Pitching journalists is a lot like fishing. You have your bait (your pitch), and you cast out the line into the media sea, hoping to get a bite. Of course, just because a fish nibbles at your line doesn’t mean that you’ve made the catch. You still have to reel it in successfully. The same goes when you’re pitching journalists. You might get a bite (a response to your pitch), but you still have to reel them in if you want to get earned coverage.

• Get them what they need quickly—When a journalist responds to your pitch, they’ll probably ask you a few questions or request that you provide them with something they need for their story. Don’t delay in getting the journalist whatever it is he or she is asking for. If you wait too long, they’ll move on to someone else, and they might end up writing you off from then on as an unreliable source.
• Always be available—You want to be the source that reporters can depend on to always be available when they need you. Be the guy or gal who journalists can count on to answer the phone or reply to an email in a timely manner. That’s how you’ll become a go-to source that gets repeat media coverage.
• Be able to deliver on what you pitched—When it comes to pitches, talk is cheap. Reporters are bombarded by pitches all day long from people who claim to be the leading experts on something or say that they have the most groundbreaking and revolutionary product. Bla bla bla…it’s all talk until you back it up. So, you’d better be able to keep the promise of your pitch.

What are some other tips to reel journalists in when they bite on a pitch? Share your thoughts by commenting below!

This article is written by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases (http://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. Download your free copy of 7 Cheap PR Tactics for Success in Any Economy here: http://www.ereleases.com/7cheaptactics.html