When you start to blog or have a business, you find yourself in need of a pitch letter. You may want to begin writing reviews or pitching for advertising, if you are a blogger. As a business owner, you may need to write a pitch letter to get your product in the press or to offer it for review. Don’t be intimidated, writing a pitch letter is easier then you may think. Successful pitch letters are short and to the point. I receive pitches all the time, and I can tell you that I skim the long ones because I am only looking for the basics; what is it, why should I be interested, and how do I contact the PR person representing the product or service.
Simple steps to a pitch letter.
Start off by introducing yourself or your company. Discuss how your product or service is unique and can solve a problem. Make sure to link to your site or blog if you are pitching through email. If you are pitching in print, just give the site address.
Secondly, or in the second paragraph, expand on how your product or services can benefit readers of the publication or site. If you have previous reviews, use a testimonial to enhance this paragraph.
Finally, you want to close with a story idea and your email address and/or phone number. I suggest stating you will contact them in a week. You don’t want to solely leave it to them to contact you. If you do not state you will be contacting them, it may seem awkward to make contact again.
A pitch letter is not complicated nor is it long winded. It is expected to be turned down or not contacted. Do not allow that to discourage you. There are many reasons your pitch could be turned down without meaning your product is rejected. I turn down a lot of pitches and my reasons are normally: no time to review it, it does not fit into the topics I am writing about, and a few times because the letter was so long I just moved on. Yes, I know how that may sound but when you have to sift through so many you find ways to cut down. So, keep it short, friendly, and to the point.