Comments on: How NOT to pitch a blog http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/ Grow your business with TopRank Online Marketing tips, articles, & expert information on social media, content marketing & search engine marketing. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ruby Web http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-461039 Ruby Web Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:53:21 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-461039 Great article. It has enlightened me a lot. I have printed this out if you don't mind. I've just started my own blog on worpress and I was researching on different ways to get it started with a bang. This article is perfect for my quest. Thank you! Great article. It has enlightened me a lot. I have printed this out if you don’t mind. I’ve just started my own blog on worpress and I was researching on different ways to get it started with a bang. This article is perfect for my quest.

Thank you!

]]> By: Buzz Marketing highlights from this week … and Buzz Marketing highlights from this week … http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-360531 Buzz Marketing highlights from this week … and Buzz Marketing highlights from this week … Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:50:50 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-360531 [...] How NOT to pitch a blog PR and Blogging dont necessarily go hand and hand - Lee Odden makes some suggestions to PR professionals on how to pitch a blog correctly (tags: Blogging, Blogs) [...] [...] How NOT to pitch a blog PR and Blogging dont necessarily go hand and hand – Lee Odden makes some suggestions to PR professionals on how to pitch a blog correctly (tags: Blogging, Blogs) [...]

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-217878 Lee Odden Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:49:24 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-217878 Bex, Making useful comments is a good first step. Also, most blogs offer other methods of making contact that you could use when making a story suggestion. I don't think it can hurt to tell the blogger how you found them as it gives them some context to the nature of your query. The main thing is to be relevant, personal and bring something of value. Bex,

Making useful comments is a good first step. Also, most blogs offer other methods of making contact that you could use when making a story suggestion.

I don’t think it can hurt to tell the blogger how you found them as it gives them some context to the nature of your query. The main thing is to be relevant, personal and bring something of value.

]]> By: Bex http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-216747 Bex Sun, 23 Sep 2007 06:46:12 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-216747 Hey Lee, I'm not a PR pro by any means (haven't even graduated yet), however I was wondering if you had any etiquette advice on how to approach a specific blogger on a topic in the first place. Is it worthwhile to mention where we discovered said blogger, i.e. through an associate or reference list? Or is this step alltogether unnecessary? Thanks! --Bex Allen Wesleyan University '08 Hey Lee,

I’m not a PR pro by any means (haven’t even graduated yet), however I was wondering if you had any etiquette advice on how to approach a specific blogger on a topic in the first place. Is it worthwhile to mention where we discovered said blogger, i.e. through an associate or reference list? Or is this step alltogether unnecessary?

Thanks!

–Bex Allen
Wesleyan University ’08

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-212527 Lee Odden Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:42:24 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-212527 Hi Shel, A lot of old hands in the PR game say it's common sense, but why do PR firms continue to break more than half of these rules DAILY with pitches to our own blog? Perhaps it is as they say, "Common sense is the least common thing of all." I've replied with links to articles on blogger relations to these flaks only to get ANOTHER impersonal, irrelevant pitch. I appreciate your emphasis on relationship building as a PR practitioner as well as the fact that you've written numerous books. The gratuitous link drops in the comment are a bit over the top though. Please have a look at our <a href="http://www.toprankblog.com/2006/11/blog-comment-policy/" rel="nofollow">blog comment policy</a> about "signatures". Hi Shel, A lot of old hands in the PR game say it’s common sense, but why do PR firms continue to break more than half of these rules DAILY with pitches to our own blog?

Perhaps it is as they say, “Common sense is the least common thing of all.”

I’ve replied with links to articles on blogger relations to these flaks only to get ANOTHER impersonal, irrelevant pitch.

I appreciate your emphasis on relationship building as a PR practitioner as well as the fact that you’ve written numerous books. The gratuitous link drops in the comment are a bit over the top though.

Please have a look at our blog comment policy about “signatures”.

