help with outreach
- Thread starter Alex
- Start date
petermeadit
Top Contributor
So many things can go wrong when sending out bulk emails and asking for them to publish your article of give you a link.
It is not for the faint of heart, and even if done well has a low success rate.
A few common mistakes people make are:
1. Not personally addressing the recipient by name.
2. Poorly written email, with very little description.
3. How much work is it to publish your article?
4. What is in it for them?
It needs to be a real communication, so you need to have a fair idea of who you are talking with. You also need to make the email communicative. What are you going to do for them?
Something like may or may not work:
-----------------
Hi Sam,
I really love your site with all the vintage stuff.
I'd like to connect with you on social, here are my profile links: <paste social links here>
I would like to feature you in my blog and link to your site since we have a lot in common.
I also have attached an article about what I do. I would love it if you would publish or post about me and link to my site too.
Hope to hear from you soon, in the meantime catch you on social
Happy days to you, etc. etc.
Lots of love from Alex
-------------
Scratching the surface here, you could improve on this a lot by including interview questions in the email. Also put your phone number and address in, and tell them you are a real person, and can talk on the phone if you wish...
HTH Alex, there is just a start of how I would go about it if I were you.
BTW make sure you really actually do want a link from their site first. It may turn our to be a boat anchor.
First links to go and get would be all relevant Web 2.0 links IMO.
It is not for the faint of heart, and even if done well has a low success rate.
A few common mistakes people make are:
1. Not personally addressing the recipient by name.
2. Poorly written email, with very little description.
3. How much work is it to publish your article?
4. What is in it for them?
It needs to be a real communication, so you need to have a fair idea of who you are talking with. You also need to make the email communicative. What are you going to do for them?
Something like may or may not work:
-----------------
Hi Sam,
I really love your site with all the vintage stuff.
I'd like to connect with you on social, here are my profile links: <paste social links here>
I would like to feature you in my blog and link to your site since we have a lot in common.
I also have attached an article about what I do. I would love it if you would publish or post about me and link to my site too.
Hope to hear from you soon, in the meantime catch you on social
Happy days to you, etc. etc.
Lots of love from Alex
-------------
Scratching the surface here, you could improve on this a lot by including interview questions in the email. Also put your phone number and address in, and tell them you are a real person, and can talk on the phone if you wish...
HTH Alex, there is just a start of how I would go about it if I were you.
BTW make sure you really actually do want a link from their site first. It may turn our to be a boat anchor.
First links to go and get would be all relevant Web 2.0 links IMO.
James
Top Contributor
A few ideas.
1. Call people, see if they want to do a content swap.
2. Add people to linked in and ask about content.
3. Find then on Twitter and ask.
4. Never send the article over first in am email just show some past content examples
and ask of they are interested in something similar.
With any outreach 70% to 80% will not work the other 20% may work it is a numbers game.
1. Call people, see if they want to do a content swap.
2. Add people to linked in and ask about content.
3. Find then on Twitter and ask.
4. Never send the article over first in am email just show some past content examples
and ask of they are interested in something similar.
With any outreach 70% to 80% will not work the other 20% may work it is a numbers game.
findtim
Top Contributor
TIMING is everything in my view. ++++++
everything peter has said is true and I use those theories, so I will just add to it if I may.
after sooooo many years I think I have it down pat !
send it Wednesday 2.45pm to a bricks and mortar business.
follow up on the Thursday at 2.45pm NOT TO SELL, but to make an appointment for a conversation,( or do we talk now? ) its then you will get the vibe
just ask them for a "win win" , HOW CAN YOU HELP THEM
stay in the mindset that YOU want to HELP them, not you want something from them.
they just might say " do you know anything about ......................" ? and you say YES, I actually have that info on my site BUT I could write you a unique article IF you provide me a link to THAT page on my site.
then once you get a yes create a new landing page for the subject and a PUSH to whatever you want.
