How-to avoid getting on a blogger’s bad side

This guest blog post is part of Techvibes new How-to series.

Whether it is an event, promotional effort, product launch, or announcement there is no denying the power of social media. In the past few years there has been a focus shift amongst many PR pros towards blogger outreach.

Getting your news covered in the local paper is no longer enough – the power of the blog is taking over! However, ask any blogger you know and they have quite likely been on the receiving end of a pitch gone horribly wrong. Protect yourself from being one of these offenders.

Below are our top 5 “do not do” guidelines to make sure you don’t become blacklisted by a blogger!

1. Do not go in blind – Just like you would research a newspaper, research a blogger’s beat. Many blogs only cover one specific topic, so your news is likely not a fit for all. Do your research before you tap that send button.
2. Do not be too formal – “Dear Sir/Madam” has no place in an email pitch. Not only is it impersonal but we are in the find info anywhere age. With a few minutes of research on twitter and I guarantee you can find out if the person you are emailing is male or female.
3. Do not blanket send news – It is great to have a database of top blogs or blogger contacts so when breaking news happens you can contact interested parties quickly. However – blanket emailing bloggers press releases or pitches puts you on the fast tracked to getting on their blocked list.
4. Ask yourself “Is this newsworthy” - Gut check time. Is what you really have to say of interest to the reader’s audience? If no, hold off the pitch until you have something you are confident will catch the bloggers attention.
5. Do not hold back info – Share in your pitch what other bloggers you are working with. The blogging community is a tight knit one, and there is a possibility a few key bloggers could team up and really help to spread your news.

Lastly - do everything you can to not end up in the PR hall of shame. Research how to draft an appropriate email pitch before you attempt to do it yourself! I’ll be sharing some more how to tips for PR success shortly.