How can you pitch your ideas to top media outlets?

1 Identify your target media outlets

The first step is to research and select the media outlets that are most suitable for your idea. You want to find publications that cover your niche, have a large and engaged audience, and align with your goals and values. You can use tools like Google News, BuzzSumo, or SimilarWeb to find and analyze potential media outlets. You can also look at the social media profiles, websites, and podcasts of other thought leaders in your field and see where they have been featured.

2 Find the right contact person

The next step is to find the right person to pitch your idea to. You want to avoid sending generic or mass emails to info@ or editor@ addresses, as they are likely to be ignored or deleted. Instead, you want to find the specific journalist, editor, or producer who is responsible for the topic or section that matches your idea. You can use tools like Hunter, Voila Norbert, or LinkedIn to find their names and email addresses. You can also follow them on social media and engage with their content to build rapport and trust.

3 Craft a catchy subject line

The third step is to craft a catchy subject line that will entice the contact person to open your email. You want to avoid spammy, vague, or boring subject lines that will get lost in the inbox. Instead, you want to create a subject line that is clear, concise, and relevant to your idea and the media outlet. You can use tools like CoSchedule Headline Analyzer, SubjectLine, or Email Subject Line Grader to test and improve your subject lines. You can also use formulas like [Question]? + [Benefit] or [Number] + [Adjective] + [Keyword] to generate catchy subject lines.

4 Write a concise and compelling pitch

Writing a concise and compelling pitch to convince the contact person to feature your idea is the fourth step. Your pitch should be short, specific, and valuable to the media outlet and its audience. Utilize tools such as Hemingway, Grammarly, or ProWritingAid to check and polish your writing. You can also use this structure for your pitch: Greet the contact person by name and mention something you liked or learned from their previous work. Introduce yourself briefly and explain why you are qualified to share your idea. Explain what your idea is and why it is relevant, timely, and interesting for the media outlet and its audience. Include evidence or data to back up your idea and show its credibility. Request a response or feedback with a clear call to action. Finally, thank the contact person for their time and attention, then sign off with your name and contact details.

5 Follow up politely and professionally

The fifth step is to follow up politely and professionally if you don't hear back from the contact person within a reasonable time frame. You should be respectful, friendly, and persistent when doing so; tools like Boomerang, Mailtrack, or HubSpot can help you track and schedule your follow-up emails. To maximize effectiveness, wait at least a week before sending your first follow-up email and then send one more after another week if you still don't get a reply. Use a different subject line than your original pitch, include a reference to your previous email, remind the contact person of your idea and why it is valuable for them and their audience, add some new information or angle to your idea that might spark their interest or curiosity, and end with a friendly question or request that prompts them to reply.

6 Build a long-term relationship

The sixth and final step is to build a long-term relationship with the contact person and the media outlet if your pitch is successful. To do this, you should express your gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity and the exposure. Additionally, share the feature on your social media and website and tag the contact person and the media outlet. Request feedback and suggestions on how to improve your future pitches and ideas, keep in touch by offering relevant and valuable ideas or insights, and support and promote the contact person and the media outlet by commenting, liking, or sharing their content. Pitching your ideas to top media outlets can be a challenging but rewarding process. By following these six steps, you can increase your chances of getting featured and establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?