Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Maggie Mayhem — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:43:53 -0000

I find it relatively humorous that everyone is so upset about this article.
First of all, taking this article so personally that you scream at Mashable for taking things personally makes me so dizzy I need to huff into a paper bag and stick my head into a bucket of ice water.
Second, these are useful tips. Anyone reading this post that wonders why they weren't accepted for Mashable coverage, probably had their question answered.
And last...do any of you commenters know what it is like to comb through submissions? Anyone here work at a record company? A newspaper? Has anyone here ever hired staff before?
I run a music company (website launch coming soon, Mashable. ha) and while my inbox in no way rivals that of the big dogs, I can tell you that providing guidelines for communication is not only considerate, it's mandatory.
After the millionth email I received where the format was "yOu sHouLd LiSteN tO mY bAnD cAuSe wE roCk," I wanted to strangle puppies for the rest of the afternoon.
I think that if you all did your research, you'd find that Mashable isn't the only site/resource/company/etc. that provides guidelines for submission or contact. PR/Media representatives are used to tailoring their pitches for their target contact at any given outlet.
I don't believe that any negative feedback posted on this thread came from an actual PR powerplayer. Most of these comments seem to have been posted by readers of Mashable...which....this post didn't really apply to you, did it?
So get off Mashable's back and put your self in their shoes for a day.
Better yet, post your email address, and I'll forward you the hundreds of daily asinine and grammatically nauseating "pitches" that I get. Then we'll see where we stand.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

SmartDad — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:25:41 -0000

OH no.. seems like the little lad had neh chance then!

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Khalid — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:10:31 -0000

What is wrong with some of these replies is that, although the article is clear, but some fellows who replied to it have pregnancies' ears.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

hoses — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:28:40 -0000

hoses.. thanks.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

herb — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:50:19 -0000

If we get a Black / Afro American President ( I don't know what i am these day's ) will he outlaw "whiney white people" one can only hope huh !!

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

LJ Jones — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:00:03 -0000

I would just like to say thanks for taking the time to communicate with your audience.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

sam — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:34:12 -0000

Thanks for the tips.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

friarminor — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:45:34 -0000

Reminds me of filters... Too small sieve stops even the the diamonds from getting through.

But I guess it's really a mess dealing with PR and pitches. Each should just shine and cut the diamond in their hands and let the brilliance radiate for people to notice.

Bet.
alain
www.mor.ph

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

emilyinchile — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:23:06 -0000

Who are these people getting all irate?! First of all, this post is funny. Clearly these 12 things are real pointers of things you should avoid, but the tone is humorous. At no point did I read it as arrogance. I also find it HUGELY unprofessional to write an e-mail without a name or with a misspelled name - maybe the Mashable writers aren't rockstars, but shouldn't we as start-ups trying to get publicity take five extra seconds to proofread?

I agree that a response of some kind, even a "thanks but no thanks" would be really nice and would boost Mashable's reputation even among companies who've been turned down. Guys, any chance of making that company policy? Maybe just for those who e-mail you more than once?

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

dizi izle — Sat, 10 May 2008 10:30:33 -0000

I have emailed mashable couple times and never got a reply. I want to send in my startup again but i dont know if you guys are just ignoring it or what. ?

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

SocialSplash — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:11:03 -0000

I have emailed mashable couple times and never got a reply. I want to send in my startup again but i dont know if you guys are just ignoring it or what.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

andre — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:47:57 -0000

[viddler_video=1f2aa208]

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Mike Baccarat — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:53:51 -0000

It makes sense to want info about a launch before it happens, not after its out on the net and tons of other blogs have already reported on the event.

Nice list.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Mark — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:51:05 -0000

What a bunch of arrogant self important fucktards. If I had a idea to pitch id like crapable to give me 12 reasons why i should pitch it to your turd pile little blog.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Jason — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:40:25 -0000

You pitch these facts life masabel matters. get over yourself will yer.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

sindhu — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:35:58 -0000

hahaha that was funny.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Scott — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:08:23 -0000

Guess I picked the wrong day to give up sniffing glue

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Zm — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:20:08 -0000

This "heh" person has major problems. I give up trying to figure out how this entry was a blow to your ego. Got a grudge against Mashable?

I thought the post was interesting. It'll be very useful to some people. It's amazing how inept, unprofessional, or disrespectful some people can be, even when it comes to their own sites/companies. The top blogs like this obviously get an impressive amount of requests. Though, letting people do what they'll do (i.e. not follow simple guidelines) really helps to filter out the nonsense more easily.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

taylor g — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:00:15 -0000

thanks very much for the great tips!
http://credit1.info
hopefully i'll get to use them soon

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Nils Van Brabant — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:51:51 -0000

I think the NÂ°1 rule is to answer at least, after applying more than 5 times by email for a startup coverage review and to have the honnesty to talk in a one to one email conversation.

That's what I call respect before anything else. Even if you receive ten thousand emails a day.

Nils Van Brabant

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

hardball — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:16:56 -0000

@ "Rizzn"

"There's a difference between what we do and straight newspaper journalism, though. "

LOL, straight up there is. You are bloggers, you are not journalists.

Now get over it and get a different job if you don't like it.

You set up your turd pile to attract the flies, and guess what, that's your job.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Cameron — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:37:29 -0000

What a shitious post!
Makes you all seem like a bunch of arrogant fuckheads.
Mashable just went down in my estimation.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Zuzanna Pasierbinska-Wilson — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:13:32 -0000

Adam - loved your post. If only PR agency people (I used to be one of them) learned to say 'no' to their clients when the story is not good enough...But let's not blame junior PR people, they are only doing what they're told, they don't know any different. It's account managers and directors who have the responsibility to educate them.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

Valer — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:54:52 -0000

Thanks for yet another clarification on getting coverage.
Frankly, it's all clear and understandable that you deal with huge amounts of information and requests.

We at BlogUpp! have met most of the points mentioned in all these directions.
Nevertheless, it's SO FRUSTRATING that after sending several kind requests, asking for JUST A WORD on what was wrong with the submitted startup - there is no single reply (no doubt the messages were read).

The quality of the submissions you are receiving WILL get better if your team would consider showing just little respect and common sense, by replying with just a line describing a reason, so that to know what needs to be improved.

That habit of yours works pretty negative towards your overall image.

Re: 12 Things Not to Do When Pitching a Story to Mashable

SocialSplash — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:00:33 -0000

I submitted my startup couple days ago. I believe i followed all the rules. Hopefully you guys will write about it soon.