Comments on: Using Local Newspapers to Promote Your Blog Offline

By: Nicholas Tate

Nicholas Tate — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:08:32 +0000

I am in the process of having a press release written for my new recycling website so will give this a try.

http://www.recyclingsupermarket.com

By: Jason Blanton

Jason Blanton — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:34:39 +0000

Rather than describe your site as “an explosive new website that will revolutionize the industry”, I would suggest describing what problem the site will solve or what service it provides. Explosive and revolutionize sound a bit cheesy and will turn journalists off.

By: Jermayn Parker

Jermayn Parker — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:31:52 +0000

One of my clients actually mentioned this idea and it sure is a great idea!

By: Brennan Ryan

Brennan Ryan — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 07:18:10 +0000

Matt > Yes, i agree, i nearly fell over when the journo rang! :-)

It was even lower at the time. I happened to mention to my partner in the site that our rank had climbed from 2 million something to 400 K something in technorati.

He asked me how many blogs they rate, and i told him 6 million.

He sent the email with a note that we had hit the top 10% of the technorti listing and the editor latched onto it as something special.

I wasn’t about to tell him anything different! :-)

By: darrenh

darrenh — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:58:33 +0000

“…a surprising number of local papers are considered authority sites by Google, …”
I don’t find that surprising at all. Who is a greater authority on local content and info in most places than the local newspaper? No one. (Yes I am and editor at a local daily US newspaper.)

Trying the local newspaper for PR is a good strategy, and it is because the paper still has standing and meaning in the community. But I think the days are gone when even the most provincial of newspapers will be dubbed into running an article about a local web site owner just because they’re local and they’re on the web. You’re gonna need a news “hook” to get an editor interested these days (unique idea, award, first of its kind, something like that).

A onetime news article is useful and a feel good, but if you can pull off Sean’s advertising trade, that might be worth more in the long run.

Good luck.

By: Technobuzz.net

Technobuzz.net — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:26:41 +0000

This is a great idea.

http://www.technobuzz.net

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:00:21 +0000

Thanks for the powerful suggestions you continually provide – this one is just the latest. Thank you, thank you.

By: Matt Batcho

Matt Batcho — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:44:20 +0000

This to me is an excellent post. A friend and I recently started a new blog called MindsofWealth.com. Since I am looking for a place to promote my blog, why not start at home? Something as simple as placing a small article in the paper never crossed my mind. Not to mention its free. Thank you for the information and if you would like to check our blog out please do so. Our site is mainly self help issues that everyone deals with at some point. All in all this was a great post.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:06:38 +0000

Brennan
>The second story in the Addy – World Web Winners! (great headline right?) was published withing 24 hrs of my partner dropping an email ‘letter to the editor’ about our Technorati rating improving.

I have to admit some admiration on that one. Using a Technorati Authority figure of under 20 to get the story from the newspaper is good .

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:58:07 +0000

I have reservations about this approach for this blog. I would do it differently.

Blogging is about building relationships – not one off “hits” , and Harry is attempting to “use” the newspapers by puffing his own blog. It is just a new way to present something from a decade ago. Interesting, but only interesting. Most local newspapers I know would see through this in an instant.

There’s also a hostage to fortune for next year: “New Youtube goes down Old Tube”.

I’ve blogged how I would do it on the link on my name.

By: Kadir

Kadir — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:34:27 +0000

Really it is an amazing idea to hit the market in a perfect way. Thanks for the info. Hope I’ll get more visitors for my new blog…

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:58:59 +0000

Never thought of this, I will certainly try it out. Thanks for the info!

By: ciken

ciken — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:32:44 +0000

A very good idea…another options from Darren..thanks a lot!

By: David Mackey

David Mackey — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:27:58 +0000

Another option that I have used in the past is writing a continuing column relating to the topic for the newspaper. This won’t work for every topic – but for example, if the blog is about fashion, writing a column about fashion regularly for the newspaper and requesting a tagline with the url of your website.

By: Toivo Lainevool

Toivo Lainevool — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 06:17:01 +0000

You are starting to run to many guest bloggers. I come here to hear your opinions. I’m starting to skip past your posts in my feed.

By: Sean Cayton

Sean Cayton — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:21:35 +0000

Do one better than a call to the editorial department. For the past five years we’ve traded advertising space that promotes our blog. It amounts to about $20K worth of ads for assignment photography for the paper.

It doesn’t need to be photography though. If your an expert in your field write a column that centers around your niche. Hint: Do it for free.

By: Paquito

Paquito — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:54:08 +0000

Wow!

Unfortunately I think I’m not that good to send some mails to local press saying I could break information limits :-(

Anyway, I think it’s a good idea… Will think about it :-)

Thanks for the advice and kind regards from Spain.

Paquito.
http://paquito4ever.blogspot.com

By: marquis

marquis — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:32:33 +0000

This is a great idea. I’m definately going to try this. Thanks

http://alltalksports.wordpress.com/

By: Jared Schwager

Jared Schwager — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:36:26 +0000

Hey Darren, just thought I’d let you know your link to Desktop Nexus is broken.

By: Brennan Ryan

Brennan Ryan — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:43:03 +0000

Oops – Sorry Darren, just relalised it wasn’t your post but Harry’s

^ swap “Darren” for “Harry”

:-)