Dear PR folks,
I get bunches of pitches via email. I never really asked for them, but there they are. I understand. It’s the business you’re in.
They’re press releases, mostly, but sometimes a more personalized attempt at news or an event or a product promotion. Once in a while, I get a pitch that works or gets my attention. But by and large, I’m the wrong target for you.
You see, I don’t write about the kind of stuff you’re pitching. I don’t announce promotions, or analyze them, or talk about them. I don’t evaluate technology or applications. I don’t review products or talk about them much unless there’s a larger, more specific context that I’ve initiated.
If you’ve written to me or put me on your “pitch list” because I happen to be on the AdAge Power 150 or on some other very nice lists of awesome blogs, you’re making a big generalization that’s not helping you much. Just because I have a successful blog doesn’t mean I blog about what you hope I do. If you’ve browsed the posts here at all, you’ve probably gleaned that already.
In my specific case, your pitches and emails to me are wasted effort. I delete most of them, the press releases immediately. The personalized messages I indeed do read, but I’ve never written about one product promotion or event or campaign as a result of them. I’m okay with not being the first to know. There are other people out there that do that much better than I do.
I know there are bloggers out there that want your info, because they do want to be in the know. They consider their blog much more of a media outlet than I do, and themselves more in the framework of a journalist. I’m a writer, pretty much. A thinker sometimes, for better or worse. I’m not a very good promotional vehicle for things that don’t have personal relevance to me.
So by all means, keep up the blogger relations thing, because I’m sure it’s effective in other places. But me? You can take me off your list. You’re not going to get much traction here. It’s not what I do. That’s not what my blog is for, and it’s not what my readers come here for.
If all of that makes you want to break up with me, that’s okay. I’ll save you the trouble. I’ll read about your campaign on other people’s blogs and be happy that you found someone to cover your stuff.
My blog is an intellectual adventure for me, not a channel for you. I intend to keep it that way. And if ever an exception were to be made, it would be because it’s a topic, thing, or person I’m passionate about to start with.
But really, you can take me off your list and you don’t have to send me free stuff. You don’t need to put me on your rockstar blogger lists of influential people. Because really, the kind of “influence” I have – if it’s real – isn’t the kind you’re looking for. I won’t send legions of people into your stores or to your website. My purpose here is to mobilize and influence thought, not commerce. If that makes me a lousy blogger, I guess I’ll learn to live with that.
So I think we should part ways, but it’s okay. You’re doing the right thing, it’s just that I’m the wrong outlet. Really.
It’s not you. It’s me.
I totally LOVE open letters. Wrote one myself recently. Sadly, I doubt those bad PR folks will even care. It’s just way too easy to add someone to their and click the send button (which is a violation of CAN-SPAM).
Everytime you get a pitch, forward them your blog post. Set up a filter so you don’t have to do it manually. Litter their inbox with your plea to stop. Maybe that’ll work.
.-= Leesa Barnes´s last blog ..Virtual Event Boom Preview Call Series =-.
I totally LOVE open letters. Wrote one myself recently. Sadly, I doubt those bad PR folks will even care. It’s just way too easy to add someone to their and click the send button (which is a violation of CAN-SPAM).
Everytime you get a pitch, forward them your blog post. Set up a filter so you don’t have to do it manually. Litter their inbox with your plea to stop. Maybe that’ll work.
.-= Leesa Barnes´s last blog ..Virtual Event Boom Preview Call Series =-.
Amber, “It’s not you. It’s me.” That applies for any media outlet, writer, editor or blogger. It’s not that pitching is wrong, it’s just 1) pitching the wrong story to 2) the wrong audience. Hopefully some clueless PR folks will read this, rethink their approach to blogger relations. Just had to give you some love for this.
.-= Davina K. Brewer´s last blog ..Rant Alert: Dear Dry Cleaners, Suck Less Dammit! =-.
Amber, “It’s not you. It’s me.” That applies for any media outlet, writer, editor or blogger. It’s not that pitching is wrong, it’s just 1) pitching the wrong story to 2) the wrong audience. Hopefully some clueless PR folks will read this, rethink their approach to blogger relations. Just had to give you some love for this.
