If you had a captive audience of PR professionals, what would you tell them?
So Oliver and I are headed to Chicago today for the “Mommy Blogger Monologues” panel. His job is to beam at everyone and distract them from my extra ten pounds. My job is to speak intelligently on the topic of blogger outreach.
It’s no secret that I have a lot to say in that arena. Most of the time, I do it (along with Kristen) on calls with potential clients over at the Parent Bloggers Network. Occasionally I do it here. Sometimes people listen, and sometimes they don’t.
But I’ve not yet had the opportunity to speak directly with a large group of PR professionals who are genuinely interested in learning about blogger outreach – from bloggers themselves.
And while I have my opinions about blogger outreach – both in terms of my personal blog and PBN – I don’t presume to speak for all parenting bloggers. The online discussion surrounding blogger outreach has made it abundantly clear that many different views exist – and many questions remain on both sides of the table.
So I’d like your help. The other panelists and I will have a captive audience. Even if you’ve never received a single pitch, in the near future you probably will. Tell me what you think they ought to know:
- Do you welcome outreach? If so, which approaches attract you, and which ones leave you cold?
- Do you promote contests, events, product releases – or do you stick to product reviews and promotion of issues you care about personally?
- What do you expect to get out of a PR encounter – blog fodder, product samples, an all-expenses paid junket, an ongoing relationship? What do you expect to provide in return – that is, what value should businesses realize in reaching out to you?
These are just a few suggestions to start things off. All input is welcome – let’s hear it!
May 19th, 2008 at 4:50 am
I’m excited for the panel! I prefer establishing the ongoing relationship over everything because it seems to be the most personal, professional, and beneficial to both the blogger and company. It establishes credibility and usually leads to those nice trips and better products to review!
Steph
Adventures In Babywearings last blog post..grand
May 19th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I can’t stand it when a pitch addresses me at Mom to the Screaming Masses. I have a name. Use it.
I don’t mind PR pitches for the most part – I have a good relationship with a few PR people and if I think that a contest, etc will benefit my readers, I’m happy to put it on my review site. It doesn’t have to relate to me necessarily.
I expect to get all of the above at any one time – not an all expenses trip every time, but once in a while it is a nice bonus. Companies should be able to rely on an honest, well thought out product review. Not a candy coated, go you! review, but the truth.
Good luck today! I’ll be thinking of both of you!
carmens last blog post..An Update
May 19th, 2008 at 6:18 am
I’ve never been approached, but I would only promote things I truly used or tried and liked. If I had never used it before I wouldn’t want to be expected to spend any of my money to try it if they wanted a plug.
I guess I’ve reviewed a few books, now that I think about it. I like the “relationship” that I’m building with my contact person there.
I’d like the person who contacted me to at least have visited my site once or twice to know a little about me so they didn’t pitch something to me that I obviously wouldn’t use. (like diet products when I’m pregnant, that kind of thing.)
I don’t have a seperate review site yet, as I haven’t done many reviews although I’d be open to it.
Heathers last blog post..Things that make me go hmmmm. (Or, Random Thoughts #21)
May 19th, 2008 at 7:08 am
The only things that REALLY bother me are PR people who re-mail and demand a response if I didn’t respond to their pitch. That is so annoying.
And of course, I hate it when people ask if I can review a product simply by looking at their website, or if I will write about their press release and basically advertise their whatever for free. SOMETHING should always be offered in exchange for the blogger’s effort. That just goes without saying, or it should…
Suburban Turmoils last blog post..Breast is Best… Unless You’re Like, EIGHT.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:13 am
I agree with Suburban Turmoil; if you send me a pitch and I don’t respond, please don’t bug me again.
I typically don’t promote anything except products I have personally tried, or companies participating in PBN blog blasts. I’m not going to plug a sweepstakes or other event unless it’s a company or cause that I especially like and want to support.
What do I expect? That’s tough. I think it boils down to respect for me as a professional. As big and as little as that.
mayberrys last blog post..Eat THAT!
