Overview
Submitting quotes on Connectively is a great way to build credibility and get published. But the quality of your response matters. To help you stand out, we’ve compiled the 10 most common issues we see—and how to avoid them.
Follow these best practices to improve your chances of getting featured in top-tier publications.
Top 10 submission issues (and how to fix them)
1. Answer formatting issues
Don’t include greetings, sign-offs, or contact info in your answer. Your response should be just the quote—nothing more.
Best practice: Connectively automatically includes your name, title, company, and LinkedIn profile. No need for intros or closings.
2. Headings
Avoid using headers, titles, or bullet points in your quote unless the query explicitly asks for it. These can make your answer feel AI-generated.
Best practice: Stick to a clear, conversational response written in full sentences.
3. Non-verbatim responses
Don’t add commentary, instructions, or personal notes. Quotes should be ready to drop into an article.
Avoid:
“Let me know if you need more info.”
“See attached headshot.”
Best practice: Let your response stand on its own—our attribution handles the rest.
4. Responding on behalf of someone else
If you’re submitting for a client or colleague, you must create a profile in their name. Submitting under your name can cause misattribution.
Best practice: Create an accurate expert profile for anyone you represent—no need to mention you're submitting on their behalf.
5. Generic information
Avoid using placeholders like “Company A” or “Person XYZ.” These undermine credibility.
Best practice: Use real, specific details that reflect your personal experience.
6. Unverified facts or vague examples
Publishing unverifiable stats or claims without context can weaken your quote.
Best practice: Add clarity and be specific when sharing examples.
7. Self-promotion
Avoid turning your response into a pitch. Quotes that feel like ads are less likely to be selected.
Best practice: Focus on insights. Your attribution already includes your company name. Only mention your business if it's essential to your point.
8. Broad or vague responses
Generic insights don’t stand out. Publishers prefer specific, actionable, personal responses.
Best practice: Share lessons learned, bold takes, or real examples. Go beyond the surface.
9. Off-topic or misaligned expertise
If your quote doesn’t align with your credentials or LinkedIn profile, it may be flagged as unreliable.
Best practice: Stick to topics where your expertise is clear and verifiable. Update your profile regularly to reflect evolving experience.
10. AI-generated phrasing
Phrases like “in today’s digital age” or “moreover, this” can signal AI-generated content and harm credibility.
Best practice: Keep your tone human. Use tools like Grammarly for cleanup—but make sure the substance is your own.
Final tip
High-quality responses reflect real insights. If your quote helps the reader learn something new or offers a memorable perspective, you’re doing it right.
Need some further inspiration? Check out some of these published insights from various Connectively team members:
"One tip I always share with nervous speakers is to use a simple three-part structure: tell people what you're going to say, say it, and then summarize what you've just said. I've used this approach consistently in my own presentations, including our monthly product roadmap meetings, and it's helped me stay focused while giving my audience clear takeaways. This framework takes the pressure off having to be perfect because you're reinforcing your key points multiple times, which builds your confidence and helps your message stick with listeners. Start with this simple structure for your next pitch, and you'll likely find both your delivery and audience."
"That earning wins should be fast and easy. While PR pros often pin this misconception on their clients, I've also seen it trickle down from agency leaders and managers onto their AEs. I've been fortunate to have experiences across sectors, and even when you're working for glamorous and exciting brands, no coverage is guaranteed. We're experiencing the shuttering of publications, the firing of newsroom staff, and a never-ending stream of information and world events that demand coverage and attention. On top of that, more and more folks are aiming to be thought leaders, making the source-to-opportunity ratio balloon.
Agencies, freelancers, and internal teams all play a role in educating their stakeholders on the current state of the industry and the work required for successful PR efforts. Quality mentions and placements take time, and the results from your wins may play a more significant role in long-term awareness. By breaking misconceptions like this one, we as PR professioanls can help shift the narrative on what PR is and the type of work we do."
"Experiment design is becoming more valuable as AI tools take on more execution. In my digital marketing work, combining creativity with data has always mattered, and smart testing is where those strengths meet. I set clear hypotheses, choose focused variables, and define success before a single ad or headline goes live. AI can spin up many versions, but deciding what to test and how to measure it is still a human call. The payoff is faster learning and less guesswork, not just more content. It helps teams stay centered on outcomes that matter to the business, rather than vanity metrics. As AI speeds things up, people who can run tight experiments will turn that speed into real progress."