.-= Davina K. Brewer´s last blog ..Rant Alert: Dear Dry Cleaners, Suck Less Dammit! =-.
As a PR person myself, I think knowing your audience is basic PR 101. And when it comes to pitches, clearly you’re being targeted by the wrong people for the wrong reasons. That sucks … and I don’t blame you for feeling that way.
At work, I pitch to ad pubs/blogs; in my blogging life, to women’s health/fitness pubs/blogs. It’s common sense that just isn’t so common anymore. Email makes everything easy — TOO easy. You cull a list from Vocus or Cision and BAM … BLASTOFF. That’s bad PR, IMO.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Tipping the Scales =-.
As a PR person myself, I think knowing your audience is basic PR 101. And when it comes to pitches, clearly you’re being targeted by the wrong people for the wrong reasons. That sucks … and I don’t blame you for feeling that way.
At work, I pitch to ad pubs/blogs; in my blogging life, to women’s health/fitness pubs/blogs. It’s common sense that just isn’t so common anymore. Email makes everything easy — TOO easy. You cull a list from Vocus or Cision and BAM … BLASTOFF. That’s bad PR, IMO.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Tipping the Scales =-.
Hi Amber,
As a PR professional, it frustrates me to continue reading about people in my industry who are sending completely off-target pitches to bloggers and journalists. I have to thank you though for taking the high road and being very diplomatic, versus publicly blasting people and calling them out by name or company. I know bloggers and journalists get so fed up that they think it will take shaming someone publicly to get them to stop sending irrelevant pitches. But I much prefer your style!
.-= Nikki Stephan´s last blog ..Money Ain’t a Thing if it Costs You Happiness =-.
Investment. That’s what I do when pitching media be it radio or bloggers, I invest time in the process. In order to be effective, research has to happen first and everything else builds from there. If PR people would invest in researching the media they are pitching, then all of us would be better off.
.-= Ann Marie van den Hurk APR´s last blog ..Get the Febreze Out… It is Breaking Wind… Er… News, Again. =-.
Hi Amber,
As a PR professional, it frustrates me to continue reading about people in my industry who are sending completely off-target pitches to bloggers and journalists. I have to thank you though for taking the high road and being very diplomatic, versus publicly blasting people and calling them out by name or company. I know bloggers and journalists get so fed up that they think it will take shaming someone publicly to get them to stop sending irrelevant pitches. But I much prefer your style!
.-= Nikki Stephan´s last blog ..Money Ain’t a Thing if it Costs You Happiness =-.
Investment. That’s what I do when pitching media be it radio or bloggers, I invest time in the process. In order to be effective, research has to happen first and everything else builds from there. If PR people would invest in researching the media they are pitching, then all of us would be better off.
.-= Ann Marie van den Hurk APR´s last blog ..Get the Febreze Out… It is Breaking Wind… Er… News, Again. =-.
Amber, Nice letter and it makes it clear how PR people should be pitching bloggers but I think the same lack of research and shot gun approach has existed with traditional media for years. I’ve worked in PR for 20+ years, so I am sure I’ve made some mistakes but I also know I’ve cut others’ lists more times than I can count. It happened just last week. At some point someone must have said to make a media list longer and so you get quantity over quality of focus. Thanks, Andrea
Amber, Nice letter and it makes it clear how PR people should be pitching bloggers but I think the same lack of research and shot gun approach has existed with traditional media for years. I’ve worked in PR for 20+ years, so I am sure I’ve made some mistakes but I also know I’ve cut others’ lists more times than I can count. It happened just last week. At some point someone must have said to make a media list longer and so you get quantity over quality of focus. Thanks, Andrea
Amber
My favourite blog comments that I receive on my blog are the ones that start “you nailed it”… so, with the following two thoughts from your blog post, let me just say “nailed it !” :
– “my blog is an intellectual adventure for me” and
– “my purpose here is to mobilize and influence thought, not commerce”
I’m sure many of your followers are fellow bloggers/tweeters etc and we are seekers… of new ideas, of being mentally stimulating by thought provoking ideas.. that lead us to our own thoughts.. then blogs… which are then read by others.. and so it goes.
