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The Key to Starting a Blogger Outreach Program
I’m going to be frank. Between two speaking engagements, an earthquake, an airport evacuation, sitting on the tarmac for three hours, and missing my bike ride two days in a row, I’m grouchy, tired, and I look like poop.
So instead of Facebook question of the week (clap, clap, clap or long whistle as John Trader does), I’m going to post the video I did with Steve Farnsworth in Baltimore a couple of months ago.
We talk about the key to starting a successful blogger outreach campaign. It’s not very long, but you’ll notice after he does his fancy ending, there are still a few seconds left on the video. I won’t tell you why – you’ll have to watch for yourself. But let’s just say that Steve, Adam Singer, and Valeria Maltoni were all making fun of me and it was difficult to stay professional as long as I did.
Also, the look on my face in the video still is so much my mother it’s kind of scary. I look just like her here. Just. Like. Her. Not that I don’t love my momma. I do. I just didn’t realize I can give her looks.
So, learn the key to blogger outreach and make fun of me at the end.
And think of a question for me to use in a video in a coming week. Just head over to Facebook and leave it on the wall there.
Then come back here and tell us what you think the key is to blogger relations. Or leave a comment and then go to Facebook. Or don’t leave a comment but go to Facebook. Or leave a comment and don’t go to Facebook. Nah. I like the comment and Facebook option best.
P.S. If you can’t see the video in your Reader, click here and it’ll magically appear.
I'm really pretty sure you could NEVER look like poop...or anything close to it. Ok, scrolling back up to watch the vid. Just had to get that off my chest! ;-)
Hahaha! You're so funny - that was cute!
LisaMarieMary Oh I look like poop plenty. And, after a long ride, I smell too.
That was classic, at the end there. Classic.
I think the best way to do blogger outreach is just what you said - but instead of trying to simulate the one to one experience, you actually have to create it. There's just no substitute. Of course, you can't exactly Xerox yourself and reach thousands of bloggers at one time BUT there are ways to have an intimate and real experience. The last really big blogger outreach project I worked on was with a PR company that didn't want to do the typical news release blast, and from that I learned that the time often spent attempting to make technology simulate a relationship is better spent actually having one. :)
Tinu Funny how that works, huh? We all want short cuts, but the fact remains, we're building relationships with human beings and no amount of technology can change that.
I just read this on Mitch Joel's blog. The National Post reported the following: "Quebec's Culture Minister, Christine St-Pierre, announced this week that she is pushing forward with a plan to create 'a new model of regulation of Quebec media.'... Key to the plan would be legislation establishing the 'status of professional journalist' in order to distinguish those committed to 'serving the public interest' from 'amateur bloggers.' That seems absolutely unbelievable to me. Expecting a backlash. Here's the link if you want to read Mitch's post: http://www.twistimage.com/blog/
Shelley Pringle YESSS! More regulation!
Shelley Pringle Ouch...and people wonder why writers are disenfranchised.
Thanks for the link. I'm going to have to read it, either later this evening or tomorrow.
Shelley Pringle Oh jeez. What a terrible disservice. Weren't we JUST talking about leaving the past behind and forging a new future?
You do know you can edit the YouTube window settings so you get a nice widescreen box going across the whole content area, yes? ;-)
Apart from that, jolly good stuff - carry on!
Are there REALLY still people out there dismissing the effectiveness of bloggers on the media? Really? SERIOUSLY? I just.... I need a cocktail.
EmmaofCEM Seriously. We're in a little bubble here. And by little I mean tiny.
You seem to have an unhealthy obsession with poop. I am very concerned about this. You worry me. You really worry me.
ginidietrich You need therapy my love. ;)
NancyD68ginidietrich Poop and SHARPIES!
KenMuellerginidietrich poop, Sharpies, and cake!
NancyD68ginidietrich The cake is a lie...
ginidietrichNancyD68 what do you know that we don't? poop? i know poop!
