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

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The Consistent Writer

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Last week I picked up the phone and called a writer I met over a year and a half ago. I encouraged her to send me her material. It was not my first phone call or email to this author but in a consistent pattern since we met, I’ve been reaching out. As of this writing, she hasn’t sent her material. Months ago I recall reading her book proposal and seeing potential. My follow-up work has not been done in a nuisance way so she wonders about my persistence. I have had a steady pattern. This characteristic of consistency is an important one for every writer. In this article, I want to give you some ideas how to build consistency into your writing life.

First, each person needs to determine what do you want to accomplish with your writing? Do you want to increase your presence on a specific social media platform? Do you want to get more readers to your blog or your newsletter? Do you want to get more reviews for your books? Do you want to sell more books? Do you want to write more magazine articles? There are endless possibilities and questions. My point is to select something specific. 

Now with a specific writing target clearly in focus, how are you going to execute this task? From my experience the consistency comes from creating a system. For example, I post on my social media about 12 to 15 times a day. Yet I only spend about 30 minutes a day on these posts. I am consistent in this process because I’ve developed a system for creating and posting my social media. Years ago I decided to post my tweets every hour throughout the working day--and not at the top of the hour but at five minutes past the hour. In a few cases each day I post at 35 minutes past the hour. Each of these posts are scheduled a planned. 

Sometimes I will post immediately and often happens when I review a book and promote the book and review. If you follow my social media stream (which some writers do because they repost and share my material), I’m providing an education in publishing and the writing world--particularly if you read the various articles. My posting is a continual part of my effort to share what I’m learning and also educate others on this complex and ever-changing world of publishing. Other writers, editors, agents and leaders in the publishing world are reading these actions--including these articles in The Writing Life. 

My results and success in publishing didn’t happen overnight but happened because of my consistent action. I tried something, then adjusted the plan and then continued it--thousands of times. I’m consistent because I’ve created and continued my system. It is that simple and something you can do as well. 

Or maybe you want to blog each week or several times a week or once a month. Select a schedule which will work for your writing life and is something you can do over and over. I write these articles about The Writing Life once a week and have posted consistently for years. Throughout the week and often at odd times, I will have an idea for an article. I write it down and keep a running list of these ideas. During spare moments throughout my week, I will write my article. Sometimes I have it written early and other times I do it at the last minute but every time I get it done because I have developed a system.

For my blog, each entry is intentional to my particular audience with topics and labels (to help the SEO), a clear by-line who wrote it, a relevant, royalty-free image, a different image at the bottom of my blog and tied to my special offer (and if you click the image it goes to the offer), a click-to-tweet at the end of each article to help people easily pass along my writing to their audience, and many other details are included. If you want to know how to make money with your blog, I have a risk-free resource (just follow the link or click the image). Yet each detail is planned and a part of my created system which I use on a consistent basis. Because I have been blogging on a consistent basis, with millions of blogs, my blog was named as one of the top 27 content writers (which was a complete surprise to me).

Recently I received a proposal submission which was probably this writer’s first attempt. The submission was incomplete with a hand-drawn illustration which will likely never be published (unless the author does it herself). As an editor, I could have:

1) ignored it and not responded (a common response) 

2) scheduled it for rejection or 

3) responded 

I chose to respond to this writer and take a few minutes to send her some free resources and guidance. I have no idea if she will take my suggestions or ignore them (another choice). I recall my own early submissions and the mistakes which I made over and over. If no one helped me, I would still be unpublished. I include this story to show that each of us have things we have learned in our publishing journey. I encourage you to make the effort to pass along these lessons to others and help them. 

How can every writer become consistent? It begins with creating a system which works for you, executing your system over and over, then reworking it as needed. None of these actions happen randomly. My consistent actions and development of an ever-improving and refined system is working. What actions can you take to become a more consistent writer? Let me know what else you suggest in the comments. 

