You replied a day late and wondered why nothing happened

You replied a day late and wondered why nothing happened

Every journalist query has a deadline, and reporters usually file early. A query due Friday is often written Wednesday afternoon.

Think of it like RSVPing to a dinner the morning after it ended. The food's gone.

1. Check the deadline before you check anything else.
2. Treat the first 2-3 hours after a query appears as prime time — early replies get read while the inbox is still small.
3. If a query is more than half its window old, lower your expectations but still try; some reporters circle back.

Speed beats polish here more than beginners expect. A solid reply sent in hour one usually outperforms a perfect one sent in hour twenty.

Try this today: Set a phone alert for when new queries land in your niche, so you can answer while the door's still open.