Posts tagged Writers
10 Ways to Win Over Writers
Feb 8th
As a PR person, product developer, CEO or whatever, you’re probably more interested in getting noticed by the media than developing a relationship with a particular writer.
That’s one way to go about it.
Then there’s that old-fashioned “building a relationship with a real person not a robot” idea. You know, treating people like people and taking the time to get to know them. Oh right, yeah, forgot about that.
Writers, like artists, are sensitive to ideas and people. But not every writer will get you or your product – and in the tech world as in any world, each writer has their own specialization. If the match is right, I guarantee they will want to get to know you and your ideas.
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Let me relate a true story: One time I was so enchanted by someone who I once wrote about that I traveled 10 hours (on a Megabus, no less) to visit this person’s hometown (Kansas City, Missouri, a town I would not normally have any interest in) to learn about her and the art community there. This was back when I covered visual art in Chicago and parts of the Midwest. This person not only became a friend, she also eventually became a creative collaborator and someone who I still reference quite often. I ended up returning to Kansas City a few more times to write about other artists I met through her.
Of course, these types of connections don’t happen everyday – but they do happen, and they are special. Meanwhile, there are a few things that you can do before just blindly spamming inboxes and acting like you’re TOTALLY BESTIES with someone whose byline you barely know. So come along, let’s learn together. You are the reason I’m writing, after all. 
Before you zero in on the writer of your choice, here are a few questions to consider:
- Do you like the way the writer writes?
- Does the writer actually cover stories the way you think they should be covered?
- Would the writer care about your product, based on what they have covered in the past, what they are currently covering and what they’re tweeting about?
- Is your idea or product gender-specific? If so, is the writer the right gender to cover your story?
- Are you prepared to answer questions if you get pummeled? Can you stand up for yourself and your product? Or will you hide behind your computer screen and just refer to boring press release language?
If you feel prepared to do all of these things and more, then let’s get into the 10 ways to win over a writer. Many of these tips are about not doing anything at all.
- Don’t Send Press Releases. Most writers hate press releases because they don’t tell a story – they just summarize the qualities of a product. The quotes are sterile and boring, and always emphasize the glossiness of the product. If you can’t explain the product in three awesome sentences, it’s too complicated. Keep it simple. Make everyones’ lives easier.
- Do Send Blog Posts. I know you really want to send a press release. Do yourself a favor and hire someone who can distill marketing jargon into fun, playful language for a blog post. Give it some personality. Try even putting your own personality into the blog post. If you are an asshole, own it. If you are a really prissy girl, own it. I’d rather read a blog post from The Valley Girl or some super nerdy tech dude who has a passion for plug-ins than some cold, lifeless marketing type.
- Find the Writer on Twitter. On a good day, I only check Twitter a few times. On a bad day, I’ll be on Twitter hunting around for stories, ideas and weird people. Find me on Twitter (@aliciaeler) and tell me why your idea is awesome. Do not send me a link to a press release. Send me a fast, easy blog post. Tell me about this app you’ve made that is going to probably take over the world and get me invited to Katy Perry’s house. Tell me why I can’t live without this app. And do it all in 140 words or less. Do not DM me, though. I will bite your head off.
- Show That You Actually Follow the Writer’s Work. Try reading at least 10 of the writer’s stories, and then go a step further than just “I like your so-and-so piece on cats with dandruff problems.” Tell me why you liked the story. What did it make you feel? Did it remind you of an idea you had the other day? Did it make you cry? Did it make you want to throw your cat in the blender? Seriously, throw me a bone, or some catnip, or both. My only goal as a writer is to make you think a little bit more deeply about something. If I can’t do that, than I have failed and you should tell me in the comments below.
- Live in the Writer’s World. A good writer is able to cultivate a niche, a culture all their own. You read their work enough and you feel like you’re inside their head. If you can’t get inside their head, or it feels like a weird, uncomfortable space that you feel like you shouldn’t be in or even near, then trust your instincts and do not pitch that writer.
