Tips on how PR pros can use Twitter to connect with reporters and bloggers from someone who has been on both sides of the PR pitch.

1. Twitter for PR
Tips for making connections with reporters and bloggers by @jginkc
September 2013
It’s about a lot more than just theTweet

2. It’s not easy for a PR person to connect
with a reporter these days…
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• There are fewer reporters out
there
• The harried survivors expect
personalized pitches
• Many just won’t follow up on
our press releases!
CanTwitter help?

3. There is no magic formula…
But,Twitter can help you:
• Expand the reach of
your message
• Build relationships with
bloggers and reporters
• Identify opportunities
• Establish credibility3

4. Introduce yourself
Mention the name of your company or agency & what you do.
Include a picture of yourself.
Include aWebsite link.
Your company’s Web site
Your LinkedIn profile
Your personalWeb site or blog
What types of topics will youTweet about?
What are your other interests?
You are telling them who you
are and what they can expect
if they follow you onTwitter
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Checklist for Polishing yourTwitter Profile

5. Show your personality
some examples…
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6. Show your personality
a few more examples…
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7. Who should I follow?
• Twitter handles of your company or
your clients
• Your colleagues – Learn from each
other!
• Rivals and Competitors
• News Sources
• Reporters and bloggers who cover
your company or client
• Reporters and bloggers you want to
cover your company or client.
• Others who share your interests
• Other interests? Search for topics,
brands, people
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8. https://support.twitter.com/
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9. Just Google them
Type the person’s name in the search bar along with “Twitter”
TheirTwitter handle often will be one of the top results
What kind of impression do you leave?
You can bet bloggers and reporters are “Googling” you if they have any
interest in following up on your pitch.Are you credible? Interesting?

10. Engaging with Reporters & Bloggers
• Start by following them – theirTweets often will tell you what they
are writing and what they care about
• ReTweet them – In moderation. Don’t be a stalker.
• See an interesting article they wrote?Tweet about it to your
followers.
• Interact with them
• Thank them
• Have fun! Show some personality
• Do they want PR pitches viaTweet? Probably not.Take the time to
learn their preferences.
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11. What does a reporter want?
Always remember: It’s about them onTwitter. Not you.
A few cautions to guide you while usingTwitter to connect with
reporters and bloggers. OnTwitter:
1) They are trying to promote their own work.
2)They are looking for story ideas.
3)They are monitoring their competitors.
4)Whether they are covering it or not, they are tracking news and breaking
developments.
5)They want to network with other journalists, experts and yes, sometimes, PR
Pros.
6) Some of them want to add their own color commentary to the news.
As a colleague of mine says, the same things that annoy reporters about PR people in their voicemail, email or face
to face, also annoy them onTwitter. If you want them to write about your company…
PR ProTip:
Don’t be annoying!

12. Say “ThankYou!”
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13. Call out their articles, milestones
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It’s not always about business

15. Contribute to the conversation
Nobody wants to follow “that guy” onTwitter who
onlyTweets “Buy my stuff!” or “Write about my
company!”
•Link to interesting articles
•Lift somebody up – “Congratulations!”
“Great tips!”
•Let your personality shine –You don’t
only talk about business in real life, right?
(I hope not!)
•Share about your other interests:
Running, cooking, knitting, dogs, sports…
Mix it up!
Connect with those who have similar interests
–You will be their go-to person for your product or service when they have a need.

16. Get out there andTweet!
JasonGertzen has been on both sides of the
PR pitch. As a longtime newspaper journalist,
he fielded his share of PR pleas – good and bad.
Now he is the one making the pitches when
reaching out to bloggers while leading a social
media team at Sprint. All
opinions and views are my own.
@jginkc
The SociableWriter