PR People Please Take This Quiz Before Sending Another Pitch or Press Release

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By B.L. Ochman
Dear PR people: please take this quiz before you send out another press release or email pitch. (The correct answers are below: )
1. Has the print, online or broadcast reporter you are pitching ever covered this topic?
2. Why Would this pitch or release elicit a response from people who read it?
3. Is this pitch or release bullshit?
4. Would anyone pass along a story on this topic to a friend or colleague?
5. Have you Googled the reporters and bloggers on your list so you know if they’ve covered your competitor?
6. Have you read your competitors’ press releases?
7. Have you checked to see if any blogs specifically cover this topic?
8. Can you make the copy shorter?
Answers: 1. Yes; 2. Yes; 3. No; 4. Yes; 5. Yes; 6. Yes; 7. Yes 8. Yes.

Comments

1. Amy Gahran says:

   December 28, 2007 at 5:16 pm

   Good one — except I don’t hink #2 is a yes/no answer.
   #3 is a gem, I’d make it #1 :-)
   – Amy Gahran

   Reply
2. B.L Ochman says:

   December 28, 2007 at 6:30 pm

   Amy – right you are! I took the word “Why” out. Another example of how hard it is to edit one’s own writing. :>)

   Reply
3. Toby says:

   December 29, 2007 at 1:40 am

   BL – love it! A #9 suggestion: Will your story add value for the blogger and her community?

   Reply
4. Raving Rich says:

   December 30, 2007 at 4:08 pm

   Nice ones. I take your words. Really we want to think about this. That too all the questions are making to think about the press release.
   Thank you so much for sharing this.

   Reply
5. lisa kribs says:

   January 3, 2008 at 2:45 pm

   haha. #8, classic. Thank you!
   Lisa Kribs

   Reply
6. Anthony Juliano says:

   January 8, 2008 at 1:27 am

   #9 – “Have you taken the time to copy the release into the body of your e-mail instead of including it as an attachment? (Extra points for attaching it as a Word Perfect file.)

   Reply
7. Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound says:

   January 8, 2008 at 1:53 am

   Here’s yet another one:
   Have you spent any time at the journalist’s or blogger’s blog before pitching? Posting intelligent comments, even if you disagree with them, is one of the very best ways to catch their attention.

   Reply