cheapskates are trying to get in on the action with minimal thought and effort.Here's my short-and-sweet guide for people hoping to squeeze a little publicity out of blogs (well, this blog, anyway). If you really want some exposure, take a lesson from Banjo Brothers and follow some of these basic steps. Otherwise, stay the hell out of my inbox:
Rule No. 1: This is a blog, which means it's mine. Just like every other blogger, I do this for my own selfish reasons, not to help you sell stuff.
Rule No. 2: Grow the fuck up. Don't send me messages saying things like, "Hey, my company has a cool new product/website! Check it out! Maybe you'll want to write about it!" I don't want to write about your damned website. Ever. And I'm not going to write about a product I've never used. This is just a blog, but I have standards, no matter how hard that is to believe from reading this thing.
Rule No. 3: OK, so I have standards, but I'm still a swag whore like every other mountain biker. If you want me to mention your product, send me an e-mail asking if I'd like to test and review your bike-related stuff. You'll usually get a positive response because I like bike-related stuff—especially when I don't have to pay for it.
Rule No. 4: If you actually bother to follow rule No. 3, stay in touch via e-mail to see how things are going. Answer my questions. Let me know if I'm using a prototype or the production version, that kinda stuff.
Rule No. 5: The only favor you'll get is if I agree to try your product. If it sucks, I'm going to say so on this blog. If it's good stuff and makes me the envy of my friends, I'll write something nice about it.
See? Five easy steps. And you didn't even have to take a marketing class.
You can send me a tuition check if it'll make ya feel better.
6 comments:
Amen.
The same thing happens to me.
I totally agree with what you have to say about Banjo Brothers.
Those guys have some way cool products and know how to get publicity with bike bloggers.
I've never been asked to try anything by way of my blog. Here in Mpls, Banjo Bros handed out goodies to just about every local blogger I know, except me. I suspect I'm in the upper 5-10% in readership among local bike-bloggers, so the only explanation I can think of is that they thought I might be brutally honest in reviewing their products (which is true). Interestingly, I think they have great stuff for the money, and wrote a post to that effect in my other blog.
Banjo Brothers never contacted me. I feel snubbed. Although I did win a BB seat post bag from Fat Cyclist. It's a pretty sweet piece of gear, for a seat post bag.
Well -- I still owe those BB a review -- thier deck bag is cool ...
I like what you say Tim about the way to treat a blogger in his inbox and mailbox.
My word verification word was "sendfreestuff," I swear to god ...
the bigger the paycheck
the bigger the smile
I need to find out what banjo brother's are pushing
I hope it is food
as I am hungry
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