Getting Traffic and Links to Your Website by Pitching to Popular Blogs…

September 21, 2007

Is easier said than done. I have been trying to network and have been emailing pitches to popular blogs and even the little unknown blogs for about 3 weeks now. Result- I’ve had a few mentions that got my blood pumping and kept me motivated for a few days.

Still, the question I ask at the end of everyday is HOW do you get a mention from these influential bloggers.

I have experience pitching and networking traditional news media. But when I started the job of pitching hireahelper.com to bloggers, I knew I was headed into unknown territory for me, so I did my homework first. I read countless blogs and articles about what to do, and more importantly what not to do. And then I took the plunge and dove in headfirst thinking I had my head on straight and I would be successfully tracking results within a week or so.

Everyday I eagerly search and read and pitch, only to come out empty handed. The underlying duty at hand is one that I am not skating around, but one that I am trying to short cut through. Unfortunately, I will eventually have to do. I will have to study all of these blogs and read them and comment on them everyday to build relationships as an everyday reader without dropping in solicited links and messages.

That’s hard work! Not to mention it doesn’t guarantee an article, a review or even a link.

My final thought… Does anyone know which bloggers prefer bribes?

2 Comments | Marketing | Permalink
Posted by angelaromo

Viral Marketing Strategy – 101 – PlumberSurplus.com

September 14, 2007

A lot of you read my post on BlendTec and their big mishap (since then their YouTube video shows up 3rd for searches on BlendTec on YouTube) , I’ve been thinking lately… the guys at PS have the resources to really pull of a successful viral campaign if they want, here’s my idea:

  1. Make up a composition of “Will It Blend” spoofs that use one of their manufacturers garbage disposals. I’ve seen some pretty crazy stuff put into garbage disposals before, and I’m sure with their resources they can get a hold of a “super garbage disposal” that you could put just about anything into.
  2. Get a hook, use “character” as the mock-blendTec guy. Ideas:
    • Gangster: “Will it blend B$#$?” – Blends firearm, evidence, drugs, another gangster
    • White Trash: Blends dog from his front porch (its wrong, but we all know that faux animal sadism spreads), car parts found in front yard, beer cans
  3. Post the video on YouTube and draw publicity to it through a few blogs.
  4. Post the video as a “Video Response” to all the BlendTec videos
  5. See if BlendTec will host a “Blend off” vs the garbage disposal.

That’s pretty much it… Post your feedback if you think my viral marketing strategy would work. PlumberSurplus are you up to the challenge?!

Leave a Comment » | Marketing | Permalink
Posted by mikeglanz

TheFunded – Social (VC?) Networking that works

September 6, 2007

There has been a lot of coverage in the news about the new controversial site TheFunded.com, so like any good natured up-and-coming e-commerce entrepreneur I decided to check it out. The results of me merely checking out the site have been astounding.

Here’s a timeline/overview:

Saturday - I recieved email from “The Founding Member” (ambiguously referred to as “Ted”) inviting me to join. I went through the site reading the reviews of the few VC/Angels groups that we have talked to and gained lot of insight. I saw there was a section to write “Letters” to VC’s… so I decided to try it out. I posted: How Do I Get Out Of The Catch 22 Of The Vc Process? and the next thing I know its on the homepage, and over 15 people have commented and offered feedback on my dilemma. Awesome right? It gets better.

Monday - “Ted” emails me alluding that he enjoyed the post and would like to help – I’m curious how he’s going to help since no one knows who “Ted” is (part of the reason for the publicity of the site). Soon thereafter this post shows up: Interesting Post, Feedback, and Response, and my iPhone lights up emails from VC’s, Angels, and sympathetic entrepreneurs (even one Investment Bank in LA).

Wait did you read that last article? – If you didn’t, this is my favorite part:

“The “Catch 22″ post has also been picked up by mainstream media, such as this reference in the blogs for Entrepreneur magazine”

Entrepreneur Magazine! Sure enough Tim Berry picked up the story and wrote about it, not once, but twice on the blog. He also did a piece on his personal blog.

I’m sure the whole ordeal is not over yet… but just in case you wanted some numbers to back up how much response that 1 little post got, here’s what it has landed us so far.

Before this weekend we had:

  • 1 interested Angel Group (TechCoastAngels)
  • A lawyer who was interested in possibly introducing us to a couple VC firms in San Diego.

And now, as of Thursday we have:

  • 2 successful entrepreneurs (with 4+ startups, and at least 1 successful acquisition under their belts) willing to meet and possible make introductions to a few VC firms.
  • 1 Investment Bank in LA interested in hearing our pitch at a lunch meeting, and if it’s not a hit with them, they would be willing to make introductions to other big VC firms in LA.
  • 1 VC interested in at least having a phone conversation about the our idea.
  • 1 Angels group interested in having us present.
  • At least 2 other entrepreneurs in similar situations wanting to talk and swap ideas.

2 Comments | Startups, Venture Capital | Permalink
Posted by mikeglanz

Terms and Condiments

September 6, 2007

My biggest pet peeve since working for a website:

Neglected Terms and Conditions, Agreements, and Privacy Policies.

It wasn’t until after I started working for HireAHelper that I realized how necessary Terms and Conditions are to a website- especially one with active members, policies, and procedures. The first time I wrote the T&C’s for HireAHelper, I admit, I had NO idea what I was doing. I loosely followed the outline of some other big sites, and tried to sound like I had as much legal authority as possible.

I just realized today how important these documents are to a website- and how no one bothers to read them. I’m currently working on producing the best T&C’s HireAHelper has seen yet, not only to protect us, but also explain to users what they need to know before signing up. I’ve spent all afternoon on these little babies- I’m not close to being done, but already mighty proud of my work. I’ve included so many things that our last T&C’s didn’t even mention, yet are crucial to understanding our procedures and policies.

I can’t help but worry though, that even after I’ve perfected my T&C’s they will go unnoticed, and unread by too many viewers. I have no idea how to force people the T&C’s, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to do so.

The bottom line is this: the Terms and Conditions of a website, HireAHelper, or other, are like the bread and butter, the instruction manual, the way the cookie crumbles, the bees-knees, the 10 (or 100) Commandments…I could be writing ANYTHING in the T&C’s, like every time someone commits a spelling or grammatical error in their Helper Profile, or when e-mailing Support@HireAHelper.com, they owe me a dollar. (That’s really not a bad idea, think about it Mike).

So please, read the T&C’s before you agree- they aren’t just for decoration. You may even be surprised by what you find.

Leave a Comment » | Blog, Development | Permalink
Posted by Kelsi