Basic Principles of Pitching

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Recently I’ve been using PodMatch to pitch podcast hosts that I would be a great guest for their program. I’ve been amazed and grateful for these opportunities. Also I’m aware there is a set of basic principles which are important for every pitch.

If you are a writer who wants to publish or do anything in print or in the market, pitching is essential. It’s rare that anyone approaches you to write or publish something without you taking the first step to pitch them. No matter if you are pitching a magazine article, a book project, a newspaper article, a radio show, a book group, a guest blog post article or a podcast, there are a number of similarities in the basic pitch. Those elements are what I want to capture in this article.

The first step is to learn the system of how that person you are pitching expects to get the pitch. Maybe they have a google form to fill out. Or they want a particular type of article for their publication. Or they are looking for a particular type of person to interview for their podcast. Somewhere in their information, they will spell out who they are looking for and you need to absorb and follow this information. 

Several years ago at a writer’s conference, I had a brief conversation with a well-known editor who represented a large circulation publication about the process of getting on the faculty at a major, well-attended writers conference. To get into this process, you had to pitch on a particular deadline using as google form. This editor had attended this event multiple times and knew the decision-makers. She believed that to get an invitation on the faculty that she didn’t need to pitch or fill out the form. I listened and didn’t say anything but I was thinking, “Everyone pitches to get into the faculty of this conference--including me.” I hope you see how the attitude of this editor was off--and I’ve not seen her on the faculty for this event (her loss). Do not have this type of attitude. Instead use the expected path to make your pitch.

Create a Pitching System

It doesn’t matter what you are pitching, there is a system for getting considered. Make the effort to discover this system. If what you are pitching doesn’t have a system, then I encourage you to create your own system that you will use to consistently pitch the decision makers. One of the ways I’m consistent is using a system over and over. 

For example, with podcasting, I’m using PodMatch and I’ve got a strategy which book I’m promoting and how I’m promoting it. Podcasting can be fun for the author but if you don't have a target for your promotion, then you water down your effectiveness and have mixed results from your effort. I encourage you to aim for a particular target and make it easy for people to go there. On every podcast, I make a point to mention my special offer for 10 Publishing Myths where anyone can get the print book from me (including the shipping) for only $10 along with over $200 in bonuses. All you have to do is go to Publishing Offer.com (http://publishingoffer.com). Notice I picked two words easy to say and hopefully easy for someone to remember in case they are driving, exercising or something else distracting when they hear the podcast.  I hope they will recall these words when they get to a computer where they can explore it. Again I’ve focused on a strategic plan and encourage you to do the same with your use of PodMatch.  

In case you don’t know how I got “publishing offer” it is a change that I did on the website to forward from one website to another. I purchased the domain http://publishingoffer.com and then I set it up as a site which will forward to the site which sells my 10 Publishing Myths. There is nothing magic to this process--just some thought and strategy. 

Focus on the Receiver

Who is the person that will receive your pitch? Have they explained anywhere (online or in a market guide) what they are looking for? If you find this information, then this information will guide your pitch. For example, each time on PodMatch, the podcast host will detail their ideal guest criteria (who they want to select) and their audience (who are their listeners). In your pitch, you want to target this information with your pitch to get them interested. Through your pitch, you want to be a fit for this podcast and using this information will help you achieve your purpose (get booked on the podcast). 

Expect Rejection

Even using a tool like PodMatch, not every pitch will be successful. You may hear nothing or get a rejection. I encourge you to expect rejection then feel happy or surprised when you get accepted. To hear no or nothing is a part of the process. You are looking for an acceptance.

Be Consistent

A key part of the process is to consistent pitching. The only person who can give up is you. That regular pitching will pay off.

Understand It Is a Journey

The process of pitching (whatever you are pitching) is definitely a journey and celebrate your continued learning and growing in this experience. It is not something you do once and done but something you enter into over and over. When you don’t pitch, you don't connect to the decision makers who can propel your book or your writing before a new audience. The pitch is a vital part of the process and must be studied, improved and repeated. 