]]> By: Shel Horowitz http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-212425 Shel Horowitz Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:29:41 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-212425 Excellent list, Lee. I'm a PR copywriter as well as a blogger, and this is just common sense. I'm also very much a believer in marketing through *real* relationships (I spend quite a bit of time on that in my sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First)--and long before blogging existed I was building my business by establishing relationships with e-zine publishers and participating actively on discussion lists. _____ Shel Horowitz, copywriter and award-winning author of five marketing books - http://www.frugalmarketing.com Blogging at http://www.principledprofit.com/good-business-blog/ (intersection of ethics, marketing, sustainability, and politics) and http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters (monthly frugal fun, frugal marketing, ethical business, and book marketing newsletters) Excellent list, Lee. I’m a PR copywriter as well as a blogger, and this is just common sense. I’m also very much a believer in marketing through *real* relationships (I spend quite a bit of time on that in my sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First)–and long before blogging existed I was building my business by establishing relationships with e-zine publishers and participating actively on discussion lists.

_____
Shel Horowitz, copywriter and award-winning author of five marketing books – http://www.frugalmarketing.com
Blogging at http://www.principledprofit.com/good-business-blog/ (intersection of ethics, marketing, sustainability, and politics)
and
http://frugalmarketing.com/newsletters (monthly frugal fun, frugal marketing, ethical business, and book marketing newsletters)

]]> By: margie simon http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-211802 margie simon Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:49:09 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-211802 Hi, Lee, Great stuff for both novices and veterans! Thanks. Margie Simon Hi, Lee,

Great stuff for both novices and veterans!

Thanks.

Margie Simon

]]> By: Rachel North http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-211721 Rachel North Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:16:29 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-211721 Lee, One item I would add to this great list is, "Don't pitch without including after 9 to 5 contact info; most bloggers also have day jobs and may have questions when you've left the office. Give them a way to contact you in a timely way. The hotter your news, the more important this contact info is." I've had a number of comments from journalists and bloggers saying that it is refreshing to find my home/cell contact info on my pitches. Lee,
One item I would add to this great list is, “Don’t pitch without including after 9 to 5 contact info; most bloggers also have day jobs and may have questions when you’ve left the office. Give them a way to contact you in a timely way. The hotter your news, the more important this contact info is.”

I’ve had a number of comments from journalists and bloggers saying that it is refreshing to find my home/cell contact info on my pitches.

]]> By: Relações com os bloggers, casos a evitar | Relações Públicas http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-202406 Relações com os bloggers, casos a evitar | Relações Públicas Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:52:56 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-202406 [...] Setembro 5th, 2007 | press release, Blogging, Relações Públicas In the past I’ve written about blogger relations offering tips on how marketers or PR professionals ought to present their story ideas to bloggers. Pitching bloggers and print journalists are somewhat similar, but in the end, they can be very different things. Here are a few “what you should not do” tips based on the 3-5 pitches per day we get at Online Marketing Blog [...] [...] Setembro 5th, 2007 | press release, Blogging, Relações Públicas In the past I’ve written about blogger relations offering tips on how marketers or PR professionals ought to present their story ideas to bloggers. Pitching bloggers and print journalists are somewhat similar, but in the end, they can be very different things. Here are a few “what you should not do” tips based on the 3-5 pitches per day we get at Online Marketing Blog [...]

