General Questions

What is PitchWire?

PitchWire is an online community for influencers (journalists, bloggers and analysts) and publicists that promotes responsible pitching and transparency. The results are more successful “hits” and a better relationship between influencers and publicists.

How much does PitchWire cost?
PitchWire is free. Our goal is to bring influencers (journalists, analysts and bloggers) and responsible publicists together at the perfect time so we have made signing-up fast, free and easy. We rely on financial contributions from our users to pay for operational costs, and service enhancements. In addition, some users may elect to pay a monthly subscription fee for enhanced features.

Is PitchWire secure?
We've done everything possible to ensure the safe keeping of your data. All of PitchWire's servers are backed up onsite daily. Not even 007 himself could break in. Well, maybe the Sean Connery Bond could, but he doesn't want your data. PitchWire uses:

• A state of the art, $7 million dollar data center
• Redundant power, UPS, cooling and fiber
• Biometric authentication, key card access and video surveillance
• 128 bit SSL encryption

What do I need to use PitchWire?
To use PitchWire you must have a compatible browser with cookies and javascript enabled.

Check to see that you have both enabled by clicking here.

The list of compatible browsers are:

• Internet Explorer 6.0, 7.0
• Firefox 1.5.x, 2.x - Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux
• Safari 2.x (1.x is untested but may work as well)

• Opera 9.10 on Mac OS X and Windows
• Mozilla 1.6+ on Windows (OS X and Linux are untested to date.)

Windows users: For best results we recommend using Firefox or Internet Explorer 7.
Mac users: For best results we recommend using Firefox or Safari.

PitchWire is designed for a minimum screen resolution of 1024x768. Nothing prevents users below that resolution from using PitchWire but the experience will not be as pleasant.

How do I get started?
Signing up is fast, free and easy. Registration takes just a few minutes. Once you sign up for the free service, you can immediately start to use PitchWire to send and receive more relevant pitches and sources. As a software service, you only need a computer, browser and an Internet connection. No hardware or software is required. Simply sign in and get started. Sign up now.

FAQ for Influencers

Why should I join PitchWire?

• Keep PR contacts updated
  
  Communicating with known PR contacts or new ones is time consuming. Instead of just regular email and phone, a personalized PitchWire page can help you manage your PR relationships.
• Receive more relevant pitches
  
  Pitching will not go away anytime soon, so why not control how you are pitched?
• Find resources for your stories
  
  On deadline? Get sources, content and spokespeople without the risk of getting spammed.
• Easily manage your pitches and contacts
  
  A pitch management system enables you to more effectively manage sources for your stories, plus you can take your contacts and history wherever you go for as long as you like.
• Communicate your needs clearly
  
  Did you know that most publicists use third-party databases filled with information about your needs? Make sure publicists have it right.
• Free for influencers

Do I have to use PitchWire for all communication with publicists?
No, the choice is up to you. Some influencers only use PitchWire with unknown publicists and continue to communicate via direct email with their trusted PR contacts. While others use PitchWire as a complete pitch management system and require all pitches — whether from trusted or unknown PR contacts — to be sent via their PitchWire system. The choice is up to you.

Will PitchWire change the way I work?
Not if you don't want it to. Some influencers choose to only use the "personal assistant" features of PitchWire, which answer typical questions, seek resources and content for stories, and screen pitches to reduce the sheer volume of email they receive. Infuencers can then prioritize pitches from the PitchWire system knowing that they meet their initial criteria.

For pitches and inquiries that make it past your "personal assistant," you can choose to manage the story development process with PitchWire, or continue to do it the way you do now, via regular email, fax or phone. The choice is up to you.

I've registered, now what?
Once you register, an email notification will be sent to publicists notifying them of your new PitchWire homepage. In addition, you can immediately start seeking resources for your current story by adding a new story to your home page. Your story information will be distributed to hundreds of publicists and sources representing companies in your selected beats. To ensure that you are not spammed with irrelevant pitches, all responses will be made via the PitchWire system that will only deliver pitches that meet your exact criteria to you.

For unsolicited pitches, we recommend that you direct publicists to your new PitchWire home page. Some common ways to update publicists include:

• Use the PitchWire Email Feature to let existing PR contacts know of your new PitchWire page address.
• Update your profile with major PR database companies (a list of major providers is available upon registration).
• Ask your Web master to update your email address on your publication's Web site address.
• Leave your PitchWire home page address on your voicemail.

FAQ for Publicists

What are the benefits of PitchWire for publicists?

• Immediate updates direct from influencers so you can pitch the right story at the right time
• Pitch wizard helps you develop pitches that meet an influencer's exact criteria
• Position yourself as a valuable resource to key influencers
• Take your valuable contact information with you wherever you go

How do I find an influencer to pitch (for publicists)?
You will be notified when influencers join the PitchWire community or are seeking content and sources for a current story that match your profile.

I've registered, now what?
Once you register, you will be immediately notified when an influencer is writing a story that matches your profile. It is important to keep your market segments section of your profile up to date as this is how PitchWire determines matches for you. We also recommend you invite your publicist and influencer friends to join the PitchWire community by going to the "Spread the Word" tab of the PitchWire application.