Also we have found that many PR agencies are pitching to blogs like print. They do not think of adding useful links, Del.ici.ous accounts, video or audio to add interest in the target’s blog.

We have set up PRBristol to aid in educating PRs in how to pitch to blogs and would be interested in your thoughts on for example “Social Media releases”.

Regards

Matt @ PRBristol.co.uk

As someone who not only works in PR but is also a very active blogger (and someone who has received countless pitches when working with larger sites / networks), I also did a post shortly after that interview on what both sides need to do (and stop doing) if A) PRs want bloggers to cover their news, products, etc. and B) if bloggers want people to take them seriously as any kind of media outlet – If PRs and Bloggers Played Nice.

I think you’ve addressed this “problem” very well. I actually wrote about what can happen when marketers take short cuts in my post: http://blogexplore.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/oops-marketing-blunders/

Sending them a response is not something I would have considered but I like your idea of beating them at their own game.

I also think it’s very short sighted of them: just because I’m based in the UK doesn’t mean all of my readers are…

Anyway, I for one am heartened by your attempts to educate PRs about bloggers. I think it’s needed – it is, after all, a relatively new area for them, and if you can find a friendly and polite way to help them (which you have), then I’m all for it!

Do you do PR contracts?

I get about 10-15 pitches a day.

If it is not relevant, I send an email back letting them know my demographic and to keep me in mind if something comes up that is relevant.

If it is relevant, I send an email telling them I don’t review or endorse on my main blog but on my review blog – then I give the link and instructions on how it works, and let them know how much extra traffic hosting a giveaway exposes their client to.

Both of the above emails are copy/paste.

I’m attempting to build relationships with these PR companies. Sure, during that first round of emails I’m just another name on the blogger list, but if I’m the most helpful blogger that is willing to see the person behind the mass email as a human and not an annoyance…well…that leads to getting some really cool stuff.

All for spending less than 10 minutes a day responding with one of two cut and paste answers.

Maybe I’m naive, but I think it’s really neat that I’m on a list somewhere that says, “Her opinion matters! Give her free stuff and let her talk about it!”

I mean, how fast did the shine of that wear off for all of you? Maybe it’s just in my nature to get all excited and be filled with childlike amazement no matter how many times the FedEx or UPS truck comes to my house.

I responded to one awhile ago (Dec 2007) because I thought the sender personalized the pitch and did it well. Also, I felt his offering was truly worthwhile. But you’re right, most of the requests are garbage.

I too get many pitches where it is obviously an automated email because I see things like in the middle of the paragraph.

Perhaps if I respond, even if they don’t like it, they will take me off the list.

Thanks again Darren, always on the mark!

http://www.oilenergystockvideos.blogspot.com

Sure, press releases go out to lots of people, but good PR people know who to target and how. They generally work on building one-on-one relationships with the people they know can do the best job of reporting the material covered in their releases.

Further, most press releases are written for print journalists, and old habits die hard. That would explain the large chunks of text.

Darren, your experiences suggest that the PR world has yet to catch up with blogging. You’re doing the right thing by sending that kind of response.

Granted, sometimes I do get personal emails from people in PR companies, and those are people who I have built a relationship with. Quite often, that’s simply from asking for more information (a product image, price, or release date, for example), or from meeting them at a product launch. However, even those people I have some personal relationship with, I don’t get offended if they send a round robin email, even if it’s on a subject not directly related to the sites I work on.

I get anywhere from 5 to 20 direct press releases each day, and countless more from via email subscriptions. It is worth pursuing some on a personal level, but don’t take great offence if an email isn’t explicitly targeted to your niche or blog. PR people just don’t have the time to check everything.

I’m a little embarrassed that bloggers feel they should be treated differently from regular journos, when in fact in another breath so many want to have the same privileges and rights.

As long as bloggers can be reasonably kind to PR people (I have a “3 strikes, you’re out” where I’ll be nice twice, but tear you a new one on the third), the agencies will hopefully learn that there are good and bad ways of reaching out and start using those that get a more positive response. Learning curve and all that…