The Importance of Picking Up the Phone

In a PR world that now relies heavily on only email, the importance of picking up the phone is greater than ever. Many new PR professionals don’t feel comfortable picking up the phone to pitch a reporter, or even ask about a job interview.

I will never forget during my first internship, I had to pick up the phone and pitch reporters all day. From 9am to 5pm. In front of all of the employees. And provide a full pitching update at the end of the day. It was nerve-wracking and extremely pestering, but ever since I’ve felt extremely comfortable picking up the phone to talk to any reporter.

So many times we’re given a pitching assignment, blast out emails, and wait for responses. The most effective way to get instant feedback and a gut check on whether or not your pitch is even relevant, is simply to pick up the phone. Jot down the reporters number if they don’t pick up, and try calling again in a few hours. So many emails go unanswered. Even the short ones like, are you working on your holiday gift guide yet? Pick up the phone if you don’t get a response. You’ll be surprised how much more information you can dig out of a reporter when you get them on the phone. Plus it help you further your personal relationship. You become more than an email address.

How often do you pick up the phone?