We’re not selling, we’re sharing.. in a huge and symbiotic though ecosystem.
Now, can PR / Ad / Creative agency types grasp this before they become extinct ? I’ve worked with agencies in multiple countries for many years and my view is that the category of “marketing related” agencies that are both the most threatened and yet the most likely to adapt quickly.. is PR.
May will wither and perish, but those PR agencies that realise, as I put in a “blog” in December 2009, that “You can’t control engagement with your customers anymore, at most you can mediate.”… they have an excellent change to adapt rather than die.
Keep up the thought provoking blogging, Amber !
.-= Tom McCallum´s last blog ..Passion, the secret to Work:Life balance =-.
Amber
My favourite blog comments that I receive on my blog are the ones that start “you nailed it”… so, with the following two thoughts from your blog post, let me just say “nailed it !” :
– “my blog is an intellectual adventure for me” and
– “my purpose here is to mobilize and influence thought, not commerce”
I’m sure many of your followers are fellow bloggers/tweeters etc and we are seekers… of new ideas, of being mentally stimulating by thought provoking ideas.. that lead us to our own thoughts.. then blogs… which are then read by others.. and so it goes.
We’re not selling, we’re sharing.. in a huge and symbiotic though ecosystem.
Now, can PR / Ad / Creative agency types grasp this before they become extinct ? I’ve worked with agencies in multiple countries for many years and my view is that the category of “marketing related” agencies that are both the most threatened and yet the most likely to adapt quickly.. is PR.
May will wither and perish, but those PR agencies that realise, as I put in a “blog” in December 2009, that “You can’t control engagement with your customers anymore, at most you can mediate.”… they have an excellent change to adapt rather than die.
Keep up the thought provoking blogging, Amber !
.-= Tom McCallum´s last blog ..Passion, the secret to Work:Life balance =-.
Amber, I usually look forward to you posts but I’ve got to say that this one didn’t rank very high on the enlightenment scale. The people who send you stuff you don’t want may need to hear it but I like you better when you’re giving positive guidance…
john
Amber, I usually look forward to you posts but I’ve got to say that this one didn’t rank very high on the enlightenment scale. The people who send you stuff you don’t want may need to hear it but I like you better when you’re giving positive guidance…
john
I feel your frustration. Just got an email yesterday specifically addressed to me by name from someone who wanted me to add his coupon widget to my blog and claimed that he’s been reading my blog and saw that saving money is important to me and my readers. Huh? Really? I have never nor will ever write posts about coupons or saving money. I write about issues related to communication, marketing, brand building and business. Had he ACTUALLY read my blog, he would have realized that I was not his target by any stretch. There is an art to pitching and the first step is to know who you are pitching, if what you are pitching is relevant and why they should care. Lying in a pitch to someone who could care less about what you are pitching is really bad form.
.-= Cheryl ´s last blog ..How to Break Through Writer’s Block =-.
I feel your frustration. Just got an email yesterday specifically addressed to me by name from someone who wanted me to add his coupon widget to my blog and claimed that he’s been reading my blog and saw that saving money is important to me and my readers. Huh? Really? I have never nor will ever write posts about coupons or saving money. I write about issues related to communication, marketing, brand building and business. Had he ACTUALLY read my blog, he would have realized that I was not his target by any stretch. There is an art to pitching and the first step is to know who you are pitching, if what you are pitching is relevant and why they should care. Lying in a pitch to someone who could care less about what you are pitching is really bad form.
.-= Cheryl ´s last blog ..How to Break Through Writer’s Block =-.
Perfectly said Amber. Having been both a journalist for many years and then a PR person I can say I absolutely hated getting the blanket pitch. In print media, it was always the “local person did this thing” pitch only local was Los Angeles and our paper is located 2 1/2 hours from LA.
You can get a media list anywhere but it still remains the PR person’s responsibility to do a little research into whether they are pitching to the right people.
.-= Shelly Cone´s last blog ..Is there such a thing as bad publicity? =-.
