15 Days of Marketing Day One: Make Your Blog or Site More PR Friendly
- Rating:
5 after 3 votes
Day 1
1. Make sure you include your contact information somewhere on your website. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your phone number, but I would definitely include your email in the following format to deter spammers: jessica at jessicaknows dot com. Also, if you’re not on Skype already, that’s a great way to make yourself available via IM, voice, and even video chat. Oh, and it’s free! (I like free.)
2. Sign up for Help A Reporter Out. This handy dandy brainchild of Peter Shankman sends you three emails a day (trust me, this is not something you want to get in a daily digest) with reporters looking for authentic sources for their story (hello, that’s YOU!). My tv news segment about working a part-time high level job that’s already aired on different affiliates in New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, and Boston over the past week? That’s all thanks to HARO. So yeah, when Peter says not to abuse his system or respond to queries with irrelevant information, please heed his request. In other words, don’t go making me look bad. (Also free!)
3. Sign up for a service that gives you site analytics in REAL TIME. I highly recommend GetClicky.com for this. I’ve tried a few others but what I like about GetClicky is that I not only get to see who’s visiting my site in real time, but what company they’re with. So when I blog about Walmart, I can see how many people from Walmart are reading it for how long as well as any of their associated vendors. Same goes for when I post about Ford. One little trick I share with you though is also find out what other major brands are checking me out too and you guess who I blog about next based on that little tidbit of information. This is called being proactive my friends. Check it out and you’ll see why I like it so much. (Free trial for GetClicky, but the cost of a cup of coffee per month and for me, so worth it).
4. Now for those who are just starting out, it might seem fruitless to blog about something just because a PR agency asks you too. But this is how you establish yourself as a marketer. Think of it as a portfolio of your work. As advertising budgets get cut companies are looking for organic and authentic ways to reach their audience. And who do you think costs more: you or the ad agency? Trust me…once you establish yourself as a consistent and creative marketer, paid opportunities will open up.
For Bloggers: Pretty cut and dry. Follow all the points listed and you’re golden.
For Entrepreneurs: Here it’s a little different, instead of paying attention to what companies are looking at your site through Get Clicky, you’ll want to focus more on who your incoming links are coming from. Especially, if you sell a product. So points 1, 2, and 3 are probably the ones you want to focus on. You’ll want to definitely watch HARO like a hawk so you can pitch your product or service as much as possible.
YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
You didn’t think I’d give you all this information and not assign homework did you? For homework, I want you to think about your favorite brands, whether it’s a product, a service, a social networking tool, whatever. Then I want you to share with us in the comments what your three favorite brands are and why. Who knows? Maybe a publicist for that brand will see it and reach out.
1. Make sure you include your contact information somewhere on your website. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your phone number, but I would definitely include your email in the following format to deter spammers: jessica at jessicaknows dot com. Also, if you’re not on Skype already, that’s a great way to make yourself available via IM, voice, and even video chat. Oh, and it’s free! (I like free.)
2. Sign up for Help A Reporter Out. This handy dandy brainchild of Peter Shankman sends you three emails a day (trust me, this is not something you want to get in a daily digest) with reporters looking for authentic sources for their story (hello, that’s YOU!). My tv news segment about working a part-time high level job that’s already aired on different affiliates in New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, and Boston over the past week? That’s all thanks to HARO. So yeah, when Peter says not to abuse his system or respond to queries with irrelevant information, please heed his request. In other words, don’t go making me look bad. (Also free!)
3. Sign up for a service that gives you site analytics in REAL TIME. I highly recommend GetClicky.com for this. I’ve tried a few others but what I like about GetClicky is that I not only get to see who’s visiting my site in real time, but what company they’re with. So when I blog about Walmart, I can see how many people from Walmart are reading it for how long as well as any of their associated vendors. Same goes for when I post about Ford. One little trick I share with you though is also find out what other major brands are checking me out too and you guess who I blog about next based on that little tidbit of information. This is called being proactive my friends. Check it out and you’ll see why I like it so much. (Free trial for GetClicky, but the cost of a cup of coffee per month and for me, so worth it).
4. Now for those who are just starting out, it might seem fruitless to blog about something just because a PR agency asks you too. But this is how you establish yourself as a marketer. Think of it as a portfolio of your work. As advertising budgets get cut companies are looking for organic and authentic ways to reach their audience. And who do you think costs more: you or the ad agency? Trust me…once you establish yourself as a consistent and creative marketer, paid opportunities will open up.
For Bloggers: Pretty cut and dry. Follow all the points listed and you’re golden.
For Entrepreneurs: Here it’s a little different, instead of paying attention to what companies are looking at your site through Get Clicky, you’ll want to focus more on who your incoming links are coming from. Especially, if you sell a product. So points 1, 2, and 3 are probably the ones you want to focus on. You’ll want to definitely watch HARO like a hawk so you can pitch your product or service as much as possible.
YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
You didn’t think I’d give you all this information and not assign homework did you? For homework, I want you to think about your favorite brands, whether it’s a product, a service, a social networking tool, whatever. Then I want you to share with us in the comments what your three favorite brands are and why. Who knows? Maybe a publicist for that brand will see it and reach out.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Pamela M. Kramer on -
First of all Mel,
You rock for sharing. I really don't understand how it works so if you could walk me through I would appreciate it. I'm guessing what you posted is a spinet from your email. What does this mean? Your going to blog about black Friday shopping tips? How does that help the person that sent it to you?
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Permalink Reply by Mel Bail on -
Haha sorry I was kind of vague, wasn't I?
