Communication Overtones Comments
Maybe it's just me, but I found your comment about being sure to read the journalist's blog BEFORE you pitch them to be (quite possibly) the most valuable piece of advice in the whole post.
It's goofy, isn't it, that so many PR people don't take the time to read up on the writers they're pitching. I didn't believe it when my journalist-friends would tell me the horror stories until I started getting pitched for my blog, "Much Ado About Marketing". But all I can say is "Wow, some of us are REALLY clueless."
Thanks, Kami, for helping all of us get a clue. Your blog is a consistent source of good information and useful tips.
By the way, if you want to see some really bad media pitches, you might want to check out Kevin Dugan's "Bad Pitch Blog" it's painful, educational and in a strange way, quite humorous.
Regards,
Mike Bawden
Brand Central Station
I would add that it's a good idea to go back several weeks, or stay subscribed to a blog for several weeks, to get a real sense of what they cover.
Blogs can go through phases where the writer covers a topic extensively because it's in the news, but then they never write about it again. Reading just a few items might give you the totally wrong impression about what the writer covers. Also, checking the comments will give you an idea of what sort of response they're getting, and whether they carry the discussion further in the comments.
Mike; Sometimes the simple things are the most elegant. And I love the Bad Pitch Blog, it really is funny. I am an editor of a magazine, and it is insane the types of pitches I get for it.
Eric; You make a very good point, and one I neglected to mention. I advocate "lurking" for a week or two before trying to engage. Also, offering other help that has nothing to do with your client is a good way to make a friend. In other words, be a resource.
Any other ideas of how to engage a blogging journalist?
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