Perfectly said Amber. Having been both a journalist for many years and then a PR person I can say I absolutely hated getting the blanket pitch. In print media, it was always the “local person did this thing” pitch only local was Los Angeles and our paper is located 2 1/2 hours from LA.
You can get a media list anywhere but it still remains the PR person’s responsibility to do a little research into whether they are pitching to the right people.
.-= Shelly Cone´s last blog ..Is there such a thing as bad publicity? =-.
Amber,
You’re just awesome. You’re honesty and realness make me smile.
Enough said. Happy Friday.
.-= Lindsay Manfredi´s last blog ..The Social Media High Horse? =-.
Amber,
You’re just awesome. You’re honesty and realness make me smile.
Enough said. Happy Friday.
.-= Lindsay Manfredi´s last blog ..The Social Media High Horse? =-.
Thank you for writing this.
.-= Janelle´s last blog ..Research: A Constant State of Curiosity =-.
Thank you for writing this.
.-= Janelle´s last blog ..Research: A Constant State of Curiosity =-.
Good post and nicely put. I’m a PR person that doesn’t like to receive press releases or pitches from other PR folks so I can only imagine the frustration journalists and bloggers feel. Clearly sending me – another PR person – your press release/pitch won’t yield much. I am pitching, writing and placing for my clients by using vetted sources that I’ve researched or cultivated.
Pitching is a real process. I think too often us PR folks use the “spray and pray” approach by blasting out releases and hoping someone picks it up. Trust me Amber, we know better. Thanks for going easy on us.
Good post and nicely put. I’m a PR person that doesn’t like to receive press releases or pitches from other PR folks so I can only imagine the frustration journalists and bloggers feel. Clearly sending me – another PR person – your press release/pitch won’t yield much. I am pitching, writing and placing for my clients by using vetted sources that I’ve researched or cultivated.
Pitching is a real process. I think too often us PR folks use the “spray and pray” approach by blasting out releases and hoping someone picks it up. Trust me Amber, we know better. Thanks for going easy on us.
This post makes me sigh. Not just because this happens to you, but that it happens A LOT. Sigh. You’d think with all the available tips, tactics and techniques readily available, we’d have more people pitching the right way.
This post makes me sigh. Not just because this happens to you, but that it happens A LOT. Sigh. You’d think with all the available tips, tactics and techniques readily available, we’d have more people pitching the right way.
Great post — I was directed here by my friend C.C. Chapman, as we’ve been communicating about crummy pitches today (I was just pitched to APPLY for the opportunity to do a crapload of promotion for a major brand).
In the consulting work I’ve done, I always emphasize how smaller, more focused and thoughtful engagement pays off — it’s more work but it WORKS. And I continually shake my head that companies actually pay firms to do such poor mass outreach.
-Christine
.-= Boston Mamas´s last blog ..Craftastic CRAFTBOSTON =-.
Great post — I was directed here by my friend C.C. Chapman, as we’ve been communicating about crummy pitches today (I was just pitched to APPLY for the opportunity to do a crapload of promotion for a major brand).
In the consulting work I’ve done, I always emphasize how smaller, more focused and thoughtful engagement pays off — it’s more work but it WORKS. And I continually shake my head that companies actually pay firms to do such poor mass outreach.
-Christine
.-= Boston Mamas´s last blog ..Craftastic CRAFTBOSTON =-.
Bwahaha! Love the analogy of breaking up. PR people are under a lot of pressure to “get hits” from their well-meaning, yet mid-guided, middle-aged managers. That translates into “throwing Jello” on the wall to see what sticks. I hope your letter works, but I highly doubt it will lessen the amount of stuff you get. I will be telling my students to read this post, for sure. Thanks, Amber!
.-= Claire Celsi´s last blog ..Can Public Relations Professionals Have Strong, Public Opinions? =-.
Bwahaha! Love the analogy of breaking up. PR people are under a lot of pressure to “get hits” from their well-meaning, yet mid-guided, middle-aged managers. That translates into “throwing Jello” on the wall to see what sticks. I hope your letter works, but I highly doubt it will lessen the amount of stuff you get. I will be telling my students to read this post, for sure. Thanks, Amber!
