threelilprincesses.com

Category: #BloggingPrompts

  • 6. #BloggingPrompts: Make the most of guest posts on your site

    6. #BloggingPrompts: Make the most of guest posts on your site

    Blogging Prompt Guest posts

    After last week’s blogging prompt on opening yourself up to guest posts, a few questions came in, including from Cie and Rhonda, about how to go about pitching to potential guest bloggers and then how to make it work.

    Here are my tips:

    • Pitch to bloggers where the opportunity is mutually beneficial. If you’re a business, for example, maybe look to another mum in business whose blog style is in a similar vein to you and has a similar sized social media following. It’s a great way to help each other out and build each other’s followings.
    • Some bloggers provide guidelines for guest posts, which can make it easier to manage. This can include things like ideal post length, ideal number of images, how many links you’re willing to offer them in the post and what format you like to receive the post in. This prevents any niggling problems down the track.
    • Let the blogger know when their post is going live in advance. Send them a link if you’re able. I would suggest once you’ve scheduled the post, to put the link into bit.ly and share that link with the guest blogger. That way you can both track how much traffic came to it and from where.
    • Once it’s live, make sure to share it on all your social media platforms. It’s good etiquette for the guest blogger to do the same, but many come into blogging unaware of this, so a gentle reminder in your blogger guidelines, and maybe within the context of an email, can help. As mentioned, this is about helping grow each other’s blogs or sites.
    • Likewise, with comments left on the post, it’s generally accepted that the guest blogger will respond – after all, it’s their story they’re sharing. However, you may need to give them a gentle prompt on this. You are welcome to add to the conversation as well, of course.

    You never know, but it may be the start of a relationship where you’re able to continually support each other’s endeavours with future social media shout outs, blog posts and business or blog support. It’s certainly opened up some wonderful relationships for me.

    Do you have any other suggestions to add to the above to make accepting guest posts run smoothly?

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  • 5. #BloggingPrompts: Open yourself up to guest posts

    5. #BloggingPrompts: Open yourself up to guest posts

    Blogging guest posts

    One thing I wasn’t so comfortable with in the early days of blogging was opening this space up to other bloggers. Seriously, this is my site – get your own. However, I’ve also learnt over time that it’s a great way to promote and market your blog through others’ networks, assist with gaining content you may otherwise have not thought of yourself and the content is generally high quality (we always put the most effort into content we write for others). Lastly, and probably most importantly, it’s an opportunity to help grow a fellow blogger’s site as well.

    To attract guest posts, you could include a “be my guest” page on your site or just include a few lines about accepting guest posts within another page on your site – your About Me page, Advertise/PR page etc. Alternatively, write a post about wanting to attract guest bloggers, do a Facebook or Twitter shout out or directly email bloggers you have in mind.

    It’s a good idea to give some guidelines on what you’re after. Having a guest post series has worked well on this blog, including the Alphabet Photography Challenge last year. I really should get onto creating another series…

    So, are you willing to open up your space to other writers? Do you already accept guest posts?

    This mini post is part of a regular microblogging series, #BloggingPrompts. 

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  • 4. #BloggingPrompts: Share what you’re good at – you may be surprised where it leads

    4. #BloggingPrompts: Share what you’re good at – you may be surprised where it leads

    #BloggingPrompts

    When I first started blogging, I undertook Problogger’s 31 Days to Build A Better Blog. As part of that, Darren asked readers to start a series. I decided I’d do mine on how bloggers could gain media exposure. Being a journalist, I thought that was an easy one for me to do.

    Little did I know it would springboard into my own business (Mum PR) where I now work with a team to do PR, social media, blogger outreach, writing, marketing and media management for various clients. You just don’t know who’s reading!

    What could you explore on your blog? What are you good at that has business potential? Go on, we’d love to hear it!

    This mini post is part of a regular microblogging series, #BloggingPrompts. 

  • 3. #BloggingPrompts: Write a PR or brand pitch letter

    3. #BloggingPrompts: Write a PR or brand pitch letter

    rejection

    I was asked if I would be willing to show an example of a blogger to brand pitch letter. I thought about writing up a blank one to give you a bit of a guide.

    However, to be honest, I nearly pulled my hair out 18 months ago trying to find something a little more concrete to help me. So, I’m giving you a REAL pitch letter that I send to brands – just taking out some names. I also modify this for PRs too, especially if there’s a particular brand they work with that I like. I’ve also found this pitch changes slightly every time I use it and is now so far removed from the original.

