Most new writers get caught on the identical place: pitching.
I do know I did once I first began a decade in the past.
I scoured the web looking for pitch examples or tricks to write a pitch that truly labored.
It feels intimidating.
You don’t know what to say.
You’re undecided if you happen to’re sending it to the appropriate particular person.
And half the time, you hit “ship,” shut your laptop computer, and instantly surprise if you happen to’ve simply embarrassed your self.
The reality is: pitching isn’t that difficult after getting a easy, repeatable system. And through the years I’ve developed a pitching course of in addition to steps on crafting the proper pitch e mail or message.
Immediately, I’m breaking down your complete course of I take advantage of (and train) so you may cease guessing and begin getting replies, whether or not you’re pitching editors, founders, content material managers, or anybody hiring writers.
Let’s stroll by means of it step-by-step.
However earlier than you begin, be certain that to take a look at my consumer reserving system I’m suing proper now to get extra writing work!
1. Begin With Your Angle, Not the E mail
A pitch is loads simpler when you already know the thought behind it.
I realized this the laborious manner.
In my first yr of freelance writing, I used to be so wanting to get purchasers that I despatched out pitches with out pondering them by means of.
I nonetheless bear in mind one of many earliest pitches I despatched, it was for a parenting publication, since my area of interest subjects again within the day have been pure parenting strategies.
I didn’t embrace a headline, didn’t clarify the angle, and didn’t even define why the subject mattered. I simply stated one thing like, “I’d love to write down for you. Right here are some things I can cowl.”
Cringe.
No shock — that pitch went nowhere.
Issues modified once I lastly slowed down and created a easy pre-pitch course of I nonetheless use right this moment and train to different new writers.
Earlier than I draft a single sentence, I spend a couple of minutes answering:
- What particular subject am I pitching, and what’s the headline?
Once I pitched SmartBlogger years in the past, it wasn’t a obscure concept like “weblog site visitors suggestions.” It was a particular angle with a transparent end result. That readability is what received the editor’s consideration. - Why does this angle matter proper now?
Editors care about timing greater than writers notice. For Beehiiv, for instance, the angle tied straight right into a buyer downside for an viewers sort that was trending on social media. That relevance helped me land the writing job1 - How will this assist the publication, model, or enterprise?
The extra you anchor your pitch of their objectives, the simpler it’s for them to say sure. Take into consideration their prospects, viewers or social media presence. - What makes me the appropriate author for this?
Once I pitched an enormous SaaS model final yr, I didn’t go overboard with EVERYTHING I can do to assist them. I merely related my background — years writing for SaaS corporations, web optimization content material expertise, examples within the area of interest — to the angle I used to be proposing. Content material entrepreneurs don’t want your entire life story. They only need to know you may ship this concept nicely.
In the event you can’t reply these questions, your pitch will in all probability not get learn.
Your angle is what offers your e mail construction and confidence.
It reveals the content material marketer or founder that you simply perceive their viewers, you’ve finished the pondering for them, and also you’re not simply firing off a mass e mail hoping somebody bites.
2. Analysis the Publication or Enterprise
This half doesn’t must take lengthy, nevertheless it does must be intentional.
I didn’t all the time perceive this.
In my early pitching days, I’d skim a web site for 30 seconds, look on the About web page, and assume I “knew sufficient.”
These pitches received ignored.
Not as a result of my writing was unhealthy, however as a result of my concepts didn’t match what the weblog really wanted.
Issues modified the day I spent quarter-hour doing actual analysis earlier than sending a pitch to a digital advertising and marketing weblog.
I regarded on the final month of posts, checked the tone, paid consideration to the viewers questions within the feedback, and observed they hadn’t revealed something on a trending subject bloggers or content material creators have been Googling that week.
I pitched precisely that hole — and the proprietor responded inside hours.
Since then, I’ve stored my analysis very simple and intensely targeted.
You don’t have to spend a day digging.
You simply want a mini-checklist that helps you perceive how your concept suits into their content material ecosystem.
Right here’s what I search for once I need to land a SaaS consumer:
- Their services or products
Go forward and research not simply their weblog however how their product helped sellers develop. That angle will make your pitch stronger. - Their audience
Manufacturers all the time write for somebody particular: SaaS founders, busy mothers, small enterprise house owners, eCommerce sellers. The clearer you might be about who they serve, the higher your pitch lands. - The issues the viewers is making an attempt to resolve
Each good pitch solves an actual ache level. - The enterprise mannequin
In the event you perceive what the corporate sells, you may create content material that strikes readers towards these affords. That’s what makes manufacturers say sure. - Content material they’re lacking
Most corporations have enormous content material gaps and don’t notice it. - Funnel phases they aren’t protecting
Quite a lot of manufacturers publish “high of funnel” content material (like suggestions and guides) however skip the center and bottom-of-funnel items that truly convert. In the event you spot these holes, you immediately turn out to be extra helpful.
3. Discover the Proper Contact Particular person
This step alone can change your whole pitching success charge.
I realized this early on once I spent weeks pitching a to GoDaddy utilizing their generic “submissions@” inbox.
