Freeing yourself of fear – how to successfully contact A-list bloggers

May 8th, 2008 | By Barbara | Category: Make Things Simple

Free yourself from fearHowdy!

You know, sometimes life just throws you a curveball that ends up delivering far more benefits than you ever could image. I had started by writing a blog post that focused on solely my ideas…and then received such useful insights from another blogger, I felt compelled to feature it in an article all by itself.

Earlier today, I had read the extremely masterful piece “PR Tips: How to Pitch Mommy Bloggers“. To say I was captivated was an understatement…as I was hooked by the following paragraph:

…After watching Hota Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford totally miss the boat with “air quotes,” backhanded compliments and asking Heather, “Is it all moms who are on your blogosphere,” it basically solidified for me, if the media doesn’t “get” mommy bloggers, how can PR expect to understand how to reach out to them either? Well, being a mom myself, I decided to do something no one else has seemed to do before–I asked them ….MORE….

Being an extremely shy (on the phone, that is) person myself, I wondered just how on earth the author, Shannon Nelson of Pierce Mattie Public Relations, was able to write such an thought-provoking post. And, well, me being me (since no phones were involved!)….I contacted her and asked.

The results were extremely insightful and, like I said earlier, deserving of a blog post by itself! Thus, pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee, lean back in your chair and begin to read…..


Barbara: How did you contact the mommybloggers? eMail, phone, Twitter, etc.?

Question

Shannon: I follow all three on Twitter, but I know Elizabeth (Busy Mom) from b5media. I initially contacted Erin and Jenn via a direct message on Twitter and Elizabeth via email then all follow ups were done through emailing back and forth.

Barbara: Were you nervous talking to them? What would you recommend to help marketers overcome their fear of contacting A-list bloggers?

Question

Shannon: Not at all.

I read their blogs, we chat through Twitter and besides having blogging in common, I am also a mom. I wasn’t really concerned about having my PR title attached to me because in the end we are all just people. If I overthink a pitch to someone, then it will definitely come across as formatted and impersonal and that’s not who I am.

Whether in PR or marketing, the only way to overcome your fear of contacting A-list bloggers is to read their blogs and become familiar with them–even if it just means lurking. Just because you read a blog doesn’t mean you have to comment on every post. Simply listen to what the blogger talks about, how they talk about it and who they are talking to. Once you really understand them, writing that pitch will become a lot easier because then you have a clear understanding of what they are looking for.

Barbara: What’s your most important tip regarding interviewing people for articles?

Question

Shannon: Speak to who they are and what they are passionate about.

Whether I am interviewing bloggers or icons in the beauty and fashion industry, everyone is treated with the same respect and attention to detail. I spend a lot of time researching the person I am interviewing and try to not only come to understand their work, but who they are. Taking a well-rounded approach to understanding the person you are interviewing helps create depth to the conversation. In the end, that is what resonates with the reader.

Read the original article, “PR Tips: How to Pitch Mommy Bloggers“, HERE!


Oh, I love that last line!

“Resonate with the reader.”

So very very very VERY true. It’s the readers who subscribe to your blog (and if you’re a marketer online, who buy your products as well).

Resonate with the reader!

It’s one of the best ways you can build up not only your own blog readership….but your own future product sales as well.

Enjoy!

Barbara


#BEGIN highlights of this blog writing post:

Beginners blogging tips: Give yourself permission to contact A-list bloggers; they’re people like you and me.

Intermediate and/or Advanced blogging tips: Dare I say it….resonate with your readers. :)

#END highlights of this blog writing post


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22 Comments

  1. [...] Welcome! If you’re new to my site, click HERE to let me show you where the best benefits for yourself are located. Thanks for visiting!…Barbara’s note – I had written this on Friday and was planning to publish it then.  But Shannon’s insights were so incredible I thought they deserved a blog post of their own! [...]

  2. [...] Freeing yourself of fear – how to successfully contact A-list bloggers [...]

