VII. Write a good pitch
According to studies, editors receive up to 10 pitches per day. That number might seem low, but it’s likely even higher as many pitches never make it to the right address and are never reviewed. So, what can you do to stand out?
Two things editors love: interesting topic suggestions and highly personalized emails.
Unfortunately, there’s no exact formula for a perfect pitch. Every blog has different requirements, audiences, and editors who value different things.
But don’t worry, we can show you the ingredients you need and how to mix them together to create a winning pitch:
Craft an enticing subject line
According to recent studies, emails with clear and concise subject lines boast an impressive 47% open rate boost. Yes, you read that right – almost half!
Here’s the thing,
Marketing, and business niches have caught on to the fact that creating great content can keep followers engaged on social media and drive organic traffic.But let’s face it, it’s tough to keep up with a high volume of original content. That’s where guest contributions come in.
You might be surprised to learn that sites are actually open to receiving guest post pitches, and they’ll often read them even if your subject line isn’t the most creative.
However, if you’re pitching to a site that doesn’t publish a lot of guest content, a captivating subject line could be your key to catching their attention.
Sprinkle these sizzling ideas in your subject lines:
- Drop a mind-blowing stat about your upcoming content
- Toss a thought-provoking question their way
- Whisper the editor’s name – it’s like a secret handshake
- Bond over shared interests – find that sweet spot
Crafting the Body of the Email
The first impression is everything, and this can be particularly true when it comes to guest post pitches. It’s crucial to take your time to compose a flawless pitch because it reveals a lot about your competency and attention to detail.
Structure Sense:
The structure and readability of the pitch are essential indicators of whether you can organize your thoughts logically and communicate them effectively.
Check Grammar:
Additionally, proofreading your pitch thoroughly is a clear sign of your precision and professionalism.
Show, Don’t Tell:
A successful pitch also requires an understanding of the blog’s audience and interests. Including previous work examples and topic descriptions is another way of displaying your expertise.
Include Links:
Finally, not mentioning important information like links to your website or your work history can be a significant red flag that could hurt your chances of being published.
Being mindful of these things will help make your guest post pitch stand out from the crowd.
Make it personal
When you’re reaching out to people, make it feel like a one-on-one chat, not a generic speech.
Now, we know you’re juggling a lot with limited time. But there’s a nifty tool called Pitchbox that can help you manage most of your outreach tasks. That way, you can focus on adding your personal touch where it counts.
We have already mentioned the importance of personalization in our #Tip 1.Now, let’s dive into some more cool ideas to make sure your pitch for a guest post shines bright and can’t be ignored:
- Drop the editor’s name
- Mention a post they did that rocked your world and explain why
- Tweak your topic ideas to match the vibe of their blog
- Share your past work examples that fit their style
- Show you really dug deep: share something cool you found during your research
And remember, you’re not stuck with just these ideas!
- Toss in a meme, GIF, or a cool graphic – show your fun side!
- End with a snazzy quote to leave them thinking
- Ask for their take on a tricky problem – everyone loves sharing insights
Personalization is your secret sauce. It tells them you’re not just another email in the pile. You care about what you’re writing, and that’s gold!
Here are some basic yet crucial tips to make your emails look professional and credible:
- Customize your email address for a more polished impression.
- Don’t forget to include your name, website title, and social media handles for easy follow-up information.
- Stick to one font for a sleek and consistent email appearance.
- Avoid overwhelming your reader with a wall of text! Break up your content into clear and concise paragraphs to effectively get your point across.
Check out this proven email template from Brian Dean:
# TEMPLATE 1
Hi [Name],
I’m a long-time reader. You may have noticed my comment on your post on [Article] (awesome article by the way).
I’m writing to you because I’d love to contribute a guest post on [Website].I’ve been brainstorming some topics that I think your readers would get a ton of value from:
[Idea #1]
[Idea #2]
[Idea #3]
I’ll make sure the piece overflows with information that can’t be found anywhere else.
To give you an idea of the quality I’ll bring to your site, here’s a link to a guest post that I recently published on [Other Website].
Cheers,
[Your First Name]
Here are some other excellent outreach templates by Neil Patel:
# TEMPLATE 2
Subject: A few content ideas?
Hi [First Name], I have a few article ideas that I think would be perfect for you if you’re interested. I didn’t mention it before, but I’m actually a [Your niche] blogger (just on my personal site).
I previously wrote a really in-depth article on [topic] {put the link in here!}. I was looking for a few great resources to link to in that article, but I couldn’t really find any, so I just noted down the topics.
I was planning on writing about them myself because I think they’ll turn out great, but it’s not exactly the kind of topic I usually write about on my site.
It just occurred to me that you might be the perfect writer to use these ideas, so they’re yours if you’d like to pitch them to any of your editors:
• [idea #1]
• [idea #2]
• [idea #3]
Let me know if you end up writing any—I’d love to read them.
Cheers,
[Your Name]
# TEMPLATE 3
Subject: you should blog about [insert your guest blog post topic] [First Name], as an avid reader of [their site name], I would love to read about [insert guest blog post topic], and I think your other readers would as well. Your content on [insert existing post from their website #1, insert existing post from their website #2, and insert existing post from their website #3] is great, but I think you can tie it all together by blogging on [insert guest blog post topic].
I know you are probably busy and won’t blog about it, so I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. How about I write it for you? Don’t worry, I’m a great blogger and have had my posts featured on [insert previous guest post URL #1] and [insert previous guest post URL #2].
Let me know if you are interested. I already know your blogging style, plus I understand what your readers love… as I am one.Look forward to hearing from you,
[Your Name]