15. Always Follow Up
No reply? Follow up in 3–14 days, depending on urgency. Follow up twice. If no response after 3 emails, move on. Many writers get the yes after a nudge.

14. Pitch Multiple Outlets
Yes, pitch the same story to several places—especially if it’s time-sensitive. If two say yes, tweak versions. It’s a good problem to have.

13. Research Before Pitching
Check what the outlet has already published. Don’t duplicate. Offer a fresh, timely, or contrarian angle. Know their tone and niche.

12. Use a Smart Email Signature
Include your best recent byline and where you’re headed next. It signals momentum and gives editors story cues for the future.

11. Mention Photos & Interviews
Can you supply interviews or photos? Say so. Include 2–3 samples or a link (no huge files). Editors want to know what assets you offer.

10. Add Practical Info
Include basic service info: how to get there, where to stay, when to go. One line is often enough, but don’t skip it.

9. Repeat the Headline Inside
Put your headline in bold in the pitch body—even if it’s already in the subject line. It helps editors track what the pitch is actually about.

8. Keep It Tight
Trim fluff. Get to the point. Don’t sound like a Wikipedia entry. Even long pitches should feel lean and purposeful.

7. Be Direct, Not Flowery
This isn’t the article—it’s a sales doc. Skip poetic language. Say exactly what the story is, why now, and why you’re the one to write it.

6. Frontload Your Pitch
Put the best stuff at the top. Editors may only skim. Don’t bury the gold in paragraph 4. Grab attention right away—like writing a great lede.

5. Prove Your Credibility
Mention relevant bylines (“published in Nat Geo”), local knowledge (“I live here”), or niche expertise (“vegan travel blogger”). Transparency builds trust.

4. Highlight Your Access
What makes you the right person? Exclusive access to a site, interviews with key locals, deep insider knowledge—these raise your pitch’s value. Be specific.

3. Pitch a Story, Not a Topic
Don’t pitch “sustainable travel” or “Bangkok food.” Pitch a narrative: “How Bangkok’s canal chefs are reinventing Thai street food.” Editors want a story, not a theme.

2. Nail the News Hook
Editors ask: “Why now?” Give a timely reason—an opening, anniversary, trend, or data spike. Make the hook clear early, ideally in the subject line or lead of your pitch.

1. Craft a Killer Headline
Your pitch headline should be clear, not poetic. Add a superlative or emotional hook. “The weirdest hotel in Iceland” beats “My trip to Iceland.” If you can’t write a compelling headline, you may not have a story.