Ask any editor, their inboxes are flooded everyday with endless PR banter and business owners' personal pitches that claim to have the perfect product for their magazine. There are ways to make an editor stop and look more closely at your email pitch. Check out the tips below to better your chances of getting an editor's attention:

1) Know the publication. Editors can spot a mass email in a second, and will delete it just as fast. Start by addressing the editor by name, include an area in the magazine where you can see your product being featured. If you aren't sure, you haven't done your research.

2) Make it easy. Editors want to know what the product is and why it is press-worthy. That is it. They don't care where you found their contact information, your business background story, or anything else that might be considered irrelevant or excessive information. Include your web site. It helps to mention any other press you've gotten.

3) Make it pretty. Everything you send out, from the press material to your email signature, should represent your company. If your product is elegant, everything should reflect that. If you have a high-quality photograph that is press-ready, they are more likely to feature your product.

4) Make it short. Editors don't have a lot of time and often only read the first paragraph of an email, so make it tight, entertaining and informative. If they are interested, they will email you and ask for more information. If you want to attach a line sheet or product shot, make sure it's low resolution (72dpi and under 10"x10"). It's even better to send a website link with the exact product/pictures.

5) Offer a cool alternative! Make sure an editor knows you're flexible: suggest a few different ways to use your idea. It shows her that you're creative and committed to your idea, and it increases your chances to get in the magazine.

6) Follow up. After about a week, send another short/quick email to confirm that the editor has received your first email and to see if she needs anything. One is enough--heckling an editor is going to get you nowhere and reflect poorly on your business. If she hasn't gotten back to you, it's because your product/line won't work into any current stories and she has 5,000 other emails to respond to. Don't take it personally.

7) Repeat. When you have a new product/line/idea/spin, try again. Each month or so editors are looking to fill specific pages, and this time it might be perfect. Don't keep pitching the same product with the same angle every month.

Other Ideas
*Have a writer submit a story in the style of the magazine
*Send samples with an engaging note.
*Build relationships with editors/writers.

The best pitches:
* Are about 100 words for a simple product.
* Put the most important information in the first and second paragraphs.
* Identify unique benefits.
* Describe features factually. Write sentences that state details like size, color, weight, packaging and cost.
* Avoid fancy claims, praise and platitudes.

Things to avoid:
“Women will be dying to learn about [my product]” or "everybody must have [this product]”, or “this [product] ...best in the world.” Editors will likely be turned off by these extreme claims. Keep a balance of enthusiastic and factual.

Step Away from the Telephone.
Never, ever, cold-call an editor. She's super busy, or she's late for a meeting, or she's thinking about that night's drinks date—whatever. She'll feel like she's been put on the spot (well, she has) and she won't have time to actually listen to your idea. Email your pitch instead. "If I have something in writing, I'm going to follow up on it," says Outside dispatches editor Jason Daley. "If you just call me and I'm doing something while we're talking, you're probably not going to hear back from me." Email is faster and easier, and it gives editors the chance to mull over your ideas. "I can read email on my timetable," says Yoga Journal senior editor Matthew Solan. "I can print it out." And email allows the editor to forward your pitch. "If a query jumps that first hurdle of being interesting and plausible, you're going to send it around to a couple of people on staff," says Reason editor in chief Nick Gillespie. "Emailing really facilitates sharing." (as per Media Bistro)

To get in touch with editors of your choice, visit our EdiTour service: www.insidescoop.seekingdesigners.com/editour

Happy Pitching!

Special thanks to Summer Beliza of Eliza Magazine for these tips.