It’s exciting that we live in a time where you can get your content featured in front of millions of people, but it’s not easy. Don’t get me wrong, you can do it, but only if you approach editors and the publication in the right way. As a former editor for The Good Men Project, I saw some great pitches and some that had me shaking my head.
Getting exposure through large publications is a killer strategy for building an email list, your business, and creating opportunities. The key is to get in and that has to be done with some finesse. Here are six mistakes to avoid when pitching. These mistakes have gotten many-a-writer rejected.
1. Don’t feel or come off as entitled.
One of the biggest turn-offs for editors is when someone approaches them with an entitled attitude. You may be some super entrepreneur who has done great things—that doesn’t matter or impress an editor. It’s all about the article.
Check the experience at the door and approach an editor from a place of how you want to make a difference on that publication. The credentials are great, but not necessary if you’ve done your homework researching what articles work for that specific publication. Check the tone of your email and DON’T make assumptions.
2. Fix the grammar and formatting.
This is an easy fix, but one that keeps too many writers from getting accepted. You should submit your final version and that version should be as grammar free as possible. Use an amazing tool like Grammarly to correct most mistakes.
Also, the formatting in your article should be solid. There should be no awkward spacing, one space after the period, your main points and the title of the article should be bolded, and don’t go nuts with bolding throughout the article. If an article looks like it will be too much work, an editor will reject it.
3. Don’t come off like a marketer in your article.
Another big turn off for an editor and publication is when someone or the article feels too promotional. You will get your links in your bio and people will click. When you have links that point towards your other content in the initial pitch, it’s an easy NO for an editor. You can use strategic linking but only AFTER you have established yourself on that publication. Also, avoid linking to landing pages. It looks bad and a landing page is NOT enough information for someone to make a decision to subscribe or not.
4. Be patient with editors.
On average, it will take about three weeks before you hear back from an editor. One HUGE mistake many people make is sending a follow-up email—it’s super annoying to editors. You just want to check on the status of your article, but to an editor, it comes off as if you’re rushing them. Editors are busy and won’t respond well to someone pressuring them. You don’t want to come off as a high maintenance writer. Give them time and space. Only send follow up emails when they have first interacted with you.
5. Follow the guidelines and don’t misspell the editor’s name.
Most—but not all—publications will have a page that lays out what they want and how they want it. Here is an example on Mind Body Green. If they have one of these pages, read it and follow the instructions exactly. When you don’t, you will be rejected. Also, make sure you spell the editor’s name correctly. This may seem simple, but you would be surprised how often this is botched with various editors.
6. Don’t get complacent.
One danger is getting complacent after you’ve been accepted into a few publications. You feel good because you’ve had success, so you coast while you pitch new publications. One win doesn’t mean all the other pitches will be accepted. Once you get accepted into a few, don’t get complacent by not pitching new ones. You should be in five solid publications to see massive growth. Don’t let rejection keep you from trying and growing.
One publication you can pitch today.
Large Publications Pro Tip (replay). If you want to write for large websites such as Entrepreneur, Success, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc. and so on, you’re going to need some writer social proof. You get this social proof when you write for other decent sized websites. The more of these websites that you’ve written for when you pitch, the better your chances are of getting in.
Publication editors don’t recognize websites like Medium or LinkedIn Publisher as good social proof–they won’t help you much. I know this because I’ve talked to and hung out with editors at all of the publications I listed above. But, they will recognize websites such as The Good Men Project, Addicted 2 Success, Mind Body Green, Elite Daily and so on. The websites that have good organic followings (Medium depends on its contributors for traffic).
Today’s tip is one website that YOU can get accepted as a contributor at this week that will help give you good social proof. That website is Arianna Huffington’s new platform, Thrive Global. Here’s how you get accepted:
1. Write a personal development based “listicle” article. Personal development may not be your core message but that doesn’t matter. Once you get accepted as a contributor, you will get a contributor account, you can then write about your core message. A listicle is an article that lists numbers: 7 ways to blah…. and so on. This article shouldn’t be more than 1,000 words.
2. Put together the pitch email. The first paragraph should talk about what you like about Thrive Global (do your research). The second paragraph should be a short description of who you are and what you do. Then, put the article you wrote IN the body of the email (no attachments). Make sure the formatting is good: same size and style of font. Bold where necessary but not too much.
3. Pitch it. Send the pitch email directly to Arianna Huffington. Her email address is ah@thriveglobal.com. She normally responds fairly quickly.
That’s it. Start with Thrive Global but move forward and get into more websites so that you can pitch the larger ones. As you write for more of these publications, you will grow every part of your business. I hope this helps. THREE people have already used this tip to get accepted as contributors.
Between my pro tip and this post, you have a solid blueprint to pitch any large publication that you want. The key is to write a great article that works for the publication you’re pitching. You don’t need a connection, and you don’t need to be some decorated expert. Use these tips and get exposure. Leverage that exposure to take your dream to the next level.
What mistakes have you made when pitching a publication?
Success through Large Publications will teach you how to pitch and become a contributor to large publications. Not get featured or interviewed, you will learn how to get your own contributor account. Large publication exposure will give you the social proof you need to book consulting gigs. There are only eight spots left open.
You will learn the exact steps to get articles published and/or contributor accounts at The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen, Mind Body Green, Fox News, The Good Men Project, Yahoo, NBC News, Time Magazine, Business Insider, Addicted 2 Success, CBS News, Fast Company, Fortune, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Elite Daily, all multi-author websites, and all blogs.
This is an awesome tip. I don’t know what I will do without you and these great tips Kimanzi. Enjoy from where ever your at in the world. Thanks as always!
I’m glad you’re getting value, brother 🙂
Thanks Kimanzi. In got to know about your not so good an experience in our country, Kenya. We are a great people. I regret your experience.
My mom is from Mombasa 🙂 I lived in Kenya for two years.