It’s been a while since I gave PR a hard time about pitching this blog. I’ve grown increasingly more tolerant and accepting of the fact that most people just suck at their jobs. Also that the idea of READING A BLOG that you’re pitching or at least having a basic understanding of it is simply too hard a thing. Especially when you’re a junior PR exc–or possibly, “Intern 2”–and your boss is like, Hey Michelle…here’s a list of 100 random mommybloggers. Do me a favor and send out a form letter will ya? Oh, and when you’re done, there’s some leftover donuts in conference room B.
How can we compete with donuts, really? I understand. Truly I do. Especially those honey-glazed ones. Fantastic!
But there’s one pitch I got last night from a major PR firm that just, well, wow.
The headline:
Need meal ideas for Lent? Check out what [famous cartoon character tuna fish spokesman] has to say!
Here’s why Mom-101 might not want to hear what [famous cartoon character tuna fish spokesman] has to say about meal ideas for Lent:
1. I’m Jewish. An Athiest Jew at that. Last I checked, denial of tasty meat products to commemorate the resurrection of our lord and savior Jesus Christ was not part of our repertoire.
2. Nate is a chef. Of the Michael Pollan variety. If he caught me making “tuna chili” from a can he’d kick me out.
3. I am not someone you want entrusting with “tuna chili.”
4. Even the thought of a tuna fish sandwich triggers my gag reflex. Please don’t ever order one when you’re sitting next to me. I will have to switch seats and then…you know. Awkward.
5. This blog doesn’t exist for reviewing products, passing on marketing information, hosting contests, or disseminating recipes, coupons, or VALUABLE OFFERS! for my readers. It says so right at the very top of my blog, right where I list my contact info.
6. Did I mention I’m Jewish?
I’m headed to the Mom 2.0 Summit in Houston today, and I’m speaking on an amazing panel about FTC regulations as a tool to strengthen PR and reader relationships–although not about pitching. Stefania Butler, Stephanie Schwab, Amie Adams and Ciaran Blumenfeld are covering that one.
In the end, I don’t care if you know my first name or if you write “Dear mommyblogger” or if your press release is 6000 words long. I’m long past that. I’d just like the ratio of relevant to irrelevant pitches start to tilt in the right direction. It feels to me, however, that it’s all going the wrong way.
