By Andrea Lehr
Wondering how to pitch editors? How do you know which are worth pitching?
Or maybe you found the perfect editor and are wondering what to include in your pitch?
Every journalist has his or her own personality, so it’s imperative you alter your tone and approach throughout the outreach process to maximize results.
BuzzStream partnered with Fractl to analyze the recent articles and social media accounts of top-tier editors from 11 verticals to uncover the different personality types you’ll encounter when pitching.
Below is an overview of the verticals and the best way to pitch editors perfectly.
Pitch Editors Based on Industry
Automotive Editors
Automotive editors are looking for something new, whether it’s new technology or a fresh take on a classic car.
They’re also very much into statistical comparisons to help fuel discussions amongst their readers.
When you pitch editors: Include surprising data and brand-centric research.
Education Editors
Education editors are looking to share knowledge and ideas, and they particularly love pitches that provide solutions to problems.
When you pitch editors: Include an emotional connection and research from peer-reviewed journals.
Finance Editors
Finance editors are interested in innovative ideas and new angles for finance tools and strategies.
They normally specialize in a particular topic, so be sure to check their beat before pitching.
When you pitch editors: Include authoritative sources and raw data that ties into a current event.
Food Editors
Food editors are primarily women, and they often focus on a particular cuisine or region of food.
Because they often own their own blogs, a highly personalized pitch is crucial.
When you pitch editors: Include a personal connection and an offer of high-quality images.
Technology Editors
Technology editors receive the largest volume of pitches per vertical, so you’ll want to be sure your pitch is brief.
To get noticed, you’ll want to offer original, data-driven content specific to their beat.
When you pitch editors: Include stats in your subject line and brief text; make your pitch less than 100 words, if possible.
Travel Editors
Travel editors are looking to offer their readers unique guides to certain areas, so be sure to offer something unexpected or fascinating.
Their most popular assets include lists and videos.
When you pitch editors: Include a personal connection and a spotlight on travel tips.
Health Editors
Health editors manage a wide variety of topics, so be sure to offer data specific to their beat.
Their articles often extract data from medical studies and offer it to their readers in a way they will enjoy.
When you pitch editors: Include a strong data-driven conclusion in your subject line and a reference to original data.
Business Editors
Business editors are interested in stats and trend analysis since they cover a longstanding topic.
Their beats can be very specific, so be sure to check before you pitch.
When you pitch editors: Include statistical data that ties into a current event.
Entertainment Editors
Entertainment editors want original research on current celebrity trends with high social potential.
These editors are usually younger, so be sure to add some personality to your pitch.
When you pitch editors: Include a clickbait story that highlights data that readers will easily identify with.
News Editors
News editors often want to take ownership of a story, so offer them exclusive, raw data they can mold into a feature tailored specifically for their readers.
When you pitch editors: Include an important stat in your subject line and brief text; keep your pitch less than 100 words if possible.
Lifestyle Editors
Lifestyle editors are looking for an emotional angle or actionable post, so offer them a unique story that ties into their passions or personal interests.
When you pitch editors: Include a personal connection and a brief message.
Influencer Personas
As part of the analysis we did with BuzzStream, we created a flipbook on editors and their personas.
To pitch editors is a bit intimidating, especially if you don’t have an existing relationship.
By incorporating these techniques into your next pitches—and always, always personalize (say no to mass pitching)—you’ll boost both your response and placement rates while increasing the overall reach of your campaign.
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