Do you want to learn how to do cold email outreach for PR?
Cold email outreach is a great way to get your company in the news. You can use cold emails to pitch journalists on stories, offer them special offers or products, and even promote an event you’re hosting. Cold email outreach for publicity requires some expertise- it’s not as simple as it sounds, but with the right approach and planning, it is achievable. In this post, we’ll explore how to do successful cold-email outreach so that your emails are more likely to be read and answered!
Best Practices for Cold Email OutReach for PR:
Did you know cold email outreach is one of the most effective strategies to get press for your business?
It’s true! Cold emailing is a great way to reach out to journalists and influencers that you don’t have connections with, but it can be hard to know how best to do this. So how do you write an effective media pitch that will get the attention of bloggers, journalists, and influencers? Here are five cold email tips that will help you get the most of your cold emails and increase your chances of getting coverage in major media outlets.
1) Avoid the traditional cold email subject line:
The subject line is the most common factor in determining email open rates. You may spend hours creating the finest email body text, but if no one opens it, your time and efforts will be wasted. So how do you write an effective cold email subject line that will get attention and make people want to open it?
There are a few tips you can follow:
The ideal subject lines are brief, descriptive, and motivate recipients to read your content further.
a) Keep it short like less than 6 words if possible
Subject lines that are short and to the point are more likely to be opened. Make it clear what the email is about in as few words as possible.
b) Descriptive
Be clear and concise in your subject line. Rather than using a vague or generic subject line, be descriptive so that the recipient knows what to expect when they open the email. It shows respect for journalists’ time while also increasing the chance of a response.
c) Motivating
The subject line should motivate the recipient to open and click on your link. For example, instead of using a generic subject line like “PR pitch,” use something that’s more likely to catch their eye.
2) Make It Clear Why You’re Contacting Them Specifically
Mention who you are and what you want in your first sentence. Make it clear why you’re contacting them. The greatest pitches show exactly why you were attracted to that specific individual. Mention how well his/her job would suit your audience and why it would be a wonderful fit.
3) Mention the one thing you want them to do. Get to the point
It is not a good idea to leave your reader guessing about what you want to say. So, instead of wasting their time with long opening paragraphs and explanations, just get right to the point in your cold email. If you want a prospect to do something specific like if you have a request, make sure to ask for it upfront. That will make it easier for them to understand what you want and they are more likely to comply.
4) Personalize
Address the recipient’s personal name in the email. It make it seem like you have taken a few minutes to do some research about them and that will add an extra layer of personalization to your cold email. Also, a polite acknowledgment of their recent blog post or comment they made on a post would be an excellent approach, and it will boost their confidence that you’re not simply attempting to force the product for them to promote without taking any interest in them. This will make them think that you are genuinely interested in them.
One may also observe that a little show of compassion, appreciation, and friendliness goes a long way in drawing your reader’s attention.
For example:
You can mention this in your statement:
I just finished reading one of your latest articles on (mention his/her website) about (mention the topic) and realized that…
5) Use Social Proof and Point to Results
Be clear why they should care about what you’re saying or offering – point out any social proof or results that backup your claims. The more people you can name who have used your product or service, the better.
This is because people are more likely to believe you if they think that plenty of other people like your service as well. This could be potential customers, clients, or just friends and family members who have used what you’re selling, and be sure to point out the results they’ve gotten from it.
6) Keep It Short, Simple, and Written Like a Human.
Make your cold email sound like a regular conversation by using simple, easy-to-read language. You don’t want it to look like a stiff, formal letter so that the recipient gets cold feet and decides to ignore it. Don’t go overboard with the cold email by using fancy words, long sentences, or an overly-wordy introduction. A short, simple, and to-the-point email will have a better chance of being read.
7) Follow Up
If you don’t hear back from the recipient after a few days, go ahead and follow up with them. Just be sure to wait long enough so that they have time to read your original email first. It usually takes a lot of communication before you can get a response. You can either send another b2b cold email, however, make sure that your follow-ups are as “personalized” as possible.
BONUS TIP: Send cold emails only to people who are influential and relevant to your industry. Make sure their email addresses are correct too! Don’t forget to provide all your contact details for an easy response. Email signatures will make it easy for the recipient to get in touch with you.
The Perfect Pitch
- Introduction
A brief introduction about who you are will improve your credibility. If possible, inform your receiver how you obtained his/her email address. Mention something specific about the individual or the organization to whom you’re sending it. This increases trust and usually leads to a response from the person.
- The Hook
This is where you discuss your company and what you do. The better the PR agency knows about your business, the better.
You may then seek the assistance of the agency after discussing your company. Make an attempt to be as concise as possible.
- Call-to-action
Make an appointment with the agency. Be clear about the date and time you want to set up a meeting or a phone call. If you are able to write an email following these tips and receive press coverage, you can achieve this:
- Make a significant impact on your prospects and customers.
- Improve your brand’s trust and reputation.
- Boost your organic search ranking and site authority, resulting in more qualified leads and clients.
Writing a cold email requires a delicate art form. You need to be persuasive, concise and interesting enough to get the person on the other end of your cold email interested in what you have to say—and hopefully take action!
With these essential cold email tips, you’ll be on your way to writing better cold emails and landing more press mentions.
