This e-mail pitch came through the Ragan newsroom yesterday and it hits all the right notes.
Subject: Catevo's Job Title Contest Update
I just wanted to provide a brief update on the current contest that the Catevo Group is hosting for Jonathan Ressler, our newest social media guru. As I mentioned yesterday, The Catevo Group began the contest yesterday in which anyone can submit a job title for Jonathan Ressler or vote on their favorite title. The person whose title receives the most votes will win $250 and bragging rights of course. Since yesterday, the Raleigh News and Observer ran a fabulous story on the contest and the contest site has already received hundreds of nominations. If you haven’t already, you should take a look.
(Contact information was provided beneath the person’s signature.)
What does this pitch do well?
First, the subject line is brief, accurate and to the point. The pitch is just one paragraph; it’s written in a breezy tone and there’s no jargon. The easy link to the newspaper article is perfect, plus the adjective to describe it, “fabulous,” is an attention getter.
The suggestion at the end, “If you haven’t already, you should take a look,” is a nice touch.
Most importantly, the editor of Ragan.com, Roula Amire, liked the pitch—and she was the intended target.
"The subject line says what it is," Amire explained. "It’s a short paragraph written without any jargon. And it’s kind of interesting."
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Comments (3)
Is The Catevo Group a well-known group? If not, it would have helped me to have a LITTLE explanation of what it is.
Posted by Cheryl Howard | March 30, 2009 12:23 PM
Posted on March 30, 2009 12:23
Thanks for the great example! Not only was this the perfect pitch, but it was a nice explanation of why it was so perfect. As a student about to graduate into this harsh economy, it's good to hear tips that can set me apart. Keep up the good work!
Posted by Krystle, Tehema Group Communications | March 26, 2009 10:37 PM
Posted on March 26, 2009 22:37
I think the subject line is pretty boring. "Update" is one of the most ho hum words you can ever use. (It's also in the first paragraph.)
How about "Catevo job title contest heats up"?
Posted by Kathy Kerchner | March 26, 2009 2:31 PM
Posted on March 26, 2009 14:31