- Make Your Videos 2 Minutes or Less. Everyone is trying to make an awesome video about their product. If you make one, include a one-paragraph intro and then boom! Drop in that video! If you can’t easily transition from text to video, the writer may not be interested in even clicking to watch. So, make it easy. Make it fun. And make sure the writer knows that there is no pressure to write anything. Do not end your emails with annoying nudges like “I hope you know that I really want RWW coverage! Can you tell?” Yes, I can tell, and it makes me feel sad. At the end of the day, often times it’s those nice, succinct pitches that result in some friendly back and forth but no coverage that keep me interested and curious to learn more later. Don’t expect first prize right off the bat. Sometimes it’s better not to win.
- Don’t Act Like We Already Know Each Other. OMG do not send emails saying “hey, just confirming that we’re on for that 2:00 p.m. appointment” that I never agreed to or even knew about. If it is an honest mistake, fine. But I know how you do, k? That is a lame sales tactic and makes me never want to know you or your product, or to speak to you at all.
- Don’t Tell Me About Your Day or Your Sick Kid, Puppy or Kitty. I truly love babies, children, cats and dogs. But I do not need to read your excuses about why you are emailing me now rather than later because you had to take your kid to the vet, or your dog to school. I honestly do not want to know anything about your personal life unless it is relevant to the story you’re pitching me, or you are a truly amazing and interesting creative person whose life involves inventing new species of dogs and cats. If you do not fit into any of those categories, please just stick to the ideas you’re pitching.
- Think of This Like Dating. If you live in the same city, why not court the writer a bit? Just like dating, you don’t just show up in someone’s life and say “Hey, I am for sure the hottest person here and it is obvious that we are meant to be. You want summa this?” Um, no I do not. Why not try being friendly, open and honest? Show me, don’t tell me or flash me. I will listen. If you choose to inquire about me, be genuine. I know this is a business relationship and all, but seriously – it is still a relationship, and should be a respectful one at that. Ask me what I am working on. Then ask me to lunch. I might take you up on it.
- Don’t Take it Personally If I Don’t Respond. We are all busy people with busy lives. If I do not respond, don’t be sad. But don’t follow-up more than three times. Sometimes third time’s the charm. But fourth, fifth, six time is just plain pathetic.
If you’re looking for more ways to pitch ReadWriteWeb writers, check out these stories:
Ten Biggest PR Blunders of 2011 by David Strom, Marshall Kirkpatrick’s Five Wrong Ways to Pitch RWW and One Great Way
and PR for Developers 101: How to Bootstrap Project Coverage by Joe Brockmeier.
Do you have any tips for courting writers? Share them in the comments below. Thanks!
View full post on ReadWriteWeb
Lies Writers Tell To Cripple Your SEO Copywriting – Business Insider
Jan 27th
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Lies Writers Tell To Cripple Your SEO Copywriting
Business Insider For example, below are five well-intentioned pieces of writing advice that may actually do more harm than good when you're trying to build content for an SEO campaign. Break these “words of wisdom” and the content you put out will thank you. |
View full post on SEO – Google News
Why Writers Should Tweet
Jan 11th
The long overly romanticized idea of the writer holed up in a cabin off of Walden Pond, furiously writing by candlelight and drinking warm whiskey until the wee hours is so. freaking. over. The writer of today is busy tweeting away on the Internet, connecting with like-minded folks while writing their next. big. novel.
“If I am having a crappy day writing, I will on occasion send out a goofy tweet on Twitter to see how others are doing,” Oak Park-based writer Gint Aras tells me via phone. “Then it will help me get through a period of blockage – but I don’t think that’s any different from getting on the phone and talking to a writer buddy.”
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Writers are solitary types. Many work from home, only seeing the light of day if they run errands or go to the gym during the day. Some may keep wonky schedules, depending on if they have a day job or do other types of work. Twitter can be an important way to connect with other writers, or just to stay involved in community. But online community isn’t the only reason writers tweet.