After the Pitch (bonus principles)

After you use the basic principles to get the assignment or podcast or writing gig or speaking gig, there are some additional steps you can take:

--deliver with excellence. For podcasting, I spend some time reviewing the stories I will tell and looking at the podcast. For a magazine article or blogpost, I make sure I am delivering what they expect with excellence--and I encourage them if they see something that needs fixing to let me know and I will do it right away. These actions are a part of being a professional.

--deliver on time. If you have a deadline, meet that deadline.

--follow-up the delivery and promote it to others. When your article or book or podcast gets published, promote it to others.

--bottom-line continue to be the exception and stand out making a difference.

If you do these bonus principles, you will position yourself for other opportunities. As members of the writing community, it’s easy to view it as a large and impersonal group of people. From my perspective it is actually a small and connected group which talks with each other. If you use these simple principles, it will help you be the exception and standout. Are there other principles that you would include? Let me know in the comments below.

More Recent Podcast Recordings:

I’ve mentioned in these articles that I’ve been using PodMatch to book podcasts:

Watch the Going North Podcast with Dominique “Dom” Brightmon (@DomBrightmon) Ep. 909 – Book Publishing Myths Every Aspiring Author Should Bust with Terry Whalin (@terrywhalin) at: https://bit.ly/3ZQVnMK

Tweetable:

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After speaking with authors for years, I know many authors have a unrealistic ideas about the details of publishing—and these details are important for your book to succeed. 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of

bonuses. 

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Failure To Be Consistent

   

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Each week for years, I’ve been writing these articles about the writing life and my work in publishing. With each article, my intention is to capture some important detail which I can use to encourage you in your own publishing journey.

In this piece, I want to admit a failure and a commitment to change and improve. Here’s a reality in the publishing world, you can align most of the pieces of a project--but if you neglect or forget one step, it can affect the results. I compare it to following a recipe to bake a cake and leaving out a key ingredient, then wondering why the cake tastes strange and does not work. The same principle is true in the book business.

For many years, I’ve gathered email addresses and have a newsletter list. It’s one of the critical elements for every writer to connect with readers. An email newsletter is something you control as an author and is not a “rented” space like a social media site such as X or Facebook or LinkedIN. Repeatedly I’ve learned that I have no control over these social media sites--especially when they change their rules and don’t tell you (which happens often). 

Every author needs to create an email newsletter and gather email addresses then they need to consistently use their newsletter or send valuble information to their readers. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to create various lead magnets or ways people will sign up for my newsletter. I’ve grown my list and my visibility in the marketplace (all important steps for every writer).

Here’s my confession in this piece and where I’ve failed to be consistent: with an inconsistent pattern, I’ve used my newsletter. Sometimes I go several months without sending anything to my readers. The experts say you can’t overuse your email list. I’m on a few lists which email daily. If it becomes too much then I unsubscribe. These same experts tell us if you use your newsletter too infrequently, your reader forget that they have subscribed to your list and don’t open it or simply delete it when it arrives. 

In the past, I’ve used my newsletter to promote a product where I’m an affiliate or I use it to promote a new product or book. These are good uses for a newsletter but I was missing the consistent and steady use to my readers.

Here’s another failure related to the details of my newsletter articles. I wrote each one on target and relevant to my readers but I included a variety of connections to other websites. This failure watered down the effectiveness of my communication and didn’t help the reader focus and go to a single location or single resource.

From my years in publishing, I understand failure is a key part of the journey. Also when you fail, you need to learn and then change or make adjustments to your process. As a writer, I’m committed to continuing to learn and grow--and I encourage you to take the same approach.

