Pitching Blog Writers

Posted by Laura Bergells

October 10, 2006

Throughout my career, I have often served as a publicist — the gal that writes a press release, gets it distributed, calls on editors and reporters about a story idea, or served as background information source for journalists.

But I am a blogger now, and I cover a communication and presentation beat on my other blog. So I wryly grin when I, myself — the PR flack — get calls and letters from publicists who pitch their story ideas to me. As I blogger, I am a publisher with an audience — so now I am on the other side of the fence.

(Actually, I am on both sides of the fence, as I still pitch story ideas to other writers and editors of other publications and media outlets. But that is another story for another day…)

Overall, I find it educational to receive pitches from other publicists. I get to learn more about how their styles differ from mine, what works, and what does not. Hopefully, this new experience of “being pitched to” will make me a better publicist, myself.

That is why I was thrilled to read this post about how to pitch to bloggers. Bottom line — if you have hired a publicist or a PR firm — do they pitch bloggers as well as the traditional media? And are they sensitive to the particular needs of the blogging community? Do they have successful blogs of their own?

And ultimately…are they successful at getting your story placed at key blogs in your industry?