A funny thing has been happening over the last couple of weeks, and I’m not quite sure why.
I have people writing me and asking me to look at their blog posts, then either write about it on one of my blog or actually post the entire thing into my blogs as a guest post. These are people I don’t know and have never heard of, and frankly, coming out of the blue the way it did, initially kind of freaked me out.
Then I got a little upset because I didn’t know these people. I’m sure every once of us has written something and wanted to share it with our friends who don’t follow our blog, or our wives and other family members. But I can’t conceive of searching for someone and asking them to go through all those hoops without building some kind of relationship first. And the idea of reposting an article from someone else’s blog; can’t conceive of that either.
One guy even told me how to do the entire thing; how presumptuous. To his credit, I did decide to go check the post out, and man, you think I write long posts sometimes. It was nearly 4,000 words, with pictures and graphs; almost more of a white paper than a blog post. When I told him I wouldn’t know what to do with that, because it was overwhelming, he wrote back to tell me how I could do it. After I wrote him saying that I didn’t know him, he’d never written anything on my blog and never participated in a discussion, and wasn’t following any of my feeds. He did say that he went through Google Blogs looking for folks who write things on his particular topic and my blog came up, so he was just submitting to everyone.
By the way, it’s not for this blog, but it’s definitely been for my other two blogs. I hadn’t thought my opinion on health care had gotten all that much further than just my own business blog, but I guess the word is starting to spread a little bit more than I had anticipated. And my finance blog is hitting kind of a renaissance as well. That one, by the way, now has all sorts of people wanting to advertise on it; but that’s the next post.
What’s your thought on someone you don’t know reaching out to you, asking you to read their stuff, then write about it on your blog? Do you find it intrusive or flattering?
Neither actually. It depends on the persons approach. I may or may not find it intrusive. Reaching out is a good thing specially when you are beginning and we actually even recommend that. Thing is sometimes there are good stuff out there and we miss is because of the way they are presented to us. Most of the time, they get wiped off. Pity
.-= DiTesco´s last blog ..How Do You Manage Your Business? =-.
Good point, DiTesco. I guess I was irked initially because the assumption was that I would read it then write about it and give the site publicity, whether it was deserved or not. I was basically given instructions; I didn’t like that at all. Now, if the person, or both persons, had just said they had written an article on a topic I might like and given me the link, I probably would have gone into it with a different mindset.
I had one guy, from India I think, contact me recently to ask for a link exchange. I had no idea who he was and I don’t think he ever commented on my site either. I told him I wasn’t interested – which I wasn’t – but I also found it a bit pushy just to contact blogs to ask for a link exchange, with the only goal to increase incoming links to eachother sites.
You’re gold Mitch, that’s why everybody wants you to write about/for them 🙂
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Teraffics Review – A Possible Scam? =-.
Thanks Klaus! lol Actually, I get those link exchanges all the time, but I always check out the other site because it just might be really good. Rarely is, though.
People reaching out to you is a good sign especially its from coming from some good site.
I would feel intrusive specially from someone who just ask you to write about them.
I always believe corporation should be for the mutual benefits for both. 🙂
That was my point, Wd, and I couldn’t see the benefit for me at the time.
It’s a good thing for sure, of ot’s legit. I must agree though, it’s all in the presentation.
I have an email I haven’t replied to yet, for an article swap…this might be a better way to go if you’ve never met.
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Comment Contest April – – Winners! =-.
True Dennis. I’ve done that sort of thing with a couple of people myself. Just have to make sure you’re swapping with the right people. 🙂
Depending on how one views it, it could be annoying. I kinda go with the idea of creating some kind of relationship with the reader before asking for the favor.
.-= Udegbunam Chukwudi´s last blog ..StrictlyOnlineBiz’s Top Blog Posts Of The Week 10 =-.
At least that kind of favor, although I have to admit that I recently wrote a post on my business blog that was related to my being included on some leadership blogs list. Yup, flattery will get some people everywhere. lol