Sword and the Script

DECEMBER 28, 2021

This blog published 51 posts this year – the 12 th year of publishing for Sword and the Script. Following a tumultuous year, 80% of PR and comms professionals say organizations place a greater value on comms, according to the 2021 JOTW Strategic Communications Survey. That works out to one post per week, which is like clockwork.

Blogging 135

Blogging Software Google Content Marketing 135

Sword and the Script

JUNE 13, 2023

A survey of 3,000+ finds 75% of journalists say the top action any PR person can take is to understand a reporter’s target audience and what they find relevant; journalism statistics show reporters worry about accuracy, credibility and keeping pace amid more work and fewer resources Most PR professionals say media relations is getting harder.

Journalism 127

Journalism Media Relations Report Media 127

Sword and the Script

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

Surveys show earned media is still the most credible; exec appreciation and collaboration with PR improved during the Coronavirus Regular readers know these pages are filled with surveys and statistics. Recently I went back through all the write-ups I’ve published on surveys and boiled the results down to these ten.

Survey 95

Survey Industry Leadership Study 95

Sword and the Script

JUNE 4, 2022

I was filled with job opportunities every week and would occasionally feature a job seeker in a section of the newsletter called the One Paragraph Pitch (OPP). I didn’t know Ned, but I pitched an OPP and he ran it. Now in its fifth year, the survey is open to respondents. Why should comms people answer this survey?

Survey 78

Survey Public Affairs Government Community 78

Sword and the Script

MAY 18, 2021

That’s according to a survey of 750 communicators tallied up in the 2021 Communications Benchmark Report by Ragan Communications. According to a survey, comms professionals gave themselves good grades. This mirrors the sentiment in a separate survey that quantified a self-assessment by CMOs. click image for higher resolution).

Study 167

Study Communications Survey Pitching 167

Sword and the Script

JULY 6, 2021

OnePitch recommends reporters to pitch; ResponseSource shuts down #journorequest curation; Meltwater acquires Owler; Critical Mention adds “cast & crew” TV data. OnePitch feature recommends reporters to pitch. In a video tutorial, the company says it will start making recommendations after you’ve sent three or more pitches.

Pitching 89

Pitching Report Software Survey 89

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 14, 2018

The 2018 State of the Media report by Cision is an annual survey of reporters that offers some insight. The company maintains and sells access to an online media contact database, which serves as the population from which the survey sample is drawn. The survey suggests reporter views of the top challenges they face is splintered.

Survey 102

Survey Report Media B2B 102

Stephen Waddington

MARCH 20, 2019

A report from Vuelio suggests that blogging is becoming a source of income for a quarter of bloggers. Blogging is professionalising and has become a paid activity for up to a fifth of bloggers. Bloggers typically start out blogging as a hobby and overtime shift to paid activity. Blogs are a highly trusted form of media.

Blogging 76

Blogging Fashion Survey Instagram 76

Sword and the Script

JULY 27, 2021

Where some see diminishing value in media relations others see opportunity; the best way to improve results is to use a combination of pitching, content and social media. That’s according to the 2021 JOTW Communications Survey , which polled 300 communications professionals. These overshadow even relevant pitches.

Media Relations 173

Media Relations Media Pitching Survey 173

Sword and the Script

JUNE 6, 2023

Just 28% of 1,034 PR professionals surveyed by Muck Rack in March and April 2023 say they are using generative AI (gAI). Another 33% say they “plan to explore it” although the timeline was not clear in the survey results. That cohort certainly shouldn’t be counted as among those who are using AI, although it has been.

Survey 146

Survey Software B2B Pitching 146

Bianchi Biz Blog

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

To better understand this evolution, the Public Relations Global Network – our network of more than 50 hand-selected public relations firms servicing key markets around the world – surveyed its 18 U.S. Whereas national media outlets tend to have a larger bandwidth to take on pitched topics.”

Report 101

Report Automotive Media Local 101

Onclusive

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

In this week’s blog about earned media strategy and measurement, we’re talking about developing and implementing a content distribution plan that uses every opportunity to showcase your stories in front of your key audiences. First things first: determining the best channels and formats for your audiences.

Measurement 356

Measurement SEO Web Social Media 356

Sword and the Script

MAY 17, 2016

If your answer involves turning to Google, then you’re not unlike the 250 or so reporters the agency Wasabi Publicity recently surveyed. According to the survey, the top ways reporters find sources and stories are: 1. So after several attempts, I re-worked my pitch into a blog post and published it on the company blog.

