How to get into SHAPE Magazine

(Or how to pitch to any magazine)

Honestly, I am not an expert BUT I can tell you how I did it:

1. Find a magazine that your target market is reading.

2. Check out the inside page of the magazine where it lists all of the editors’ emails.

3. Pick a few people you think will have the most knowledge regarding your product. Like if you make organic lip gloss, find the editor under beauty.

4. Send them a concise email and address the specific person! (People get turned off by long, generic letters that don’t get to the point.)

5. Explaining who you are and why your product may be a good fit for an upcoming feature. Like if it’s summer, maybe saying that your flip flops made out of yoga mats is perfect for lounging by the pool while channeling your qi.

6. Attach a couple photos (not hi res, you don’t want to clog their inbox space unless they ask for it later) and a link to your website.

7. Be honest, be real. Try not to sound like an advertisement!

8. In your subject, mention your company, your product, and if you have room, what feature. (ex: oGorgeous chic yoga bags for SHAPE gift guide)

9. Click send!

10. If they like your stuff, they’ll get back to you. If not, try to not SPAM them every other day. That’s annoying and rude. As etiquette, maybe wait about a week and then politely re-email them and ask if they received your message regarding so and so…

11. 2 things could happen now. A) They say it looks great, send us hi-res images or send us samples. You do it and you do it RIGHT AWAY. Whatever they want. B) They say sorry, it won’t fit in the magazine. Maybe next time. Don’t be discouraged. Try other mags!

12. You may find your product on the HOT LIST while flipping through SHAPE at Target. You may start crying and melt down to the linoleum floor because it was your dream when you first started your business. I don’t know, JUST SAYING 🙂

Okay, I think I covered it all. There isn’t really a formula…just be genuine. Editors are people too and you don’t want to fool anyone. Pour your heart and soul into the product because that’s where it counts. In the end, if you have a good product, it will sell itself. You won’t need to vouch for it.