The world of PR pitches is diverse, complex, and beautiful. Company announcement pitches, media pitches, marketing trend pitches, and value pitches have become indispensable in public relations (PR). A PR pitch can have a significant impression on the media, allowing the company to provide relevant news and information to the target audience and being very useful in keeping in touch with consumers’ current desires and possible complaints. A beautifully-crafted speech can also redirect the attention of the media and ensure that the message in the pitch gets to the maximum target audience and generates the full impact. In the sections below, this article goes into complete analyses of the meaning of a PR pitch and the essential steps that may be necessary to couch a well-crafted PR pitch
A pitch is a short, public message to draw attention or media coverage to a particular product, service, or enterprise. At the core of PR, pitches raise awareness about a brand or service by drawing client attention. Usually, a PR pitch spans from 150 to 400 words and is usually the first consumer’s interaction with a brand. A PR pitch is often sent to a journalist or media house for coverage. When accepted, it can earn the organization a top-notch media placement in any media platform that increases a company’s reputation and brand awareness. The difficulties in crafting good PR pitches come from the high level of engagement that may be needed for the attention of a company’s target audience. As short as PR pitches may seem and as simple as they may sound, they require delicate handling and, if done wrongly, may fail to reach the target audience, and others may even soil the company’s reputation.
The essence of a PR pitch is to communicate with a set audience. As such, it will be unsuccessful when an organization’s PR pitch does nothing to convey a compelling message to its target audience. However, communication to the target audience cannot be made immediately, and the company must take steps to ensure the intended communication. A great way is to have the target audience in mind – know their likes and dislikes, engagement themes, and attractions. An organization must go far and beyond to conduct proper research before crafting its PR pitch. They must identify journalists, media houses, publications, influencers, and bloggers that are key to publicizing the pitch and the audience which resonates with them.
Of course, it will be foolhardy to begin drafting a PR pitch without knowing how an effective angle should look. Such sufficient understanding only comes with good research. This implies that an organization looking towards writing a PR pitch must be sure to cross all Ts and dot all Is by embarking on detailed study and examination. This research may determine the best strategy for drafting an effective PR pitch, the best media platforms to publicize the pitch, and all necessary promotions needed to engage the target audience.
An effective PR pitch must be clear, compelling, and concise. Many organizations fail to realize that journalists and media houses interact daily with several pitches. They often only opt for short and straight-to-the-point pitches, compelling in tone and structure, clear, and newsworthy. Therefore, a pith with a lot of fluff, self-promotion, and grammatical errors will most likely end up in a Media house’s recycle bin. Remember, length does not equate to strength. A good PR pitch will probably be straight to the point while engaging the audience.
A pitch is only as good as the people interested in it. Personalizing a pitch goes more than identifying the target audience. An organization must ask two important questions before sending out a pitch to be publicized – is this pitch a good fit for the publication style, and will it capture the media’s viewers? Many organizations fail to distinguish the audience accompanying a media publication from their target audience. Suppose a company’s target audience is within the age brackets of 10 to 20 years. In that case, sending such a pitch to a radio or sometimes a TV channel will not be advisable because the audience using those media outlets is a bit older.
A reasonable creative standard is expected for every successful PR pitch. The pitch must not be recycled, copied, or repetitive. This implies that every pitch an organization brings must be fresh, insightful, and have creative undertones. Of course, a pitch must be relevant to the organization’s intended goal and the target audience’s needs or wants. A fact, quote, scenario, or found here and there are all relevant to couching a creative and concise pitch.
It is not enough to draft a beautiful pitch and send it to a target audience using suitable media. An organization must also be sure to embark on a follow-up to confirm that the rise has been received and to provide answers to any questions or requests they may have. Being open with details regarding the pitch or necessary supporting data is also essential. Everything must be done promptly within set deadlines to save the organization and the media’s time.
Sometimes, even the best and most influential pitches may not get the required attention from journalists, the media, or the target audience. A company must recognize when its PR pitch is not doing well and be prepared to allow other suitable adjustments, as nothing is set in stone.
Conclusion
Indeed, there are no fixed rules for a dream PR pitch. However, an organization can always aim for effectiveness in its pitches, and a great way to start is by following the tips above. These tips are not exhaustive; an organization must undergo adequate and appropriate research before making any statement.
