This Free Workshop Will Change the Way You Pitch Forever
You're invited to a completely complimentary pitch clinic to learn the smartest pitching technique to try right now and create your own mini pitches.
Joni Sweet is a seasoned writer, editor, and content strategist with 13+ years of media experience. In this newsletter, Joni reveals her current assignments and insider tips to help PR professionals sharpen their pitches, avoid rookie mistakes, land coverage for their clients, and build stronger relationships with writers. Get ready for candid advice, a touch of sass, and secret strategies to make your pitches stand out.
Hi friends!
I’m feeling so energized after hosting my sold-out event, The Pitch Fix Live, earlier this week! We did a deep dive into the best pitching strategies to try right now (like the Story Seeds technique), how to craft a killer subject line, and what to avoid when reaching out to the media.
My favorite part? The live pitch critique. We workshopped incredible media pitches about everything from citizen science cruises and a hotel reviving monarch butterflies to breakthroughs in health and sleep research. (Psst… if any journalists are curious about covering these initiatives, LMK—I’ll connect you!).
Everyone walked away knowing exactly what they plan to do differently next time.
Hosting this event reminded me how powerful it is when savvy PR practitioners and experienced journalists come together for honest insights. We need more of that—and more resources to help us collaborate better. I’m working on giving you both, starting with today’s newsletter.
Keep reading for a resource that should be on your radar, and a BIG announcement about my next event, co-hosted by someone I seriously admire. (Oh, and guess what… it’s FREE!).
This PR tool is built for how media works now
With the recent shake-ups in the media industry, getting coverage for products can feel… impossible.
That’s why I want to tell you about Press Hook (which has generously sponsored my newsletters this month!).
Press Hook is a smart, relationship-first PR platform that helps brands (and the publicists who rep them) connect with media more efficiently. It can help you create media kits that are actually useful to journalists, tap into curated media lists, get exclusive leads on coverage opportunities, and streamline requests for product samples.
I’ve personally used Press Hook to source products for editorial reviews and round-ups, so I can personally attest to how helpful it is for the work we do. Plus, it has a sleek design that makes the experience of researching products feel more like a fun online shopping trip than work.
After meeting with Press Hook founder, Michelle Songy, earlier this month, I’m even more excited about how it’s making it easier for journalists and brands to connect. She’s a powerhouse who has built something for how media works now, not five years ago.
If you’re not getting as many leads on opportunities for coverage as usual—or your old pitching tactics aren’t landing like they used to—Press Hook might be exactly what you need to level up. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
You’re invited: Free Pitch Clinic!
Couldn’t make it to The Pitch Fix Live? No worries—I’ve got something else special for you.
Join me on Zoom on April 23 at noon ET for a *FREE* Pitch Clinic I’m co-hosting with the one and only Kelsey Ogletree.
Our 45-minute event will focus on the Story Seeds technique (complete with a cameo from Courtney Young, the savvy PR pro who coined the term). In this live, hands-on session, you’ll:
learn how to craft short, headline-style pitches that spark interest
hear real examples of story seeds that turned into national coverage
get insider perspective from two experienced, nationally published lifestyle journalists and the PR pro who uses this technique all the time
collaborate with peers to create five story seed ideas tailored to your clients
If you don’t already know my co-host Kelsey, you should. She’s a journalist who has written for top-tier publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, and Conde Nast Traveler. She’s also the founder of Pitchcraft, a PR pitching platform that focuses on building real relationships and prioritizing human connection over transactional pitching (no lie, I can always tell when I receive a media pitch from a Pitchcraft member—and I make it a point to respond).
We would love for you to join us for The Story Seeds Method: A Hands-On Pitch Clinic for PR Pros. Tickets are complimentary, and we may even throw in a few surprise gifts.
There’s just one catch: you have to be there live. Because let’s be real—a playback just doesn’t cut it when it comes to building community and genuine connections.
See you there!
Registered! Can’t wait!!
What a great resource!