Answer the question they asked, not the one you wish they asked

The most common reason a good pitch gets ignored: the source talks about their favorite topic instead of the reporter's actual question.

A journalist's query has an "angle" — the specific slice of a story they're writing. Maybe it's not "email marketing" but "email mistakes that lose customers in the first week."

Think of it like a waiter taking your order. You asked for soup. A reply about how great the steak is doesn't help, even if the steak is amazing.

Here's how to stay on target:

— 1. Read the query twice and underline the exact angle.
— 2. Write your first sentence answering that exact slice.
— 3. Only then add your example or story.

Try this today: find one saved query and write its angle in five words before you draft a single reply.