Journalists are inundated with a continuing flood of pitches and press releases—and, as the Hustle’s Kendall Baker writes in his open letter to PR professionals, “all of them suck.”
“Effectively, not all of them,” he concedes. “Some are effective. However the majority of the time, the pitches I get from you guys are downright terrible.”
Ouch! What’s a savvy PR individual to do?
The reality is, Kendall is correct to provide comms folks a bit robust love. Journalists are busy folks and so they’re sick of studying by way of copy-and-pasted messages or emails which were blasted to a whole lot of others. They don’t have time to learn by way of all of the hyperlinks you simply despatched them on the off likelihood that it would possibly end in an attention-grabbing article or drive site visitors to their web site. You have to give them a compelling motive why your story would add worth to their publication, in any other case, they’re going to lose curiosity—quick, and also you’re executed
The excellent news is, I’d wish to share my secret hack with you, and I can assure that it’ll enable you to “unsuck” your pitches. Welcome to video pitching.
Take Your Pitches From Zero to Hero with Video
Video pitching cures what so usually ails the sorts of generic and impersonal messages that journalists like Kendall are so bored with getting. By nature, video is attention-grabbing and private. The truth is, after I first gave video pitching a trial run, my pitches acquired almost 50% larger engagement than my text-based makes an attempt Not solely will you permit an impression, however permitting a reporter to “meet” you over video can open up alternatives for an ongoing relationship down the road.
(Talking of leaving an impression, I could have given P.J. Bednarski, former Editor of On-line Video Every day and VidBlog, a little bit of a shock when he acquired considered one of my first video pitches. You’ll be able to learn all about it in my how-to put up on video pitching.)
That’s to not say that video pitching alone is a catch-all. Simply since you’re in a position to seize somebody’s consideration with video doesn’t imply you’re off the hook relating to including worth to their day. Your pitch ought to nonetheless display that you just’ve executed your analysis on the publication and present how your piece can be of curiosity to their viewers (or open them as much as new readership). Mix considerate outreach with the facility of video and await the editors’ responses to come back rolling in.
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The right way to Craft a Nice Video Pitch
In case you’re satisfied that it’s time to provide video pitching a shot—nice! I’ve some suggestions and finest practices that I’ve discovered over the previous 12 months of experimenting with video pitching that I’m blissful to share with you.
(Psst, in case you don’t have already got a screen-recording instrument, now’s the time to obtain one. I really like my firm’s free Chrome extensionfor this!)
1. Do Your Homework
Every video pitch must be custom-tailored to its recipient, so be sure you do your due diligence. What varieties of articles does the publication you’re pitching to usually publish? What makes your concept a superb match? Why will their viewers have an interest?
2. Skip the Script
You wish to your pitch to have interaction your viewers, however you don’t wish to sound pressured. I might suggest jotting down a number of factors forward of time so that you’re certain to hit in your key concepts, however in any other case, don’t plan what you’re going to say. Your message will appear that rather more private and real if it’s unrehearsed. If a hearth truck drives by in the course of your video, add a bit joke in there like I did beneath. You’re actual, and life round you is just too.
3. Maintain it Concise
I at all times purpose for 30 seconds max, however I additionally at all times are inclined to go over! 30 seconds looks like it might be brief sufficient to carry the eye of a busy reporter, however lengthy sufficient to point out how you’ll add worth to their publication. If they need extra, they’ll ask for it.
4. If at First You Don’t Succeed… Attempt Once more!
You would possibly really feel a bit awkward on digicam at first and that’s completely regular. Give your self a number of no-pressure trial runs to experiment and I assure you’ll loosen up. Once I first began video pitching, I’d take 5-10 (generally extra…) movies earlier than I used to be proud of the ultimate outcome. Right now, I do it multi functional shot.
That’s nice in idea however what about in observe?
5 Video Pitch Examples
I’ve rounded up a sequence of examples from previous pitches I’ve executed that you need to use as inspiration. Test them out beneath.
1. Video Pitching a Speaker
My first instance comes from after I pitched our CEO for an enormous talking engagement. And I didn’t maintain again on this one—I went proper to the CEO and co-founder of VentureBeat, Matt Marshall. For a man who should get pitched ALL the time, he certain acquired again to me fairly rapidly with a be aware that he cherished my customized video, too, adopted by an intro to his speaker lead.
2.Making Introductions to Fellow Panelists
On this subsequent occasion, I used to be about to go converse on a panel for Younger Girls in Enterprise, and I didn’t know any of my fellow panelists. I don’t learn about you, however I at all times discover it awkward strolling onto a stage with out having any concept who else is up there with me. I made this video to say hiya to them and break the ice prematurely. It was acquired with very heat responses!
On this subsequent instance, I attempted pitching the Twitter and LinkedIn universes on a latest product replace, simply to see what would occur. What occurred, you would possibly ask? Effectively, 6 favs, and 1 RT, that’s what. I believe video is an effective way to have interaction on huge announcement days and I’ll positively be utilizing this tactic sooner or later!
Video adjustments relationships. Now not are we judged by our typed phrases or flat pictures. Video makes us human. https://t.co/ZU3sKNXrXvpic.twitter.com/ylWoStuED1
— Sandy Pell (@SandyCanvas) September 26, 2017
3. Responding to a Reporter Request
Reporter requests have at all times been an space of battle for me, however after I add video pitches to my replies, my odds go up two-fold. On this instance, Ashley wrote me again instantly, provided me the spot, and ended up publishing my opinions in this piece and gave me a whole writer profile too. I’ve used video pitching ever since!
4. Connecting with Convention Attendees
On this following occasion, I wished everybody to know that I used to be heading to the Unbounce Name to Motion Convention—together with quite a few reporters who had pinged me that they’d be on website. I made this video and pushed all of it throughout my Twitter and LinkedIn. I had a ton of engagement: 4RTs, a load of feedback, and 15 Favs! As well as, individuals who I had by no means seen or met earlier than got here as much as me on the occasion and instructed me that they’d watched my “video.” Woohoo!
The truth is, my first video was so profitable, that I made a decision to do a number of follow-up movies from the Name to Motion convention, too. I’ve included one beneath:
Are you at @unbounce‘s #CTAConf? Effectively, you need to be! Watch my video to study why! https://t.co/DGNhwUL19i#vancouver#teamvidyardpic.twitter.com/1ku8u61tRe
— Sandy Pell (@SandyCanvas) June 27, 2017
5.Observe-Up Messages and Constructing Rapport
Have you ever already pitched a reporter? On this subsequent instance, the reporter wrote again, requesting extra info on the pitch. I made a decision to make them a video to allow them to know that I used to be on it whereas additionally introducing myself to them. Video is an effective way to construct frequent floor and tighten up a relationship.
Bonus:(One other) Talking Engagement Pitch
I do know I already gave an instance of pitching a speaker, however this one was too good to not share! On this closing instance, I used to be pitching our CEO, Michael Litt, to talk at an upcoming, high-end tech convention referred to as Fortune Brainstorm Tech. Provided that Adam Lashinsky most likely receives a whole lot of emails per day, I didn’t anticipate a reply. Video clearly labored although; I used to be blissful to see his response shortly after. He even launched me to his colleague, Marlene, to choose up the dialog.
I hope this put up has been useful and that you just’re excited to experiment with video pitching. Join with me on Twitter @SandyCanvas and let me know the way it goes—I might love to listen to how folks reply to you once they discover a video pitch of their inbox!
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A model of this piece initially appeared on SpinSucks.