Blogger Outreach Strategy
As an entrepreneur and content manager, I’ve sipped enough coffee to fuel late nights crafting a comprehensive guide to blogger outreach. This isn’t just about acquiring backlinks; it’s a step-by-step strategy for overcoming barriers to make your brand stand out.
From spotting and qualifying targets to sending tailored emails, using easy-to-use and effective tools and apps, I’ve navigated the Post-Penguin world. In today’s quest for high-quality search engine rankings, acquiring relevant links has never been more crucial. I’ve leaned on services like FATJOE over the past 10 years, finding their approach scalable in helping find relevant bloggers, write responses, and scale outreach efforts.
What is Blogger Outreach?
Blogger outreach is a strategic process of communicating and building relationships with bloggers and industry influencers. Its primary aim is to promote your brand, products, or services through guest posting, content marketing, and SEO enhancement.
This technique involves earning backlinks and exposure from established blogs to improve your online presence, trust, and authority in your niche, ultimately driving traffic and growth for your business.
Benefits of Blogger Outreach Strategy:
- Increased Traffic, boosted Sales, and more Subscribers.
- Enhances Blog’s Popularity and Brand Awareness through effective Social Media integration.
- Strengthens Online Presence by acquiring Quality, Relevant Backlinks.
- Fosters lasting Relationships within your Niche for sustained Blog Traffic.
- Secures High-Quality Links from Top Blogs without resorting to Spamming.
- A core part of Strategy for Websites, ranking in the Top Three on Primary Media.
- Essential for Content Marketers to improve visibility on Search Engines.
- Positions you as an Expert in your Domain, building Audience Trust.
- Enhances your Social Media Strategy, generating more Leads for Companies.
- Elevates the Blog as a pivotal tool in achieving desired Business Outcomes.
- Bolsters Customer Trust through demonstrated Product Quality and Value.
- Leverages Influencers and Thought Leaders for promoting Brands.
- Integrates into Digital Marketing Strategies for Effective Brand Promotion.
- Amplifies Customer Response to your Promotional Efforts amidst Competition.
- Cuts through the Clutter, securing Customer Trust via Blogger Outreach.
- Magnifies Influence of Thought Leaders in Building Audience Relationships.
- Enhances Content quality and diversifies Backlink Profile.
- Bolsters Brand Awareness and Customer Trust through improved Online Reputation.
- Increases Social Shares and Brand Mentions, driving Quality Traffic.
- Acts as a Third-Party Recommendation, offering Social Proof.
- Engages with Niche Influencer to benefit your Business in a Cost-Effective manner.
For the Client:
1.) Reach More People: Collaborate with Bloggers to engage a broader Audience. Leverage partnerships to showcase your Client’s Product or Service to Potential Customers on a Third-Party Blog.
2.) Backlinks: Gain Backlinks from Bloggers to enhance your Client’s Website ranking. Target Trustworthy, Authoritative Websites to Improve Website Position in Search Results. Refer to the Semrush Study and consult SEO Experts for an effective Link Building Strategy.
3.) More Online Traffic: Increase Online Traffic through strategic Backlinks to boost Search Ranking and Visibility. Utilize findings from Ahref’s Study on Referring Domains to drive Organic Search Traffic to your Client’s Site. Focus on Popular Websites to generate significant Referral Traffic and increase Branded Searches.
For the Blogger:
1.) Fresh Content: Encourage Bloggers to regularly Create and Promote New Content.
Utilize their contributions for frequent Site Updates with High-Quality Content.
2.) Earn Money: Implement a Blogger Outreach Campaign with structured Fees like Sponsored Post Fees, Editorial Fees, and Publishing Fee.
Conduct Surveys and engage in Paid Promotions, Partnerships, and Collaborations for diversified Revenue Channels. Consider how some bloggers make upwards of $50k Per Year. Avoid Paying for Links as it’s a Black Hat Tactic frowned upon by Google and other Search Engines. Respect the Blogger’s Time and Work invested in Post Creation.
3.) Grow Their Audience: Focus on producing High-Quality, SEO-Optimized Content on your Site. Collaborate with Bloggers who use relevant Keywords to increase Organic Search Traffic.
Psychology Behind a Successful Blogger Outreach Strategy:
In the realm of Blogger Outreach, much like Dale Carnegie’s principles in “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” it’s all about Psychology. Imagine Maine during Summer: Fishing with Strawberries and Cream on the side.
