chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Charles Dery — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:59:42 -0000

Interesting blog with useful links! Thanks for Sharing

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

youtube downloader — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 06:17:55 -0000

Lots of us can’t NOT blog. We love what we do. We’re obsessed with getting information out into the world. Desperate to be useful. I’d say that we’re like news junkies, only we’re really interested in how we can contribute to making the news.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Luke — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:47:09 -0000

You mentioned that you are interested in Non-profit social media success stories. This is a story in the making. Would you help make it a success? Help Burma Now!

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Elliott Ng — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:25:30 -0000

Thanks for this guidance. I just summarized a post that included your advice and others. This is the new pitchmeme era!

http://tinyurl.com/5exv6o

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Hannah — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:04:16 -0000

As a student in public relations, I've had entire class periods devoted to the "art" of pitching mainstream press, and I am just now learning about how to pitch bloggers. I am curious about which you think is more valuable, since many blog posts are written in response to news articles.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Laura Lorek — Sun, 04 May 2008 23:46:38 -0000

Hi Chris,

I like your post.

I'm both a blogger and a mainstream journalist. Many reporters nowadays write or contribute to daily blogs, create their own video stories (I've done a handful) and write articles for the Web and the paper product. Some journalists also produce regular podcasts. An NPR commentor recently called journalists "the steelworkers of the 21st century." That's because we must produce content for multiple platforms, report and write original articles and tell good stories. And we watch as thousands of traditional journalism jobs go away. Although we get paid peanuts for what we do compared to PR people, I venture we still make a lot more than most bloggers. (I recently read about the ValleyWag bloggers getting paid for the popularity of their posts, which can lead to sensationalism. They also work in an uncertain environment where pay changes every quarter.) (I also read the NYTimes front page story about bloggers dropping dead from heart attacks because of the constant demand to feed the beast online.)

Despite some of the problems in both mediums, I believe excellent bloggers and journalists exist online. I read more and more blogs these days in addition to newspapers and magazines. Many traditional reporters, like myself, find this an extremely exciting time filled with endless opportunities.

Social media, done right, brings us closer to the community we cover and provides richer and better stories.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Lisa Callsen — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:25:08 -0000

I found you via Adversity Univeristy Blog, Stephen put up the blogroll of attendess at SOBCon08. I was moved to post because when you talk about passion, I'm finding this to be so interesting on how we can drive our blogs by passion.

I have quite a niche, my passion is minority of the Deaf community. CODA, which means (hearing) children of deaf adults. I can't believe how creative I can be in the blog and have now just begun my journey. I am so moved here, I hope to learn more from you.

As far as using some new media for blogs, I've got one I'm testing and when it works out, it'll be so fun, I'll go back to your last ten posts before presenting the idea.

Thanks for letting me share here.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Ben — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:58:01 -0000

Just came to check this post out on Beth Kanter's recommendation. Really excellent. Do you think your overview of pitching to bloggers is the same for political bloggers as it is for tech bloggers? I know political blogging might not be your bailiwick, but I think how to pitch to political bloggers would be of interest to a lot of your readers from the nonprofit sector.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

geo — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:04:17 -0000

how did i get in that picture :-)

fyi my shirt says

We Will Not be silent

g-oh

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Sam Fletcher — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:17:14 -0000

@chris Great stuff here. For someone just starting out in the PR biz, but knowledgeable about social media, this is valuable reading.

One observation - PR people who don't deal with social media regularly have no idea how to approach bloggers and are generally apprehensive towards the medium. Not really surprising, but still somewhat startling when you think about how much information they are missing out on.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

olivier blanchard — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:58:30 -0000

Excellent post. You pretty much covered it all. Nice nod to the role of blogger communities (twitter, ning, etc.) The scalability of the medium is pretty important. I'm not sure too many companies understand that yet.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Ted McEnroe — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:00:59 -0000

@aronado I should have been clearer... my grudge is more against someone with whom I'm already producing (in that slower mainstream media way) an exclusive that really isn't. Don't tell me I have an exclusive if I don't... basically.

@chris Thanks for the warm welcome...

@sue murphy Oooh, now you hit one of my favorite topics. Don't lump the individual journalist with the media company. I don't spend much time thinking about whether this could be the story that attracts the biggest audience for the advertisers. My boss might, the accountants might, but most journalists I know don't. In fact, I've met bloggers far more concerned about how many hits something will get -- in part because it's a lot easier to measure immediately. As far as the pitch goes, if you win me over, you're probably in pretty good shape. (But maybe I just charm my bosses better than most.)

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Corvida — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:10:41 -0000

Great post Chris! If someone wanted to pitch me, screw Twit Pitch, I'd send them to this article ASAP!

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Wendy Bigham — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:45:10 -0000

Very interesting Chris! I'm a former mainstream reporter tip toeing into the social media world. I (humbly --I'm a newbie) think bloggers are more likely to pursue details they find interesting than a mainstream writer.Mainstream writers don't have the time to delve as deeply as they would like most of the time. Newsrooms are cutting back and writers are doing multiple jobs.

Pitching mainstream writers is very much like pitching bloggers. You need to know what they cover, what they personally find interesting and tailor the pitch accordingly.

And as nonprofit person now, I'm looking at Facebook for starters as a way to increase attendance at our events. A lot of other people are doing it so it's off it a slow start.