    Basically, before I share the pitch,

    The format is:

    1. Introduce yourself and give them just a little background on who you are and what your blog is about. Don’t go overboard, but do “sell’’ yourself.
    2. Tell them why you want to work with them – do you use their product, have you experienced their service before, did you hear about them via a friend, can you see how their product would help you or your readers?
    3. Tell the brand what you want and what you’ll do for them in return. Give them an example of what you’ve done for other brands if you want to.

    Blogger-brand collaborations need to be mutually beneficial – and don’t forget your readers! – Tweet this!

    So, onto

    My pitch letter:

    Hi (insert the person’s name),

    I’m a former Tasmanian journalist who started the mum blog Three Li’l Princesses. It’s a follow on from a successful long-running Mum’s the Word column in The Advocate newspaper, which reached 90,000 readers. The columns were last month launched into an eBook and promoted through The Advocate and the blog. 

    Three Li’l has also received national exposure through an interview with Australian Associated Press (AAP).

    As part of the blog, we run the My Tasmanian Backyard series, which highlights family-friendly tourism experiences and services throughout the State (https://threelilprincesses.com/thepalace/my-tasmanian-backyard/). We have mentioned (your business) before, but not in great detail (include a link to that post). (Include a line about your history/connection with their business. Why you love them). 

    We’re putting together a My Tasmanian Backyard feature on (your area) and wondered if you were interested in being part of that? 

    We will write a post of 200-300 words with images and links to your site about our personal experience (with your business), all with our trademark humour. In return, we ask if you would be able to provide (whatever it is you want them to provide to help make the experience possible). 

    I have a strong and very engaged audience of brand savvy mums on the blog, as you’ll notice from the comments section – not to mention Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest. 

    Here’s an example of what we did for (insert an example that will show them what you’re going to do for them). We’d be happy to discuss a giveaway as well, if you’re interested. 

    Let us know if this is a possibility and how we can go about organising it.

    Take care
    Regards, Kellie

    That’s it!

    What do you think? Could you pitch a brand or PR for your blog? Or, if you have already, what sort of success have you had?

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  • 2. #BloggingPrompts: Get on a PR or brand’s radar

    2. #BloggingPrompts: Get on a PR or brand’s radar

    #BloggingPrompts

    One of the most asked questions I get from bloggers is how to get on a PR’s radar? When you’re starting out, you see all the other bloggers scoring opportunities and wonder why no one is beating down your email door.

    There are so many ways to get noticed by PRs and brands. And, in all seriousness, it’s not different to how they get on your radar.

    Here are some things I’ve done:

    • Originally, I Googled for a PR list directory. Plus I had a few contacts from my journo days. I emailed them my media kit and let them know I was open to PR opportunities. If I was after something specifically, I included a pitch letter.
    • Looked at the sites of brands I particularly liked and wrote down their contact details. Then, as above, I emailed a pitch letter and my media kit.
    • Followed brands and PRs on Twitter and connected – not stalked or harrassed, by the way.
    • Created a media plan.
    • Kept updated on changes in the world of PR – new agencies, consultant changes, new contracts with brands etc – via the monthly PR Report and daily Mumbrella site.
    • Commented on their blogs (yes, they love comments, just like you).

    Lastly, if you want to learn more about public relations, visit my business site www.kellieobrien.com.au.

    To end, I’ll just say that obviously not everyone is interested in being pitched products. And that’s OK. It’s your blog, so do what you feel most comfortable with.

    How have you been able to get on a PR’s radar? What steps have you taken?

    This mini post is part of a regular microblogging series, #BloggingPrompts. 

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  • 1. #BloggingPrompts: Start a microblog – by @KatrinaHigham

    1. #BloggingPrompts: Start a microblog – by @KatrinaHigham

     

    Come on. Say it. SAY IT! You want to have a blog but don’t have the time? You want to write about things that matter to you but the five seconds you have, you have a million other things to do. Well, write a microblog! Simple!

    What is a microblog I hear you ask?

    Short. Sharp. Punchy sentences about what you care about.

    My tips to a microblog:

    Keep it short.

    Include a link to someone else.

    Bit.ly link your microblog.

    Add a photo.

    Done.

    Katrina Higham of Katrina Higham Consulting runs her own microblog full of fabulous social media tips and opinion. She is also the inspiration behind this micropost series #BloggingPrompts. Be sure to connect with her on Facebook or on Twitter at @KatrinaHigham.

    Photo credit.

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