Survey 64

Survey Report Content Marketing Pitching 64

ImPRessions - Crenshaw Communications

AUGUST 18, 2021

The findings or data from a white paper can also be pitched out to the media. That’s why podcasts should be on every media pitch list. The discussion can be released in edited video snippets, bylined articles, contributed blog posts, op-ed pieces, and even on-site interviews. Customer case studies sell benefits.

Case Study 390

Case Study B2B Study Interviews 390

Sword and the Script

JANUARY 9, 2024

A blogger from some tech company’s blog will always be included. Further, some vendors, like HubSpot, actually run their blogs like a news site. Maybe there are just less pitches submitted [in] total now and landing a link is easier, but I’m skeptical. Content picks Pitch results. Tried and true pitching tips.

Brand 149

Brand Branding Reddit Pitching 149

Barokas

DECEMBER 12, 2017

One way to do that is by conducting and leveraging a third-party survey to garner media interest. But if done correctly, a survey can be a benefit to any well-oiled PR strategy. So how exactly do you make a survey work for your client? Here’s an example of a survey we recently conducted on behalf of our client, iovation.

Survey 60

Survey How To Data Pitching 60

ImPRessions - Crenshaw Communications

OCTOBER 15, 2020

Furthermore, it can track social media coverage as well, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and over 300 million blogs. Sometimes it can be difficult to land pitches, but with ProfNet, the media opportunities present themselves. Google Trends. Google Trends is underutilized in our view. Radio Guest List.

Tools 232

Tools Radio Trends Pitching 232

The Proactive Report

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Do you show up in Wikipedia, Reddit, X, LinkedIn, ChatGPT, relevant blogs and podcasts when people are looking for words and phrases related to your product or service? In a recent Meritus Media survey, learning analytics and how to track results was the number two skill PR people wanted to learn.

Trends 182

Trends Marketing Wikipedia Reddit 182

Burrelles Fresh Ideas

MARCH 5, 2024

However, media pitching and media relations to secure earned media still dominate the industry. Product reviews on platforms like YouTube, social media platforms, or blogs. Too Much Competition: Respondents highlighted that there’s too much competition from other stories, making it challenging for their pitches to stand out.

Media 97

Media Nonprofit Pitching Analytics 97

Sword and the Script

MARCH 30, 2021

Muck Rack teamed up with about 20 different associations – i.e. Society of Professional Journalists , MediaBistro , Foreign Press Association – to survey 2,482 journalists from January 11 th to February 8 th of 2021. This runs counter to current trends among the general public – but that’s a different blog post.

Social Media 109

Social Media Report Survey Media 109

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 24, 2021

They had covered my client before and I was pitching hard news – good stuff that’s useful for the industry. I’m a fan of using sponsored content strategically – I often recommend taking a high-performing blog post and repurposing it for paid content – and suggested a blog post we had published earlier that might land well with the audience.

Pitching 112

Pitching Media Relations Survey Advertising 112

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 8, 2023

So, when I saw a piece covering the results of a survey about case studies in Marketing Profs , I pulled the whole report down for a closer look. The report is based on a survey conducted by a marketing agency called Uplift Content. The survey asked respondents how they use case studies once they are generated.

Case Study 123

Case Study Study Company B2B 123

Sword and the Script

JUNE 9, 2020

Three-quarters (75%) of PR said so this year, according to the 2020 JOTW Communications Survey. Next year, when we conduct that same survey, I bet the results will look similar. There’s a lot of competition and everything isn’t a pitch. PR pitches reporters because they work for a publication with an audience.

Media Relations 111

Media Relations Media Survey Pitching 111

ImPRessions - Crenshaw Communications

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

So, even if you assume fully half of the professional PR population isn’t engaged in active media pitching, it’s a large number and an unhealthy ratio. Researchers looked at how people evaluated news stories, traditional ads, native ads, independent blogs, and branded blogs. It always comes down to credibility.

SEO 227

SEO Agency Reputation Policies 227

Sword and the Script

OCTOBER 25, 2022

90% of comms pros surveyed say their work has changed some, and of those, 50% say communications work has changed significantly. That’s according to The 5th Annual JOTW Strategic Communications Survey for 2022 , which polled 483 communications professionals – mostly in the US. Harder to pitch. Dynamic content and regulations.

