If you are running an online shop, corporate website, or any other web and mobile-based business, it is essential to conquer the blogosphere.
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Bloggers
do not just promote your band, but also give you back-links and mentions making your
brand a more popular name on the Internet. Having mentions on blogs may also help in your search engine optimization standing.
Bloggers
can handle the following tasks for your benefit:
1. They feature
you and your business on their blogs to boost your online presence.
2. They market
your goods, services, events and other offerings/projects to their readers to
increase your sales/market influence.
Bloggers
earn from opportunities from businesses like you. You ask them for a favor in
return of something monetary or in kind.
However there are instances when bloggers voluntarily give you a space on their blog, especially when they
realize that your story or content is of great relevance to their readers.
Here
are the simple steps in coordinating with bloggers:
1.
Have
a story to share with bloggers. Do you have an upcoming event to tell the
public? Do you have a new product to sell? Do you have an issue that you would
like to clarify? Do you have a new executive that you want to introduce to the
public? Evaluate your story if it is worth publicizing.
2.
Write
a Press Kit containing the story and other essential information that will be
needed in publishing the story. If you have a press kit that was sent to radio,
TV and newspaper reports, modify the kit to suit the needs of bloggers. Insert
hyperlinks, social media account links, and other online resources.
3.
Have
a simple research to know the bloggers that you want to tap for the project.
Remember, pick the bloggers who are into your niche. If you are talking about a
sporting event, look for sports bloggers. If you are marketing a new perfume,
look for beauty and fashion bloggers.
You can do the following to get a list of
bloggers that you want to be part of your mission:
A.
Use
blog directory sites. Evaluate the blogs that you see under your category and
pick the blogs that you want.
B.
Join
social media groups of bloggers and checkout their blog rolls. Pick the blogs
that you want.
C. Look
for a seasoned blogger and ask him to recommend bloggers who could be trusted to blog
for you.
D.
Use
your personal social media page. Post a message saying you are looking for
bloggers. Mention how you will be contacted in the post.
4.
Make
a database of all the bloggers that you want to contact. Make a spreadsheet
containing the following information:
A.
Name
of Blog- get prominent blogs that are already known
B.
Google
PageRank- get blogs that are at Google PR1 to be more assured of the quality
of the blog and the credibility of the blogger; check the PageRank of a blog by clicking here
C.
Region/Country
Origin- make sure that the location of your target publics is covered
D.
Name/Codename
of Blogger- get only those that are well-identified; get away from anonymous bloggers
E.
Email
Address of Blogger- most bloggers are contacted via email
F.
Mobile
Number of Blogger-this is needed when you meet up with them personally
G.
Advertising/Blogger
Opportunity Remarks- most blogs that accept blogging opportunities declare their
conditions on a certain page on their blog.
5.
Email
the blogger. Ask them if it is okay for you to send them a press release about
your story for publication. Note in the email if they are going to be paid or
not. Send the Press Kit afterwards.
6.
Try
to be more personal by meeting up with those interested bloggers. Meet them in
a café and treat them with a cup of coffee. It will be a friendly meet up, not a big blog conference.
During the meet up, explain the content of the press
release and their benefits if they publish it.
If you will be giving them cash,
make sure to point out the deadline of the blog post, the approval conditions, the
available payment modes, and the deadline of your payment to them. Most payments
are done through bank-to-bank transfer and PayPal transactions.
7.
If
the story is published, you either pay them in cash or in kind. Be alert in monitoring the worldwide web if the bloggers have published the story.
Review each
blog post and request (not demand) for modifications if needed. Send them an email
thanking them for the favor. If it was published for free, it is your obligation to help
promote the post and the blog. If it was for a fee, you need to settle your
bills to them now.
Keep
the database of bloggers because you might be needing the document in the
future. If you handle bloggers properly, they give you favorable blog
posts and will be happy to connect with you in case they also have opportunities
for you in return.
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