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I love writing the Pitch Now column every month because it reminds me of how much fun it can be to see a category or theme that’s “open for pitching” every month, and let your mind run wild creatively, thinking of stories related to both those themes and your business that you can pitch to the press. Because these posts have inspired so many amazing pitch ideas and actual press coverage, we like to call them little doses of “Pitch-spiration”.
While using these ideas in your next brainstorming session, remember that you should be able to think of stories related to these themes whether you’re a service, product or expert based business, we gave you some examples of this below. Also, remember that if you don’t think you can pull of a news story in time for a specific topic, or if nobody “bites” on your ideas, you can make your story ideas work overtime by adding them to your own company’s blog or using the themes for a social media promotion or post! Let’s get those buzz building ideas in motion! Here’s your May “Pitch-spiration”!
CINCO DE MAYO
This is what I call a super-fast, “lightning round” pitch, but if you’ve been cultivating relationships or have related, creative ideas that you can act on quickly, you can pitch stories related in some way to this holiday during the first week of May. Whether you have food and drink recipes, healthy living tips for celebrating the holiday in a “guilt free” way, a party at your company or even historical or cultural information, now is your time to act! If you don’t have time to do a press story, all is not lost! Try instead to use this theme as an excuse for a fun promotion, blog post or set of tips on your own website.
GRADUATION TIPS & GIFTS
It’s nearly that time of year when the news outlets will be celebrating high school and college graduations around the country by sharing both graduation gifts, as well as tips from experts and service providers that the grads and their families can use. These stories can include financial advice for new college students, interior design tips for dorm rooms, job hunting strategies – you name it – just be sure you tie it back to the graduates and their families. Planning on pitching a product for their graduation gifts or perhaps for their dorm room living? Be sure you add that little extra something to the pitch by clearly showing “what type of grad” it’s for (“Green” Grad (who loves eco), sporty graduate, world traveler, etc.) or be specific as to how they will use your product now or in the future. Like with the other themes, begin planning now if you think you want your social media streams and newsletters to celebrate graduation season!
MEMORIAL DAY
This holiday falls on May 26 this year, and like many holidays, they’re great for your PR campaign because they leave you open to several types of stories and pitches, that you can share with the media and of course on your blog or website as well. Perhaps you can share tips, recipes or décor ideas for a wonderful Memorial Day Party? How about traveling must-haves or health and safety tips for road trips for all of those visiting friends and relatives during the holiday? Of course every major news show will be covering what to wear, eat, drink, or bring to all the fabulous Memorial Day parties that will be going on. Look introspectively at your niche and your brand and think “how could we tie ourselves to Memorial Day” and go for it! Begin planning now so you don’t fall behind. As we always say regarding holiday stories: they fill up fast. Early birds get the worms!
NATIONAL BIKE MONTH
Every month finds us as a country celebrating multiple holidays commemorating different health awareness campaigns, specific foods, activities and charities and May is no different. One of my favorites this month was National Bike Month, which may be just perfect for your business or expertise. Not something you can fit yourself into by any stretch of the imagination? Spend a few minutes “Googling” May holidays and find one that works for you! The media love tying their stories into calendar items like this, and there are countless options from the common to the creative and out of this world to check out!
MAYS BIRTHSTONE: EMERALD
Here’s a new way you can be sure your business has a regularly occurring theme you can talk about with a fresh twist every month: tie a tip, product pitch or story idea to the month’s birthstone! This month in May we’ll be celebrating Emerald. Whether you want to talk jewelry, emerald the color, “powers” associated with the emerald, or any other creative “spin” you come up with, if you think you can tie it to an angle in your brand story – go for it!