]]> By: Tech PR not so common sense, apparently « Fake Plastic Noodles http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-201603 Tech PR not so common sense, apparently « Fake Plastic Noodles Wed, 05 Sep 2007 03:35:27 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-201603 [...] 5, 2007 Tech PR not so common sense, apparently Posted by Melanie Seasons under blogs  Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t think digitalPR is exactly rocket science. I’ve always thought PR - correction - good PR, was common sense. It’s obvious from all the things I’m reading that that is nowhere near true, but I just can’t wrap my mind around why. I’m willing to bet that 99% of traditional PRs get pissed off at each e-mail from Nelson Mandela’s great nephew who needs to entrust them with 1.9 million euros or each solicitation for “natural male enhancement,” so why are they ok with sending a “PR Speak” press release to someone who didn’t ask for it and who probably has no interest in it? [...] [...] 5, 2007 Tech PR not so common sense, apparently Posted by Melanie Seasons under blogs  Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t think digitalPR is exactly rocket science. I’ve always thought PR – correction – good PR, was common sense. It’s obvious from all the things I’m reading that that is nowhere near true, but I just can’t wrap my mind around why. I’m willing to bet that 99% of traditional PRs get pissed off at each e-mail from Nelson Mandela’s great nephew who needs to entrust them with 1.9 million euros or each solicitation for “natural male enhancement,” so why are they ok with sending a “PR Speak” press release to someone who didn’t ask for it and who probably has no interest in it? [...]

]]> By: Tom Pick http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-201142 Tom Pick Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:02:46 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-201142 Lee -- excellent list. As someone who's on both sides of this (I write a blog and "pitch" bloggers on behalf of clients) I appreciate you providing this guidance to the world. I routinely get pitches that: - Aren't relevant to my readers - Show that the "pitcher" hasn't read my blog, and - Don't even include my name in the salutation - tho it is posted prominently at the top of my blog. When I pitch (in addition to not violating the rules above) I always tell the blogger succinctly: - Why my pitch is relevant (which also shows that I've read the blog) - Why the blogger might care (i.e. beyond "here's yet another product that does x,y and z" - what's the interesting angle on this product or company?) - Why the blog's readers might care (saves them money, more functionality, lets them do something they couldn't before, etc.) Keep up the great stuff, Tom Lee — excellent list. As someone who’s on both sides of this (I write a blog and “pitch” bloggers on behalf of clients) I appreciate you providing this guidance to the world.

I routinely get pitches that:

- Aren’t relevant to my readers
- Show that the “pitcher” hasn’t read my blog, and
- Don’t even include my name in the salutation – tho it is posted prominently at the top of my blog.

When I pitch (in addition to not violating the rules above) I always tell the blogger succinctly:

- Why my pitch is relevant (which also shows that I’ve read the blog)
- Why the blogger might care (i.e. beyond “here’s yet another product that does x,y and z” – what’s the interesting angle on this product or company?)
- Why the blog’s readers might care (saves them money, more functionality, lets them do something they couldn’t before, etc.)

Keep up the great stuff,

Tom

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-201141 Lee Odden Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:48:14 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-201141 Hey Li, great minds think alike! It seems to me the PR industry has a huge opportunity for education on this front. It's probably something we should cover more in depth at mediarelationsblog.com. Hey Li, great minds think alike!

It seems to me the PR industry has a huge opportunity for education on this front. It’s probably something we should cover more in depth at mediarelationsblog.com.

]]> By: Li Evans http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-197725 Li Evans Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:28:03 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-197725 Lee - I think you were walking in my brain today, I was going to post something similar to this on SMG! Seriously, within the last few days I've gotten the same women emailing all my writers to the same email box, not only that she got my lianaevans.com email too. *shakes head*.... some people's childen. I might just add one or two more of my own and link into this post :) ~Li Lee – I think you were walking in my brain today, I was going to post something similar to this on SMG! Seriously, within the last few days I’ve gotten the same women emailing all my writers to the same email box, not only that she got my lianaevans.com email too.

*shakes head*…. some people’s childen.

I might just add one or two more of my own and link into this post :)

~Li

]]> By: Kelly Rusk http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-197540 Kelly Rusk Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:01:39 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-197540 Great advice! I find it really funny because I'm a PR hack turned blogger... When I used to do media relations I was very meticulous about getting to know the reporter and tailoring a pitch, and it's really not that much work. So imagine my surprise when I got pitched for the first time--not only was it was generic, it was sent to our info@ address and didn't even have my name on it, despite my old blog having a box in the top left corner that had my name and all my personal contact info. I mean come on, if you can't take five seconds to dig up my contact info, why would I spend any time covering your story? Great advice!