In recent months, I’ve been taking Rob Eagar’s online course Selling Books on a Shoestring Budget. This course is currently closed but will open again next year. One of the advantages of taking Rob’s course is the ability to email him a question and get his answer. It’s been great to have such a resource and insight. From this course, I’ve learned how to pitch and appear on more podcasts. It’s an ongoing process to pitch and appear on these events. Often these podcasts are recorded at one time then launched later. For example, I recently appeared on Hungry Authors Podcast and The Writing for Immortality Podcast. 

Also Rob’s course encouraged me to use my newsletter on a more consistent basis and to focus it with one link in each newsletter.  I’ve started sending these newsletters on Wednesday and I begin each subject with [A Publishing Insight]. As of this writing, I’ve sent newsletters for six straight weeks but I’ve scheduled content for about a dozen newsletters. I will be creating more newsletters in the days ahead. In this consistent action for my newsletter, I’m using one of the principles from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. If you make small changes on a consistent basis, they can compound to give you the success that you desire. 

Here’s another key principle of the publishing journey. It’s important to learn what others are doing and gain that knowledge. But that knowledge doesn’t add anything to your life and work if you don’t take action and apply it to your writing life. Keep taking action and some will fail but some will succeed. It’s a journey not a defined path. 

Change is not easy but I’m determined and a work in progress. Watch and see but also apply these principles of consistency to your own writing life and see if you find the success that you seek. There is not a straightforward road or path. If there were such a thing, then every book would be successful. Instead the process involves consistent experimentation, change and adjustment. I’m commited to this process and hopefully you are as well. 

Are there areas of your writing life where you have failed to be consistent? Let me know in the comments below and how you are making changes. I look forward to reading your comments.

Tweetable:

Some say, “Confession is good for the soul.” Prolific author and editor Terry Whalin admits failure to be consistent and gives the details of his changes and improvements in these details.  (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Writing for An Audience of One

     

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Have you ever been the only person in a large room with a speaker in the front? I recall speaking at a large writers conference with multiple sessions at the same time. I was teaching over several days and when one of my classes began, I had a single person listening to me. It was strange but I knew the conference was recording my session so I went ahead and spoke to the entire room (including the one person) and taught my session.

Some of my workshops have been completely full with every seat filled and people sitting on the floor in the back. Yet I have taught a few workshops with only one or two people. The experience is awkward but I’m glad to have someone in the room rather than just speaking an empty room (and the tape recording).

When you speak, you can look at your audience and interact with them. When you write, it is a different experience yet you still have an audience. How do you focus on the reader? It’s what I want to examine in this article.

Who is the audience for your writing? Why are you telling your story or article or novel? One of the key basics for every writer is to have a clear picture of your audience as you write words. For example, for these blog articles, I’m focused on anyone interested in publishing. I’m using the word in a broad sense whether you are writing online, in print, for magazines or books. There are a broad sweep of people who are interested in the various aspects of publishing. 

From my years of writing, I have found it hard to write for a nameless crowd of people. Instead in my mind, I need to focus on an audience of one. Who is that person that is listening to you as you write? Can you visualize them sitting there reading your work or listening to you speak? Who is this person and what do they look like? What are they wearing and how are they reacting to your words? Are they leaning into the words and eager to see the next one or do they look distracted? What feelings is that person in your audience experiencing? Are they joyful or in some sort of pain or somewhere in between those extremes? Can you image their reaction to your words and your story? Keeping the audience in mind is a key element for every writer. 

For example, a children’s book will have different words and a different tone depending on the age of that child in your audience. A fiction story will have a different audience than a nonfiction book. After I get the article written, I will read through it and make sure it will also work for a broader target audience. 

One of the easiest places to learn this aspect of writing for a particular skill of writing for an audience is when you write magazine articles. When I worked at Decision magazine (circulation 1.8 million at the time), I was amazed that people would submit articles that were way off track of our audience and anything that we would possibly publish. With a glance, these types of submissions were rejected. It’s the same with your book pitches. If you are pitching a fantasy novel to an agent who has zero interest or experience in fantasy, then your pitch will be immediately rejected. 