  3. LowellNo Gravatar (5 comments.) on 15.05.2008 at 11:39 (Reply)

    Barbara,

    I’d say your blog was moving up the list smartly. I’d give it an “A” -

    Lowell

  4. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 15.05.2008 at 11:50 (Reply)

    Thanks Lowell for your kind words!

    Barbara

  5. RPM MillonaireNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 28.05.2008 at 23:40 (Reply)

    Wow! Everyday I learn something new… being new to the blog world almost every post I read is an eye opener. I realize I need some coaching and these tips will come in handy when I’ve identified a party I’m interested in contacting.

    Thanks again,

    RPM Millionaire

  6. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 29.05.2008 at 13:07 (Reply)

    @RPM Millionaire,

    Glad you’re enjoying the series! Thanks for commenting.

    Barbara

  7. Tool BeltsNo Gravatar (2 comments.) on 02.06.2008 at 15:37 (Reply)

    Great post, I think your ideas can apply to many facets of life. I find myself intimidated talking to authorities in my field and really networking. However if you apply those ideas and some others you can slowly overcome those feelings. Thanks for the entry.

  8. Blogging ResourcesNo Gravatar (2 comments.) on 05.06.2008 at 04:12 (Reply)

    I use to check Darren Rowse for Pro Blogging tips but i think i can learn some trick here too thanx Barbara

    Blogging Resources’s last blog post..Why You Should Leave A Comment

  9. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 05.06.2008 at 04:31 (Reply)

    @BR

    Thanks for your kind words!  Darren is a great resource; we all have goodies to share.   Like my mom says, nobody knows everything, but everyone knows a bit of something!!  Put all those somethings together and you have a power worth reckoning. 

    Best wishes,

    Barbara

  10. UllaNo Gravatar (10 comments.) on 06.06.2008 at 05:55 (Reply)

    Barbara,
    a very encouraging post! I didn’t know who you are when I contacted you at twitter – so without knowing it I did what you wrote: contacted a "A"-list blogger!

    Ulla’s last blog post..Bavaria – Countryside /Bayern – auf dem Land

  11. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 06.06.2008 at 06:05 (Reply)

    @Ulla,

    Thank you for your kind words – I very much appreciate them.

    Best wishes, Barbara

  12. Warhammer OnlineNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 08.08.2008 at 16:45 (Reply)

    Thanks for explaining this, I was wondering about this once.

    1. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 10.08.2008 at 08:18 (Reply)

      My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it.

      Barbara

  13. RyanNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 17.08.2008 at 05:26 (Reply)

    Enjoyed the post. Thanks :)

    Ryan’s last blog post..“Don’t Worry Be Happy”

    1. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 17.08.2008 at 05:35 (Reply)

      My pleasure. Barbara

  14. TyroneNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 19.08.2008 at 02:31 (Reply)

    Be careful with such nice words

    Tyrone’s last blog post..Theme Edits For Our Users

  15. Watch Fringe OnlineNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 02.09.2008 at 23:36 (Reply)

    Thanks for the ideas, i’ll contact one of them someday!

  16. Invisalign TeenNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 05.09.2008 at 18:07 (Reply)

    Hi Barbara, I have just begun reading you. And really enjoy your posts. My daughter and I have really grabbed these ideas by the horns. Thanks a lot and I will continue to read and forward :)

  17. [...] Ling shares with us what it takes to free yourself of fear – how to successfully contact A-list bloggers when you need [...]

  18. naynaNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 06.10.2008 at 11:00 (Reply)

    great going. you are an inspiration to all. many feel silly to express themselves, fearing ridicule but i think your views are a boost to those who hesitate in their life’s endaevour

    nayna’s last blog post..Lord Ganesh’s Mantras

  19. BarterNo Gravatar (1 comments.) on 05.11.2009 at 01:21 (Reply)

    Thanks for the ideas, i’ll contact one of them someday!

    1. BarbaraNo Gravatar on 05.11.2009 at 06:21 (Reply)

      Good luck!

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