I think part of the problem with blogger relations is a perception or credibility issue, too. Bloggers sometimes aren't taken quite as seriously as their journalism or other writing counterparts. It's unfortunate since many bloggers (in my opinion) are better writers and analysts than some journalists.
Erin F. I agree. And there is a big disconnect between PR pros and bloggers and the roles each other plays. There are plenty of bloggers who think they should be paid by PR pros. I say that's like church and state.
ginidietrich That seems like an odd assumption for a blogger to make.
ginidietrich How would that work exactly? I guess I don't understand what the basis of a PR pro and a blogger relationship would be. I understand that blogging can be a component of PR, but it seems that that blog would be tied to a particular effort or subject matter. It wouldn't be enough for a blogger to say, "Oh, hi, I wrote this post about your product, and I think you should pay me to write about the product more often."
Erin F. Payment could be product, for instance. I get a TON of free books, but I never ask for them. In fact, if I like the book and review it, I always buy a few copies because I think that's more ethical. And I disclose that I got the book for free. But, in some circles, bloggers are paid actual money for reviews (apps, for instance). I don't think it's ethical, but it's how it works.
ginidietrichErin F. Bloggers SHOULD be treated the way reporters are. There should always be the avoidance of even the perception that the blogger was paid. That's why the FTC requires us to disclose freebies. It should have always been that way, but companies have learned how to use those bloggers who don't care and just want free stuff.
I think from both the viewpoint of many bloggers and companies, there is a difference between them and journalists, and while they might not pay a journalist (though many try and succeed), they think it's ok to do with a blogger. The same is true with many "lifestyle" types of magazines.
ginidietrich
Ah, that makes sense. Thank you for answering my question.
I guess I've avoided that problem. I don't usually review products on my blog, except for the Robostir, and I only wrote that one because I thought the commercial was ridiculous. I do write book reviews, but they're usually for poetry journals. The rules are a little different in that case because poetry journals typically have no money. The only payment is getting to keep the book that I reviewed and possibly receiving an upcoming issue of the journal.
Conversation from Twitter
wagnerwrites Great. Now I have that song stuck in my head.
ginidietrich You could do 'way worse than 'Retha.
Steveology Bwahahahaah!
ginidietrich ..., e.g. every co is a media co.
Steveology you did? That livefyre commenting again ;-)
conversationage I just love seeing you in the livefyre search feed Valeria :) Hope you're doing well!
jkretch LOL! things are good. How are things with you? That ginidietrich sure has animated conversations spinsucks
conversationage ginidietrich spinsucks Things are great! Gini is out of control, she's all play no work over there.
conversationage Who me? I invite snarkiness.
jkretch Did jennalanger tell you we each had a granola bar in your honor?
ginidietrich jennalanger I was not told that there was a ceremonial granola eating. But thank you. And your dog's name rocks.
conversationage You are always the topic at hand!
Steveology yes I need to comment on spinsucks more often too!
adamsinger Of course I agree! :) Steveology
Steveology or "Tweeter's Anonymous"? Hi, I'm JIDoctor & I have been tweeting since.... of course all responses in <140 char
jidoctor Ha!
Steveology maybe the blogger outreach prog should be more of a "Blogger's Anonymous"? ;-) Hi, I'm Jennifer & I have been blogging for ...
@KDillabough: Hey, I run too (along with a lot of the universe!)...Where's your fave place to run? Music or nature?
ElanaBe Love to run on trails, in quiet neighbourhoods, completely unplugged & enjoying the scenery. You, my fellow Canuck? Now following
@KDillabough: That sounds really nice! I usually run w/music along the ocean/beach. On low days, no music - just ocean : ) : )
ElanaBe That must be beautiful. I ran in the sun and the rain today:)
[...] is the video king. He takes video of people everywhere he goes. In fact, the video he did of me caught me in all sorts of bloopers, which he was more than happy to share. But, because he carries [...]
[...] is a video king. He takes video of people everywhere he goes. In fact, a video he did of me held me in all sorts of bloopers, that he was some-more than happy to share. But, since he carries [...]