AUGUST 15, 2023

Welcome to The Tilt, a twice-weekly newsletter for content entrepreneurs.

Make This Ask

Ask for an invitation to be a guest at your friend’s vacation home, and Miss Manners would frown. (Frankly, your friend probably would too.)

Ask for an invitation to guest on a blog, podcast, video series, etc., and your content business will smile. (And the prospective host creators probably will too.)

But how do you make the ask?

I’ve read hundreds and hundreds of pitches over the years. Most stand out for the wrong reasons. Here’s how to make your pitch stand out for good reasons.

Know the recipient’s media and audience. Your pitch should show how you can help or entertain their audience. To do that well, you must research their content. What is their content tilt? Who is likely to consume that content? How can you address that?

Make the first paragraph count. Just as you do with the introduction of a content piece to attract your audience, craft an opening paragraph that grabs the recipient’s attention.

Too often, I see something like this:

I’d rather see this:

The second opening line works better because it relates to the recipient. I don’t care about knowing the person’s name or how long they’ve been writing. I care about how well they can deliver content that will resonate with The Tilt audience. (And by using my name rather than a generic title, I know the person did some homework.)

Establish your credibility: In a sentence or two, explain why you are the person who should contribute to their content.

Too often, I see something like this:

I’d rather see this:

The preferred version shows how the potential guest is credible on my topic. It also includes proof of that credibility by mentioning where their content has been published.

Present options: Suggest a few specific ideas that you could write on or speak about.

Too often, I see this:

I’d rather see this:

In reading the second version, I can easily see what this person could contribute and identify an angle that would be most beneficial to the audience.

Test and learn: No pitch formula works all the time. Sometimes you throw it right across the plate and sometimes it goes wild. Adjust your outreach as you learn. But always keep throwing out pitches.

– Ann Gynn

Supported by

Today’s issue of The Tilt is brought to you by the world’s best AI writer for SEO, Content at Scale. Generate original, research-backed articles in minutes from your podcast, YouTube video, keyword, audio file, or existing blog.

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Entrepreneur: Jake Thomas

Biz: Creator Hooks ​

Tilt: YouTube titles

Primary Channel: Newsletter (30K), Twitter (21.3K)

Other Channels: Website​

Time to First Dollar: 4 months

Rev Streams: Newsletter sponsorships, subscriptions, consulting

Our Favorite Actionable Advice

• Learn while working: Before working full-time for Creator Hooks, Jake learned SEO, blogging, and YouTube by creating side hustles to help him improve his day job skills.
• Focus on the audience: Jake asked his newsletter audience what products they wanted. He launched a paid subscription service to his database of title breakdowns.
• Create a safety net: Jake generates passive income through his original side hustle blog, which helps supports his revenue needs.

– Marc Maxhimer

​Get more of Jake Thomas’ story.​

Know a content creator who’s going full tilt? DM us. Or email [email protected].

• ​You Plan an Exit When You Start the Business (Content Inc.)
• ​ESPN – The Sportsbook (This Old Marketing)
• Let’s talk on Tuesday at 12 p.m. US ET on Tilt Your Business: A Weekly Mastermind for the Creator Economy. Michelle Peterson Clark and Ann Gynn co-host.
• ​These U.S. tax forms often used by small businesses will go digital soon. (Small Business Trends)
• ​Seeking financing? Here are 10 tips that may help. (Grit Daily)

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