Comments on: Blogger Blacklist (and Other PR Pipe Dreams)

By: Geoff Livingston

Geoff Livingston — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:28:40 +0000

I don’t know about that, Aaron. The WSJs or TechCrunches, yes. But I think individual players that don’t lead their market, not so much. I mean, I need you because you are my buddy and friend, but I avoid certain thorny bloggers because I see them as more of a pain than a benefactor,and we seem to do just fine.

By: kevin

kevin — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:56:10 +0000

Until recently I haven’t been pitched all that often by PR firms but now I am seeing an influx of messages to my inbox.

I guess what bugs me most about all of this is that I get pitched a lot of web videos that these companies want me to put on my site but what am I supposed to get out of it? The other day I got a pitch from a PR firm to show a comedy video of Mo Rocca (formerly) of the Daily Show giving his wacky take on banking.

What do I get by posting the video for them? If they want to show it on my blog that bad why not toss me a couple of hundred bucks for ad placement? Of course they won’t pay for it.

What do I get about helping spread the word about their video? Content? Uh… I don’t think I need it.

I guess what I want to know is what is in it for me?

By: Jason Kintzler

Jason Kintzler — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:48:19 +0000

Tools and plug-ins will not solve any issues with PR spam – You can’t automate a relationship. Negative feedback on a boring story doesn’t mean the next story won’t be of interest.

How about being more using a little caution when posting contact information? I mean, I have multiple email addresses, but my personal ones stay personal because I don’t throw them out to everyone. Recommending another email is difficult after the fact.

All in all, I think we should know what we’re pitching and who we’re pitching to. Bloggers are as unique as journalists in specific trades, you can’t blanket them all as if they are.

By: Mari Adkins

Mari Adkins — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:03:59 +0000

Well done. Bravo!

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:03:18 +0000

My original idea is fraught with problems. Such as Agency A creating a fictional Senior level manager, or an inbox no one checks because no one cares, etc. We need a third-party for a trust-based solution that is acceptable to both sides. My first idea has no accountability. I provided an answer and I’m throwing mud. I can have my cake and eat it too. ;-)

Geoff, bottom line is I don’t think it makes a difference if we cry or not. PR needs us. End of story. We can make the rules unilaterally or we can make the rules with your input. Either way, we make the rules.

By: Geoff Livingston

Geoff Livingston — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:58:01 +0000

And we’ll stop caring when you cry. Then who will be worse off? The one who has to suffer for all of the press releases.

Rather than throw mud, find an answer. Your original solution of PR agency’s having a manadatory, senior open contact for media relations was the right one. I will also tell you, a lot of this has to do with insane pressure from clients and marketing VPs. We need to look at systematic failures of marketing’s understanding about getting earned media.

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:52:38 +0000

And PR Agencies will continue to be outed en masse. Get over it. ;-)

By: Geoff Livingston

Geoff Livingston — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:48:52 +0000

Who is the lunatic? The PR person or the crying blogger who achieves fame and is approached by many? Like my post says I don’t feel bad for you, Aaron. And I see this and many acts like Tripani’s and Anderson’s as a joke.

Worst part for you is that while you think you may achieve success you will still be pitched. The ones that work are distinguished by creativity and research, and relationships. But you’ll still get all the bad ones. Especially now that you’ve become a media company.

With the good comes the bad. Get over it.