Comments on: Bad Pitch: Letter to a Clueless Young Marketer http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/ New Tools and Rules for Communicating with Customers Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:26:52 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Michelle http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Michelle Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:32:54 +0000 http://www.emergingcustomer.com/?p=576#comment-127 Thanks Des. I've always thought it was better to look at the good in people, assume they don't know versus assuming they are jerks. Helps me sleep better at night. Thanks Des. I’ve always thought it was better to look at the good in people, assume they don’t know versus assuming they are jerks. Helps me sleep better at night.

]]> By: Des Walsh http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Des Walsh Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:26:46 +0000 http://www.emergingcustomer.com/?p=576#comment-123 This for me is one of those "wish I'd said that" posts. I join with Stephanie in complimenting you on taking the trouble to do some education. My guess is that only the most jaundiced of bloggers dislike any kind of pitch but only the most indifferent respond well to these boilerplate - however trickily "personalized" - pitches. I hope the Clueless Young Marketer got value from your response: I certainly did from the post. This for me is one of those “wish I’d said that” posts. I join with Stephanie in complimenting you on taking the trouble to do some education. My guess is that only the most jaundiced of bloggers dislike any kind of pitch but only the most indifferent respond well to these boilerplate – however trickily “personalized” – pitches. I hope the Clueless Young Marketer got value from your response: I certainly did from the post.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Elizabeth Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:54:29 +0000 http://www.emergingcustomer.com/?p=576#comment-119 I stumbled on this while searching Google. I found the article informative, but I haven't actually had a chance to continue looking through your blog. I guess I kind of have a question for you. I am a start up and without a budget to pay some firm to do the work for me I do all the aspects myself so I am curious when you say what are you going to do for my readers etc, what does that really mean? I know I sound like a moron! I mean I guess I always thought of PR as always a one way road. - when you write up about a brand/design/etc that pitched you what was the benefit on your end for either you or your readers? I know the brand/design/etc was getting the word out. So what would it be on the other end? I know it seems silly but it just seems like such a huge puzzle to crack. Thanks though for taking the time to read this. Have a fab day! I stumbled on this while searching Google. I found the article informative, but I haven’t actually had a chance to continue looking through your blog. I guess I kind of have a question for you. I am a start up and without a budget to pay some firm to do the work for me I do all the aspects myself so I am curious when you say what are you going to do for my readers etc, what does that really mean? I know I sound like a moron! I mean I guess I always thought of PR as always a one way road. – when you write up about a brand/design/etc that pitched you what was the benefit on your end for either you or your readers? I know the brand/design/etc was getting the word out. So what would it be on the other end? I know it seems silly but it just seems like such a huge puzzle to crack. Thanks though for taking the time to read this. Have a fab day!

]]> By: Jessica Gottlieb http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Jessica Gottlieb Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:17:32 +0000 http://www.emergingcustomer.com/?p=576#comment-100 Eh, I've recently had an entire HUGE firm take me off their lists. Why? After getting hundreds of bad pitches from them it's abundantly clear that they would like a billboard on my site. Billboard: Free standing and one way. I work really hard to provide valuable content for my readers. Basically, the rule is, you've got bring something to the table, because with two kids and a full life it's entirely possible I could write for the next twenty years without ever mentioning a brand. I kinda feel bad for some of the firms, but then I realize that they're just using bloggers as part of a free marketing campaign, so I stop feeling bad. Also I like the old style press release attached. They're very readable and easy to file if ever I needed something to talk about. Eh, I’ve recently had an entire HUGE firm take me off their lists. Why? After getting hundreds of bad pitches from them it’s abundantly clear that they would like a billboard on my site.

Billboard: Free standing and one way.

I work really hard to provide valuable content for my readers. Basically, the rule is, you’ve got bring something to the table, because with two kids and a full life it’s entirely possible I could write for the next twenty years without ever mentioning a brand.

I kinda feel bad for some of the firms, but then I realize that they’re just using bloggers as part of a free marketing campaign, so I stop feeling bad.

Also I like the old style press release attached. They’re very readable and easy to file if ever I needed something to talk about.

]]> By: Stephanie Smirnov http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Stephanie Smirnov Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:42:41 +0000 http://www.emergingcustomer.com/?p=576#comment-97 Ugh. P.S. to correct my typo -- "Thanks for being part of the solution in this particular INSTANCE." ;) Ugh. P.S. to correct my typo — “Thanks for being part of the solution in this particular INSTANCE.” ;)

]]> By: Stephanie Smirnov http://www.emergingcustomer.com/badpitchb/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Stephanie Smirnov Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:41:45 +0000 http://www.emergingcustomer.com/?p=576#comment-96 Michelle, great post. As a PR person, I sigh in disappointment at this letter and the dozens like it we see highlighted on blogs and Twitter every day -- kudos to you, though, for taking the time to give the young marketer/PR person constructive criticism. Thank you for not joining the chorus of snark that builds around these clumsy pitch attempts. Pitching is a necessary evil in PR and right or wrong, it's the fuel that powers the PR/journalism/blogging machine. When it's done well, nobody knows. When it's done badly, it's often held up to ridicule. It's really hard to get right and even harder to teach. Thanks for being part of the solution in this particular interest. Thanks, too, for the PR Mama shout-out -- you've put me in illustrious company there, I appreciate it! Michelle, great post. As a PR person, I sigh in disappointment at this letter and the dozens like it we see highlighted on blogs and Twitter every day — kudos to you, though, for taking the time to give the young marketer/PR person constructive criticism. Thank you for not joining the chorus of snark that builds around these clumsy pitch attempts. Pitching is a necessary evil in PR and right or wrong, it’s the fuel that powers the PR/journalism/blogging machine. When it’s done well, nobody knows. When it’s done badly, it’s often held up to ridicule. It’s really hard to get right and even harder to teach. Thanks for being part of the solution in this particular interest. Thanks, too, for the PR Mama shout-out — you’ve put me in illustrious company there, I appreciate it!

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