-------------------
this is a really good post Alex, the question you ask is common amongst us all.
the reality is that we are ALL bombarded by emails and so called freebies that we are desensitised to them and online marketing is hurting because of it.
we just SKIM through our emails, treat most as spam if we don't "GET IT" within the first 3 seconds.
james:
I've said it a million times, ............just pick up the phone, you can build GREAT contacts this way that lead to MORE connections where people actually phone you ! WOW, what a unique idea
I don't know your business and my advice would vary based on business structure so I'm going to stop now.
don't PM me, give us more info, lie about the domain name , give us your competitors link, but at this moment we really have nothing to work on to help you other then :
"I kinda got a site, and I kinda doing this, and I kinda haven't told you the story"
sorry to be hard, but you must understand if you want GREAT answers you need to put it out there.
not a sales pitch but if you want some HARD A%$E answers to your questions think about upgrading your membership to areas google can't index.
tim
( I have NO monetary gain from promoting DNT's extra services )
everything peter has said is true and I use those theories, so I will just add to it if I may.
after sooooo many years I think I have it down pat !
send it Wednesday 2.45pm to a bricks and mortar business.
follow up on the Thursday at 2.45pm NOT TO SELL, but to make an appointment for a conversation,( or do we talk now? ) its then you will get the vibe
just ask them for a "win win" , HOW CAN YOU HELP THEM
stay in the mindset that YOU want to HELP them, not you want something from them.
they just might say " do you know anything about ......................" ? and you say YES, I actually have that info on my site BUT I could write you a unique article IF you provide me a link to THAT page on my site.
then once you get a yes create a new landing page for the subject and a PUSH to whatever you want.
-------------------
this is a really good post Alex, the question you ask is common amongst us all.
the reality is that we are ALL bombarded by emails and so called freebies that we are desensitised to them and online marketing is hurting because of it.
we just SKIM through our emails, treat most as spam if we don't "GET IT" within the first 3 seconds.
james:
I've said it a million times, ............just pick up the phone, you can build GREAT contacts this way that lead to MORE connections where people actually phone you ! WOW, what a unique idea
I don't know your business and my advice would vary based on business structure so I'm going to stop now.
don't PM me, give us more info, lie about the domain name , give us your competitors link, but at this moment we really have nothing to work on to help you other then :
"I kinda got a site, and I kinda doing this, and I kinda haven't told you the story"
sorry to be hard, but you must understand if you want GREAT answers you need to put it out there.
not a sales pitch but if you want some HARD A%$E answers to your questions think about upgrading your membership to areas google can't index.
tim
( I have NO monetary gain from promoting DNT's extra services )
petermeadit
Top Contributor
Agree with James and Tim, a phone would be the way to go in some cases.
It is about relationship building. Get to know them, have a chat on social. Then maybe ask them for an interview, or content swap.
Cold call outreach can do more damage than good.
Still I would not be too eager to go and get every link. Instead build your profiles, make your stuff really interesting and and appealing. Post it on Web 2.0 and social sites.
If you have really good stuff, it will make good links easier to get.
It is about relationship building. Get to know them, have a chat on social. Then maybe ask them for an interview, or content swap.
Cold call outreach can do more damage than good.
Still I would not be too eager to go and get every link. Instead build your profiles, make your stuff really interesting and and appealing. Post it on Web 2.0 and social sites.
If you have really good stuff, it will make good links easier to get.
findtim
Top Contributor
alex your cluster of domains in the sector you are targeting is great, you just need to find the win win.
if it was me, and i was in a capital city eg: melbourne, i would walk down chapel street into a retro shop and ask for the manager, they will say "manager isn't here" you say "so when" they say "they are never here" and then you return at 4pm as the manager is going to come in and collect the cash for today !
don't beat @ the bush, say " i am here to sell you advertising" they will say no, then SMILE and say "GREAT, now that's cleared up would you like me to tell you what i available to you" ? if they say no, say " thank you for your time and hand them YOUR card with YOUR brand on it.
ask for their card.
if your brand is strong enough and your site looks great......which it does......... then you just might get a phone call later.
they will dwell on it.......... or not.
do the leg work, you need businesses onboard to bring others onboard.
make 3 advertising sale in melbourne then fly to sydney, make 3 there then fly to brissie, make the money then spend it on getting more.
i think i'm going to write a "how to" ebook.
tim
if it was me, and i was in a capital city eg: melbourne, i would walk down chapel street into a retro shop and ask for the manager, they will say "manager isn't here" you say "so when" they say "they are never here" and then you return at 4pm as the manager is going to come in and collect the cash for today !
