Bloggers are a marketer’s dream come true. If you can get on their good side, they will be one of your company’s biggest brand ambassadors. Their existing fan base already trusts their recommends. This means if they talk about you, your company will get in front of potential customers usually not within your reach. Part of the DNA of true bloggers is the fact that they cannot contain their excitement and passion when they love a product and feel it is their duty to tell the world about it on every social medium possible. Oh, and they usually do this for free.
Since companies are realizing that bloggers are the new goldmine, they will do anything to capture their interest. However, building relationships with bloggers requires consideration and some occasional schmoozing. Here are four tips on how to woo a blogger:
Give them something for free
Everybody likes free sh#t. Send the blogger of your eye some free product with a hand-written note. Yes, hand-written. In this online world of automated and digital everything, a personal hand-written note goes a long way.
Stop asking for press
Bloggers are inundated with requests for free press daily. If you start your email off with a typical request asking for something from a perfect stranger, you are no different than the other ten that already spammed their inbox. Offer a value exchange. Don’t just ask for something without considering how you can provide value/benefit to the blogger.
Say thank you
Blogging about your brand, resizing photos, linking out, properly tagging – these blogging basics all require time and effort. When a blogger does provide publicity for you, make sure you thank him or her and show your appreciation. Depending on the size of the media hit, you should follow up with a thank-you note (email or snail mail) and even a token of appreciation. Most bloggers remember the people who took care of them, and they like to reciprocate. They will likely plug your brand again in a future article if you are appreciative.
Make an effort to court
Wooing bloggers is similar to courting a new love interest. You need to catch their eye, compliment them, ask questions, and slowly build a relationship. Follow the blogger’s social media outlets and strike up conversations with them. Comment on their blogs. Eventually they will start to notice and remember you. Then, just like asking for that first date, when it’s time to approach for a media mention, they’ve already warmed up to you and are a lot more likely to agree to your proposition.
Image Credits: [Doodles by Vancouver Blogger]
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