HOW TO: Build Strong Blogger Relations

January 14, 2010 | Willis Wee

Blogger online - Weblogs im Internet Building blogger relations isn’t hard. Most of the time, you just need to put yourself in our shoes. If you can see your event and whatsoever from our point of view, you can probably communicate with us more effectively.

If you’re treating bloggers like ready-to-write buttons, it is time for you to wake up.

From a blogger’s perspective, here are 5 points to take note of when dealing with us.

1. No tricky gifts

Bloggers love free gifts (who doesn’t?) but we simply hate gifts that didn’t come from a genuine heart. We are more than glad to write you a review (if you’re worthy) or attend some event. But don’t send over a gift without telling us the catch. Being direct and clear about the motive of your gift is important. Gifts with too many strings attached would not be welcomed.

Christmas presents and gifts box isolated on a white

2. Give clear instructions

Have an event? Need a product review? Why not just come clean with the instructions? We accept changes but don’t be last minute. We don’t sit around waiting to cover your ass. Being clear about the terms in the beginning is the least that we hope for.

Blank three-way direction signpost.

3. Don’t dictate

Giving clear instructions doesn’t mean dictating what we put on our blog. If you send a product over and we don’t blog about it, it basically means that your product didn’t impress us.

Don’t go about forcing us to write a good review. We’ll write a negative one instead.

portrait of shouting businessman

4. Read our blog

Knowing what we have written is flattering and it shows that you are sincere in connecting with us. This also allows the PR agent to strike a good conversation with the blogger, rather than having to converse about the weather (awkward).

Internet blog reader concept

5. Respect

Inviting us over to an event? The last thing you want to do is to start off with “Dear Blogger”. It’s not like our names are a secret. Mass Emailing does not impress us. Some PR people treat bloggers as a tool and it shows. Blogging might be new to many people but it’s definitely worth some respect. Show some appreciation to what we have done for the web community.