Just as Fish are lured by Worms, your Outreach Campaign should offer something irresistible. The Bait? Understanding what tickles the fancy of Prospective Blogger Partners. It’s about aligning your Goals with their Core Goal, providing Value they can’t ignore.
Must Check:
Types of Blogger Outreach You Should Conduct:
In the digital marketing landscape, effective blogger outreach is pivotal. From my experience, aligning your strategy with business objectives is crucial. It starts with planning, research, and finding the right niche and bloggers.
1.) Link Building: Link building is a cornerstone of SEO. It’s about creating connections with relevant, authoritative sites. As a search marketing consultant, I’ve leveraged backlinks from niche-specific blogs, like beauty or tech, to enhance clients’ Google ranking and online presence.
2.) Guest Posting: Guest posting extends your reach. Publishing on various blogs, especially those with diverse authors, provides social proof and boosts traffic and backlinks. It’s an effective way to tap into a new audience within your niche.
3.) Content Partnerships: Content partnerships involve collaborating with influencers or fellow bloggers. Using tools like BuzzSumo, I’ve identified potential partners for mutual content exchange, enhancing visibility and audience connection.
4.) Email Outreach: Email outreach is about building relationships, not just pushing content. Personalized emails can convert cold contacts into valuable connections, critical for promoting your brand and services.
5.) Sponsored Posts: Sponsored posts involve bloggers creating content for a fee. This strategy leverages the blogger’s influence and audience but requires adherence to transparency guidelines, like those from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Blogger Outreach Plan: An 8-Point Checklist For Bloggers
1.) Know And Understand Your Goals For Outreach: Set clear goals for your outreach, whether it’s acquiring backlinks, increasing traffic, or collecting emails.
2.) Create A Target List Of Bloggers And Influencers: Use Google search operators and tools like BuzzSumo to identify bloggers and influencers in your industry.
3.) Get On The Radar Of Your “Target Bloggers”: Engage with your target bloggers by tweeting their content, commenting, or linking to their posts.
4.) Find The Email Address Of Your Target Bloggers: Locate email addresses of target bloggers through their website or using tools like Hunter.io.
5.) Create An Email Template: Develop a unique and simple email template that conveys value to connect with bloggers effectively.
6.) Create A Strategy To Reach Out To Other Bloggers: Formulate a strategy involving guest blogging, broken link building, or content sharing to engage with other bloggers.
7.) Check What Other Influencers And Top Bloggers Are Sharing: Monitor the social media profiles of top bloggers for topic ideas and guest post opportunities.
8.) Always Track Your Progress: Use Google Analytics to track your progress and measure the impact of your outreach on website visitors.
Blogger Outreach Strategy in 2024 – How to do it?
1.) Set a Clear Goal:
Step 1: Begin with goal setting for your outreach campaign. Clearly outline what you aim to achieve – whether it’s an increase in sales, boosting brand awareness, or gaining more backlinks. This step is crucial for steering the entire campaign.
Step 2: Apply the SMART approach to your goals. Make sure each goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. This could mean aiming for a specific number of quality backlinks through guest posting or a certain percentage increase in blog traffic.
Step 3: Align your goals with your strategies. For instance, if the goal is to enhance brand awareness, tailor your outreach emails and content to reflect this. Similarly, if the focus is on new customers, concentrate on bloggers whose audience matches your target demographic.
Step 4: Set up metrics for success measurement. This might include tracking the increase in website traffic, monitoring backlinks, or measuring engagement rates. These metrics will help you understand the performance of your outreach efforts.
2.) Define Your Success Criteria:
Step 1: Identify what success looks like for your campaign. Establish criteria that align with your broader business and industry goals. This could involve setting targets for audience engagement, blog traffic, or the number and quality of backlinks.
Step 2: Choose tools like SharedCount.com or SimilarWeb.com for detailed audience analysis and to track engagement evaluation metrics such as comments and social shares.
Step 3: Include SEO metrics in your success criteria. Utilize tools like MozBar to assess Domain Authority (DA), Spam Score, Page Authority, and the relevancy and quality of backlinks. This will help in comprehensively evaluating the impact on your brand’s online presence.
