The Public Relations Blog

Analysis shows pitches leading with recognizable brand names in subject lines tend to reach higher journalist engagement.

When you're pitching a story that involves a well-known brand, it can be tempting to save that juicy tidbit for the body of your pitch email. But an analysis of millions of successful media pitches suggests that putting the brand name front and center in your subject line can significantly boost the chances a journalist will open your email.

Capitalize on the virtual world’s potential for enhancing PR announcements and interactions.

A decade ago, press releases were almost exclusively held in brick-and-mortar locations with physical participants. As the digital landscape evolved, the press release went online and many syndication platforms emerged for ease of use. Today, video conferencing is paving the way for a more effective and far-reaching result. 

Insights on the world of AI and human-centric ways to utilize it for business strategies.

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Young Americans are embracing neighborhood updates from friends, family, and online forums.

While television and newspapers have long been Americans' go-to sources for local news, new data shows that interpersonal channels like word-of-mouth and social media are growing in importance. A 2024 Pew Research Center report finds that these tech-enabled pathways now rival traditional outlets' roles in local news dissemination.

Data shows that straightforward email subject lines outperform the clever ones for open and click-through rates.

The subject line of your email can either make or break the perfect email pitch, and whether or not your message is opened. With millions of pitches sent to journalists daily, standing out is crucial. But should your subject line be clever enough to grab attention or straightforward enough to clearly convey your pitch?

To improve your company's SEO, leverage media placements to build credible backlinks, anchor text, and website authority.

As a PR professional, you may not consider yourself a search engine optimization expert. By understanding some basics, however, you can leverage your media relations skills to help boost your brand’s SEO — driving more qualified traffic to your site and positioning you as an authority in your space.

As layoffs, buyouts, and now AI transform the journalism industry, media strategies must evolve to keep up.

If you are pitching media and not getting the traction you did 10 (or even two) years ago, you’re not alone. In a recent state of journalism survey, 49% of journalists reported they “seldom or never respond to pitches.” It likely has less to do with your company’s story and more to do with how your media strategy fits with the current state of journalism. 

In this solocast episode, Jason Mudd discusses what journalists want from your media pitches. 

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Understanding the optimal timing for pitches will help you pitch like a pro.

Crafting the perfect media pitch takes time and effort. You've identified relevant media targets, created personalized pitches, and included critical information and compelling angles. But what about timing? When you hit “send” can be just as important to your pitch's success. 

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