You know those images in movies where someone wins the jackpot on a slot machine and it spits coins out everywhere? That’s exactly how I think of an editor’s inbox. No matter what they do, the emails keep on coming, piling up on top of each other. So how can freelance writers get an editor’s attention? How can we get noticed amongst all the digital noise, ensure our emails get opened and our pitches read?
3 easy ways to get an editor’s attention in the subject line of your pitch
From my discussions with editors, I know they get a lot of emails.
Like, a lot.
I think getting 30 – 40 emails a day is heavy, but we’re talking about some editors receiving up to 400 emails a day.
I’m mostly at my computer during work hours so I can deal with emails that come in pretty easily.
But can you imagine attending a photo shoot or a meeting to come back to 150 unread emails waiting for you, with more stacking up?
There’s no doubt that it can get hard to cut through all the emails and get noticed when you’re a freelance writer.
And unfortunately, editors not answering emails is part and parcel of what those working in the gig economy have to deal with.
I don’t think I properly realised just how much of an inbox nightmare many editors are facing.
A few years ago I met an editor on a famil (also called a press trip or fam trip).
I had pitched to her months and months earlier but I never heard back from her.
I didn’t bring it up on the famil. Why? Honestly, because I was embarrassed.
I assumed that she had thought my idea was so rubbish that she didn’t even reply.
Now this editor knew that I had written for the publication previously and during a shared dinner one night she asked if I ever pitched her.
“Um, I’m not sure,” I replied.
Um … white lie, anyone?
She obviously picked up on my hesitation because in the days after the famil, I had an email from her.
It was a reply to my pitch. Eight months later.
“Gosh, I’m so sorry,” she wrote. “When we got home from the famil, I searched for your name in my inbox and there was your pitch. I get so many emails each week and I never even opened yours.”
This editor went on to say: “If you’re still keen to write this story and haven’t sold it elsewhere – I’d love to commission you to write it.”
But if you don’t have that personal connection with an editor, what can you do?
Here are three techniques that I regularly use to get an editor’s attention.
Each one of these (particularly the third) have been very helpful for me.
1. Match your pitch subject line with the publication’s headlines
Editors want to feel confident that you know the publication inside and out, so one thing you can do in the subject line of your pitch is mimic the style of headline the publication runs.
If the publication uses puns in their headlines, then go wild creating punny subject lines.
If they run listicles, then do the same in your pitch subject line; such as “5 ways to beat the common cold” or if they have two word headlines (like “Silver Lining”) then follow that.
It immediately lets the editor know, even before they’ve opened your email, that you’re in tune with the publication.
2. Add “Follow up” to your pitches
It’s not uncommon that you may have to follow up once or twice to find out if an editor is interested in your idea.
If you do have to follow up, don’t simply resend or forward your original pitch, make sure you add the words “Follow up” to the subject line of your email.
I reckon that doing this has increased my response rates by around 30 – 40 per cent.
3. The two words that work like a charm …
This last tip is my favourite way of getting an editor’s attention.
Though I should say, I only use it when I have had at least one ‘conversation’ (via email or phone) with the editor.
There’s not anything particularly special or unique about these two words in a subject line, but they work.
And they are:
“Quick question”
The magic of this simple subject line is that you immediately let the editor know that this is not going to be some long rambling email that they don’t have time to read, let alone reply to, but rather, it’s going to be quick and snappy.
And it also piques their interest.
I love those two words because they also create an immediate sense of familiarity.
It’s almost as if you are in mid-conversation with them. “I’ve just got a quick question about ….”
I often use this strategy, and I don’t think I’ve had a time when an editor that I’ve worked with before hasn’t replied to an email with this subject line.
And as you can see below from one of my students currently going through my online course Write Earn Thrive, it doesn’t just work for me either:
So there you have it. Three quick and easy ways to get an editor’s attention.
What are your most successful ways of getting an editor’s attention?
11 thoughts on “3 easy ways to get an editor’s attention (without being obnoxious)”
Hmm, I’ve sent one follow-up to a busy airline mag editor this month, but may have to employ one of these tactics for follow-up #2 (no reply yet – initial pitch was in May). It’s hard to get over the feeling they’ve simply not replied because they’re not interested, and that you’re nagging them huh!
It’s really tricky Jake – and you’re right, sometimes they’re not interested so they won’t reply. But unless you’re sending an email a day, you’re not nagging them. Editors (at least the ones I’ve worked with) absolutely expect you to follow up if you haven’t heard from them. Fingers crossed that your pitch gets over the line!
These are three really great tips, each and every one of them. The not knowing how a pitch has been received is hard – was it an almost-ran, was it a complete miss, was it even read? – it’s a bit of a numbers game at times. Finding an interesting topic is my best tip, but of course that’s not the easiest thing to do. Sometimes it only needs to be something fitting though. I recently heard from an editor who said she couldn’t quite believe they hadn’t covered the subject I was proposing which was nice, and she was very happy to commission it.
How good is that Claire?! I was listening to a podcast the other day where the writer was saying that yes, freelancers needed to find the surprise element, but also to "lean in to the obvious", which it sounds like you did beautifully with that pitch.
Lindy, this is excellent advice that anyone can use, from those just starting out (like myself) to seasoned freelancers. I love that these tips are all simple enough to employ without adding a ton of extra work to the pitching process. Thanks for the professional words of wisdom!
Thank you so much Tracey! I hope these ideas work well for you 🙂
Great tips, Lindy. I have experience on both sides.
As an editor, you’re right, the emails and pitches can be relentless.
But … as an editor you need stories. Your tips are a great way to get through the clutter.
As a freelancer, I hate the silence.
I would rather get a no than not hear anything.
Sometimes you email gets missed, sometimes they might not like the idea and sometimes you hit on a winner.
My biggest mistake has been sending one email to the commissioning editor, the print editor and the digital editor with one pitch relating to each of them. They all figured one of their colleagues would reply.
Individual follow-ups worked much better and resulted in two commissions.
Thanks for sharing all your ideas.
Carolyne
Hi Carolyne, thanks for your reply. It’s so valuable to hear your experience and I’m the same as you in terms of preferring a no to silence. Thanks for sharing your experience of pitching three editors three separate ideas in one email and the importance of following up – I think you’ve probably helped a lot of writers by letting us know how that turned out. Appreciate your thoughts!
Wonderful tips, Lindy! Asking a question at the end of the pitch seems to help – ‘ is this story of interest to you?’ or something along those lines helps get a response one way or another.
I also use Mailtrack (the free version) to see if the email has been opened or not. If it’s been opened and I don’t hear from the editor – I take that as a no thanks. If it isn’t opened, did my subject line miss the mark, was the timing for the article off? I take an unopened email as a no, also, and don’t follow up.
Is not following up a mistake?
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for your comment. I wouldn’t take an unopened email as a no – the editor might have simply been to busy to get to it. I would definitely follow up (and change the subject line to: Follow up PITCH [Your story idea]). Mailtrackers are great, but they’re not 100% reliable, so even if it shows that your email has been opened and you don’t hear back, I’d still follow up because it might be the start of a conversation. Does that help?
Yes, thanks!