Since blogs are the new pink, black, and whatever color was hip at one point, everyone wants to be on the blog-wagon.
Not only do people want their own blogs, they want to be featured on well-respected and widely read blogs. Sometimes with no regard to the subject or audience.
So, how does one go about getting noticed on a well respected blog, or climbing up “the list“, or just getting some good press in the blogosphere? Certainly not by squabbling with the blog owner after they’ve told you no.
Rick Bruner of Business Blog Consulting shows us how not to e-mail a blogger, especially when you’re looking for positive exposure.
Personally, I believe Rick’s response was quite harsh, but also warranted. It is very frustrating when someone shows little regard for your time or livelihood.
In the case of “Greg S.”, it shows that he’s probably new to this medium and simply needed someone to point him in the right direction.
Maybe someone should write a book on how to network through blogs and make it required reading for the current collegiate marketing curriculum.
It would probably contain juicy tidbits like:
- Use the comment system to share your thoughts and start discussions with the blogger
- Use trackbacks from your own blog when you write about a blog entry.
- Get to know the blogger and her style by reading through the archives of the blog and subscribing to the feed.
- Make sure the subject matter and audience coincides with yours. Blog promotion is usually a symbiotic relationship and the last thing a cat boarding house needs to do is start promoting dog walkers.
- Be polite and courteous to the blogger at all times.
- Using proper spelling and grammar doesn’t hurt either.
- Learn when to accept no as an answer. If you continue to push the blogger, you may end up with a tarnished reputation.
Come to think of it, that would be a pretty short book — but I still think it’s a necessary one.
It was snotty, yes, but I don’t know about “quite harsh.” I told the guy No twice, but he just kept coming at me. And I did the best I could to anonymize his identity, so I wasn’t trying to personally insult him. Unfortunately, you can be only so much of an idiot with a blogger before it’s going to come back and bite you in the ass.
[ April 7th, 2006 at 2:35 pm] [ #Link ]
That’s true Rick. I said it was quite harsh, but I certainly didn’t disagree with you. To be honest, I probably would have done the same thing myself if placed in your position.
Hopefully the people who try to connect with you in the future have a little more sense and courtesy
.
~ Teli
[ April 7th, 2006 at 2:47 pm] [ #Link ]