Which parts of media outreach to prioritise when you're time poor

I love that you're out there commanding your own career or business, but I know that with that courage and ambition often comes a decent amount of juggling. Things we know we need or want to do get pushed down the list of priorities as more immediate issues or tasks have to be dealt with. That's why I want The Scoop to support you as much as possible.  

So, if you find yourself time-poor and struggling to get your media outreach done, I've got three tips that could make all the difference. Let's get into it.

Prepare a skeleton pitch / response

Time is precious, and when you're juggling multiple responsibilities, crafting a pitch from scratch can be overwhelming. That's where a skeleton pitch comes to the rescue. It's like having a sturdy framework ready for any opportunity that comes your way.  

Outline the key elements of your pitch in advance: a brief introduction about yourself or your business, the main points of your story (value, why now, why that audience will love it), and the unique expertise you bring to the table. By having this skeleton pitch ready, you can quickly customise it to suit various media opportunities without starting from scratch each time.  

Focus on replying to journalist requests

Coming up with your own ideas to pitch can often get pushed down the To Do list. If you're finding this to be the case, instead, keep an eye on platforms where journalists post requests for experts or stories - Twitter for the journo request hashtag and platforms such as Editorielle and HARO, which aggregate these requests, making it easier for you to find relevant opportunities.

By responding to these sorts of inquiries, you know that you're pitching when it matters most – when there's already a demand for your expertise. Journalists are always seeking valuable sources to support the stories they're already writing, so be prompt, concise, and offer unique insights that align with the request. This targeted approach increases your chances of getting featured without spending loads of time on outreach.

Build relationships with those journalists 

As I mentioned before, media pitching isn't just about one-off transactions; it's about cultivating lasting relationships. Take the time to engage with the journalists you do work with on requests so that you have a network of warm relationships to reach out to with future ideas. Follow them on social media, share their articles, and add meaningful comments to their work. Building rapport with journalists helps establish credibility and trust.