I find it really funny because I’m a PR hack turned blogger… When I used to do media relations I was very meticulous about getting to know the reporter and tailoring a pitch, and it’s really not that much work.

So imagine my surprise when I got pitched for the first time–not only was it was generic, it was sent to our info@ address and didn’t even have my name on it, despite my old blog having a box in the top left corner that had my name and all my personal contact info.

I mean come on, if you can’t take five seconds to dig up my contact info, why would I spend any time covering your story?

]]> By: Linker Barn: Friday, August 31 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-197047 Linker Barn: Friday, August 31 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:55:42 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-197047 [...] Lee Odden: How not to pitch a blog. [...] [...] Lee Odden: How not to pitch a blog. [...]

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196858 Lee Odden Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:41:08 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196858 Hey Sean, the places I look for the owner's name of a blog include: - Post detail page, next to date or tags - "About" page - Backlink anchor text to the blog. Use Yahoo Site Explorer - Whois lookup of the domain name owner - Look up the blog in Technorati, sometimes the profile shows the blog owner's real name - Search Google, Google blog search or Technorati for the blog name or url. Sometimes other blogs will mention the blog owner's name. If that doesn't work, I leave a comment asking if it's ok to send story ideas. They almost always email me back. Hey Sean, the places I look for the owner’s name of a blog include:
- Post detail page, next to date or tags
- “About” page
- Backlink anchor text to the blog. Use Yahoo Site Explorer
- Whois lookup of the domain name owner
- Look up the blog in Technorati, sometimes the profile shows the blog owner’s real name
- Search Google, Google blog search or Technorati for the blog name or url. Sometimes other blogs will mention the blog owner’s name.

If that doesn’t work, I leave a comment asking if it’s ok to send story ideas. They almost always email me back.

]]> By: Sean Polay http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196814 Sean Polay Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:34:05 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196814 Lee, In a couple of recent outreach efforts, I was having a hard time finding the blogger's name and/or e-mail address. Do recommend any second-tier tactics in these cases, or should we diregard them entirely? Lee,

In a couple of recent outreach efforts, I was having a hard time finding the blogger’s name and/or e-mail address. Do recommend any second-tier tactics in these cases, or should we diregard them entirely?

]]> By: Drainedge Link Tank » Links From Around the Web http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196550 Drainedge Link Tank » Links From Around the Web Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:18:45 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196550 [...] How NOT to pitch a blog - Online Marketing Blog [...] [...] How NOT to pitch a blog – Online Marketing Blog [...]

]]> By: The Straight Pitch » Blog Archive » TSP: How Not To Pitch Bloggers http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196194 The Straight Pitch » Blog Archive » TSP: How Not To Pitch Bloggers Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:53:35 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196194 [...] Lee Odden at Online Marketing Blog (www.toprankblog.com) knocked out a laundry list of what not to do if you’re trying to pitch him. Since he offered the post before we could ask him to fill out a Straight Pitch survey, we thought everyone would benefit if we just pulled our favorites and link to him. [...] [...] Lee Odden at Online Marketing Blog (www.toprankblog.com) knocked out a laundry list of what not to do if you’re trying to pitch him. Since he offered the post before we could ask him to fill out a Straight Pitch survey, we thought everyone would benefit if we just pulled our favorites and link to him. [...]

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196035 Lee Odden Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:55:41 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/08/how-not-to-pitch-a-blog/#comment-196035 Hey Erica, I don't think schwag is a problem myself. Particularly if the blogger is clearly a fan of the company/product/service/brand. Am glad you liked the "do not pitch" suggestion. :) Hey Erica, I don’t think schwag is a problem myself. Particularly if the blogger is clearly a fan of the company/product/service/brand.

Am glad you liked the “do not pitch” suggestion. :)

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