.-= Claire Celsi´s last blog ..Can Public Relations Professionals Have Strong, Public Opinions? =-.
Annnnd that one is going in my “link it rather than re-write it” file.
Thanks Amber. Well said.
.-= Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog ..Another Top 10 Tips to Survive & Thrive at SXSWi =-.
Annnnd that one is going in my “link it rather than re-write it” file.
Thanks Amber. Well said.
.-= Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog ..Another Top 10 Tips to Survive & Thrive at SXSWi =-.
I get pitched all the time by pet supply people and dog walkers, etc. One quick read of any article on my blog will tell these people that I am NOT a dog blog.
A common tactic I see is they refer to some random blog post buried in my blog, feed me some affirmations of some sort and then pitch me some form letter stuff. I think they think this is customization. I dunno.
One beef I do have with the blogger community is every blogger wants the PR person to pitch them as if they have the most unique blog in the world. You probably don’t. You have your own VOICE in a CATEGORY. I read several dozen blogs a week I am interested in and I can hardly keep up with them, let alone the several hundred in any one category.
So, instead of throwing away the pitch because it doesn’t quite mesh with your content or audience, look at the pitch as an opportunity to start a conversation. After the follow-up, if it because obvious the PR person STILL isn’t listening (most likely, but it only take a few smart PR people anyway) then kick them aside.
And if your blog doesn’t accept pitches, just say so. I’m sure the PR person would appreciate the time saved.
Or not, what the hell do I know.
.-= Rufus Dogg´s last blog ..You are not a Ninja or a Rockstar =-.
I get pitched all the time by pet supply people and dog walkers, etc. One quick read of any article on my blog will tell these people that I am NOT a dog blog.
A common tactic I see is they refer to some random blog post buried in my blog, feed me some affirmations of some sort and then pitch me some form letter stuff. I think they think this is customization. I dunno.
One beef I do have with the blogger community is every blogger wants the PR person to pitch them as if they have the most unique blog in the world. You probably don’t. You have your own VOICE in a CATEGORY. I read several dozen blogs a week I am interested in and I can hardly keep up with them, let alone the several hundred in any one category.
So, instead of throwing away the pitch because it doesn’t quite mesh with your content or audience, look at the pitch as an opportunity to start a conversation. After the follow-up, if it because obvious the PR person STILL isn’t listening (most likely, but it only take a few smart PR people anyway) then kick them aside.
And if your blog doesn’t accept pitches, just say so. I’m sure the PR person would appreciate the time saved.
Or not, what the hell do I know.
.-= Rufus Dogg´s last blog ..You are not a Ninja or a Rockstar =-.
How does Radian6 calculate its influence metrics and how does it define influence?
How does Radian6 calculate its influence metrics and how does it define influence?
Free stuff? Where?
.-= Jay Baer´s last blog ..The Truth About the iPad =-.
Free stuff? Where?
.-= Jay Baer´s last blog ..The Truth About the iPad =-.
“My blog is an intellectual adventure for me, not a channel for you.” I’ll be attributing that sentence to you frequently Amber as I suspect I’ll be using it often. Thank you!
Since I’ve been blogging since 2002 and have practiced PR, in one form or another, for my entire career, I can take an agnostic approach here. The biggest, saddest point to be made is that most of these pitches aren’t bad…as you point out they’re just off target.
It brings to mind the paradox of social media. We have a flurry of online tools that are designed to help us be more efficient. But that does not equate to being more effective. Social media is designed for two way interactions, talking WITH each other, helping us get together offline more easily. Instead certain PR people are abusing tools like online media databases and talking TO people by entering a few general key words and emailing a generic news release to the broad search results.
In fact, as I’m writing this, I’ve been pitched by a TV show publicist. It’s so bad that TV shows are pitching bloggers…around single episodes. That’s a lot of noise and very little signal clogging our collective email boxes.
OK, we’ve in violent agreeement. So what’s my point? Simply that it’s not an entire industry creating this noise. Richard Laermer and I try and educate and entertain PR folks at The Bad Pitch Blog to impact bad media relations from inside the industry. We do it because we’re tired of the bulk of the PR industry taken to task for the efforts of its minority.
