How to Avoid Ticking Off the (Ever-Sensitive) Blogosphere

Ever worry about what happens when you annoy the million-headed monster known as the blogosphere? Well, worry no more. After hosting a lively panel at this year's SXSW conference with the entertaining title "10 Easy Ways to Piss Off a Blogger," Rohit Bhargava posted a quick summation of the freewheeling discussion at his Influential Marketing Blog. Here are a few critical tips on how to avoid the ire of the Web's many online commentators:

Make it easy for a blogger to get off your email list. It's bad enough if you include bloggers on mass broadcasts without first getting their consent; but the best way to guarantee they never give you favorable coverage is to compound their frustration with a complicated (or nonexistent) unsubscribe process.

Don't begin the relationship by asking for a favor. Never include a personal request with your first "cold call" outreach. Establish a rapport, and then begin thinking about what a blogger can do for you.

Maintain reasonable expectations. Most successful bloggers have demanding day jobs and/or hectic schedules. So cut them some slack if they're slow responding to a query, or take more than a few hours to post a new item.

The Po!nt: When it comes to building relationships with bloggers, follow the golden rule: treat them as you would like to be treated.

Source: Influential Marketing Blog.