A few days ago, a visitor left a pitch for a new, anonymous blog as a comment on one of my posts. Here’s what ticked me off:

  • It had exactly nothing to do with the post.
  • It’s already been left word for word on at least one other blog (on an equally off-topic post).
  • It’s written to sound like it’s left by some third party who just really loved the new blog, when it’s pretty obviously a B4 campaign. (What’s “B4” stand for? Blog-buzz-building bullsh*t.) (The asterix, by the way, is there for the children. They are our future.)

I don’t mind being pitched – quite the opposite. But this kind of approach, from the intrusion in another conversation to the fundamental dishonesty of its grassroots veneer, isn’t going to work for me, and it won’t work for most other bloggers.

What does work?

It depends on the blogger, but for me and for many others who’ve posted their preferences, here’s what you do.

  1. Read me. See what I blog about, where I come from and what I’m likely to link to. If that isn’t what you’re pitching, don’t try to sell it to me; you’ll just be wasting your time and my patience. Instead, wait until you have something that’s up my alley.
  2. Email me at rob@robcottingham.ca. Tell me succinctly why you think I’d be interested in what you’re pitching, give me an URL and point me to some added resources in case I’d like to write a longer post.
  3. Give me a week, and then poke me if I haven’t responded to you yet.

(Want to know something ironic? The B4 pitcher was commenting on a post inspired by someone who had pitched me the right way.)

How about you? How do you like being pitched… or don’t you?

Updated: Marshall Kirkpatrick has a great batch of bookmarked pitching tips.

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