Tweetable:

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Productive Social Media

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

How in the world do I post on social 12–15 times a day? To some people it appears that I spend hours each day on social media—when in fact I don't. The truth is I have created my own system. In this article I want to give you some details about what I do in hopes you can adapt it to your own social media plans.

 

I use a scheduling tool. There are several types of these tools but I use the professional version of Hootsuite because I quickly maxed out the free one. Throughout my week, I'm reading and learning from other writers, then adding their content into my social media scheduled posts. The bulk of my posts every day are from others and not my own writing. I envision this section like I am back in my magazine editor days. On my social media feed, here's my mindset for what I'm doing: I'm essentially running a magazine about publishng for anyone who wants to learn about it.  I'm several weeks ahead in my scheduling of these posts. It's something that most people do not do and I'm fairly certain my author friends appreciate that I use their material (at least from the limited feedback I receive from them).  I read each of these articles as I schedule them and it adds to my own knowledge and information about the publishing world.

 

Once a week and often on a Tuesday, I return to my scheduled posts and fill in the rest of them. As with the other posts, I've created my own pattern or system in this process. For example, I have a series of lead magnets or resources I've created to help others. Each of these resources, ask the reader to give me their first name and email address so they are added to my email list when they get the free resource. Many authors use this method but I make sure I don't use it too much so use one of these resources in the morning and one in the afternoon.

 

Each of my posts include an image, a short link to the resource or article (because otherwise sometimes they are broken when posted) and a hashtag. Notice I have created a standard or pattern for each of these posts. If the posts are related to my work like a blog post, a free offer, a book I'm promoting through stressing the benefits or something else related to my own work, I have saved a series of these posts. They are stored in a text file which I use each week.

 

Also I have a series of royalty-free images that I've pulled over the years and stored in a file on my computer. I use this method to repurpose and promote these articles from The Writing Life, which has over 1500 searchable entries (a great deal of content). As a reminder, I've created a search tool for my various blog entries (scroll down to find it) but I use this tool often to find my own articles. These are some of the details that I open and use in this once-a-week process. If I'm traveling or going to be away from my office, then I schedule even more than a week's worth. Because I do this process on a consistent basis, it runs even if I'm away from my computer.

 

As I mentioned, I look at my social media feeds like running a magazine. If I see a potential article and it speaks about a holiday or a deadline earlier than where I'm scheduling, then I use it earlier (often that day) in my social media feed. 

 

I've given you a number of the details which I have not written about before but use each week in my social media feed. I've created my own system—and know you will have to create a system that works for you and your plans. 

 

Do you have a plan or system for your social media? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

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This prolific editor and author uses a system he calls “productive social media.” It's part of the reason for his large social media following and consistent use. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

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Increase Producivity. Get Organized.

As I get older, I'm more aware each of us have the same amount of time in every day. We have a lot of information and opportunity coming our direction. How do we harness these opportunities and increase our effectiveness? One important aspect is to get organized and keep organized.

If I take an honest look at myself, I tend to be a bit of a pack rat. I save magazines, articles I might write some day, books people have sent to read and review, manuscripts and proposals I've been handed at conferences, and the list goes on. This material can easily flood my office and pile up. During the last few weeks, I have been vigilant about sorting, filing and throwing most of this accumulation. At the moment, I'm much more organized than I have been during other periods.

Take Time to Eliminate & Organize Clutter

For me, it is a matter of taking a hard look at what has accumulated and asking if I will ever need this again. Most of the time that answer is “no” and I can throw it. Or can I quickly store some needed information such as an email address or phone on my computer where I can search and easily access it in the future? You can increase your effectiveness and productivity if you have less right in front of you to handle.

Use Your Smartphone Effectively

Often I meet writers who have a smartphone but only use it as a phone—and little else. Whether you are aware of it or not, you have a powerful communication device that you carry. Take the time to use various features. For example, I use the calendar to remind me of meetings and phone calls. I use the reminders section to call to my attention critical deadlines.