Step 4: Regularly review and adjust your criteria. As your campaign evolves, so should your understanding of what success entails. This might mean refining your focus from broad metrics like traffic to more specific ones like conversion rates or the quality of engagement.
3.) Identify the Right Target Bloggers:
Step 1: Start by building a comprehensive blogger list. This involves researching and categorizing bloggers into A-list and B-list based on their relevance to your niche, comments, social shares, and monthly traffic. Tools like Google Spreadsheet can be useful for organizing this information.
Step 2: Utilize search tools like Google Search, BuzzSumo, and SimilarWeb.com to identify top blogs, best sites, and influential figures in your industry. This step helps in pinpointing the major bloggers and top influencers who have the audience you are targeting.
Step 3: Assess the potential bloggers’ Domain Authority and engagement levels using tools like MozBar and BuzzStream. This will help you understand the potential reach and impact of their blogs.
Step 4: Consider their presence on social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and other relevant channels. This multi-platform analysis can provide a more holistic view of their influence and audience engagement.
4.) Find Your Prospects’ Email Address:
Step 1: Identifying the correct email addresses of your target bloggers is crucial. Start by using tools like Voila Norbert which make it easier and more efficient to find this information.
Step 2: Input the blogger’s name and website into the tool. This will help you not only find but also verify the correct email addresses, ensuring that your outreach efforts are directed at the right individual.
Step 3: Analyze the domain and platform of the bloggers. This helps in understanding the context in which they operate and can guide the tone and content of your outreach emails.
Step 4: Once you have compiled a list of verified email addresses, organize them in a manner that makes the outreach process systematic and manageable, possibly using a platform that allows for tracking and follow-ups.
5.) Create a Detailed “Target Persona”:
Step 1: Begin by conducting a thorough blogger analysis as part of your campaign research. Understand the bloggers’ audiences, their interests, demographics, and psychographics. This step is crucial for tailoring your outreach.
Step 2: Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to gain insights into the bloggers’ professional backgrounds, connections, and influences. This information can be pivotal in crafting a message that resonates with them.
Step 3: Employ tools like Crystal Knows for a deeper understanding of the bloggers’ personality traits and communication preferences. This personality analysis helps in customizing your approach for better engagement.
Step 4: Refine your target persona by aligning it with the identified outreach channels and messaging strategies. This should include not just demographic information but also psychographic elements, which can significantly impact the response rate and effectiveness of your outreach.
6.) Build the Relationship:
Step 1: Initiate blogger contact by engaging in their content. This could involve commenting on their blog posts or tweeting and following them on Twitter. The key is to be genuine and thoughtful in your interactions.
Step 2: Develop a non-spamming approach. Instead of immediately asking for something in return, focus on relationship establishment. Share their content, engage in meaningful blog post comments, and show genuine interest in their work.
Step 3: Gradually increase engagement. After a period of consistent, thoughtful interaction, begin to include more direct email communication. Always maintain a tone of genuine interest and offer value in your exchanges.
Step 4: Offer free assistance or share resources that might be beneficial to them. This step in your relationship strategy demonstrates that your interest is not solely transactional but rather based on mutual benefit and respect.
7.) Develop a Bait:
Step 1: Begin with bait development. Think about what unique value you can offer to your prospects. This could range from monetary incentives to recognition or time-saving solutions.
Step 2: Consider offering guest post opportunities or contributing to their research. Identify and propose solutions for broken links in their content, which not only provides value but also demonstrates your attention to detail.
Step 3: Explore possibilities for influencer partnerships or product promotion that could be mutually beneficial. This involves understanding what would be valuable to them and how it aligns with your objectives.
Step 4: Engage in creative brainstorming with your team to develop unique and appealing offers. Collaboration can lead to innovative ideas that make your bait more enticing.
8.) Structure Your Messaging:
Step 1: Begin messaging structure by clearly understanding your campaign’s core message. Reflect on Stephen Covey’s quote about effective communication and ensure your message resonates with this principle.
Step 2: Emphasize clear communication. Your message should be straightforward, concise, and focused on the essential elements. Avoid overcomplicating or diluting the key message.
Step 3: Use an email example to demonstrate how to clarify the campaign goal and articulate the benefits to the blogger. Your message should make it clear why it’s advantageous for them to engage with you.
Step 4: Strive for effective communication. Ensure that every message you send out is tailored to the recipient, reflecting an understanding of their interests and needs.
