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If you don't know how to properly pitch an editor, your freelance writing career is going to be pretty short-lived. You can only make a first impression once, so you want to take your time and make a careful pitch that will catch an editor's eye.
Now, it's important to understand that more often than not, even with a stellar pitch, you won't get a response. Don't get discouraged just because you don't hear back from an editor or executive. But if you're doing it correctly, you can get a response to one out of twenty, or even one out of ten. If you're racking up stats like that, you're doing pretty well. The following tips will help you get those treasured responses.
1. Don't Be the Obnoxious Mass Mailer. I worked for several years as an editor at an industry trade magazine, and few things made me click the delete button faster than a jacked up, impersonal pitch. Some people have some success tailoring a templated pitch for specific magazines, but I've found that I have the best luck writing each pitch from scratch.
2. Pitch the Right Target. Know who you are pitching. Take the time to look at the magazine's letterhead and direct your pitch to the appropriate contact. Don't overreach and go straight for the editor-in-chief. They don't want your pitch and it'll go straight to the trash folder. You're looking for titles like managing editor, associate editor, or editor of a specific section of the publication that you are interested in writing for.
3. Don't Ramble on About How Awesome You Are. Tell them a little about you, but more importantly, tell them about how your experience can work for them. If you can't show them in a couple hundred words why they need you, then they'll just assume they don't need you. This brings up the next point.
4. Keep it Short. Most editorial departments are understaffed, and as such, editors are almost universally busy as hell. If they open your email and see a wall of text, they'll just delete it without reading it. You want one or two paragraphs tops.
5. Find Out What They Want. There are two types of pitches. You can either pitch a specific article idea, or just pitch your general services. Before bothering to reach out to an editor, you should know what they'll be open to. Some sites and magazines want you to give them an idea, and then later on they may start to assign you regular work if they like a few of your one-off articles or blogs. Others are looking for a long-term writer up front. Do your research in advance so you know if this is a one-off client, a potential long-term client, or something in between. Your ability to anticipate their needs is crucial to getting their attention.
Below is an example of a successful pitch I used to get an assignment from a magazine tailored to veterans.
Dear Ms. XXXX,
I’m an OIF combat veteran and freelance writer based in New York, As a veteran, I would love to be a contributor to XXXXXXX. I have extensive experience writing B2B and B2C content for niche publications, and I’m confident that I can assist you with any writing needs you may have.
If interested, you may view my writing samples at https://justaboutwritellc.com/portfolio. I’m capable of writing features, news briefs, case studies, or any other content you may require. I hope to hear from you soon to discuss your needs. Thank you for your time and have a great day.
Keep it short. Keep it sweet. Keep it neat. Keep it relevant. Follow these rules and you'll be scoring clients in no time.
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