Many folks reading this comment may disagree with my basic math in that last sentence. But consider that for every bad pitch you see, there are more that are well-written and well-targeted. These good pitches are a big part of the news we consume each day. Good pitches turn into news stories. Bad pitches become the story.
Not suggesting you’re letter is to an entire industry, it’s just to the people blindly pitching you. But it’s an important point to make, imho.
Thanks!
.-= Kevin Dugan´s last blog ..Entrepreneurs Inspire Trading Cards, Help Kiva =-.
“My blog is an intellectual adventure for me, not a channel for you.” I’ll be attributing that sentence to you frequently Amber as I suspect I’ll be using it often. Thank you!
Since I’ve been blogging since 2002 and have practiced PR, in one form or another, for my entire career, I can take an agnostic approach here. The biggest, saddest point to be made is that most of these pitches aren’t bad…as you point out they’re just off target.
It brings to mind the paradox of social media. We have a flurry of online tools that are designed to help us be more efficient. But that does not equate to being more effective. Social media is designed for two way interactions, talking WITH each other, helping us get together offline more easily. Instead certain PR people are abusing tools like online media databases and talking TO people by entering a few general key words and emailing a generic news release to the broad search results.
In fact, as I’m writing this, I’ve been pitched by a TV show publicist. It’s so bad that TV shows are pitching bloggers…around single episodes. That’s a lot of noise and very little signal clogging our collective email boxes.
OK, we’ve in violent agreeement. So what’s my point? Simply that it’s not an entire industry creating this noise. Richard Laermer and I try and educate and entertain PR folks at The Bad Pitch Blog to impact bad media relations from inside the industry. We do it because we’re tired of the bulk of the PR industry taken to task for the efforts of its minority.
Many folks reading this comment may disagree with my basic math in that last sentence. But consider that for every bad pitch you see, there are more that are well-written and well-targeted. These good pitches are a big part of the news we consume each day. Good pitches turn into news stories. Bad pitches become the story.
Not suggesting you’re letter is to an entire industry, it’s just to the people blindly pitching you. But it’s an important point to make, imho.
Thanks!
.-= Kevin Dugan´s last blog ..Entrepreneurs Inspire Trading Cards, Help Kiva =-.
Amber,
Sadly the marketing world faces the same issues…advertisers still talk at the customer rather than with and simply dont listen to what the customer wants! There is a great video on YouTube called “The Break Up” which is very apt for your article, also quite funny. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heSudg-tfIk
Katrina
Amber,
Sadly the marketing world faces the same issues…advertisers still talk at the customer rather than with and simply dont listen to what the customer wants! There is a great video on YouTube called “The Break Up” which is very apt for your article, also quite funny. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heSudg-tfIk
Katrina
In their defense, maybe they thought you’d be interested. After all, there is no harm in trying. LoL
But you’re right. This is your personal space for your freedom of expression and not the place for them to parade their products. We are all here because we wish to learn from the blogger, and learn from the commenters as well, to communicate and discuss relevant issues.
I kinda agree with Kevin, it’s not that their pitches are bad. They’re just blindly pitching. Maybe they’re thinking that out of 10 pitches, maybe they will hit one.
PS. I’ve found other failed marketing faux pas here.
In their defense, maybe they thought you’d be interested. After all, there is no harm in trying. LoL
But you’re right. This is your personal space for your freedom of expression and not the place for them to parade their products. We are all here because we wish to learn from the blogger, and learn from the commenters as well, to communicate and discuss relevant issues.
I kinda agree with Kevin, it’s not that their pitches are bad. They’re just blindly pitching. Maybe they’re thinking that out of 10 pitches, maybe they will hit one.
PS. I’ve found other failed marketing faux pas here.
” My purpose here is to mobilize and influence thought, not commerce”
all talk, no action.
