What Have I Done for You Lately?
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I regularly receive emails from bloggers asking me to promote a new service, review ebooks, donate to their contests and post affiliate links. Many of these requests are from very popular bloggers who I haven’t heard from since the last time they had something to promote.
I also hear from friends who haven’t had the time to chat or email in years, but now they’re wondering if there isn’t something to this making money online thing or they’re out of work and wondering if they should write.
I don’t mind helping. I enjoy promoting products I feel are a good fit for this community and I like helping my friends. I especially enjoy promoting books and ebooks from members of this community. However, the words “friend” and “relationship” indicate a two way street. I’m not saying anyone owes me anything, but sometimes I wonder about the people who only contact me when they need something.
If you’re looking to reach out to bloggers for help, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Contact your blogging friends every now and then to say hello and not because you need something.
- Become a part of the other blogger’s community. Build relationships with others and join in the conversation, they’ll be more likely to check out your product or service if you’re a friend or productive member of the community.
- When that same blogger reaches out to you for an interview, ebook promotion, or just to say hello, don’t blow him off.
- If you haven’t spoken to a blogger in years, you may want to take time to reconnect before asking for favors.
- There’s a difference between networking and using.
- If you see your blogging friend at conferences or networking events, make a point of saying hello or inviting him or her to a meal or cup of coffee. You don’t have to buy, but it’s nice karma to reach out.
- Even if you don’t have time for lots of chit chat and small talk, say hello on Twitter or Facebook now and then.
- Link to the bloggers who help to promote your stuff. It’ll make them at least feel as if you appreciate their efforts.
I know blogger outreach is important for promotion and networking. I’m all about it. For heaven’s sake, stop only contacting people when you want a stumble or ebook review. We’re all busy people and don’t always have time for online socializing, I get that. If you contact your blogging friends for other reasons than promotional requests they’ll be more likely to help you out.
I know where you’re coming from, Deb. I sometimes get writing related requests, send an answer, and never hear from people again. It’s basic manners to at least respond, I think! I think asking for product promotions is pushing your luck a little, too. Anyway, the main reason I commented is to say that this site’s got me a fair few jobs over the years, and I really appreciate it
. I think everyone who comes here regularly owes you that, so thank you 
Great post Deb, I can totally relate. This is good advice for all walks of life, not simply for bloggers. There are a few people in my personal life that I only hear from if they want something from me. Adding that to professional favor requests, and it gets very tiresome very quickly.
I’m a newbie here and very much appreciate all that’s here–especially your “Come back and play!” message. The site already seems less scary …
Nice post! Should be required reading for all bloggers.
Thanks for the post! Although I’m not at the “requesting favors” stage yet, I did always believe that there was some sort of blogging etiquette and that every blogger stuck to it. Guess not.
Luckily my current friends won’t contact me just when they need favours; they get in touch to say “hi” on a regular basis. I’ve said goodbye to all of the “friends” who’d only drop by when they wanted somethng for nothing.
Some call me radical for my policy regarding friendship, but I don’t mind. I’ll do whatever I can to help a true friend, so I can’t waste my time with people who mostly ignore me when I don’t seem to be “useful” to them.