9.) Organize and Manage Your Outreach Project:
Step 1: Start with thorough research and data collection. This includes developing target personas, finding appropriate baits, and structuring your messaging.
Step 2: Utilize tools like Reply.io, SalesHandy, or other AI-powered tools for campaign launching and performance analysis. These technologies can streamline the process and improve efficiency.
Step 3: Break down tasks and organize your team. This involves activity scheduling, budget planning, and time management to ensure that each aspect of the campaign is given adequate attention.
Step 4: Regularly measure your team’s performance and look for ways to improve efficiency. This step is crucial for continuous improvement and achieving optimal results.
10.) Measure Results and Optimize Your Strategy:
Step 1: Implement a system for tracking results. Use tools like Yesware for email tracking and campaign monitoring. This will allow you to identify engagement levels, such as open rates.
Step 2: Compare your results against the established baseline. This involves conducting a team analysis to understand what worked and what didn’t.
Step 3: Collect feedback and use it for strategic planning. Feedback, both internal and from your outreach targets, is invaluable for understanding how to enhance your approach.
Step 4: Embrace continuous improvement. Based on the results and feedback, continually refine and optimize your strategy. Remember Peter Drucker’s insights on the importance of effective management and apply them to your optimization efforts.
Each of these steps is designed to ensure a comprehensive and systematic approach to each aspect of your blogger outreach campaign, ultimately leading to more effective and successful outcomes.
Top 5 Outreach Techniques for Beginners
1.) Aim To Attract Relationships, Not Links: In outreach, prioritize Building Relationships over mere Link acquisition. Focus on Long-Term Results and genuine engagement with Bloggers. Successful outreach isn’t a Numbers Game; it’s about Reciprocating value and Focusing on People, not just their platforms. Remember, it’s about Giving first, Attracting genuine connections, and creating Loved content that promotes mutual growth.
2.) Go-Giver > Go-Getter: Embrace being a Go-Giver rather than a Go-Getter in blogging. This mindset shifts from merely Getting to Giving opens new Doors, accelerating success, and enhancing Exposure. It’s a nuanced difference but pivotal for faster, more meaningful success in the digital sphere. Attract opportunities by generously offering insights and assistance.
3.) Follow A Solid Approach: For effective outreach, Follow a Solid Approach with a clear Strategy. Set Realistic and Relevant Goals, understanding the Results you’re after. Whether it’s linking with Authority Sites or collaborating, always Measure the ROI of your efforts. Tracking progress is crucial for scaling your outreach campaigns.
4.) Send Personalized Emails The Smart Way: Personalized Emails should be concise and targeted. Avoid generic, Spam-like messages. Tailor your Pitch, making it relevant and Helpful. A smart, succinct email resonates more with busy influencers, enhancing the chance of a positive response and meaningful engagement.
5.) Build A “Highly Relevant List” Of Bloggers To Network With Develop a Highly Relevant List of Bloggers for networking. Engage sincerely, Promote their work, and Comment on their posts. Fostering these relationships is key to effective outreach, leading to mutual promotion and valuable content sharing. Focus on building lasting connections within your niche.
Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid While Reaching Out to Other Bloggers:
1.) It’s Only About You: Avoid making your Influencer Strategy purely Self-Promotional. Remember, it’s not about You, but about Them. Show genuine interest in Helping and Promoting their work to foster a meaningful Connection.
2.) Not Tracking Your Emails: Overlook the Benefits of Tracking Emails at your peril. Use tools like Boomerang, Mailtrack, or Yesware to gauge if your emails are being opened or Forwarded. This insight is vital for Outreach success.
3.) Be Personal, Not a Robot: Bulk Emails that lack personalization are a major misstep. Address Bloggers and Influencers by their Names, referencing specific Products or Websites. This fosters Emotional Bonding and shows you’re not just a Robot.
4.) You Don’t Follow Up: Neglecting to Follow Up After an Initial Email can mean missed opportunities. Persistence, coupled with Casual Emails and friendly Reminders, can elicit a Response. Follow-up emails should be part of your routine.
5.) Not Doing Any Research: Doing Proper Research on the Blogger you’re reaching out to is crucial. Know their Name, Website Address, and Email, and explore their Social Media Profiles, Blog Posts, Videos, Podcasts, Contents, Books, and Online Courses. This Research leads to Better Results and a more tailored approach.