May 19th, 2008 at 7:14 am
And safe travels!!
mayberrys last blog post..Eat THAT!
May 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I hate it when PR people act like they’re big fans of my blog, but it’s clear from their email or the product they’re pitching that they don’t know the ages or genders of my kids.
If it’s a product that fits my life, I welcome a sample and I’ll review it honestly. If it’s a plea to write about national whatever week or attend a conference on a topic I don’t care about, I just hit delete. Like Suburban Turmoil, I’m not going to turn my blog into a press release center–that’s not what my readers want.
Marketing Mommys last blog post..Preschool’s almost over
May 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am
what would i tell them?
at this point, i’d probably just offer them all serious cash for the first one to give me a shot of pitocin.
sorry–got a one-track mind these days.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Mitzi, tell me where to send the pitocin.
Julie, first I think they ought to know that you’re not their stenographer. If the product isn’t precisely relevant to what you write but they still want on your site they should buy a blog ad and be done with it.
Second, they ought to know that their “pitches” (I hate that term) are public – they should expect to see anything they send you show up on your blog verbatim.
Third, they need to know that if they’re not willing to invest the time and resources in knowing about you and what you stand for, they’re better off not contacting you at all.
In short – don’t be full of crap. It’s not hard.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I’m one of the ones who likes blogger outreach, as long as the pitch is targeted to the kind of topic I usually address in my blog. That requires them to take the time to read me and learn my name.
And I really like it when I get to sample a product that I would use myself.
I really, really like it when I am also offered an opportunity to give one away.
Donnas last blog post..links for 2008-05-17
May 19th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I’d like to add that I am hopeful for blog fodder — I really love it when it’s something that I can riff on and take it in another direction, so it’s not merely a plug for the product. I try to keep things positive; I would much rather write an enthusiastic post than a negative one.
I don’t expect to receive pitches and goodies and junkets and things, so when they do pop up in my email, I consider them something of a gift. I don’t accept them if I don’t think I can make them fit on my blog or if I don’t think I will have the time for them.
And I don’t even bother to answer the ones who obviously don’t read me or bother to get my name, or just send me a press release telling me about their product and expect me to do something with that (unless the product is so unique/interesting/weird/funny that I would be crazy to let it pass)>
Donnas last blog post..links for 2008-05-17
May 19th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Good questions! Yes, I welcome outreach, as long as it’s done in a mutually respectful manner. Don’t pretend to be my friend, but don’t talk down to me either. And don’t “underpay”!
Yes, I would promote contests etc in fact I was very recently approached to promote a contest. I myself couldn’t participate (children are of wrong age), but if I could I definitely would have (so it does interest me) and I was also offered some swag for promoting it. So if it’s something I think people reading my review blog would be interested in, mostly if *I* would be interested, then yes.
I expect a little of everything. Blog fodder for sure, but also samples perhaps some other sort of compensation and perhaps an ongoing relationship that could lead to junkets and opportunities in the future. As for me, I give them inexpensive but lasting promotion. First hand experience that people want to see before they purchase. Real life situations with the product and, of course, positive PR.
Marilyns last blog post..The Blahs
May 19th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Well, nobody has ever approached me for squat.
But I’ll take whatever free shit people want to send my way.
I work in marketing, so I have no scruples…
manager moms last blog post..Of Breasts And Bacteria
May 19th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Do you welcome outreach? If so, which approaches attract you, and which ones leave you cold?
i TOTALLY welcome outreach. absolutely. ones the leave me cold are typically 2 lines of dialogue that you can tell were sent to tons of bloggers, they just inserted your name in the right place. have a conversation with me, you know?
Do you promote contests, events, product releases – or do you stick to product reviews and promotion of issues you care about personally?
i think i tend to lean towards things that strike a chord with me- as i think most bloggers do. i don’t blog about what i think everyone wants to hear, if i don’t have an opinion on it.
