When should I use a pitch instead of a direct request?
Use a Direct request when: You know exactly what you want captured, you want one specific submission, and the location and moments are set.
Use a Pitch when: You have a theme and want creators to bring the ideas, you want multiple submissions on one theme, and you’re open to places and moments you might not have thought of.
Theme ideas that work well as pitches:
Hidden gems in your destination
Best summer festivals
Halloween and fall events
Local eats under $20
Rainy day activities
Dog-friendly spots
Winter date night ideas
How does a pitch work?
You post a theme. For example, “Best summer festivals in the area.”
Creators pitch their ideas. For example: “I’d love to capture the Bluegrass Festival on September 1. It draws a big, energetic crowd, has great food vendors, and the whole day has a fun, feel-good atmosphere.”
You approve or decline each pitch. You have 7 weekdays to review each one.
Approved pitches become submissions. The creator shoots their idea and delivers it to you, just like a direct request.
How do I create a pitch?
Go to the Requests tab and click New request.
Enter your request title and location.
Select Pitch.
With Pitch selected, you’ll see Footage type, Shoots, Max per creator, and Pitch close date.
What’s the difference between footage types?
Fresh capture: Creators shoot brand new content for your pitch. Cost: 1 shoot credit.
Archival: Creators can submit content they’ve already filmed within the last 2 years, like footage from an event they attended last month or last year. Cost: 0.5 shoot credit.
Choose Archival if you’re flexible about when the content was filmed. It’s a cost-effective way to get more content on a theme.
How do I set my pitch limits?
Shoots: Enter how many submissions you want to receive from this pitch.
Max per creator: Enter the maximum number of pitches a single creator can send you, for example two or five.
Pitch close date: Select the date creators can no longer submit pitches. Leave yourself time to review before the content is needed. For example, if you want Halloween event content, close your pitch around October 15 so you can approve pitches before Halloween.
What do I write in Request details?
The Request details box comes with four headings already in place. Write your answers under each one.
Brief: Describe your theme and what you’re hoping creators will bring to it.
What to Capture: List any specific shots or moments you need in every submission.
Important Notes: Add anything creators need to know to make their pitch and shoot successful.
Pitch Approval Requirements: See the next section.
What are Pitch Approval Requirements?
You have 7 weekdays to approve or decline each pitch. If you don’t respond in time, our team reviews the pitch for you so creators aren’t left waiting. When we do, we follow the requirements you list here, so be specific about what makes a pitch a yes or a no.
Examples:
“Only approve pitches featuring locally owned businesses. No chains.”
“We already have lots of downtown content, so prioritize pitches outside the downtown core. No more than two pitches at the same venue.”
How do I choose my shoot time?
Select one of three options:
Anytime: Shoots can happen whenever.
Range: Shoots need to happen within a window, like June 1 to August 31.
Specific date: Shoots can only happen on certain days.
How do I submit my pitch?
Click Submit, or click Save Draft to finish later. Your pitch goes through the same Request review step as a direct request before it’s shared with creators.
How do I review pitches from creators?
Watch for the email. You’ll get an email whenever new pitches come in.
Find your pitches. Go to the Requests tab in CrowdRiff Creators, open the Status filter, and select Pitch received. This shows every pitch waiting for your decision.
Open a pitch. Click into a pitch to see:
What the creator wants to capture, and any links they’ve shared
Who the creator is
The location they plan to shoot
On the right, you’ll see every pitch for the same request, including ones you’ve already approved or declined, plus how many of your shoots have been approved so far. Use this to compare ideas and avoid overlap before you decide.
Leave a note and decide. Write a message in Leave a note for the creator (required), then click Approve pitch or Decline. The creator is notified either way, and approved pitches move to Assigned.
Example notes:
Approve pitch: “Love this idea, can’t wait to see it!”
Decline: “Thanks for the pitch! We already have a creator filming this event, so we’ll pass on this one.”
How long do I have to respond?
You have 7 weekdays to respond to each pitch. After that, our team reviews it for you using your Pitch Approval Requirements.
💡Pro Tip: A short, friendly note goes a long way, especially when declining. Creators appreciate knowing why, and it helps them send you stronger pitches next time.
Need more help?
If you have any other questions, feel free to send us a message!