” My purpose here is to mobilize and influence thought, not commerce”
all talk, no action.
bwahahahah. that’s camp classic. luvs it Amber, i’m new to this blog and am enjoying the reads. as my friends and I say..hirarious (yes with an ‘r’ – basically how a dog would probably pronounce hilarious if they could talk)
ps. i have an awesome product I wanna tell you about…never mind.
bwahahahah. that’s camp classic. luvs it Amber, i’m new to this blog and am enjoying the reads. as my friends and I say..hirarious (yes with an ‘r’ – basically how a dog would probably pronounce hilarious if they could talk)
ps. i have an awesome product I wanna tell you about…never mind.
I recommend taking yourself off CISION’s media database – you’ll probably get less PR pitches that way as you’ll be much harder to find. 🙂 If that’s too drastic, you should consider updating your Altitude Branding profile so PR folks know NOT to pitch you at all – that’s one of the options and might also help reduce pointless pitches.
Of course the bottom line is PR folk need to pitch LESS outlets and focus on those who would actually WANT to hear their messages because they’re relevant to the outlet’s audience. That can be hard and expensive which is why the world is full of so many crappy, stupid pitches (lord knows I’ve sent a few in my never-ending youth) but it also doesn’t work – a scattershot approach fails every time. Bottom line.
So thanks for the clever reminder to only pitch those who want to be pitched – lord knows there are plenty of bloggers out there who do want to be pitched – but do consider modifying your blog’s profile on CISION (and probably Vocus and BurrellsLuce as well) if you’re really serious about wanting less product pitches.
I recommend taking yourself off CISION’s media database – you’ll probably get less PR pitches that way as you’ll be much harder to find. 🙂 If that’s too drastic, you should consider updating your Altitude Branding profile so PR folks know NOT to pitch you at all – that’s one of the options and might also help reduce pointless pitches.
Of course the bottom line is PR folk need to pitch LESS outlets and focus on those who would actually WANT to hear their messages because they’re relevant to the outlet’s audience. That can be hard and expensive which is why the world is full of so many crappy, stupid pitches (lord knows I’ve sent a few in my never-ending youth) but it also doesn’t work – a scattershot approach fails every time. Bottom line.
So thanks for the clever reminder to only pitch those who want to be pitched – lord knows there are plenty of bloggers out there who do want to be pitched – but do consider modifying your blog’s profile on CISION (and probably Vocus and BurrellsLuce as well) if you’re really serious about wanting less product pitches.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could pitch only those who we had relationships with and we know what types of influence they had instead of shooting in the dark based on top 10, 20, 150 lists published by media outlets? Pitch LESS, yes. Pitch SMART, yes.
The day will come when we can quickly organize our relationships, rank them by influence according to our campaign or category and reach out with accurate contact info. Oh yes. The day will come when do reach people who actually WANT our message. Not just trolling CISION for contacts to blast with generic-personalization.
Great post!
Wouldn’t it be great if we could pitch only those who we had relationships with and we know what types of influence they had instead of shooting in the dark based on top 10, 20, 150 lists published by media outlets? Pitch LESS, yes. Pitch SMART, yes.
The day will come when we can quickly organize our relationships, rank them by influence according to our campaign or category and reach out with accurate contact info. Oh yes. The day will come when do reach people who actually WANT our message. Not just trolling CISION for contacts to blast with generic-personalization.
Great post!
Ha! JUST posted about this sort of thing a day or two ago on my PR blog. Let’s get one thing clear… the folks who do this are NOT public relations practitioners… they are press-agentry flacks.
http://joshuadelung.blogspot.com/2010/04/tired-of-poor-pitching.html
.-= JD´s last blog ..Tired of Poor Pitching =-.
Ha! JUST posted about this sort of thing a day or two ago on my PR blog. Let’s get one thing clear… the folks who do this are NOT public relations practitioners… they are press-agentry flacks.
http://joshuadelung.blogspot.com/2010/04/tired-of-poor-pitching.html
.-= JD´s last blog ..Tired of Poor Pitching =-.
Oh, My Dear…
I like it very much! Thanks!
chian cell phones
Oh, My Dear…
I like it very much! Thanks!
chian cell phones
I want to write a blog for my new cell phone,http://www.lightake.com/detail.do/sku.N99i_Dual_SIM_Standby_Touch_Screen_TV_FM_Quad_band_Cell_Phone_%282GB_TF_Card_Included%29-33818.