Do you set aside your writing for a bit then return to it and re-read it and make adjustments? Or maybe you have a critique partner who reads your work and gives you honest feedback? Or maybe you are a part of a small critique group in person or online that gives you feedback about the audience and your writing? 

Writing is something that most of us do in isolation but each of us need feedback from others about our words--and we need to have that audience firmly in mind as we write. How do you determine your audience? Let me know in the comments below and I look forward to it.

Tweetable:

When you write, what audience do you have in mind? This prolific writer and editor tells about writing for an audience of one. Get the details in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

How to Engage & Connect for Greater Profits

Editor's Note: I rarely have guest bloggers but loved what MaryEllen Tribby wrote about how to reach an audience and wanted to make sure you saw it—and learned about her new free special report.

By MaryEllen Tribby

“Here is a simple but powerful rule: always give people more than what they expect to get.” 

~ Nelson Boswell

Have you ever noticed that a lot of writing in your niche is actually fairly boring or not in the least bit helpful?

Well that’s actually good news for you. Because if everyone else in your niche is creating dry, mediocre content, then you’ll stand out if you create something entertaining, educational and enriching.

And if you really connect with your audience, you can bet they’ll want to read every word you publish. And over time consider you a trusted resource and once that happens you have a bona fide fan base! 

That was exactly what happened to me almost six years ago when I started Working Moms Only. I noticed that the market was sooooo under-served. All the other newsletters and products were tedious and quite frankly not practical. 

So how did I create this connection between words and the heart and souls of the audience?

Well just like this...

1) Tell Stories

Stories are good ways to connect with your readers, because a story tends to help you form that emotional connection. It helps the reader identify with you. And a story is much more memorable than simply telling a reader what to do.

You can write this story either about you or someone else. Either way, however, the story will be more impactful if the main character is very similar to your readers.

So if your readers are moms who are looking for an opportunity to make incremental money or money from home, then you’ll connect to these readers if your story is about a real mom who overcame this same problem.

Another thing a story can do is help demonstrate to your readers that you really understand them and their problems.
And when a reader feels like the author understands him, you can bet they will keep reading.

2) Create “Reader Oriented” Writing

Your readers have no doubt read plenty of articles, reports and ebooks on the same topic as the one you’re writing about. However, a lot of this content is “author oriented.” That means that it seems to be more about the author rather than the readers.

Example: You might read a book about dog training in which the author seems to boast repeatedly about his credentials or delve into personal stories that actually aren’t of interest or relevant to the reader.

One way to quickly check if your writing is author-oriented is to see how many times you’ve used words like “I” or “me” versus how often you use words like “you” and “yours.” You want to use more “you” writing, since this is reader-oriented writing.

Here’s a great example:

• Author-oriented writing: “I’m going to tell you about how I lost weight.”

• Reader-oriented writing: “You’re going to discover a weight-loss trick that’s worked for me – and it will work for you, too.”

3) Engage the Audience

If you’re writing a “how to” article, then it’s easy to fall into the familiar pattern of writing a straightforward article: “This
is step 1... this is step 2...”

Basically, it’s the same kind of article everyone else publishes. Instead, engage your audience by freshening up your writing.

This includes:

• Adding in your own tips. In particular, include unique tips and tricks not found anywhere else.

• Using stories to illustrate points. Be sure to engage all five of your reader’s senses to really bring him into your story.

• Inserting examples to make things more clear. Just look at the way I gave an example of reader versus author-oriented writing above.

• Including “spiced up” writing. For example, instead of merely describing someone as nervous, you could say “He was more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

That’s much more memorable, impactful and fun – don’t ya think?

You’re writing with a purpose, whether it’s to presell your readers, teach them something, solve a problem, overcome a challenge or just develop a good relationship with them.

However, these goals are not possible if your writing doesn’t engage and connect with your audience.

That’s why you’ll want to use the tips above to improve your ability to engage and connect with your readers!

