Media Monitoring News, November 200

The 60-Second PR Pitch

What's the best way to structure the so-called 60-second pitch?

In an article for PR Crossing, Jeff Cannon of TheCannonGroup contends it's not hard generating story ideas to pitch to the press. What's hard is figuring out how to shape the story so that reporters and editors will want to publish it. He offers a five-part formula for making a successful 60-second pitch.

Michael Hauge offers The Eight Steps to Powerful Pitches for writers trying to sell screenplays and novels. Most of the principles are applicable to PR pitches to editors. And if you want even more, here's 18 pages worth of Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds.

A Business Week article entitled The 60-Second Pitch, targeted at entrepreneurs looking for venture capital, contains insights that can be applied equally well by PR professionals pitching story ideas.

Inc.com tells how a medical supply sales person promises a 60-Second Sales Pitch, places his watch in front of the prospect to prove it, and closes the deal 90% of the time.

Finally, here's a creative 60-Second Video Pitch on YouTube by a business coach.