How Not to Reply to a Pitch Request (And Tips to Do Better!)

I just spent the last ten minutes musing over some beautiful reflections.

A loving father talked at length about his memories of teaching his young daughter how to drive, including all the cringy trials and tribulations.

I also read sentiments from a woman who reflected on her father’s passing, a true car lover as evident by the list of antique makes and models she rattled off in her mini-essay.

The tales were warm and heartfelt, but not exactly right for the response to a pitch request made by a busy content marketer. These pitches were:

• Too long
• Too personal
• Not focused on the client
• Didn’t follow the pitching guidelines

What is a Content Marketing Article Pitch?

Hear me out: I love a good reflection piece filled with bright detail and relatable anecdotes. They have their place on the page/screen/journal. But, when it comes to pitching, keep those warm gooey moments to a sentence or two, not a full-screen email.

Why?

A pitch request is a call for an article idea or topic. Some ask for a brief outline. Others request a succinct paragraph.