Preguntas frecuentes
How should PR agencies structure press release distribution?
Send pitches to highly targeted segments based on beat and outlet type. A tech journalist doesn't care about your lifestyle client. Personalize the subject line and opening to reference their previous coverage. For breaking news, send in segments (top tier first, then secondary tier) so early adopters see it fresh. Follow up once after 3-5 days if they haven't opened it. Respect their inbox - they get hundreds of emails daily. Quality targeted pitches beat mass distribution every time.
What should a pitch email look like?
Start with a compelling subject line that hooks them immediately. Keep the pitch to one or two paragraphs maximum. Make it clear why this story matters to their audience. Include a strong call-to-action (suggest a time to chat). Attach the full press release or provide a link to it. Sign with your name, phone, and email so they can reach you easily. Most journalists skim pitches quickly. If you don't hook them in the first 10 seconds, they delete it.
How do we manage follow-ups without annoying journalists?
Follow up once after 3-5 days if they haven't opened it. That's usually it unless they've engaged. If they opened but didn't click, that's a signal they might be interested but need more info. Send one more email with additional details or a different angle. Never follow up more than twice. Journalists' silence usually means they're not interested. Respect that and move on. Your reputation depends on being respectful of their time.
Should we personalize every pitch email?
Absolutely, when possible. Reference something they wrote recently or covered previously. This shows you've done your homework. The more you can make them feel like you pitched them specifically (not 500 others), the better your response rate. Generic mass pitches get deleted. Personalized pitches get read. It takes more effort but drives dramatically better results. Some agencies use templates with merge tags for efficiency.
How do we segment our media list effectively?
Primary segmentation is by beat or topic area. A tech reporter shouldn't receive fashion pitches. Secondary segments are by outlet type (major national, trade publications, local media, blogs). Tertiary segments are by geography or audience size. Use tags for past coverage: journalists who've written about you before might be more receptive to future pitches. Clean your list regularly by removing contacts who have unsubscribed or bounced.
What metrics matter most for PR email campaigns?
Open rate tells you if your subject line is compelling. Click rate shows if the pitch resonated. But the real metric is coverage. Did the email lead to an article, podcast mention, or interview? Track which journalists respond and which outlets you secure coverage in. Some email platforms let you tag "covered this" so you track success. Over time, you'll see which journalists are most responsive and which pitches resonate best.