Pitching your idea or project to a brand can be daunting. But it’s essential to drumming up additional campaigns. We can’t just sit around and wait for projects to arrive in our inbox. When pitching to a brand, there’s definitely a way to go to ensure you get your point across swiftly and get a response. We’ve been pitching for years, and these are 8 common mistakes we see in blogging pitch emails to brands and agencies.
8 Mistakes You’re Making Pitching Brands
1. Too Long Of A Pitch
There’s a fine line between too long and too short of a pitch. Focus on the main points your trying to convey without rambling. A good formula would be a 2-3 sentence intro, followed by a brief description of your pitch/angle, and then close with a call to action that requires a response.
If you’re looking for what a perfect pitch email looks like, join TBS and check out The Library for our template!
2. Emailing The Wrong Contact
Take the time to look up the correct person you should be reaching out to. This may take a little digging into a website, social media or press releases. But it’s usually best to address the right person when possible.
3. Not Having an Angle When Pitching Brands
Every pitch email should include a specific angle or story you’re looking to cover that not only aligns with your brand, but also the brand you’re pitching to. Choose angles that are timely instead of a broad generalization of “I’d love to work together on some style posts”.
4. Don’t Follow Up
Not following up on emails is leaving potential money on the table. Set a reminder in your calendar or Google Boomerang to remind you to follow up a week or two later. And don’t stop there, follow up AGAIN, you never know when they’ll finally open the email.
5. Don’t Customize The Email To The Pitch/Brand
When pitching brands it’s important to customize the pitch. Include the brand name, any relevant new launches or initiatives that align with your brand. For example, if you’re a petite blogger and noticed a brand you admire now has a petite line, pitch them a story that aligns with this. Mention the new collection and how you’d like to be a part of spreading the news to your audience.
6. Attaching A Media Kit
There’s no need to attach your media kit at first. Include in your email a few important stats that set you apart like your pageviews and engagement rates. You can also include a quick mention of your audience stats should it align with the brand.
7. Not Introducing Yourself And Your Brand
Don’t assume the brand knows who you are. Always include a brief intro of you and your brand and any notable stats they should know. Still keep it short and sweet. And don’t forget to include a link to your website!
8. Leaving Your Pitch Open Ended
Once you wrap up your email, don’t just say “looking forward to hearing from you”. Ask a definitive question that requires a response. A yes or no is always great. A good example is “Do you think this project would be a good fit for your client?”.
What do you always include in your email when pitching brands? Share with us in a comment below!