Mystery writer Julie Hyzy tells me that she uses Twitter less for online community, and more as a way to promote other writers and stay in touch with her readers. I picture Hyzy acting the same way on Twitter as she would at a fancy book party launch. “You feel like everybody’s your friend and you can just jump in,” she says. “You don’t have to shake somebody’s hand with a wine glass in the other. It’s like a nice party conversation all the time.”
Writer Sherrill Bodine tells me that she only started tweeting because of her publicist, Dana Kaye. “The reason I started using it is because Dana made me, and the reason I tweet is that Dana made me.”
As we chatted more, she softened up a bit on Twitter. “I love the connection with the readers,” she says. On a recent trip to New York, she had an opportunity to view the Elizabeth Taylor private collection, and because of Twitter she was able to give her readers a sneak peek.
For Hyzy and Bodine, Twitter is most useful as a way to connect with readers, promote other writers and give their readers a peak into the creative process. Both of these writers have a publicist, however. Gint Aras, a self-published writer, finds Twitter useful for more than just connecting with other people who share the same interests as him. Despite receiving praise for his work in graduate school, after he got out Aras realized that publishing his book was going to be “virtually impossible,” and so he deduced to build his own platform, and Twitter was an important part of that.
“The bookstore out in Oak Park where I live, The Book Table, was one of the first bookstores I followed,” says Aras. “As a result of me following them and drawing attention to the bookstore, they started carrying my book. I’ve sold a number of books there that I’ve been.”
For Aras, Twitter is a way to keep his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the world. But it can also be whatever he wants it to be. “Twitter is like the letter that you have in front of you, with a piece of paper and a pen,” says Aras. “You write the letter and decide who you are going to send it to.”
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Dexter Dings SEO: Why Do Hollywood Writers Keep Giving Search Engine Optimization A Bad Name?
Nov 22nd
Yesterday, I saw a few tweets go by noting that the popular show Dexter on Showtime mentioned SEO and said that “Google was so 5 minutes ago” while typing in the URL: eliotsearchengine.com* – which supposedly “uses an algorithm to aggregate content without getting tripped up…
Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.
View full post on Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing
Why Do Hollywood Writers Keep Giving SEO A Bad Name? – Search Engine Land
Nov 22nd
 Search Engine Land |
Why Do Hollywood Writers Keep Giving SEO A Bad Name?
Search Engine Land Yesterday, I saw a few tweets go by noting that the popular show DEXTER on the Showtime network mentioned SEO and said that “Google was so 5 minutes ago” while typing in a fictitious URL: www.elliotsearchengine.com – which supposedly “uses an algorithm … |
View full post on SEO – Google News
PC Magazine Rates InboundWriter as ‘Very Good’ for Helping Writers Create More … – MarketWatch (press release)
Nov 22nd
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PC Magazine Rates InboundWriter as 'Very Good' for Helping Writers Create More …
MarketWatch (press release) "They also have to write with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, otherwise, it's a crap shoot whether anyone will ever find their prose, no matter how well crafted it is," she writes. InboundWriter "offers a lot of guidance in an easy-to-use … |
View full post on SEO – Google News
A Few Lessons I Learned About Online Writers Down on the Content Farm
Aug 4th
Until earlier this year, I wrote for several of the organizations now lovingly known as content farms (I know, booo, hiss!). For a long time, the revenue share pay model was attractive; it added another fairly steady source of income for…
View full post on Search Engine Watch – Latest
Designers, Programmers, Writers: Register to Win a New Compaq Presario Notebook – Benzinga
Apr 8th
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Designers, Programmers, Writers: Register to Win a New Compaq Presario Notebook
Benzinga New marketing directories with free listings for designers, PHP programmers, writers, SEO specialist and Web Hosting Companies. To promote these new specialized business directories WDI is giving away a new Compaq Presario Notebook PC! … |
View full post on SEO – Google News
