{"id":8368,"date":"2011-05-04T21:50:49","date_gmt":"2011-05-04T21:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicityhound.com\/blog\/?p=8368"},"modified":"2011-05-04T21:50:49","modified_gmt":"2011-05-04T21:50:49","slug":"10-magic-phrases-journalists-and-bloggers-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/marketing\/public-relations\/10-magic-phrases-journalists-and-bloggers-love\/","title":{"rendered":"10 magic phrases journalists and bloggers LOVE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Magic<\/a>When you’re pitching the media, don’t spend all your time crafting your pitch.<\/p>\n

Think about how to weave what I call the “10 Magic Phrases” into a telephone conversation, email interview or face-to-face chat with journalists and bloggers. I’ve printed the questions on handy notepads and I use them whenever a reporter\u00a0calls, or when I contact a journalist or blogger.<\/p>\n

You could\u00a0also use some of these questions when a journalist or blogger calls you for an interview, but you’re not an appropriate source.\u00a0If you can help them, even if you won’t be quoted, you’ll make a good impression, and they’ll remember you.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
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The 10 Magic Phrases:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>

1. “Is this a good time to talk?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asking this question shows you’re considerate of their deadlines. If it’s not a good time, \u00a0they’ll tell you. Ask when you can call back, and\u00a0follow their directions to the letter.
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2.\u00a0“Do you need other sources for this story (or blog post)?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The more you can help a journalist or blogger find people to interview, the more they will view you as a valuable source. Be ready with two or three other sources, including\u00a0contact information, you can offer them. Make certain, however, that those people\u00a0agree to be interviewed.
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3. “What other information do you need?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes journalists and bloggers might not need more sources. They might need statistics, the definition of a word or phrase used in your industry,\u00a0White Papers or research on a certain topic, or other data to round out their article or blog post. If you can provide it, you become an even more valuable source.
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4. “How can I help you”?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almost\u00a0nobody asks this qusetion<\/strong>. Most people who pitch journalists and bloggers are too busy delivering their pitch.\u00a0Asking “How can I help you?”\u00a0is often an excellent way to start a relationship with someone who you want to eventually\u00a0use you as a source.\u00a0When they start talking, listen!\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
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5. “Would you like my press kit?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your press kit should include information that many journalists and bloggers can access, without spending valuable interview time acquiring it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Things like\u00a0a short and long version of your bio,\u00a0facts about your industry or company,\u00a0frequently asked questions, links where they can follow you on the social media sites, and\u00a0a place where they can download photos like your professional head shot and photos of your products will go a long way toward ensuring accuracy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Offer the link to your online press kit. Never, ever send hard-copy press kits to journalists or bloggers without asking their permission.\u00a0
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6. “I can provide a (map, pie chart, illustration or other graphic).” <\/strong><\/p>\n

Graphics are sometimes an afterthought, particularly among beginning journalists and bloggers. The best time to offer this is immediately after an interview.\u00a0 You might have a map that shows people how to get to\u00a0your event. Or a pie chart that helps people better understand a complicated topic. Or a graphic that\u00a0would really dress up a long article.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Make sure these are available in whatever format the journalist or blogger requests.
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7. “Are you looking for photo ideas?”
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<\/strong>Photos, too, are sometimes an afterthought.\u00a0\u00a0If you can save a\u00a0journalists or blogger\u00a0time tracking down photos, you’ve scored even more points.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Smaller publications, like weekly newspapers that have limited photo staffs,\u00a0will sometimes publish photos you’ve taken.\u00a0My ebook, How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign<\/a>, \u00a0explains everything you need to know on how to take great photos and share them with your media contacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gina Spadafori, who has been writing primarily about pets and their care for almost 30 years as a syndicated columnist and author, has told me she’s had problems\u00a0finding good publicity photos to fill a small hole on a page. “The availability of high-quality, high-resolution art can tip a ‘maybe’ item into the ‘yes’ category,” she says.
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8. “Please call on me if you need anything. I am also an expert on…”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your media contacts will appreciate knowing about your various areas of expertise. If a business blogger is interviewing you because you’re an expert on the economy,\u00a0it doesn’t hurt to also let her know that you’re a wine collector.<\/p>\n

Why would she care? She might not. But if she knows a wine blogger,\u00a0she might be happy to pass along your contact information.
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9.\u00a0 “May I call you in three months with other story ideas?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though journalists claim they hate it when people follow-up, what they really means is that they hate it when pests follow up<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They love it when helpful sources call them again with other story ideas, tips, leads and helpful suggestions.<\/p>\n

If they give you permission to call again, say in three months, when you contact the reporter, say, “We agreed that I’d call you this week. You might want to know that…”
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10. “What’s the best time to call you?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some journalists and bloggers welcome phone calls from sources they know will share valuable information. So it never hurts to ask this question. Find out when they’re on deadline, or whether they prefer calls during a certain window of time during the day or evening.
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Keep Notepads Close By<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep my notepads\u00a0next to your telephone, and be ready when a reporter, editor or blogger calls. Or tuck them into a briefcase. If you meet a journalist or blogger at, say, a convention, don’t be embarrassed to pull it out and start using the magic phrases.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can read about\u00a0order\u00a0the “10 Magic Phrases” notepads here<\/a>\u00a0and read about eight gaffes to avoid when dealing with journalists.<\/p>\n

What other magic phrases would you add to this list?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you’re pitching the media, don’t spend all your time crafting your pitch. Think about how to weave what I call the “10 Magic Phrases” into a telephone conversation, email interview or face-to-face chat with journalists and bloggers. I’ve printed the questions on handy notepads and I use them whenever a reporter\u00a0calls, or when I\u2026 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","iawp_total_views":2,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[606],"tags":[29],"class_list":{"0":"post-8368","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-public-relations","7":"tag-media-relations","8":"entry"},"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Joan Stewart","author_link":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/author\/jstewart\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}