Google Forms is a great tool. As a blog contact form, or simply to collect data from your visitors, Google forms pulls the form contents into an excel chart (within Google Documents) and will notify you of any updates by email.
The one concern I see over and over on blogs is how to streamline the form into a blog page or blog post. Three simple steps can take your form from looking – well – not so pleasant. To looking like it is mean tot be there.
Bloggers are often looking to work with the top brand name PR reps. Are you ready to start working with the big brands?
Here are some of the things you NEED to be considered a quality media partner with professional PR Reps:
1) Quality Site Design & Layout.
- Crisp images, easy navigation (navigation bar & footer), min 550 pixel width main content section.
- Is the content you are displaying actually what is featured on your page or is your layout overwhelming the content? Do not use dark backgrounds with light text. The content/copy is what your blog is about and it has to be readable and the focus of the reader.
- No over crowding. Keep your side bar content to a minimum. Feature a few buttons and move the rest to pages.
2) Full disclosure AND transparency.
Have a disclosure policy clearly linked from your footer.
Create a CONTACT page that is clearly linked within the TOP fold of your site. Visitors should not have to scroll down to locate your conact page.
3) Understand real Internet metrics.
For every 1000 views of content a PR Rep or advertiser can expect to see 1-3 clicks. Do you have enough unique visitors to ensure their campaign will succeed? If not, what are other benefits you can provide? (see number 5)
4) Be ready for contact.
Know your traffic and visitors. Google Analytics is free and will tell you who visits your blog. This is information needed to make sure your offers and content are relevant to your visitors. This is what PR reps and advertisers want to know.
Have a PR Contact Page that provides the information PR Reps are looking for (which is similar to an advertising Media Kit). Include a form to make it easy for PR Reps to contact you.
5) Syndicate and cross promote. If you don’t have the site visitors on your blog- maybe you have them in other places. Consider posting your features and reviews on other blogs as a guest writer, on your facebook, microblogged on twitter, as an amazon review, included in articles that your distribute elsewhere… get creative. Let Pr Reps KNOW you do this.
7) Understand what SEO is. A good PR Rep will review your content before establishing a relationship. Are you practicing good SEO practices?
Use keywords your visitors would use in search engines within your reviews (this will bring you future traffic that is relevant to your blog ), this give value to your posts that PR Reps will be looking for when they consider a partnership with you.
- Ensure your reviews link back to your media partners pages.
- Use perma links and title your post and urls with keywords.
- Have unique meta tags in each post.
8) Be a publisher and a blogger.
Take the time to learn the ropes. Blogging isn’t really all that new. Parents were blogging in the 90′s, they just had to write each and every page in html. Blog platforms (content managers) are new.
Design, content, getting quality visitors; these are all well tested , well established. The Internet industry knows how people interact with web browsers. They know what works – you should too. Don’t waste hours,weeks, years, learning by trial and error. There are a lot of FREE resources out there. Dedicate time to learning the ins and outs of being a Internet publisher.
The Blog PR Wire has been sharing some great giveaway opportunities for bloggers this month and we thought we would provide some tips on promoting your blog giveaways as this weeks Blog Tip post.
1) Harness social media. Be sure to post your giveaway links on your Twitter, Facebook, and social media profiles. Two great ways to help schedule these posts are: Ping.fm and Hootsuite.com
2) Post your giveaway’s on Contest sites accepting free submissions. Here is a list of places to submit your giveaways:
Blog Give Aways (email submission)
Contest Listings (form submission)
Saving with Cents (weekly roundup linky)
Moms who love to read (book giveaways only)
Online Sweepstakes (free membership registration required)
Contest Alley Link back required
Sweepstakes advantage (requires free registration)
Cashnet Sweeps (requires free registration)
Know of others? Please comment and share the places you submit your blog giveaways.