I stored questioning why nobody ever replied.
Later, I came upon the true editor barely checked that inbox and I believe it simply wasn’t working.
It was primarily a holding tank.
As quickly as I discovered her private e mail on Instagram and pitched her straight, she replied the following day.
That’s when it clicked for me:
You need the choice maker, not the catch-all inbox.
Relying in your goal, this might be:
- The editor-in-chief
- The managing editor
- The deputy editor
- The content material supervisor
- The pinnacle of selling
- The founder (for small corporations — I’ve landed a number of purchasers this fashion)
At any time when potential, I attempt to pitch the one that really offers the sure.
Considered one of my favourite examples is the SaaS model I landed after messaging their founder on LinkedIn.
No gatekeepers. No ignored inbox.
Only a fast, human dialog that changed into a paid venture inside per week. Pitching the appropriate particular person hurries up your complete course of.
Possibly you’re pondering, “However Elna, the place do I discover the contact data?”
Listed below are some locations which have labored for me.
Notice: I give much more locations and concepts in my course, Writeto1k!
- LinkedIn:
My number-one instrument. I’ve discovered editors, content material managers, and advertising and marketing leads right here extra instances than I can depend. - Twitter/X:
I as soon as discovered an editor’s appropriate e mail as a result of she casually tweeted, “Ship pitches right here as an alternative.” Gold. - About or Masthead pages:
Some enterprise blogs record their whole editorial employees, which makes it straightforward to decide on the appropriate identify.
In the event you can’t discover a identify after a couple of minutes of looking out, don’t panic. I’d verify their LinkedIn profile, discover them there and ship a DM as an alternative.
Use a impartial greeting resembling:
“Hello there,”
or
“Hello editorial staff,”
Editors don’t reject pitches since you didn’t discover their full identify. They reject pitches as a result of the thought doesn’t match, or as a result of it wasn’t despatched to the one that really assigns work.
So don’t overthink the salutation. Put your vitality into discovering the appropriate particular person and making your concept related to them.
4. Make Your Pitch Simple to Learn
Content material entrepreneurs skim. They’re drained. Their inboxes are overflowing.
Your pitch must be clear, brief, and easy.
Topic Line
Clear and particular.
Examples:
- Pitch: How Busy Mother and father Can Stop Burnout
- Freelance Author Pitch: 3 Story Concepts
- Article Pitch: Summer season House-Group Traits
Greeting
Quick. Pleasant. Skilled.
“Hello [Name],”
Opening Line
State your objective shortly.
“I’d like to pitch a narrative concept for [publication].”
For manufacturers:
“I’d love to assist your staff with content material and have a subject I believe will carry out nicely in your viewers.”
The Thought
Give the editor one thing to react to.
- One robust headline
- 1–3 sentences describing the angle
- Who it helps and why it issues now
- Elective: 2–3 bullets with sub-angles
Why You Can Write It
A couple of brief traces that present expertise—not your whole life story.
One thing like:
“I’ve written for [niche] manufacturers resembling ___ and ___. My work focuses on serving to readers perceive ___, and I can ship this piece shortly.”
Quick. Easy. Assured.
CTA
At all times shut with a gentle name to motion:
“If this appears like a superb match, I’d be joyful to write down it.”
“If you wish to see extra concepts, I can ship one other batch.”
5. Ship It & Then Comply with Up
One factor I began doing early in my profession was to ensure to all the time observe up on any leads I had.
I do know plenty of writers really feel intimidated by this half.
You don’t need to appear pushy, you don’t need to annoy anybody, and also you positively don’t need to destroy your possibilities.
I used to really feel the identical manner.
However when you’ve been pitching lengthy sufficient, you notice one thing vital:
Content material managers aren’t ignoring you — they’re overwhelmed.
Generally they open your e mail on their cellphone whereas ready in line for espresso.
Generally they learn your first sentence, get pulled into a gathering, and neglect to return again.
Generally they imply to reply later and by no means do.
Your pitch didn’t fail. It simply received buried underneath life.
A follow-up solves that.
I realized this years in the past once I pitched an enormous digital publication.
I didn’t hear again for per week and assumed it was a no.
However I adopted up anyway, partly as a result of I used to be curious, partly as a result of I needed closure.
They replied in underneath 5 minutes:
“Thanks for the reminder! That is nice. Let’s run it!”
That response taught me extra about pitching than any writing course ever might.
So right here’s the rule I nonetheless use right this moment:
Wait 5–7 days, then observe up with one easy line.
One thing like:
“Hello [Name], simply bumping this up in case it slipped previous your inbox. Completely satisfied to ship extra concepts if this one isn’t the appropriate match.”
That’s it. No explaining, no apologizing, no rewriting your whole pitch.
You’d be shocked what number of content material managers reply to the follow-up and never the unique e mail.
What’s even higher is the follow-up script I share in my Writeto1k course.
A Easy Pitching System that Works
I hope you discovered this beneficial!
Pitching doesn’t must be difficult. As a substitute, make it straightforward with the following pointers.
Let me know within the feedback beneath your pitching course of!