Hey there, you Wildly Successful Travelpreneur!
We’re still dealing with daily blackouts here in South Africa (so it’s tough to get all my work done). But I’m determined to share the psychology of pitching with you this month.
So, I’m going to jump right into the juicy 🧃content…
When I first started pitching (back in 2016/2017), I would send hundreds of pitches a week! (I must have had a lot of time on my hands back then or something 🤷).
Anyhooo… it literally felt like I was sending emails into the abyss 🕳️. I mean I didn’t even get a “no, thank you” most of the time.
Where were they going? Did anyone actually receive them? Or did they just disappear once I hit “send”?
Nope, none of that. My pitch was just 💩.
I realized I needed a new strategy. So, I started using my background in psychology (I have 2 degrees) and knowledge of the human 🧠 to write my pitches…
And you know what happened? It worked! Like really well!
Fast forward to today and I’ll only send about 10 pitches per week (if that) when planning a trip because it’s all I need to send.
The response rate for my initial pitch is around 50% and this increases to about 75-80% after a follow-up email. Plus, the majority are positive responses that lead to even more partnership opportunities, like this one 👇
Or a response where I get asked which dates I want to book without even sending through my terms yet. No negotiation, just yes, please we want to collaborate - like this one 👇
So, how do I achieve this?
I make sure to send the pitch to the right person. Even if I’m unable to find the contact’s name, I always send my pitch to a decision-maker. Search the website for the press/media contact or the general manager’s email address. You could even do a Google search for “travel brand + press contact). When you pitch to the person whose job it is to market the brand, you’re more likely to get a reply than if you send a pitch to someone who deals with reservations.
I briefly introduce myself by showcasing (and linking to) my most impressive travel writing samples. You want the brand to take notice so you need to highlight your strengths straight away. Whether it’s your published travel content, blog stats, or social media engagement. By directing their attention to these benefits of working with you within the first paragraph of the pitch, they are already primed to be interested in your proposal.
I don’t ask for anything in my initial pitch. This is the brand’s first contact with you and you should never ask for something during the first encounter. That’s very off-putting. I leave the discussion of the sponsorship terms of payment rates for the negotiation phase. Brands are so used to people reaching out and asking for things so they find it refreshing if you make contact first to introduce yourself, mention how you’re helping brands like them and inquire about their interest first.
I make sure to present the travel brand with an opportunity by offering a service. The main focus of my pitch is to share “what’s in it for them”. I do this by mentioning how I’ve worked with other brands or what I’d like to provide them with. I show how I can be of service to them. This makes the idea of a partnership with me a no-brainer. By shifting the focus from what they must give you to what you can do for them, people become a lot more excited to work with you.
I always leave things open-ended to intrigue the contact enough to respond and ask for more information. Don’t share all the details in your initial pitch but share just enough to make the contact curious about all you have to offer. Humans are curious by nature so entice them to reply by mentioning that you’ll share your Media Kit or a case study if they reply that they’re interested in collaboration.
Your initial pitch is not the place to close the deal. Rather the goal of your initial pitch is to open lines of communication. Once you understand that, you can experiment with words or phrases to increase your response rate.
Did you find this useful? Hit reply and let me know - I love to hear from you!
Alternatively, if you want to learn more about pitching, join the Wildly Successful Travelpreneurs membership!
The Good Stuff 🔥
Freebies 🆓
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Paid & Sponsored Opportunities 🤑
Please do *not* mention me as the person who referred you in your applications and pitch emails. Just because I'm sharing these with you does not mean I am a reference and dropping my name won’t help you get the job :)
👉 Insider is looking for a frequent cruise traveler (over 15 voyages) who is interested in freelancing for them. Rates for cruise-related pieces will start at $200. If interested, DM their associate editor on Twitter or contact them here. Read their associate editor’s Tweet to find out more.
👉 Nurall is a tech startup that guides professional remote workers to explore worldwide neighborhoods. They are looking for pitches about “finding community as a digital nomad.” Rate starts at $100 for around 500 words. Send your pitches to jamie@nurall.co. To learn more, refer to their managing editor’s Twitter thread and their website.
👉 Sponsored post opportunity with Wanderu! Wanderu, a bus and train travel search platform in North America and Europe, is looking for bloggers to promote their platform through sponsored content. If interested, send your blog’s info, stats, and rates to Kaitlin Cabaniss at kcabaniss@wanderu.com.
👉 Matador Seeking A Creator For A 3 -Day Trip to Virginia Beach. Trip Dates: August 26th - 28th, 2022. How to apply: Send us a short pitch (200-300 words) explaining why you’re the perfect creator. A link to your writing portfolio. Propose 2-3 article titles focused on surfing. Before pitching, please read Matador’s Pitching Guide and Style Guide. Please, confirm you are fully vaccinated.
👉 Insider’s associate editor is seeking freelance writers “born and raised (or longtime residents, 8+ years) in Paris, Cancún, the Bahamas, & Charleston.” They are “commissioning articles about tourists’ missteps from a local’s perspective.” Pay starts at $185. If interested, DM their associate editor on Twitter. Read their editor’s Tweet here. Contact them here.
Interesting Reads... 📰
👉 Adventures in Africa: Abseiling Sipi Falls in Eastern Uganda. My amazing coaching client Maria secured her first publication commission and byline in JourneyWoman sharing her epic adventure!
👉 European lakes to explore. 8 Incredibly Beautiful Lakes To Visit In Europe.
Bonus Content 🤩
👉 A Brief History of Digital Nomads.
👉 Another digital nomad visa! Latvia Introduces Digital Nomad Visa Only for Citizens From Countries Part of OECD.
Travel Plans ✈️
We’re heading to the Cape Winelands this week to explore the cute little university town of Stellenbosch, stay on a luxury wine farm, and taste wine 🍷, of course!
Plus, I finally got my original Instagram account back after almost a year! Even though all my content was deleted, I’m glad I don’t have to start from scratch as I was working on it since 2016 - so let’s connect on Instagram if you’d like to follow along on our Winelands adventure!
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Until next week…
With love,
Daniella
PS. If you want to become a travelpreneur, here are 3 ways I can help you:
✈️ Grab one of my FREE courses, books, or templates for travel bloggers: https://payhip.com/OurSoulfulT...
🌎 Invest in one of my paid courses, books, templates, or bundles: https://payhip.com/OurSoulfulT...
✨ Work with me privately to make your travelpreneur dreams come true: https://payhip.com/b/wXeEV