Why Your Pitch Isn’t Landing — And What to Do Instead

Photo by Emily Grace Photography

By Ekaterina Popova

You’ve poured your heart into your work. You’ve posted on Instagram, submitted to open calls, maybe even dropped a “feature me” comment or two under someone’s thread. And still… nothing. No response. No invite. No feature.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone.
And more importantly—there’s nothing wrong with you.

As the founder of Create! Magazine, I’ve reviewed thousands of artist pitches. Some are clear, compelling, and exciting. Others—while full of potential—don’t quite do the work justice. That’s what inspired my latest solo episode of Art & Cocktails: a conversation about why your pitch might not be landing, and how to shift from being overlooked to being featured.

What Doesn’t Work

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of pitching missteps that are surprisingly common:

• Sending mass emails with no personalization
• Pitches with no images or relevant links
• Bios or artist statements filled with vague jargon
• Cold DMs saying “feature me” with zero context
• Publicly complaining when not selected

These might seem small, but they leave an impression—and not the one you’re hoping for.

What Does Work

You don’t need a PR team to get featured.
What you do need is a clear, thoughtful, and human approach.

Try this instead:

• A short, personalized email that shows you’ve done your homework
• 3–5 preview images or a clean press kit link
• A timely, relevant reason for reaching out—like a new show, book, or project
• A bio that reads like you—not a textbook
• Confidence in your story, and a willingness to follow up respectfully

The best pitches feel like an invitation, not a demand.

It’s Not Just About Strategy

Visibility isn’t just a tactical game—it’s energetic. It’s rooted in trust.
Some of the most powerful features I’ve received weren’t from perfect pitches, but from years of showing up, sharing my story, and building real relationships.

I believe in the power of co-creation.
Dream big. Visualize the feature. Speak it out loud. Pitch from a place of worthiness, not desperation.

You belong on those pages. You deserve to be heard.

Ready to Pitch Like a Pro?

If you’re ready to start landing meaningful features, I created something just for you.

My new mini course, How to Get Featured in Magazines and Press as an Artist, is now available on CreateU.co.

Inside, you’ll get:

• A 40-minute video training
• Editable pitch templates
• A press kit checklist
• Interview prep tips
• My exact system that’s helped hundreds of artists get published

It’s just $39 and designed to help you share your story—without the guesswork.

🎧 You can also listen to the full episode on Art & Cocktails wherever you get your podcasts, or head to CreateU.co/published for instant access.

Your art is powerful. Your story is worthy. You don’t have to wait to be discovered—you just need the right approach.

Let’s make sure the right people find you.