5 Tips For Starting A Bloggers Relations Program

January 31, 2012


As the brand manager or PR rep, part of your job is to reach out to influencers such as bloggers.  You get that it’s a two-way street and you’re sincere about building a relationship. How do you get started?

Here’s are five tips to help you start out your blogger relations program:

  1. Subscribe to Blogs.   Get familiarize with an RSS reader like Google Reader and subscribe for updates. Get in the habit of catching up on feeds for a few minutes each day.
  2. Create Folders in Your RSS Reader. After subscribing to a blog, add them folders based on their focus, ex. fashion blogs, tech blogs.
  3. Rename Blog Feeds. By default, Google Reader displays the blog’s name, but sometimes we need more detail. I rename each feed to include the blog title, author’s full name, and author’s Twitter handle.
  4. Create Blogger Lists on Social Networks. I suggest lists because it’s too easy to lose sight of bloggers in the stream of everyone you follow. Creating lists on Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus lets you easily scan within a category, just like in tip #2 above. Make your lists consistent with your RSS reader lists.
  5. Add Bloggers to Your Contact Database. So you’ve built rapport with a blogger, a relationship. They have indicated they like your brand and is open to PR outreach. Do you have her email address? Phone number? There’s nothing worse than having a story that’ll resonate with a blogger, only to discover you don’t have their contact info handy.

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Dave Forde


Dave “The Connector” Forde has been involved in the marketing, public relations and technology industry across Canada for over 15 years in various sales and marketing roles, he launched The Connected One network of business sites which connects buyers to the right sellers. Profectio and PR In Canada covers news about the marketing and public relations industry each day helping professionals advance their career and businesses.
He also serves as an advisor to a number of businesses across the country. Find Dave on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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