don't beat @ the bush, say " i am here to sell you advertising" they will say no, then SMILE and say "GREAT, now that's cleared up would you like me to tell you what i available to you" ? if they say no, say " thank you for your time and hand them YOUR card with YOUR brand on it.
ask for their card.
if your brand is strong enough and your site looks great......which it does......... then you just might get a phone call later.
they will dwell on it.......... or not.
do the leg work, you need businesses onboard to bring others onboard.
make 3 advertising sale in melbourne then fly to sydney, make 3 there then fly to brissie, make the money then spend it on getting more.
i think i'm going to write a "how to" ebook.
tim
Alex
Top Contributor
Sorry, have not been in touch. Recently moved to Melbourne / applied for a part time job / found place to live / applying for PhD / trying to figure out how to get kombi here / ran into long line up of models outside of American Apparel on Chapel Street. Been distracted ever since... True story
findtim
Top Contributor
findtim
Top Contributor
Alex
Top Contributor
----------------
Am currently focusing on the social route media thing to initially make contact. Thank you James!
Alex
Top Contributor
This has actually been the focus of the last 3 months for me. I have mailed out PR kits to eBay sellers, stopped by vintage stores, called, etc etc, etc.
Have actually gotten a few eBay vintage sellers on board, but am not sure this is really the target audience I optimally should be after.
Reason why is that (site in question is an eBay affiliate and allows people to not only view unique items, but add them as well for points = cash rewards) am not sure vintage sellers are willing to help promote the site.
Sure they are interested in uploading their own objects for sale, but to actually promoted my site in exchange hmmmm? It's kinda a conflict of interest" Also for the most part very few eBay sellers have quality websites. Though some do have media contacts.
What I really need are high quality links from the media that am hoping will create buzz / attract buyers that fancy vintage or oddities enough to be social about them. This is why I passed out the business cards / pr kits to all the models outside American Apparel a few days ago.
Hope this explains what I am trying to achieve. If anything here does not make clear sense or a better strategy is I would be most interested.
Kind Regards, ---> Alex
Alex
Top Contributor
1) All emails were personally a addressed. 2) I think the email was nicely and energetically written. 3) All content was provided in an organized format. I also think vey interesting. 4) Mmmm - had thought providing them with interesting content would be enough incentive. Sure getting the website of the ground would be in my best interests, but do generally believe it could help a lot of people out. What type of additional incentive is often indicted?
Kind Regards,
Alex
Alex
Top Contributor
Have called them all twice. Mostly just left messages with follow up emails as getting through to them is difficult.
Am focusing on connecting with them on twitter / instagram at the moment.
helloworld
Top Contributor
It's not what you know, it's who you know. Applies everywhere and more so in today's seo.
TL;dr join the Melbourne Club
TL;dr join the Melbourne Club
petermeadit
Top Contributor
helloworld
Top Contributor
I think I read an article once called "maybe they're just not into you" based on the movie/song...whatever it was.
If you have a spammy looking site, then there is no reason why I (personally) would give you a link. Hipster.com.au looks like a affiliate site. Most webmasters are clued on enough to detest this sort of stuff. Especially if they consider themselves as a legit publisher.
Opshop possibly has a bit more going for it at this stage.
If you have a spammy looking site, then there is no reason why I (personally) would give you a link. Hipster.com.au looks like a affiliate site. Most webmasters are clued on enough to detest this sort of stuff. Especially if they consider themselves as a legit publisher.
Opshop possibly has a bit more going for it at this stage.
Alex
Top Contributor
<--- I think this was a book
<--- I do not get what there is to detest? Am of the opinion eBay provides the best source of vintage / used / oddity items in Australia. It also has quality control mechanisms, a trusted financial system, etc etc etc.
If get a free moment I highly recommend a video -> http://boingboing.net/2014/02/27/briam-lam-and-kevin-kelly-disc.html of Brian Lam and Kevin Kelly on boingboing talking about the affiliate businessmodels... It's long so unless really interested would skip to 16:00 - 20:00
Yeah OpShop is going well... I personally do not think it is as fun as Hipster. Hipster makes my smile and laugh everyday.
