I've come into a point in my blog/webzine where I get contacts from companies wanting me to write a review or post a press-release. I am happy to do this but I want compensation for my time. I have "ADVERTISE" written on the top nav-bar for prospect advertiser's to click for more information. I wrote a long detailed list of options, yet it seems to often that I get contacted for free press. Granted, they don't contact me asking specifically for "free press", usually they inquire and I respond back with the option of donating merchandise for trade or I accept paypal (as stated on my "advertise" page). After I tell them there is a cost, they sometimes fall off the face of the earth. I'll even email them bi-weekly for a follow up and they never respond to my emails... jees, at least tell me that you're not interested so I can move on. This is getting ridiculous because I don't want to lose out on possible income and I also don't want to waste my time on deadbeats looking for free stuff. I don't understand why they think I should take time out of my day to give them free publicity so they can increase their sales and make more money at my expense... When I first started out with my site I use to pay or barter for press to get my brand and link out there. I never expected free press, and I would always "scratch other people's backs" if they scratched mine. I'm not getting this in return lately. I know I am not the only blog/webzine being approached by companies for free press. How do you deal with this? /rant
When someone contacts me and ask about a review or advertising, I send then a detailed list of options - and I never do a follow up. Meaning, if I do not hear back from them, so be it, they were not that interested. If they want the review / advertising, they can contact me. I never accept payments for reviews. The person sends me a sample, its mine to keep and at no expense to me. In my professional opinion, getting paid by the same person that sends you the item, is a discourtesy to your readers or viewers. As for "free press" - if someone sends me a press release, I'll post it on my blog at no charge. As long as its niche related.
I also include my advertising link. But I also try to converse with them to be on a more personal level with them. I thought about this too, but sometimes the stuff I review is over $2,000+. Other times, like today, it was a $400 dollar product. While a cash review is only $75 which includes bookmarking submissions, feeds to other big websites that are the trend in my niche, and linkbacks with front page featured. So when readers come to my site, the first thing they see is their product and brand. In todays case they said I would be required to return the item and they would include a return postage for it. So obvoulsy they wanted me to review their product for cash (or free). I don't think a paid review is unfair to the readers as long as it's honest. Even duplicate content? I won't post duplicate content which is usually what some request me to do. I offer to write them a press from scratch, post it on the front page for maximum exposure, plus submit the presser to over 20 bookmarking sites and my Twitter and Facebook that has over 3000 followers. I try to go above and beyond to make sure they get maximum press for a small one time fee. Like I said, I offered to accept the product as a donation for the review but they wrote back and said they'd include a return shipping label.
I usually accept free press release as long as in my niche. That press release can fill my blogging off day for sure.
Well I am new to Blogging but looking at this post I am sure that I will also reach to you guys level someday. Actually i have a passion for gadgets and thats why i like to read about them and got interest in the internet marketing lately and started my own blog for other readers. Lets see where is my future with this but I think I am doing good as I am getting around 50 google visitors everyday and 20% of my article comes on first page search (obviously I am not typing the complete article name in double quotes) and I have achieved all this in 50 days with around 75 posts. Do you guys think I am doing good ? I need some experienced guys guidance in this and looks like you guys are best suited in this case. Please share your opinion for my blog.
Yes, even duplicate content. A little duplicate content on your site is not going to hurt anything. I will post news releases more as a public service announcement, then for the traffic. Its filler material and it provides a service to the community. And, when you link to the original article it shows the search engines that your linking to authority sites in your niche. Which one would you rather link to, some spam blog, or a government website? News releases provide a service to your readers, and shows search engines that you link to authority sites.
It sounds like you are doing very well. Keep adding good unique content and your numbers will rise. Also be sure to hook up your wordpress/blog to twitterfeed and facebook feed. It'll help bring even more traffic. Yeah, I can't do the duplicate press release thing, I get dozens of press releases per day and that would overwhelm my site with duplicate content. I'd rather keep my standards high rather than seeing my sites ranks drop in google. I'm not desperate for content as I have 7 writers that work for me and 3 are full time. I have to pay them and regurgitating duplicate content isn't the direction I want to go. I always tell my contacts that the presser has to be 100% unique or I can't post it. I will post a presser for free as long as it's never been published on the web before. If so, I offer a service to write a presser from scratch for them, which will feature on the front page for 24hours and include inbound links, it will be social bookmarked to 20 some bookmarking sites, feed to other big websites in my niche + Twitter and Facebook for a one time fee. I feel my standards are fair. I have to protect my bread and butter and try to follow the rules with google and adsense, or at the very least, make Google happy and keep my site ranked #1 in my niche. If I get bumped down then I lose traffic. If I lose traffic, my income decreases. I need the income to pay my hosting and writers and our free giveaways. My site is very proactive and I want to stay competitive. Posting 80% duplicate content per day will not help my cause.