a pitch involves knowing your products or services and target audience inside and out so that you'll have confidence when delivering the idea. You'll also want to include plenty of information on why there is a clear need for your product or service and show that you've done market research.
For bringing in outside writers, several magazines have different pipelines and procedures. Some people just occasionally bother, while others constantly do it.
To get a pitch, start by learning more about the publications you want to write for. Find a copy of their submission requirements online if you can, and thoroughly review them. What is their fashion? What makes their strategy unique? Don't pitch a long feature to a publication that specializes on short news pieces.
When the editor you're pitching a piece to knows you, it's much simpler to get it published. Develop these connections. Introduce yourself by sending an email to editors and authors whose work you value. These exchanges don't have to be monumental because everyone is busy, but they can give you insider knowledge on who handles pitches, what their budget is like, and what they’re hungry for.
Hal Humphreys, a principal at Pursuit magazine, private investigator, and erstwhile storyteller on national shows like Marketplace, recommends against a scattershot template-email approach. Instead, he advises, think like a spy.
“The craft of building a network of clients and colleagues isn’t about casting a wide net. It’s about seeding real relationships. It requires time and calculation. It can even seem a bit creepy at times.”