And here’s the best news – you can start today. You can be among the first to check out this extraordinary new report.
I have just put the finishing touches on a brand-new, hot off the presses, special report with 52 Essay and Blog Posts Ideas to save you hours and hours of writing time. 

----

MaryEllen Tribby is the premiere business consultant and coach to some of today’s most successful entrepreneurs in the information publishing and digital marketing arena. She also works with a number of the largest most lucrative traditional corporate publishing organizations in the world. Her quarter century experience includes but not limited to successfully running multi-million dollar divisions of companies such as Forbes, Crain’s New York Business and Times Mirror Magazines.

Later taking the entrepreneurial world by storm as Publisher and CEO of Early To Rise where she was responsible for growing the business from 8 million dollars in sales to 26 million dollars in just 15 months. In 2008, she founded and remains the proud CEO of Working Moms Only, the world’s leading Media Company for the empowerment of the working moms.

Tweetable:

Engage & Connect with Your Audience for Greater Profits. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)
 

Continually Build Your Audience

It's one of the simple yet necessary actions for every author or would-be author. They need to continually build their audience—people who follow them, learn from them, enjoy whatever they have to say and read their work and finally buy their products and services.

While the need is simple, the importance can't be overstated. There is a great deal of competition for our attention in today's marketplace.

There are multiple ways to build this audience for your message. For years, I've encouraged authors to regularly write a newsletter and send it out. I've been building my own newsletter list since February 2004. On a regular basis I send this publication to my audience. This consistent communication device helps you:

• Build your expertise and credibility in the marketplace
• Allows you to encourage and motivate others
• Gives you a means to share information
• Gives you the ability to sell your products and services

Yet here is one of the keys with a newsletter—you need to continually add subscribers and build your audience. One of the easiest ways is to give away a free Ebook or something of value to the people you want to attract. In exchange for the free Ebook, the reader has to give you their first name and email address. Through this exchange you build the reach of your audience and message.

For several years, I've been using a tool to build my subscriber list called PopUp Domination. Whether you have a regular website or a Word Press blog, PopUp Domination is a great resource because it allows the reader to easily sign up for your free offer. In addition to receiving the free offer, that reader is added to your list of subscribers for ongoing communication.

I use this tool on several different websites including the one with my name: www.terrywhalin.com. If you go to this site, you will see that you can receive my free Ebook, Platform-building Ideas for Every Author.

Another place I use PopUp Domination is at the sign-up page for my affiliate program: www.terryinfo.com If you go to this page, you will see the pop up for my free Ebook, You Can Make Money and the simple sign up buttons.

A third place where I use PopUp Domination is on my Book Proposal Coach website: www.bookproposalcoach.com. You will receive a 91–page Ebook, Book Proposals That Sell Extra Special Report.

Currently PopUp Domination is announcing the third version of their program. I recommend you look into it as an important tool in your arsenal of building your subscribers and audience for your message.

What Does The Audience Want?

It's a question that many people within the publishing community are asking. If they could figure out the answer and produce it, then they would create a winning product. There is probably a previous question to this one: which audience? The audience has to be large enough to make a profitable product yet targeted so you can write specifically for the needs of that market.

The simple way to learn the needs of your audience doesn't usually cross the minds of most authors: ask them. One of the best tools to gather this information is The Ask Database. I'm using this tool for a number of different functions. For example, Wednesday, I've scheduled another free teleseminar to talk about Writing for the Christian Market. You can either call into the teleseminar on your phone or listen to it free through a telewebcast over your computer. I will create the contents for the teleseminar around the various questions from the audience. Use this link for a special arrangement that I've made for you to try the AskDatabase for only $1.

Here's another resource for you to learn more about this method. It’s over two hours of free instruction on this topic.

I hope to answer your question on Wednesday's teleseminar. If you can't make the session, please sign up because I'll be sending the link to the replay to everyone who registers.