What do you expect to get out of a PR encounter – blog fodder, product samples, an all-expenses paid junket, an ongoing relationship? What do you expect to provide in return – that is, what value should businesses realize in reaching out to you?
i’m just excited to have ANY encounter. my expectations are not high, but of course if you want me to use a product, you’ve got to send it to me. lol as far as establishing a relationship with a specific PR company- i’m not opposed to it. it’s pretty much a business relationship. mutual back scratching. we all know that what we write on our blogs affects those who read it- i think we prove that with every product review we are a part- i know everyone i have ever done has influenced my readers.
jennsters last blog post..i could have peed from excitement
May 19th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
If they want me to try a product, they should ask whether they may send me that product. Don’t send me a coupon for $5 off a $100 product. That’s going straight into the recycling bin, my friends.
Lady Ms last blog post..Woven by Fairies
May 19th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Like Lady M, if they want to me to review their product, SEND me the product. I’m not going to buy it myself, nor am I going to try things I’ve already blogged negatively in the past. For example, I don’t use cleaning products with chemicals. I’m all natural. But I get pitches all the time for chemically laded crap I’d never use.
I get at least 5 or 6 pitches a week. Most of them go right into the trash without me even reading them because I know I’m not going to be reviewing fake food or baby products. I mean, look at my blog. Do I have a baby? No, I don’t. So why, for heavens sake, would I want to review baby products?
My expectations aren’t high, I don’t think I’m so special that the PR folks should bow down to me and kiss my tootsies, but I would like them to 1) read my blog and send me appropriate pitches 2) learn my name and 3) make me offers that will excite me about their product.
For example, when Ford offered me their Driving Safe program they had my name, that I had teenagers, and that I was interested in my teens learning how to drive safely, all gleaned from my blogging. It wasn’t hard, and I was thrilled to attend their program.
margalits last blog post..Variety is the spice of life?
May 20th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Being (relatively) new to the business side of blogging, I don’t necessarily have well-formed opinions yet. However, here’s my two cents:
On the outreach front, don’t lie to me and pretend to be a long time fan. I know my stats, I know you’re bulshitting me. Insulting my intelligence will not get you far. Also, don’t just link to a site and ask for a review; we’re all looking for personal gain – what would I gain from writing about your website? (There is no such thing as a free lunch.)
As for contests and the like, I don’t have the readership to warrant such a thing. I’d be open to it if the client was, but mostly I’ve done reviews.
Finally, as for the PR encounters, I don’t know what I’d expect. Free stuff is free stuff; I wouldn’t turn it down, but it isn’t a necessity. I would not pay my own way to something unless I was going to see a return on the investment, so if the encounter is out of town for me, they would have to foot the bill. As for what I’d bring to the table, if they’re looking for me, then I’d guess they want my opinion, which I would give without reservation. That’s one of the hardest things I find about reviews: if something isn’t worth the price, or isn’t that great, I have a hard time convincing myself that it’s OK to say only good things. So instead I mix the good and the bad, trying to be balanced.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
It was so great meeting you and your little sweetie! I think the event went well, and I look forward to getting to know you better in the future.
`Arianne
P.S. Steph tells me we share the same political opinions…
May 20th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
It was fabulous meeting you today! You’re lucky you got away with that little Oliver…I was ready to take him home!
We need to continue our discussion about CO one of these days…
May 21st, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I’m curious to hear how the event went!
As for myself, ditto what the others said, and I’d like to add that I do like to not only give a review, but be able to add my creative flair to the review; to do “that thing I do” and do it with the review.
Otherwise, my readership is going to tune out pretty quickly.
I want to be honest, I want to be fair, but I also need to be entertaining; that’s what my blog is. If that’s not working for the the PR people, then best move on, nothing to see here.
Jozet at Halushkis last blog post..Bloggy Love!
May 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
When I’m approached by a PR person who has taken the time to scope out my blog and has something relevent to offer, I’m all ears. I don’t expect grandiose offerings, but a link to me from their site or a sample of what I’m reviewing is always nice.
Mommy Crackeds last blog post..I Just Love A (Little) Man In Uniform