I also use my smartphone to post on social media. For example, I use Hootsuite to time out my posts for several social platforms. For Facebook at the moment, I post them myself using my phone. It is not the most efficient way to do it (as I know) but it does get done. 

Also I use my smartphone to quickly answer some important emails when I'm away from my office. Just a brief answer shows the other person you got it and responded. Use your phone as an effective communication tool.

If you don't know how to use these aspects of your smartphone, then take the time to learn. You can even take free classes at the Apple Store (which I have done).

Be Aware of the Time Zappers

I regularly hear from writers who spend hours scrolling through Facebook then wonder where they lost part of their day. Or they binge watch a television program or spend time at a bookstore browsing. None of these things are wrong or bad in themselves but increase your awareness of how you are using your time can help you be more effective.

Create a System to Achieve Over and Over

If there is something you need to accomplish over and over, I recommend you create a habit to accomplish it. Just writing 20 to 30 minutes a day on a project can continue to move it forward toward completion. Or set a word count for your writing then do it repeatedly. People wonder how I keep up with my social media. It's pretty simple. I've created a system where I do the functions over and over (with many different purposes and reasons).

 I still have things slip through the cracks and doesn't get done. For example, several days ago I got an email reminder the judging sheets for a contest are due right away. Yes I knew I was judging this contest and had the material for it but wasn't aware of the exact due date. I handled it and met the deadline. Each of us have these types of things which slip into our day and need to get done.

What steps are you taking to get organized and increase your productivity? Let me know in the comments below.

 Tweetable:


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What Fills Your Daily Schedule?

There is one resource in the possession of everyone: time. Also everyone spends time doing some activity. As you take control of your schedule or time, you can increase (or waste) your day.

As a writer, how to you fill your days? Do you have a plan or schedule? Or is it random and uncontrolled? I work as an acquisitions editor and a writer. I'm grateful for the flexibility of my daily schedule. Yet to some, this empty calendar can be a concern. How do you fill your time?

As an acquisitions editor, I have some writers and literary agents who reach out to me and want to schedule time on the phone or a meeting in person. Other times I attend or speak at a conference and travel away from my office. Yet overall these types of events or meetings are rare to fill my daily schedule.

In this article, I want to give you some of the tools and action steps I take on a regular basis with my life in publishing.  The steps you take will be different but I hope these words will give you some new ideas for your own writing life.

For years I've been active on Twitter and every day I grow my audience on this social media platform with five actions (detailed here and still being done). There has been admittedly hours of time spent in small chunks to achieve this following. It is a regular part of my day whether I am at home or traveling.

Here's some basic principles to help you:

1. Create a system to handle any action you take on regular basis and keep moving forward. For example, if you are writing a book, set a word count goal. This goal can be for the week or even daily. Then consistently write enough words to meet or exceed your goal and you will keep the project moving forward toward completion.

2. Be aware or actively look for tools to help you automate and meet your goals. For example, with my Morgan James Publishing phone calls to authors, I use an application called DialPad. When I call someone using this program, my direct dial New York phone number shows on the recipient's caller ID—even though I live in Colorado. It is a company branding tool that immediately says New York publisher. This tool also keeps a running list of any of my phone calls listing the date and length. It give me a systematic place to keep track of my phone calls. You may or may not use DialPad but find a way to keep track of such information (if it is important to your work).

3. Consistently work on different stages of the work. For example, some of my work is calling authors who have a contract and answering their question.  Another part of my work is processing new submissions to see if they are the right fit for Morgan James and if so, then I champion these authors to my publication board and colleagues. I'm regularly working on brand new authors and also answering email and phone calls from current authors.

My phone has a feature called Reminders. When I have a deadline for my writing or anything else that I need to accomplish, I will often create a reminder. As I use these tools and check off my tasks, I move forward with a productive day.

Your process of filling your schedule with productive activity will be different from mine. Hopefully I have given you some ideas. If you have another tool or tip, please comment below.

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