For e-commerce brands, getting your products mentioned on TheSkimm can be a game-changer. With its readership of primarily millennial women, TheSkimm offers a great platform to showcase products that resonate with this demographic. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to effectively pitch your products and increase your chances of being featured on TheSkimm.com.
Understand TheSkimm's Audience
The foundation of a successful pitch lies in understanding TheSkimm's audience. TheSkimm caters primarily to millennial women, delivering concise, informative content that helps them stay informed and make confident decisions in their daily lives.
Key Demographics and Characteristics
- Age Range: Primarily millennials, typically between 25-40 years old
- Gender: Predominantly women, though not exclusively
- Education: Generally well-educated, often with college degrees or higher
- Career: Usually career-focused, ranging from young professionals to established executives
- Interests: News, politics, lifestyle, health, beauty, wellness, technology, and practical solutions for everyday challenges
- Values: Empowerment, authenticity, innovation, and social consciousness
TheSkimm's readers are often described as busy, ambitious individuals who value efficiency and practicality. They're looking for products and information that can streamline their lives, keep them informed, and help them balance their personal and professional responsibilities.
To effectively pitch your product, consider how it aligns with these characteristics. Does it save time for busy professionals? Does it offer a unique solution to a common problem faced by this demographic? Understanding these aspects will help you tailor your pitch to resonate with TheSkimm's audience and editorial team.
Focus on Practical and Innovative Products
TheSkimm has built its reputation on featuring products that offer practical solutions or enhance the daily lives of its readers. When considering your product for a pitch, it's crucial to evaluate its practicality and innovative qualities.
Assessing Your Product's Fit
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Problem-Solving: Does your product address a specific issue or challenge commonly faced by TheSkimm's audience? For example, a time-saving kitchen gadget or a multi-functional beauty product might be particularly appealing.
- Innovation: How does your product differ from others in its category? TheSkimm often highlights products that bring a fresh perspective or utilize new technology to solve old problems.
- Lifestyle Enhancement: In what ways does your product improve the user's life? This could range from boosting productivity to promoting wellness or simply adding a touch of luxury to everyday routines.
- Ease of Use: Given the busy nature of TheSkimm's readers, products that are intuitive and easy to incorporate into daily life are often favored.
- Value Proposition: While not necessarily about price, consider how your product offers value. This could be through durability, multi-functionality, or addressing a need more effectively than existing solutions.
By focusing on these aspects, you can position your product as not just another item, but as a valuable addition to the lives of TheSkimm's readers. In your pitch, clearly articulate how your product meets these criteria, using specific examples or scenarios that TheSkimm's audience can relate to.
Timing Matters
The timing of your pitch can significantly impact its success. TheSkimm often publishes content that aligns with seasons, holidays, and current trends. By strategically timing your pitch, you can increase its relevance and appeal.
Seasonal Opportunities
- Holiday Gift Guides:
- Start pitching at least 2-3 months before major holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, or Mother's Day.
- Tailor your product's presentation to fit the holiday theme.
- Summer Essentials:
- Begin pitching summer-related products in early spring (March-April).
- Focus on items that enhance summer activities, travel, or help beat the heat.
- Back-to-School:
- Ideal for educational tools, organizational products, or items that ease the transition back to academic routines.
- Start pitching in June or July for features in late summer.
- New Year, New You:
- Products related to health, fitness, organization, or self-improvement are popular in January.
- Begin pitching these items in November or early December.
Trend-Based Timing
Stay on top of emerging trends and current events that might align with your product. For instance:
- If there's a growing focus on sustainability, highlight your product's eco-friendly aspects.
- During health-conscious periods (like flu season), emphasize any wellness benefits of your product.
- If remote work continues to be a trend, showcase how your product enhances the home office experience.
By aligning your pitch with these timely themes, you increase the likelihood of your product being seen as relevant and feature-worthy.
