Tbex 2013 Toronto Creative Pitching for Experienced Travel Bloggers

Creative Pitching for Experienced Travel BloggersRyan Levitt, PR Director, HouseTrip

@ryanlevitt/@housetrip

Every day I get at least one pitch – and they all look the same

Dear Ryan Levitt, I'm (insert name), a travel blogger of (insert blogsite with slightly cute name), where I feature my favorite spots from around the world.

•Brand name misspelled three times in email (Housetrip, House Trip, HouseTrip)•Pitch for completely irrelevant destination (HouseTrip have 4,000 properties available in Paris and 44 in Kuala Lumpur – where do you think my priorities will be)•Request for ridiculous amount of nights (2 weeks to ‘immerse in a destination)•Patronising information about what social media is and/or how bloggers can help•NO discussion of long-term effects or how working together will benefit my brand•Links to previous coverage with no discussion of how brand benefitted•No comment on what specific thing about my brand they particularly like

Think more like a journalist, publisher and media salesperson

Journalist: ORIGINAL angles to secure commissions – yet relevant to readership

Publisher: ORIGINAL ways to package content that engages readers – advertorial, event sponsorship, think outside the box

Media salesperson: Make your website the one I NEED to invest it – targeted readership

Question One: Is the company experienced working with bloggers?

Question Two: How can I research the market?

Question Three: What is the brand currently featuring on their website?

Statement Four: STOP pitching free travel – unless there is a twist or USP

Statement Five: Know what you want from your blog – and what your limits are

Statement Six: Case studies, case studies, case studies

Statement Six: Be prepared to cut corners

Statement Seven: Put some muscle in it

Statement Eight: No excuses

Statement Nine: Know that I am going to research you

Statement Ten: Don’t be greedy

Dear Ryan Levitt, I'm (insert name), a travel blogger of (insert blogsite with slightly cute name) and I focus on (this niche sector).•Correct brand name with specific example of what you like about us•Example that you know my brand inside out – pitch me content I am missing but related to a destination or experience you know I am pushing •Reasonable request for assistance – and show me you are willing to reach out to other brands if required•Basic, verifyable information about your analytics in plain English•2-3 options of how we can work together, how my company will benefit and how you have done it in the past with relatable case studies•Information on travel dates – so we know what you are up to and when•Details on what your limits are (if you have any) – but done in a way that shows solutions to these obstacles