I was confused how it worked too, so I was excited to get my first email. Then I was even more confused because he doesn't really tell you what to do, just blabbers on about who is sponsoring this email, etc. Then below his rambling you have a list of categories and numbers with a short one liner. Sometimes you can understand what they are about, but if you can't below all the numbers the list starts again with 0 and gives you all the details for each and every one. (Yes, the excerpt I copied was an example of the one I responded to).
After reading through all of these, or you can skim, if you have anything to contribute to one, like I did for the black friday tips, then send an email to the email provided or follow instructions if given in the query, and tell them what you have to contribute that may help them.
I blogged about the tips, because I figured since I am writing all this out for her, why not benefit my blog readers. So, check out my posting here http://mama4kids.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/10-tips-for-shopping-on-b... and this is basically what I wrote in my email in response to the query.
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Permalink Reply by Mel Bail on
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UPDATE on HARO:
Just wanted to update here as well what I just wrote in the day 4 discussion.
I did hear back from the lady I emailed about my Black Friday tips and she is happy to use them in her posting. Also, she noticed that I was a mom blogger and asked if I ever had any content to contribute to her blog ConstantChatter.com to drop her a line.
Mel Bail said:Haha sorry I was kind of vague, wasn't I?
I was confused how it worked too, so I was excited to get my first email. Then I was even more confused because he doesn't really tell you what to do, just blabbers on about who is sponsoring this email, etc. Then below his rambling you have a list of categories and numbers with a short one liner. Sometimes you can understand what they are about, but if you can't below all the numbers the list starts again with 0 and gives you all the details for each and every one. (Yes, the excerpt I copied was an example of the one I responded to).
After reading through all of these, or you can skim, if you have anything to contribute to one, like I did for the black friday tips, then send an email to the email provided or follow instructions if given in the query, and tell them what you have to contribute that may help them.
I blogged about the tips, because I figured since I am writing all this out for her, why not benefit my blog readers. So, check out my posting here http://mama4kids.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/10-tips-for-shopping-on-b... and this is basically what I wrote in my email in response to the query.
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Permalink Reply by Meredith on -
Great! I have seen some great stuff in my HARO emails, some stuff that was in my field and some stuff I was able to pass on to others, always nice to make new friends by giving them a lead, right! Glad to hear of your score!
M~
Mel Bail said:UPDATE on HARO:
Just wanted to update here as well what I just wrote in the day 4 discussion.
I did hear back from the lady I emailed about my Black Friday tips and she is happy to use them in her posting. Also, she noticed that I was a mom blogger and asked if I ever had any content to contribute to her blog ConstantChatter.com to drop her a line.
Mel Bail said:Haha sorry I was kind of vague, wasn't I?
I was confused how it worked too, so I was excited to get my first email. Then I was even more confused because he doesn't really tell you what to do, just blabbers on about who is sponsoring this email, etc. Then below his rambling you have a list of categories and numbers with a short one liner. Sometimes you can understand what they are about, but if you can't below all the numbers the list starts again with 0 and gives you all the details for each and every one. (Yes, the excerpt I copied was an example of the one I responded to).
After reading through all of these, or you can skim, if you have anything to contribute to one, like I did for the black friday tips, then send an email to the email provided or follow instructions if given in the query, and tell them what you have to contribute that may help them.
I blogged about the tips, because I figured since I am writing all this out for her, why not benefit my blog readers. So, check out my posting here http://mama4kids.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/10-tips-for-shopping-on-b... and this is basically what I wrote in my email in response to the query.
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Permalink Reply by Mel Bail on
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Thanks and now I have a better one! I was just interviewed by a reporter from Associated Press about the economy affecting pet owners. It was rather heart breaking to do, but she will be putting the article and my comments in this week's edition I believe. That's score like a thousand for me.
Meredith said:Great! I have seen some great stuff in my HARO emails, some stuff that was in my field and some stuff I was able to pass on to others, always nice to make new friends by giving them a lead, right! Glad to hear of your score!
M~
Mel Bail said:UPDATE on HARO:
Just wanted to update here as well what I just wrote in the day 4 discussion.
I did hear back from the lady I emailed about my Black Friday tips and she is happy to use them in her posting. Also, she noticed that I was a mom blogger and asked if I ever had any content to contribute to her blog ConstantChatter.com to drop her a line.
Mel Bail said:Haha sorry I was kind of vague, wasn't I?
I was confused how it worked too, so I was excited to get my first email. Then I was even more confused because he doesn't really tell you what to do, just blabbers on about who is sponsoring this email, etc. Then below his rambling you have a list of categories and numbers with a short one liner. Sometimes you can understand what they are about, but if you can't below all the numbers the list starts again with 0 and gives you all the details for each and every one. (Yes, the excerpt I copied was an example of the one I responded to).
After reading through all of these, or you can skim, if you have anything to contribute to one, like I did for the black friday tips, then send an email to the email provided or follow instructions if given in the query, and tell them what you have to contribute that may help them.
I blogged about the tips, because I figured since I am writing all this out for her, why not benefit my blog readers. So, check out my posting here http://mama4kids.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/10-tips-for-shopping-on-b... and this is basically what I wrote in my email in response to the query.
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Permalink Reply by Pamela M. Kramer on
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A little update here - On Skype. I became a member strictly by necessity. I wasn't going to join because I already had gtalk. One evening while fooling around with Mr. Linky I wiped out my word press blog. I put the word out to Twitter and a follower introduced me to a WP guru! In order to talk to him I quickly set up a skype account. I have to say it's pretty cool. So if you are there - I'm there too under pamkramer.
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