Craft a Compelling Pitch
Your pitch is your opportunity to make a strong first impression. Given that editors at TheSkimm receive numerous submissions daily, it's crucial to make yours stand out while remaining clear and concise.
Key Elements of a Strong Pitch
- Subject Line:
- Create an attention-grabbing subject line that clearly states what you're offering.
- Be specific and intriguing, but avoid clickbait tactics.
- Example: “Innovative Eco-Friendly Water Bottle for TheSkimm's Summer Essentials Guide”
- Introduction:
- Briefly introduce yourself and your brand.
- Mention any previous interactions or features with TheSkimm, if applicable.
- Keep it to 2-3 sentences maximum.
- Product Description:
- Clearly articulate what your product is and why it matters.
- Mention the price of your product, as well as where readers can purchase it.
- Highlight how it solves a problem or improves life for TheSkimm's audience.
- Unique Selling Points:
- Outline what sets your product apart from competitors.
- Focus on 2-3 key differentiators that align with TheSkimm's audience interests.
- Use bullet points for easy readability.
- Relevance to TheSkimm:
- Explain why your product is a good fit for TheSkimm's audience.
- Reference specific sections or types of content where your product could be featured.
- Visuals:
- Include a highquality image or links to videos showcasing your product.
- Ensure these visuals are professional and align with TheSkimm's aesthetic.
- Call to Action:
- Clearly state what you're asking for (e.g., consideration for a feature, product review).
- Offer to send samples or provide additional information if needed.
Remember, being to the point is key. Aim for a pitch that can be read and understood in under two minutes. A rule of thumb that I personally have is to keep my email to 3-4 paragraphs at most and 2-3 sentences per paragraph.
Align with TheSkimm's Values
TheSkimm is known for its commitment to empowering women through accessible information. Aligning your brand and product with these values can make your pitch more appealing to their editorial team.
- Empowerment Message:
- Highlight how your product empowers users in their daily lives.
- Show how it helps TheSkimm's readers make informed decisions or take control of certain aspects of their lives.
- Educational Component:
- If your product has an educational aspect, emphasize this in your pitch.
- Explain how it helps users learn or stay informed about relevant topics.
- Social Responsibility:
- If your brand engages in socially responsible practices, mention these.
- Highlight any charitable initiatives or sustainable practices associated with your product.
- Diversity and Inclusion:
- Demonstrate how your product or brand promotes diversity and inclusion.
- This could be through your company culture, marketing practices, or the product itself.
- Women in Business:
- If your company is women-led or supports women in business, make this known.
- TheSkimm often champions female entrepreneurs and businesses that support women's advancement.
- Work-Life Balance:
- If your product helps achieve better work-life balance, a key concern for many of TheSkimm's readers, emphasize this aspect.
By aligning your product and brand with these values, you increase the likelihood of resonating with TheSkimm's mission and editorial focus.
Send your pitch to the right person
One critical aspect of successfully getting featured is ensuring that you’re sending your pitch to the right person within TheSkimm’s editorial team. Research who covers product features or lifestyle content in your product category. For example, if you sell a product that helps women fall asleep faster, send your pitch to an editor or writer who covers Wellness products. If your products make a great gift for the holidays, send it to a writer who covers the Shopping section. And if your product is for parents, email a writer who writes for the Parenting section of TheSKimm.
We've made this easier for you and added the current editors and writers at TheSkimm to our Media Leads database, so if you are not yet a member, you can get a Free Five-Day Trial by signing up here.
Securing a feature on TheSkimm.com requires a strategic approach that combines understanding their audience, offering innovative and quality products, timing your pitch effectively, and aligning with their values.
By following this comprehensive guide, you can increase your chances of catching the attention of TheSkimm's editorial team and gaining valuable exposure for your e-commerce brand.
Remember, persistence and professionalism are key. Even if your first attempt doesn't result in a feature, continue to refine your approach and stay engaged with TheSkimm's content, as well as follow up from your initial pitch email. Building a relationship over time can lead to future opportunities and success in getting your products featured on this influential platform.
