As a blogger, it is normal to regularly get pitches for various things – typically companies or brands wanting to work with you, people wanting you to promote xyz and the like. Generally, most of these pitches end up in my trash folder. I do usually send a thanks but no thanks response – unless the pitch in question is particularly bad. Lately, I’ve had such an uptick in really bad pitches that I was inspired to share five things NOT to do when pitching a blogger. Can anyone relate??
[Tweet “five things NOT to do when pitching a blogger”]
- Writing vague pitches. I hate getting emails about an “awesome new product that I just must check out.” If you are trying to get me interested enough in something to click to a website (not to mention write about it on my blog), then tell me why I should be interested. You don’t need to write a novel, but two sentences probably ain’t gonna cut it.
- Writing incorrect details about the blogger that is being pitched. I love getting emails saying that the sender knows my cat will love this awesome new toy. It’s especially awesome because I don’t have a cat. I’ve also recently had an email from someone saying they found me from someone else’s linkup. When in actuality, that person was participating in my linkup. It’s a small detail, but take the time to get facts right if you’re going to try and throw in things that indicate you actually read the blog of the blogger you are attempting to pitch.
- Asking me to buy something. Another bad pitch I received fairly recently asked me to review a product…and made no mention of even sending me the product (a book). Basically it was like “I thought you might want to review this book. Here’s a link.” Now that’s not the most terrible thing to do and I actually responded and let them know I don’t really do book reviews on my blog (which they should’ve known even taking a cursory glance) but wished them luck. However they also made the mistake I’ll talk about next…
- Not sharing what’s in it for me. A key in making a pitch is sharing why the person you’re pitching should be interested…basically what’s in it for them. Note that this doesn’t ALWAYS have to be financial – something that is meaningful or so so awesome that I’d be writing about it on my own works as well. I never take a sponsored post if I wouldn’t consider buying the product and I always give honest reviews. But keep in mind that you are pitching me – so make it clear why I should want to do what you are asking me. What’s the benefit to my readers? Make this crystal clear to me!
- Being overly familiar. Folks may disagree with me on this but I am NOT a fan of people I don’t know writing me emails saying “friend, let me tell you…” or “Hey girl” type notes. Being friendly is great. Acting like this isn’t a business transaction is not. Be professional (which includes being friendly). Please and thank you!
Ever experienced any of this in a pitch? How’d you respond?
It’s the best when someone wants me to review a clothing store because they can tell I have a love of high fashion. Um, yeah no. Haha.
Lol. Right?!?!
I’ve been getting a lot of pitches lately asking for my “thoughts” on topic XYZ and giving me a specific hashtag to use wanting me to write a post on it. I think that’s weird. The orgs pitching me have found one small commonality with my blog and their idea. I know social media is big and you need some level of net casting for your strategy but you’re right, do a little research first!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Shamrock Half Training Week 4
Right?!?! Ugh – I just wonder does that EVER work???
I’m laughing and nodding all the way through this post. I hope every company that pitches to bloggers reads this because they really need to.
I get annoyed a lot because I have items pitched to me that are all familiar and OMG I love your blog and let me tell you about ::insert such and such an item that is so far away from anything I would be using IE: nursing bras WTF::.
Salt recently posted…It’s in the bag. {The Friday Five}
Lol – I just don’t think it’s that hard to spend a couple minutes figuring out who you’re pitching!!! Come on!!!
My least favorite are the fill in the blank ones where they forget to fill in the blanks.
Dear ______,
We love you blog ________ and wonder if you’d be interested in…
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Lose Weight & Win Money – Join My DietBet
Just laughed out loud!
Yep, it’s really interesting the amount of emails that are pretty much the same form letter!
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For What?! recently posted…Five Triathlon Bag Essentials
Yea, over and over and over again!
I love when you can actually see where they’ve copied and pasted the same pitch. One part of the personalized section is one font and size and the other “product details and promo pitch” is in a completely different font size or style.
Haley @ running with diapers recently posted…Friday Five: Things in my gym bag
i know, i hate that!
I agree with all of these things. One of my bigger pet peeves is getting my name right. Obviously companies send out multiple proposals to several bloggers but I would at least like them to get my name right. 🙂
HolliE recently posted…Don’t Just Survive Winter Running…Prosper
Oh that would be SUPER annoying! It is so easy to take care of the simple things!
LOL! Totally agree with all of them. And the last one too!!!
Helly recently posted…Marathon Training Week 10 (and The Color Run winner!!)
right??? thanks for stopping by, lady!!
my pet peeve is when linking my blog to the product is a major stretch. i got pitched to by a mattress company that wanted me to blog about my pre-race routine. fair enough topic, but i’d blog about that anyway without having to work talking about my mattress in. maybe this is super indie hipster of me but i hate feeling like i’m being asked to sell out. pitch me a product i’d actually use specific to a race routine, not every day. or actually think about your product — i wrote a whole post yesterday on improving posture — they could really have thought better about how their product relates to athletes rather than cheaply pitching a blog topic we write about all the time. i’m glad you wrote this court. not just as a blogger but as a marketing professional, i hate seeing bad salesmanship.
nevie brooks recently posted…Week In Training: The Countdown to RNR NOLA Half begins!
HA! I got that same pitch! It was like, come on!!! Those are the ones that I don’t even respond to – brands should know better!
I was also contacted about this same pitch. When I read the e-mail I thought about how little time and thought that they had put into this pitch, which is a poor sign of their marketing efforts and how they run their company.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Slowly Making Progress
yes, it was definitely clear they hadn’t read my blog, which is disappointing.
Haha – yes! I see a lot of vague pitches or things that don’t share why their product/service is relevant to readers. It’s especially amusing to me because I have a second blog so I’ll sometimes get the exact same pitch for both blogs – a form letter with just the blog name changed out. If only they knew they were writing to the same person 😉
Sun recently posted…The Balancing Act
That is hilarious!!
Yes, yes, and yes! Most of the e-mail pitches that I receive also wind up in my trash folder. I really wish that those that contact me would take 30 seconds to look at my blog and realize that what they want me to try out is of zero interest to me. While I appreciate companies wanting to reach out and work with me, please don’t waste my time or your time by asking me to review a product that clearly has nothing to do with what I blog about.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Slowly Making Progress
The generic pitches where it is very obvious they have not read your blog drive me nuts. I also get a little annoyed by the ones that just want me to post infographics. I don’t know why, but those bother me. It feels like pushy content just to push content and I’m not into that!
Alicia recently posted…freshening up my skin care regime
yeah, i know – i never do those! it just is awkward!