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How to write your first pitch in under 5 minutes

Quick guide to crafting compelling media pitches

Writing your first media pitch doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right structure and approach, you can create a compelling pitch that gets journalists' attention in just a few minutes.

Pro Tip:

Before you start writing, make sure you've already found the right journalist for your story.Learn how to find the perfect journalist match

The 5-Minute Pitch Formula

1 minSubject Line That Gets Opened

Your subject line is crucial - it determines whether your email gets opened. Keep it specific and newsworthy:

Good Examples:

  • • "Local startup reduces food waste by 40% with AI technology"
  • • "Former Google engineer launches privacy-first social network"
  • • "This Y Combinator startup is disrupting the $50B cleaning industry"

1 minHook: Why This Matters Now

Start with a compelling hook that explains why your story is timely and relevant:

"With food prices at an all-time high and 40% of produce going to waste, FreshTrack's AI-powered inventory system is helping grocery stores reduce waste while saving customers money."

2 minThe Story: What Makes You Unique

Explain your unique angle in 2-3 sentences. Focus on what makes you different:

"Unlike existing inventory systems, FreshTrack uses computer vision to track produce freshness in real-time, automatically adjusting prices and routing products to food banks before they spoil. Since launching 6 months ago, partner stores have seen a 40% reduction in waste."

1 minSocial Proof & Call to Action

Add credibility with data, customers, or investors, then suggest next steps:

"We're backed by Kleiner Perkins and currently working with 50+ stores including Whole Foods pilots in SF and NY. I'd love to share more about how we're tackling food waste - would you be interested in a 15-minute call?"

Complete Example Pitch

Subject: Local startup reduces grocery waste by 40% with AI vision technology

Hi [Journalist Name],

With food prices at record highs and 40% of produce going to waste, FreshTrack's AI-powered inventory system is helping grocery stores reduce waste while saving customers money.

Unlike existing inventory systems, FreshTrack uses computer vision to track produce freshness in real-time, automatically adjusting prices and routing products to food banks before they spoil. Since launching 6 months ago, partner stores have seen a 40% reduction in waste.

We're backed by Kleiner Perkins and currently working with 50+ stores including Whole Foods pilots in SF and NY. I'd love to share more about how we're tackling food waste - would you be interested in a 15-minute call?

Best,
[Your Name]
[Title], FreshTrack

Do's and Don'ts

Do's

  • • Keep it under 150 words
  • • Personalize to the journalist's beat
  • • Include concrete numbers and data
  • • Make it newsworthy and timely
  • • Offer exclusive access or interviews
  • • Follow up once after a week

Don'ts

  • • Send mass emails to multiple journalists
  • • Use generic subject lines
  • • Write lengthy backstories
  • • Oversell or use hyperbole
  • • Forget to include your contact info
  • • Send attachments without asking

Using HeyJared's AI Assistant

Skip the manual formula! HeyJared's AI has all the best practices built in. Just provide your story details and let the AI handle the rest:

1
Click the pitch button - Start creating your pitch in HeyJared
2
Input 3-5 lines about your story - Briefly describe your company, news, and what makes it relevant. Don't worry about perfect structure - just the key details.
3
Let AI do the work - The AI automatically finds the right journalists, analyzes their entire story history, and crafts personalized pitches tailored to each reporter's specific interests and coverage patterns. It follows all best practices and generates compelling subject lines. No need to remember formulas or do's and don'ts!

That's it! The AI handles the 5-minute pitch formula, personalization, journalist research, and all the best practices automatically. You focus on your story, we handle the pitching expertise.

What's Next?

Now that you know how to write compelling pitches, learn how to find the right journalists to send them to:

Tips for finding the right journalist for your storyHow reporter search worksLearn more about HeyJared