Communications 122

Communications Crisis Internal International 122

Bad Pitch Blog

JULY 31, 2012

You won''t be surprised to learn that the Bad Pitch blog was the last thing on our minds during the horrific shootings in Aurora, Colorado. In the aftermath we assumed, naively, that the nation''s collective shock would stop anyone in their right mind from trying to tie their pitch into this tragedy. Let''s Pitch the Client!

Pitching 84

Pitching Survey Industry Tools 84

Buzzstream

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

If you set out to build relevant links , for instance, there should be a clear connection between your pitch and your target. For example, if I write about travel and receive an email pitch, it must be immediately apparent why you are contacting me. Call out specific stats the journalist should know if you pitch a survey or data piece.

Pitching 62

Pitching Mobile Examples Study 62

Flack's Revenge

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

So why have a blog with “revenge” in the name if I can’t get me some? Or at least blog a strongly worded rebuttal. She wanted my thoughts, and is probably sorry that she asked, because I chided her and gave reading assignments from my blog (like this post and this one ). Is the Press Release Truly Dead?

Writing 177

Writing Pitching Report Industry 177

ImPRessions - Crenshaw Communications

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Any CEO who hasn’t yet weighed in about industry issues in thought pieces on a blog or LinkedIn should consider cultivating a strong point of view. An interesting bylined article or blog post can make its way around social channels and be picked up by a trade or business outlet. Make news with opinion or behavior surveys.

B2B 147

B2B Pitching Case Study Local 147

Sword and the Script

MAY 4, 2021

You can see it in this month’s summary of news – the 24 th edition of the PR Tech Sum – there’s a corporate transaction, a few new products and a handful of PR surveys at the end. >>> This new feature lets PR pros view, compile and share key data and produce customized executive reports,” the company wrote in a blog post.

Tools 100

Tools Survey Pitching Analytics 100

Sword and the Script

FEBRUARY 26, 2019

Some time ago I pitched a reporter, who was looking for sources, on social media for a client. The pitch was about a study they had done. The interesting thing is, I had pitched her on that study by email already. Survey research shows reporters say one of the top ways they find sources and stories is through search. . >>>Also

Content Marketing 89

Content Marketing Marketing Pitching Survey 89

Sword and the Script

AUGUST 30, 2022

This is because, as the JOTW communications survey has shown previously, PR has a lukewarm view of sponsored content. Propel wrote about its “ PitchBooster ” which “will schedule your email to send at the exact day and time that each journalist opens pitches the most.” AI-assisted pitches. “AI JOTW Communications Survey.

Publicity 85

Publicity Survey Enterprise Pitching 85

Journalistics

JANUARY 24, 2016

In my first post of the year, I confessed my blogging sins and provided some insights around what caused me to blog less the past few years, and what I learned from the process. This posts was the first step in my journey to blog more in 2016. About This Two-Part Series. Which posts have your readers enjoyed least?

Blogging 69

Blogging Strategy How To Writing 69

Sword and the Script

MARCH 28, 2017

You’ve spent weeks or months pitching a key reporter. A simple way to do this is to request an interview for a corporate blog. The operative phrases here is interview for a blog post – not a media interview. 2017 PR Salary Survey Suggests Demand for Talent Tightening . Then your heart sinks.

B2B 60

B2B Blogging How To Media 60

Rock the Status Quo

AUGUST 11, 2014

Creativity counts when it comes to a media pitch, the headline of your press release and share-worthy blog posts. ” In it, Woodall shares a few details from the recently-released 2014 BusinessWire Media Survey that are worth noting, mainly because so few online newsrooms actually include many of the items mentioned.

How To 242

How To Survey Resources Social Media 242

Sword and the Script

JUNE 7, 2022

The report is based on a global survey of its employees. Cision also pitched microsites for ESG solutions a few months ago. Pitching on Fridays. “We We continue to see counterintuitive pitching success for Friday in our research on PR email pitches,” says Propel in a post about pitching on Fridays. “In

Software 85

Software Internal International Pitching 85

The Proactive Report

APRIL 6, 2021

Just as with print publications, the top tier websites are harder to pitch. HubSpot’s Research Trust Survey show that more than half of the respondents trust companies less than before. Put together a “media” list of websites, blogs, influencers, and news sites that could publish your content.

Leadership 147

Leadership Engineering Enterprise Social Media 147