As temperatures are rising and our strappy sandals, pretty skirts and sunglasses are itching to peek out of our closets, us PR girls are ready to enter the warmer months with that go-getter attitude ready to take on the city. And once March 1st hits we start writing up those magical Spring/Summer pitches to send over to our favorite editors.
Truth is, March 1st is probably a little late to start thinking about long-lead Spring pitches as you always want to be one step ahead, but those short-lead publications should be your top priority now! All winter, our email inboxes have been filling up with reminders to start thinking about Spring/Summer stories and as the days are getting longer, we can finally start acting on those once far away thoughts.
We all know how competitive the PR industry is, and that being said, we have to make sure we create fresh new angles and chic collages to pitch to magazines and tabloids. Try to tie your client’s latest story into the season and suggest how the Spring/Summer season can fit in with the trend. For example: ‘Channel your inner SoCal girl this Spring/Summer season’ or ‘Trend to try this Spring: Bows’. More importantly, try and make things as easy as possible for the editor. Link the clothes to your client’s website and if you are a photoshop pro, impress your supervisor and create witty titles and put together stunning imagery. Follow these tips and chances are that the editor will publish your pitch and you will get promoted.
Another very important tip I have for PR girls eager to make the most of your internship this Spring/Summer season is to update your media lists! Update your databases and make sure that you know the names of the editors like the back of your hand and have all the right contacts at the magazines you want to reach out to. There’s nothing worse than pitching your hard work to the wrong editor.
Another PR101 I have for you coffee addicts is to always remember that when you draft these pitches you have to believe in what you’re writing. You’d be surprised how your sincerity, or insincerity, can seep though your writing and be picked up when reading the pitch. Trust me, if the editor can tell that you only put fifty percent effort into your pitch, it will end up in their trash. There is a very good chance that our pitches get looked over more often than we think, and therefore, the last thing we want is for the editor to sense that we don’t love what we do. Further, make sure you NEVER misspell their name. This is a PR nightmare! And believe it or not, no matter how busy he/she is, that editor is likely to remember your mistake.
Our pitches are what bring us the press we so desperately want so make sure that your writing is also in top-notch shape once Spring rolls around. Writing is an essential part of PR and no reporter likes a PR girl who often misspells words or who does not know the difference between “their” and “there.” (And yes, that DOES happen.) Try to think of new, creative ways to get in touch with a reporter too. Instead of the normal email blast, send them a unique mailer! That will make you stand out from the rest of the PR pitches they receive every day and you will be more likely to get that placement.
As the days are getting longer and you start updating your Spring wardrobe make sure that you update your pitches as well and give them a fresh new look!
