How to effectively follow up a pitch

SO you haven't had a response to your lovingly crafted, concise pitch with a hook to die for? Don't panic. Editors are human too.

Perhaps they are away from their desk, perhaps they are working on a special project or standing in for a colleague. Perhaps they picked up your pitch, thought ''hmmn this looks interesting'' but haven't had time to come back to you. They may not even have seen your pitch in the sea of emails they receive in any given day.

What they are almost certain NOT to be doing, if your pitch is well put together, is thinking: "What a load of rubbish, I really must put a black mark against this chancer and resolve never to enter into correspondence with them!" Whatever you do, don''t assume the worst.

You can follow up effectively.

Depending on the lead-in times or newsworthiness of your hook, you may want an answer quickly, or you can follow up at a later date without wanting to look too ''pushy.''

If you need a quick answer, then pick up the phone at an appropriate time - a day or so later should be reasonable for most publications, or if it''s a monthly publication, there''s no harm in sending a polite email a week or so later with "Seeking feedback on pitch'' - with your original attention-grabbing ''sell'' or headline in the subject field.

Still no answer? Then leave it another week and phone. Make sure you phone at a convenient time - not when a section editor for example, is likely to be tied up with the finishing touches to that week's edition. If you don''t know what day this is - find out.

This really does work. Plan what you want to say before picking up the phone and aim to sound as upbeat as possible. You may get a ''no'' - but this can be for all sorts of reasons - perhaps they already have a piece planned on a similar theme, perhaps space has been cut back because of a special feature or more advertising. Who knows? What none of this means is that they thought your pitch was a load of old nonsense.

Even the most experienced freelancers can hear ''no'' more than they hear ''yes'' - but if your ideas are good enough, are targeted at the right editors at the right time then you are bound to break through! It''s easier said than done, but just stay positive - and polish your pitches to give them the best chance possible - in the meantime.

Comments

[Denise P]

Absolutely brilliant advice as usual Linda. I guess the crux of it is, as you explained so well, editors are human too. We often see them as too scary to approach because we know they hold our fate in their hands. It's like going for an interview for a job you really really want, over and over again! In time, as you gain more experience and confidence, your pitch success rate improves. However, I still say there's nothing more useful that knowing the editors personally - unfortunately I've never been in that position but I know that many editors naturally prefer to use those they know.

[Katy Murr]

What about when you're pitching to newspaper eds, and the story is really time-sensitive, but you've tried ringing and they're out at the moment? Is it reasonable to just send it on elsewhere?

I've found this post helpful, though more info on very time-sensitive pitches would be great!

[Linda]

If it's time sensitive, pick up the phone and sell the story and move on to the next ed if you get a 'no'.

[Steve Newman]

Excellent advice Linda. Very useful indeed. Thanks.

[Linda]

Thanks Steve for your continued support.

[Freelance Writer Jobs]

Super post there Linda. Thanks