Andrea Piackova’s Post

5 red flags when pitching media 🚩 Here are five “no-nos” for those who want to keep their #media relations on the rise. ▪️ “Spamming” with irrelevant pitches. Year after year, most #journalists say that only a quarter (or less) of all emails they receive are relevant to them. So, if you don’t want to get blocked, do your homework and tailor your pitch to each media contact before you hit “send.” ▪️ Treating journalists as if they were your sales rep. Your clients and media readers are different audiences. The media aims to provide people with real news about what’s going on the market, and they are looking for data and information they can craft into newsworthy stories, not for a #marketing brochure. ▪️ Telling journalists how to do their job. Unless something is factually wrong in the article, nothing changes. Don’t even think to ask a journalist to edit phrasing or the title. ▪️ Using buzzwords. The pitch must be informative, so choose your verbiage wisely. Words like “leading,” “unprecedented,” “exciting,” “unique,” “cutting-edge,” “revolutionary,” “game-changer,” and/or “ground-breaking” don’t add value. ▪️ Following up repeatedly. Many journalists need two to three days to comprehend the material you sent them. Some of them don’t want to receive follow ups at all.

What #Reporters Want from Public Relations #Pitches: - Content that is relevant to their audiences - Direct pitches (press releases), story exclusives, orginal research, and access to industry experts - No phone pitches - Only follow up once after making a pitch - Multimedia assets (images, data visualizations, videos, etc.) included with the pitch Source: Cision's "State of the Media Report 2024" (downloadable)

68% of journalists say the press release is still one of the most useful types of content for building earned media coverage and brand equity. But first, you need a news angle. Read when to use and when not in the new 2024 report from Cision. #publicrelations #pressrelease #earnedmedia

Forget the megaphone, PR peeps! It's time to ditch the shouting match and build bridges with journalists. They're the key to sharing your story with the world, but how do you make a genuine connection? Become a Trusted Orchestra Conductor, Not a One-Hit Wonder: Instead of a one-time source, be the expert journalists can rely on. Anticipate trends, offer insights, and become a thought leader in your field. Knowledge is power (and credibility)! Ditch the Press Releases, Craft Compelling Symphonies: Journalists are drowning in self-serving pitches. Give them something valuable! Write guest articles, create eye-catching infographics – be the standout performer in their inbox. Focus on the Melody, Not Your Solo: Craft stories with a newsworthy hook, not just thinly veiled ads. Journalists love data – weave it in for depth and credibility. Numbers are music to their ears! Respect Their Time: Building Bridges Brick by Brick: Journalists juggle deadlines like a rockstar's tour schedule. Respect their time with short, clear emails and pitches. Be readily available, but don't be pushy – let them know you're there for the encore. Celebrate Their Wins! Applause All Around: Building relationships is a two-way street. When a journalist you pitched lands a story, give them a shoutout! A quick "congrats" email shows you care and strengthens the bond. The Long-Term PR Symphony: By investing in relationships, you're building a network of trusted contacts for future stories. This positions you as a thought leader and increases your chances of landing media placements. It's a marathon, not a sprint! Ready to craft journalist-winning pitches? My FREE Pitch Template helps you write like a pro! Snag yours and start building those PR bridges today. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/geWvZDQE #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #BuildRelationships #FreePitchTemplate

As summer comes to a close, it’s time to gear up and maximise your PR efforts for the remaining months of 2024. With MediaHQ Discover, finding current and relevant journalist contacts has never been easier. Capture contacts directly from any online article you’re reading and connect with the journalists who are actively writing on your topics - all without leaving your browser. With MediaHQ Discover, you can instantly add contacts to your lists, send targeted, timely pitches to the right people, and submit research requests for contacts we haven’t yet discovered. Make your PR strategy sharper and more connected with MediaHQ Discover. Learn more about installing MediaHQ Discover to your browser here: https://lnkd.in/ev7-W6cJ

Generic pitches are a surefire way to end up in the junk folder. To catch a journalist’s eye, make your pitch personal and relevant. Use their name, reference their previous work, and avoid cookie-cutter phrases. Tailoring your pitch not only shows you’ve done your homework but also increases your chances of getting noticed. Read our latest blog post to discover how personalisation can turn your media pitches into headlines!

👻 Spooky Digital PR Practices that Scare Away Journalists 👻 🎃 Pitching the same journalist multiple times in a day 🎃 Not personalizing pitches 🎃 Following up too soon or too frequently 🎃 Neglecting to check the journalist's archive to make sure your pitch is relevant 🎃 Sacrificing the press hook based on client comments 🎃 Ignoring journalist pitch time preferences (I've found that most prefer to receive pitches before 11am) Any that I'm missing? Drop them below ⬇ #DigitalPR #PRBestPractices #PitchPerfect

Are you on a bit of a budget (aren't we all?) - but want some press coverage for your small business? Why not learn how to do it yourself? It's not as impossible as it sounds. By sharing my knowledge from 20+ years of working on both sides - in journalism and PR - I've created a course to show you how to go from confused to confident when pitching journalists. You'll learn how to send your first story pitch to journalists - and what you need to do to start getting stories about your business into the press. It's online and on-demand, which means you can access it in your own time, and it's divided into 10 simple chapters. I share practical advice and tips on what journalists want from pitches and press releases - knowledge I learnt first-hand working for many years as a reporter and feature writer in regional and national newpaper newsrooms. PR is extremely effective - and cost-effective - for small businesses. It’s also far more powerful than advertising. It helps to: • Give your business credibility • Attract new customers • Boost your SEO (via backlinks to online articles) I'm on a mission to empower small businesses so they feel confident enough to start doing their own PR. And I'm really exited about launching this because I know the power of PR to grow our small businesses! • Join the waiting list for my new DIY PR Course for Small Businesses via the link in the comments below. (You'll also get an early bird discount if you want to sign up when it launches in the summer.) Any questions, please just get in touch: linda@lindaharrison.co.uk #PR #presscoverage #media #smallbusiness #training #course #Yorkshire

I don’t think I’ll ever understand why some comms professionals think we no longer need to work with the media. Maybe it’s wishful thinking or pure exasperation? While I do understand the landscape looks vastly different today than in years past and the motivations of many a journalist or outlet are no longer those of the idealistic and ethical fourth estate - there are other reasons to continue to engage with and make ourselves (and our organisations) known and valuable to those working in this space. Earned media and building mutually beneficial relationships with quality journalists and media outlets is crucial to the success of our comms campaigns and the achievement of our strategic goals. Even today, media provide a sense of third-party credibility to our messaging - whether we like it or not - which is particularly vital for government agencies who are often challenged by ‘faceless entity’ syndrome and reputational fragility. But most importantly, building respectful relationships and rapport with our media contacts in times of relative calm is undeniably critical in ensuring we can leverage these channels to quickly and reliably disseminate accurate information during crises and emergency situations. The dance we do as Comms professionals with our media counterparts is a complex and nuanced one. It’s a little bit of ‘tit for tat’, and a little more about accepting the duality of the unique relationship dynamic where there’s respect and cordiality with an underlying recognition of the sometimes opposing driving forces and roles that each person plays. It’s something that takes time, patience and skill to learn, and can be arduous at times to endure (as I’m sure they feel the same!). But it’s a worthwhile endeavour in the long run. And, I wish more people could see that.