What is Reverse Pitching?
Reverse pitching is an emerging strategy that industries, particularly those in the media, are using to streamline the process of content creation. Rather than relying on individual freelancers or journalists to submit unsolicited material, organizations reach out to media professionals with pre-defined topics, deadlines, and payment amounts in mind. The goal of reverse pitching is to build working relationships with experienced professionals and to make sure that organizations have the right information in the right place at the right time.
How Does Reverse Pitching Work?
To understand how reverse pitching works, let’s start by looking at how organizations typically go about finding and selecting content for publication. In many cases, organizations rely on freelance writers or journalists to submit unsolicited pieces of material for consideration. These pieces can involve anything from general interest stories on a given topic to full-length feature articles describing a particular event or trend.
At this point, the organization must then take the time to sort through the submissions and identify the ones that fit their criteria. This can involve hours of reading through material, which can become cumbersome and time consuming.
In comparison, reverse pitching is a more strategic approach. Instead of waiting to see what comes in, organizations seek out qualified candidates and clearly state their requirements. They make their expectations clear, so those seeking to get paid for their work can quickly decide whether they’re a good fit or not. If a media professional finds the factors—topic, payment, and deadline—suitable, they can either accept or reject the assignment to move on to the next.
Advantages of Reverse Pitching
Reverse pitching can offer organizations numerous advantages when it comes to getting relevant content. Here are some of the major benefits:
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Get Targeted Results: By reverse-pitching potential contributors, organizations can set specific requirements for the types of content they’re looking for and get more targeted results.
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Create strong relationships: Reverse pitching streamlines the process of connecting with high-caliber contributors, who may be willing to work with you on more of a regular basis.
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Increase efficiency: By reaching out to established contacts and outlining the expectations, organizations can save time by not having to sift through an abundance of irrelevant submissions.
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Receive Quality Content: Reputable writers, journalists, and editors look for reverse-pitching opportunities as they prefer to be in the driving seat and have control over the topics they’re passionate about and the projects they’re working on. As a result, organizations have the potential to receive of quality product that they’re looking for.
Disadvantages of Reverse Pitching
Despite its numerous advantages, reverse pitching isn’t without its drawbacks. Here are some of the main disadvantages:
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Higher Cost: Since media professionals are recruited for specific projects, it isn’t always possible to take advantage of bulk offers and discounts typically associated with wholesale purchases of content. As a result, organizations may end up paying more for individual pieces of content.
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Time Investment: While reverse pitching offers organizations quicker access to experienced professionals, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll have time to spare. Organizations must still invest time in researching and identifying potential candidates and outlining their expectations.
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Conflict of Interest: While reverse pitching is useful in fostering long-term relationships, the process might also create conflict of interest on the part of the media professionals. If a writer or journalist is continually approached with relevant topics or assignments, they might find it hard to decline. As a result, organizations might end up with biased coverage.
Reverse pitching can provide organizations with an effective way to get high-quality content from experienced professionals. By setting their own criteria and going straight to the source, organizations can save time and money and create strong, long-term relationships with their contributors. However, reverse-pitching initiatives can come with higher costs, take up more time, and create potential conflicts of interest. Organizations must weigh the advantages and disadvantages carefully before deciding to implement reverse-pitching activities.
