Boost Your Blog’s PR Appeal
SheBlogs’ community of bloggers is PR-friendly. We want to be contacted by public relations and marketing pros, get the scoop on upcoming press announcements, talk about product reviews, promotions, contest opportunities and discounts and sales. We’ve already taken the first step – getting signed up for a community that will give us the access to these annoucements. But what additional steps can bloggers take to boost their blogs’ PR appeal?
Here are some useful hints that may help get you noticed:
1. Contact Page! A PR represenative tasked with outreach to the blogging community has a large task: because there are so many blogs on the Web, and there’s no easy way to build a press list, often times he or she is spending hours going site by site, looking for name and email information. Making your contact information prominent and easily accessible makes your blog less likely to be skipped over by a representative who has to produce a complete list. This may seem obvious, but in my years of PR, I can’t tell you how many great blogs I’ve had to skip over during list-building because I simply could not find a contact email address!
2. Online Press Page or Media Kit! Even if you have a beautiful media kit that offers your advertising rates, sponsored review rates, and statistical information, having those figures – particularly when your blog has a large following – can increase your appeal to marketers who are looking to offer bloggers access to new products for review, or to invite bloggers to take part in special promotions, contests or giveaways. As your traffic numbers grow, including a short chart – with your total monthly uniques, subscribers/followers, and Twitter followers or Facebook friends, can give a marketer a quick snapshot of the exposure that you can offer him or her.
3. Introduce Yourself! Browse through our directory of blog-friendly companies, and introduce yourself to their PR contacts. Ask to be included on their press distribution lists, and ask them what current promotions, discounts, contests, or news announcements they are sending to press. Being proactive will pay off!
4. Check your Google ranking. Making your site search engine friendly will boost the chances that your blog will be found – both by marketers and by readers (and increased traffic will boost advertising rates and boost your PR appeal!)
5. Follow up! After you’ve written your post, a quick email and link to your post will make a busy PR rep grateful – you’ve just saved him or her from having to track down your post (probably among several others!). PR reps remember bloggers who make their jobs easier!
While this list is a start, hopefully upcoming posts can go into more detail for you and offer more tips. We also want to hear from you! What’s your best secret to boosting your blog’s PR appeal? What trick has worked in the past to get you access to an exclusive interview, product sample to review, or advance news?