6.) You’re Reaching Out to the Wrong Person: As a Newbie, I learned the hard way that not everyone Replies. Focusing on the right Links with an Expert Blogger or Influencer, rather than Micro Bloggers, makes a difference. Consider their Traffic, number of Subscribers, and Social Media presence, including Fans and Twitter followers.
7.) Your Email Is Too Long and Boring: Long Emails are often perceived as Boring by busy Bloggers. They lack the time to read through lengthy pitches about your Products or Website. Aim for something Simple, Short, and Compelling to ensure your message is Consumed.
8.) “No” Doesn’t Mean the End of the World: Influencer Outreach can be a Daunting Task, and Rejection of your Proposal or Guest Posting request can be Disheartening. However, each Rejected attempt is a step towards Success in improving Content Visibility.
9.) Not Caring About Email Subject Lines: Underestimating the power of Subject Lines in your Email Pitches can lead to your Captivating Outreach Emails being labeled as Crappy. Effective Headlines and personalized Copy are essential to grab a Blogger’s Attention.
10.) Asking for Help Without Any Prior Interaction: Requesting Help, Links, Shares, or Comments without any Prior Interaction often fails. Establishing a Connection and building Rapport with Bloggers is essential before making any requests.
Best Blogger Outreach Tools:
1.) BuzzStream:
BuzzStream transforms tiring, monotonous blogger outreach campaigns into an exciting, effective effort. It’s a best-in-class strategy software for finding and tracking suitable influencers and leads. Its browser extension connects to your email, simplifying sending emails and email tracking.
Features like contact discovery, open/click/reply tracking, email scheduling, and automated follow-ups make outreach efforts more manageable. Pricing ranges from $24 to $999, based on different requirements.
2.) Hunter:
Hunter is a standout for finding contact information. Its Chrome extension reveals email addresses linked to websites you browse. Integrated with Gmail, it allows tracking of open rates and engagement. Hunter verifies professional email addresses, drawing from a 3,000,000-strong professional database. Hunter.io finds emails associated with any domain, crucial for blogger outreach.
3.) Semrush:
Semrush, an all-in-one marketing tool, offers diverse features like Domain Overview and Backlink Gap tool for comparing links against competitors. It identifies blogger outreach opportunities and includes a Link Building Tool to contact people and measure campaign performance. Priced from $129.95, it’s a powerful SEO toolkit with competitor analysis, site audits, and content marketing tools.
4.) Ninja Outreach:
Ninja Outreach is an exclusive influencer marketing tool for automating the outreach process. Discover social media influencers in your niche using keywords. With benefits like Business Lead Generation and finding Instagram/Twitter Influencers, it’s versatile for various marketing needs. Starting at $155, it offers a 7-day free trial, making it a robust Link Building Software.
Why Should I Adopt Blogger Outreach as a Marketing Strategy?
Blogger Outreach is not just a Marketing Strategy; it’s a way to build Brand Trust. Al Ries and Jack Trout in their book, “Positioning,” emphasized the importance of creating a Reality in the Prospect’s Mind. This strategy is akin to Influencer Marketing.
By engaging with Bloggers and Publishers who have Loyal Audiences, you’re not just attracting New Customers but also enhancing the Quality of your existing ones. It’s a way of creating a Brand Association that resonates authentically with your audience, something crucial for Entrepreneurs today.
How to Reach Out to Other Bloggers Without Sounding Like a Sales Guy?
The art of not sounding like a typical Sales guy lies in a strategic Online Strategy. When you reach out, focus on what their Blog Audience Needs. Offer Guest Post ideas or collaborate on Blog Post Ideas that add value. It’s not about Pitching a product; it’s about engaging in a conversation. Think of it as an Empathetic Approach to Build Genuine Relationships for the Long Term. Remember, Persuasion in blogger outreach is subtle and revolves around mutual benefits.
Conclusion:
In concluding this guide to Blogger Outreach Strategy, remember that success lies not just in numbers, but in nurturing genuine relationships. As you embark on this journey, focus on creating mutual value and understanding with bloggers. Your strategy should transcend mere link-building; it’s about building a community and establishing trust. This approach not only amplifies your brand but also enriches the blogging ecosystem, fostering a cycle of growth and collaboration.
