It’s no secret that bloggers often hold more influence power than traditional media contacts, so pitching them the right way is crucial. And when you find a niche blogging community, like the dad blogging communities across the Web, tailoring your pitches to their preferences is that more important. We recently chatted with Don Martelli, who pens the DadLife Chronicles blog and covers topics relevant to fatherhood, family and parenting. Read on to find out what makes him open your email pitch.
What kind of press releases do you prefer to receive?
I like unique story ideas that promote family values, dad related stuff (sports, DIY, childcare, technology, apps, movies/entertainment) and other experiences that I can enjoy with my kids. I am also interested in sponsored content, product reviews that are family oriented and exploring content themes that intersect topics such as education, social media, society and more. I’m also pretty open to additional ideas, just as long as there is a slant toward dads, kids and family.
What kind of pitches will quickly catch your attention?
Short pitches, that are focused and understand the topics that I write about. I am also a sucker for witty pitches, but aren’t too witty that there’s zero substance. As a former reporter, I’m always looking for good stories to tell. Well-written pitches that are on target, resonate with my readers (families), are unique, have a purpose and good context are what I’ll gravitate towards.
Do you have any advice for PR professionals trying to pitch you?
Do your homework. Get a sense of what I write about, what makes me tick and adhere to the tips I’ve provided about getting my attention. Lastly, if I don’t get back to you the first time, I’ve probably missed the pitch. Feel free to follow-up a couple times and I’ll tell you if I’m interested or not. Also, focus on building the relationship. That’ll get noticed and get your clients coverage.
What about any pet peeves?
Over-aggressive pitching and follow-up. Bland, formulaic, off-topic, poorly-written pitches that have zero news value or aren’t of interest to my readers.
Martelli is also open to being pitched via social media. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram .
The Cision Media Research Team maintains a database of more than 1.6 million records, including social influencers, traditional media contacts, outlets and opportunities. We collect and maintain the latest contact and pitching information of bloggers and journalists who can spread your message, broaden your campaign and help you build relationships with the people who matter. To experience the Cision Media Database first hand, request a demo here.
Image via Pixabay