I have to say -- I hope most bloggers are polite. They don't have to be nice, but polite is good. Otherwise, I'll get a little twinge of the eye when I run across the blog until I forget the rudeness.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

JohnAtkinson — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:52:17 -0000

Chris, good insight "..we want is to know that you know who we are, and what we cover"

As an entrepreneur, I can say that many of us are so near-sightedly passionate about our products that it's hard to understand why everyone wouldn't jump at the chance to blog about our "game-changing/paradigm shifting" Web 2.0 Post-it Note application.

When you're an entrepreneur (or PR person) who's new to the game and don't know "the rules" (some of which I'm sure I've broken in the past;), forwarding a press release with no personal tie-in may seem reasonable.. but taking the time to get to know the blogger and approaching him in a genuinely personal way is the way to go.

Thanks for documenting "the rules" Chris.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Mr. Factoring — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:45:13 -0000

Hey Chris...

Liked your article. I have a feeling that you may have gotten one too many email's that start with something like: "Hi, Billy Mays Here....Let me tell you about this blog...." (in case you don't watch TV. This is Billy Mays: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik....

Think OxyClean, etc...

--Marco

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Cara — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:15:03 -0000

One of the things we did was first approach real estate bloggers who had already blogged about us of their own free will. I asked them what I could do to help them, what information they would like and in what format. Many really appreciated that I took the time to ask. Only one blogger didn't respond. At the time I contacted, I wasn't expecting anything as far as coverage. I was looking to build relationships and foster possible partnerships for the future.

Several bloggers gave us great feedback about our newly redesigned newsletter and asked that we send it to them regularly. Both sides walked away feeling warmer about the other. And I know that the next time I do have a story, I have new contacts that I can reach out to in a real context, not just a blind email.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Andre Blackman — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:04:10 -0000

Easy to understand and gets the point across. You're right on these topics, Chris. It gets a little murky sometimes when the social media world continues to evolve.

Speaking of ego, it's also easy to get caught up in the blogstar illusion status (phrase courtesy of Rohit Bhargava). Don't let it happen.

It's a give and take. Keep bringing the important issues to the forefront, Chris!

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

jb — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:54:53 -0000

What would be neat is if bloggers on this comments string would share some of the work they have posted that were the result of:

a. Enterprise reporting / sourcing
b. Good PR pitches
c. Reading newswires / blogs

Can someone take the first crack?

Will anyone admit "b" and how it went down?

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

briansolis — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:42:09 -0000

Thanks Chris. Here's the link to the free ebook on blogger relations: http://tinyurl.com/2hvotm

There are also links to other free ebooks at www.briansolis.com that include: PR Tips for Startups, The Art and Science of Social Media and Community Relations, The Social Media Manifesto, and The Art of Listening and Engagement Through Social Media. (all on the right hand side of the homepage.

Cheers!

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Brad P. from NJ — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:36:45 -0000

Great advice. Paul Young (http://youngie.prblogs.org/... a great talk at PodCamp NYC that covered some of the same topics you've addressed here. It's nice to hear similar points stressed in multiple places... that whole "people get what you're saying after they've read it 7-10 times" axiom. I'll be using your blog, newsletter, and the work you do with Julien Smith (http://inoveryourhead.net) with your eBooks/PDFs in an upcoming internal digital evangelism presentation. Thanks.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Antonio Altamirano — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:35:17 -0000

Realize that a blogger, as you mentioned, most likely has a full time day job, so you might be "pitching" the other side of the blogger as well.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

Kristen Forbriger — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:32:39 -0000

Hard to argue the truth, Chris. Kidding.

But, where do you draw the line between bloggers and journalists? Barriers to access? Platform? Ownership? Isn't this distinction becoming increasingly blurred everyday? WHO are these "bloggers" we're talking about?

The reason I bring this up is because by lumping bloggers together -- and giving tips that people should apply across the board -- seems counterintuitive to how bloggers want to be treated: as individuals.

I don't say this to discount all the advice you're giving, because I'm sure most of it applies most of the time... but just something to think about before we start rattling off more generalizations.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

TroyJMorris — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:27:33 -0000

Nobody flamed because it's true! Even PR folks have egos.

It really helps to write in the blogger's (or journalist's, for that matter) writing style and voice. It's not easy and takes a lot of practice, but the closer to their style you are, the more likely they are to like it.

It's akin to a face to face conversation filled with mirroring. If you're mirroring their movements, they tend to start agreeing with you. If you mirror their voice in writing, they feel some sort of kindred relation.

There's also being a member of their community. It's not easy and takes time, but before you pitch you may want to comment on a recent post-- IF you have something worth while to say.

And this doesn't work with everyone, but some of the best bloggers out there open up their posts for conversations, so point it out in your pitch. Point out "I wonder what your readers would have to say?"

There's so much advice, tips and tricks out there, but the base mantra is "Get to know them." It's not too difficult. Pretend you're at a bar and just start chatting about anything they find interesting and eventually bring up your stories.

Also, Chris, here at Wetpaint we can dig up "Nonprofit and organizational experiences with social media that have made an impact" stories whenever you want.

See? Slick right? Eh.

Re: Some Differences Between Pitching Mainstream Press and Bloggers

chrisbrogan — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:20:24 -0000

Wow, I just called the bunch of us egotistical and that we need baby handling and you didn't flame me? Come on! : )

Thanks, everyone for your perspective.

What are the other tips we should be spreading?