How not to do it...

1. Not using the bloggers name - it would take mere seconds in most cases to find out their name. If you can’t then simply say so, it shows you are a human being and that you have actually looked at the blog.

2. Not reading anything on the blog - you have to read more than just the title.

3. Or worse blatantly lying that you have - the very worst thing you can do is lie. It is so obvious when you are fake, even if you think you are being really cunning.

4. Copying and pasting a press release - just link to a press release, don’t paste it. The details in a press release can be useful or not. Let us decide if we want to see the full thing. I know some bloggers will copy and paste the full thing and call it a blog post but the good ones will not.

5. Taking 2000 words to say nothing - get straight to the point.

6. Using a non-reply email address - give at least a reply address that works. It’s only polite.

7. Only supplying a telephone number - and make sure the telephone number is listed with a country code. Not everyone lives in the UK.

8. Making it clear EVERY blogger in your niche is getting the exact same message - why would a blogger feel like writing about something they know every other blogger is going to be covering with the exact same information? No exclusive detail? No review copy? No interview? No article.

9. Being completely and utterly irrelevant. When you are looking for blogs to send your message to consider more than just traffic or subscribers, also ask yourself if the audience would be interested in what you are pushing.

You know the secret to not making these blunders? Make it all about the audience and not you.

Be human. Be authentic. Think about the other person. Too much me-me-me and you are guaranteed to get it wrong. Actually spending a few seconds working out what the benefit is to the blogger and their audience is golden.

Do you have any examples of good or bad PR emails? Please share in the comments …

(C) Technosailor