to organize your pitch, starting with the most important information and ending with the least. Your pitch should also include a catchy subject line, a salutation, a call to action, and your contact details. Avoid using jargon, hype, or attachments.

3 Find the right contacts

Once you have your pitch ready, you need to find the right contacts to send it to. You can use online databases, directories, social media, or websites to identify the journalists, editors, or producers who cover your topic or industry. You can also look for their email addresses, phone numbers, or preferred methods of communication. Make sure you address them by name and personalize your pitch to their specific outlet and beat.

5 Follow up with the media

Following up with the media is an essential part of pitching a story. You want to remind them of your pitch, show your interest and availability, and offer any additional information or resources they might need. However, you should also be respectful, polite, and patient. Don't spam them with multiple emails or calls, don't be pushy or rude, and don't take rejection personally. Sometimes, your story might not fit their agenda, or they might have other priorities or constraints.

6 Build relationships with the media

Pitching a story to the media is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process of building relationships with them. You want to establish yourself as a reliable, trustworthy, and helpful source of information and stories. You can do this by keeping in touch with your contacts, sending them updates, feedback, or thank-you notes, sharing their work on social media, or inviting them to your events. You can also pitch them new stories in the future, or offer yourself as an expert or a guest for their shows or podcasts.