Don’t copy and paste that pitch.

There are a lot of places in your local community with a microphone and an audience …TV, radio, magazines, podcasts, all of it. Since I do the whole TV, let's start there.

Here's something people miss: a local TV station isn't one thing. It's several different shows stacked under one roof, and each one wants something different from you.

Personally, I host a lifestyle show, we do animal adoptions, upcoming events, art, nonprofits etc. Call it the fun show if you want. Call it "fluff" and I will karate chop you. Moving on...

Lifestyle, morning news, evening news, investigative- these are all different flavors of TV, and your pitch needs to know the difference.

Same Purpose, Different Pitch

Let's say you're a local farmer launching an urban farm, and you want more people showing up to your stand on market weekends.

For a lifestyle show, I'd pitch coming on to cook three dishes using one seasonal vegetable that's in right now. Fun, visual, easy yes.

For a reporter or an evening news program, lend your thought leadership instead. Offer your professional opinion on the rise of pesticide use in public spaces and how it's affecting private farms. Same farm, same brand, ALL YOU, but a completely different angle, because that's what that show actually covers.

Pitches Are Like Tailoring

I always compare a pitch to a well-tailored piece of clothing. Something off the rack might cover the right body parts, but that doesn't mean it fits. Something tailored to you , something that matches every part of you , is easy to say yes to.

A pitch works the same way. When it fits the show, fits the format, fits what that producer is actually trying to deliver to their audience that day, it's an easy yes. When it doesn't, it doesn't matter how good your story is, it's getting passed over.

So before you go hitting copy, paste, and SEND… enrich your pitch with a tailored approach.