Several factors can help a client’s message stand out if you’re pitching during an election year. It’s a politically charged period when pitching to the media, so here are tips to navigate a pitch.

Unraveling the Influence of Regulation and Laws

Understanding the influence of regulations and laws is a pivotal factor in effectively positioning a client’s message in the media if you’re pitching during an election year. The outcome of an election can significantly impact regulations and future legislation. By understanding and articulating how a client’s skills and knowledge align with these potential changes, you can empower your client’s audience. This can be done by highlighting specific bills and policies that could have legal implications after the election.

Be Patient and Persistently Pleasant When Pitching During an Election Year

Patience and persistence are not just important, they are crucial. The media landscape is unpredictable, especially during an election year, and journalists, reporters, and bookers are feeling the pressure now more than ever. If they don’t respond to your pitch email right away, don’t be discouraged. It’s acceptable to follow up, but be kind, compassionate, and understanding when you do so. The media is under unprecedented pressure to keep their audiences informed as quickly as possible.

Presenting Expert Commentary, Not Punditry

Positioning clients as experts who can offer informed commentary on specific topics is not just a strategy; it’s a key strategy. This approach not only sets them apart from mere pundits but also adds depth to their contributions, helping them avoid the pitfalls of engaging in politics.

Featuring Lifestyle Content When Pitching During an Election Year

PR agencies encounter special challenges if they’re pitching during election years. Journalists understand the value of promoting uplifting, inspiring, and powerful lifestyle messages. Despite global events, lifestyle content remains relevant, and people will continue to seek positive stories amid political unrest. Whether it’s about health, wellness, self-improvement, or feel-good stories, there’s a place for it. The key is to find angles that naturally fit within the broader media landscape while maintaining a balance.

It’s that time of year again — spring PR pitching season. Take advantage of all that spring has to offer to make your story pitching more relevant.

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

This beautiful quote can be applied to PR professionals: we know instinctively that story ideas must reflect the changing season. By embracing the themes of renewal, growth, and vitality inherent in the spring season, PR professionals can tailor their pitches to capture the attention of their target audience.

PR Pitching to Get Ahead This Spring

Your client’s content can be a garden of beautiful variety, when you plant it correctly. Here are five tips to put a spring in your PR pitching step!

• Spring into action by capitalizing on the warmer weather. For instance, if you have a restaurant client, pitch seasonal dishes for a cooking segment that incorporates bright colors that reflect the awakening landscapes, flush with new blooms.
• Cultivate a springtime campaign with the vigor of a horticulturist. Dig into prevailing trends that happen during warmer months. Stories ideas can surround Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, Mother’s Day, Graduation, Father’s Day, First Day of Summer, July 4. Create content based on what each month is known for.
• The colors of the season are filled with diverse botanical wonders. Use nature’s prism to reflect diversity in your PR strategy. Implementing different types of content and sharing it on your client’s social media channels will help your client grow an assorted oasis of relevant information.
• Embrace the sense of renewal in storytelling to evoke the spirit of spring. Editors and producers frequently choose story ideas that evoke a feeling of newness. Showcase your clients’ environmental consciousness by highlighting what eco-friendly practices they are doing during the warmer months. Pitch stories on green initiatives, energy-efficient strategies, or sustainable product launches that align with the values of environmentally conscious consumers.
• Put your experts on camera! Have retail clients talk about what is new for the spring and summer months. Pitch lifestyle specialists for a segment on easy ways to refresh interior and exterior living spaces. Present fitness professionals to demonstrate outdoor exercises that the whole family can enjoy.

In Spring, The Art of PR Story Pitching Steps Up

These tips serve as invaluable guidelines to craft compelling narratives that resonate with journalists and editors alike. Remembering the importance of personalization, timeliness, and succinctness ensures that pitches stand out amidst the flurry of media inquiries. Furthermore, fostering authentic relationships with media contacts and staying attuned to their preferences and interests can pave the way for fruitful collaborations. As the season unfolds, approach PR story pitching with creativity, strategic thinking, and a dash of seasonal flair, driving impactful storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.

How can you start pitching like a PR Pro in 2024? As we begin the year anew, producers, editors, and reporters are pursuing stories that will empower audiences to stick to their resolutions surrounding health and fitness, business growth, financial success, parenting, and many other areas.

PR Pro Tips for Pitching a Story Idea Using the New Year’s Resolution Angle

In a New Year pitch, skip the mundane details. Use succinct adjectives that will create an immediate visual in a producer’s mind’s eye. As a PR Pro, help the producer see their audience responding to the content. Highlight convincing before-and-after visuals — especially if your client is in fitness, weight loss, or beauty product spaces. Then have your client provide detailed tips and ideas that will motivate people to accomplish their New Year goals using their products/services.

As a PR Pro, position your client as an expert in their business or service and have them disseminate advice for easily accomplished New Year goals. This is highly effective with clients who offer information for the following:

• Fitness
• Weight loss
• Organization
• Travel
• Financial advice
• Nutrition/healthy eating

As people retain and implement your client’s advice, pitch an on-going monthly segment to have your client check in with audiences to offer encouragement on how to sustain New Year habits/goals throughout the year.

Keep Your Pitch Simple and Succinct

A pitch should begin with a bold statement that’s impossible to ignore. So ask a question, share a personal story, or throw in an unbelievable statistic to get their attention. Then after the attention-grabbing start, follow it up with a quick explanation. Follow PR best practices for success. After all, producers and editors are eager and willing to book a guest who engages an audience with valuable information that will help them achieve their New Year goals.

Are PR pros pitching media during the holidays?

You bet they are pitching media during the holiday season. The holidays often means a respite for journalists from covering a continual news cycle. But as the season nears, story ideas are not as plentiful and, as such, this becomes a prime time to position your client in the news. You can still have effective media relations and engage with journalists to get the best results for your client during the holidays.

Yes You Can Pitch the Media at Holiday Time

Do not be daunted by the copious amount of “out of the office” responses — journalists are still tasked with reporting and producing the news. So make your pitches! Here are some media outreach tips during the holidays:

1. Pitch evergreen story ideas and content — As the pace of news slows, mid-December to early January is the ideal time to pitch feature stories and thought leadership profiles. Reporters want to file their articles prior to taking time off. A journalist is more likely to use your story during this period if it does not rely on current events.
2. Do Not Pitch Holiday Stories in December — Editorial calendars are already rife with holiday content; it’s unlikely that a seasonal pitch, in December, will generate coverage. Media outlets plan holiday stories well in advance — if you’re pitching media in December do not wrap (pun intended) your client’s message in a holiday package.
3. Make Predictions and Be Inspirational — Predictions for the coming year can earn media mentions for your clients as experts in their professions. The holidays are also the perfect time to pitch positive stories. The media always gravitates towards a feel-good narrative during this time of year. Consider examples of outstanding customer service, volunteer activities of employees, or the benefits of company donations.
4. Broadcast Media — Broadcast media are always reliant on guests. Many television entities conduct interviews remotely. So pitch your client to national producers in this situation which is a great opportunity. At this time, producers are not inundated with story ideas! Sparsely populated email inboxes are your friend, and a strong pitch could set your client up for success.

Do not go completely dark with your pitching efforts during the holidays. This time of the year offers a unique opportunity to secure great placements.