By I received an email from a friendly blogger a few moments ago.
I observed a 7 paragraph, in-depth pitch. One part of me deeply appreciated her kindness but another part had been offline for 9 hours enjoying my day offline with my wife.
I read 5 words and deleted the email. I have many things to do and it’s already midnight.
Even though I appreciate her guest post pitch and kindness, I have many dear friends I want to help with guest posts. Plus I need to publish another post on my blog.
The blogger’s kind but deleted email indicates the biggest problem being a stranger who needs to pitch bloggers who see you as strangers. You are on the outside looking in. Plus many stranger pitch-ers often spend 10 to 20 minutes writing mindful, in-depth emails to pitch absolute strangers they have no emotional connection to. You can write the most brilliant, in-depth email ever. If I do not know you, and if you have not earned my trust by helping me out, I delete the email after 4 words.
Meanwhile, if a dear friend emails me a 5-word email I pay close attention because generous, kind folks earned my trust. I helped friends. Friends helped me. We bond. We are on the inside looking out.
I do my best to help my friends because this kind, generous people helped me without asking for anything. Such folks proved they were interested in me, and not interested in what I can do for them. This genuine interest creates all sorts of successful cross-promotion for both parties. Win-win.
But the stranger pitcher did nothing for me and expects me to read a guest post pitch? Sorry. Not gonna happen. I make time for friends I trust and release virtually all other bloggers because all other bloggers are on the outside looking in.
Stop coming in cold, guys. Cold pitches turn off most bloggers because we have seen cold pitches endlessly tossed our way over the years. I just delete folks I do not know because I do not know them and do not trust them; who are they and how have they stood out by helping me?
Cold-pitching bloggers is an inefficient way to try to grow your blogging business. Imagine if the mindset blogger spent 20 minutes promoting me, endorsing me, and commenting on one of my guest posts? Now THAT is smart blogging and even more intelligent networking. Spend 20 minutes helping someone and asking for nothing. Something cool happens; the time and energy you spend helping and expecting nothing create friendships. Friends who email me get my full attention. I cannot guarantee I can help friends every time but I do a darn good job listening to my friends because my friends come in warm, not cold.
Be generous. Help bloggers out by mentioning them on your blog. Retweet their latest post. Share their latest post on Facebook. Ask for nothing in return. Allow bonds to form. Make friends. Be patient and generous.
Blogging friends happily help blogging friends in as many ways as possible. They understand the do’s and don’ts of blogging. Plus blogging friends tend to mindfully read friends’ emails, versus deleting an email in 5 words.
Being nice won’t save you blogging pitch-ers. Generously help fellow bloggers. Make friends. Be on the inside looking out to accelerate your blogging success.
Here’s an article that explains some of the most embarrassing guest posting mistakes to avoid.
