11 ms·

I think there are two things at play here: 1. Your product is not easy to understand or write about in a consumer-facing blog. Mashable and LH are probably not

I think there are two things at play here: 1. Your product is not easy to understand or write about in a consumer-facing blog. Mashable and LH are probably not your target audience. You want big blogs about web development, analytics, SEO, PPC and that kind of thing to write about you. Don't just go for the obvious big names, but go for the big names that your target market reads. Pop quiz: name the two most famous bloggers in A/B testing world. I think that's your main mistake. 2. There is a difference between quick news posts vs analysis posts. Your pitch email (as per another thread) is just the wrong way to target blogs with very different strategies. Mashable likes to be the first with any big breaking news. RWW is the more thoughtful of the bunch in that they take their time to think about the big picture. TC is very interested in deals: raising funding, getting bought out, etc. Your email needs to target each blog properly. In short, each want something different because they've built a following that expects that. So my question to you: what did your email offer each blog to get them interested?

paraschopra 16y ago
Great points! Yes, I am going start pitching to industry-specific blogs very soon. But I thought my startup's story will be relevant to web startup blogs as well. RWW had written about on of my earlier product (http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/identify_any_websites_sentiment_with_contextsense.php http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/identify_any_websites_s...) but this time I didn't even get a reply. I may have been wrong about Mashable because they cover consumer-oriented stuff. (And RWW too, since they mostly cover cloud related startups). But for TechCrunch and LifeHacker, I thought the story is aligned to their blog readers' interests.
- pierrefar 16y ago
  You must know the email of the person who previously covered your products. Get in touch with them.
patio11 16y ago
In addition to point #1, I think one of the great things you'll gain by following Peldi's technique (which you absolutely should be doing -- not just Paras, everybody) is the social proof you need to work your way up the ladder. For example, Avinash Kaushik wrote the book on web analytics. Literally. Twice. I've talked to him -- he's quite a personable guy, and I think it is likely he gets less email than TechCrunch. Write him a personal pitch tailored directly at one of his main interests, such as how to present A/B testing tools in such a way that non-engineers can actually comprehend them. It just so happens that your tool is the answer to his prayers, which is pretty freaking convenient now wouldn't you say. (Less conveniently, he works for the competitor you're busy crushing, so the rest of this is a harmless hypothetical.) He has 4,500 people subscribed to his blog in Google Reader. That is now 4,500 people to whom you are not just some random guy in India, but rather, the guy who comes with a recommendation from a trusted topical expert. Then you quote that recommendation in your pitch emails, preferably to people you know read him. Hint: who links to him frequently? Ah, I see he is the go-to guy for SEOMoz when they need an analytics expert. So you write them an email, pitching yourself as a tool for SEOs which has been introduced by their go-to guy for analytics. (You might also mention that folks in their market space already love you. I know you have SEO clients because I referred them to you. Ask them for a quotable recommendation, then quote the snappiest one you get in your pitch email.) And now maybe you have a recommendation from SEOMoz. Now you widen the net -- who trusts them?
- paraschopra 16y ago
  Thanks Patrick! As you suggest, specifically, regarding Avinash I had mailed him long back. He replied that VWO is very cool and I like how easy it is, but since I work for Google there may be a conflict of interest. Perfectly understandable. Though there are lots of other bloggers in web analytics, SEO and online marketing industry. I have made a list (from Alltop and Technorati) and plan to start writing to them soon. Your strategy is interesting. I am using it already, pitching people using your and others' reviews.

paraschopra 16y ago

Great points! Yes, I am going start pitching to industry-specific blogs very soon. But I thought my startup's story will be relevant to web startup blogs as well. RWW had written about on of my earlier product (http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/identify_any_websites_sentiment_with_contextsense.php http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/identify_any_websites_s...) but this time I didn't even get a reply. I may have been wrong about Mashable because they cover consumer-oriented stuff. (And RWW too, since they mostly cover cloud related startups). But for TechCrunch and LifeHacker, I thought the story is aligned to their blog readers' interests.

pierrefar 16y ago
You must know the email of the person who previously covered your products. Get in touch with them.

patio11 16y ago

In addition to point #1, I think one of the great things you'll gain by following Peldi's technique (which you absolutely should be doing -- not just Paras, everybody) is the social proof you need to work your way up the ladder. For example, Avinash Kaushik wrote the book on web analytics. Literally. Twice. I've talked to him -- he's quite a personable guy, and I think it is likely he gets less email than TechCrunch. Write him a personal pitch tailored directly at one of his main interests, such as how to present A/B testing tools in such a way that non-engineers can actually comprehend them. It just so happens that your tool is the answer to his prayers, which is pretty freaking convenient now wouldn't you say. (Less conveniently, he works for the competitor you're busy crushing, so the rest of this is a harmless hypothetical.) He has 4,500 people subscribed to his blog in Google Reader. That is now 4,500 people to whom you are not just some random guy in India, but rather, the guy who comes with a recommendation from a trusted topical expert. Then you quote that recommendation in your pitch emails, preferably to people you know read him. Hint: who links to him frequently? Ah, I see he is the go-to guy for SEOMoz when they need an analytics expert. So you write them an email, pitching yourself as a tool for SEOs which has been introduced by their go-to guy for analytics. (You might also mention that folks in their market space already love you. I know you have SEO clients because I referred them to you. Ask them for a quotable recommendation, then quote the snappiest one you get in your pitch email.) And now maybe you have a recommendation from SEOMoz. Now you widen the net -- who trusts them?

paraschopra 16y ago
Thanks Patrick! As you suggest, specifically, regarding Avinash I had mailed him long back. He replied that VWO is very cool and I like how easy it is, but since I work for Google there may be a conflict of interest. Perfectly understandable. Though there are lots of other bloggers in web analytics, SEO and online marketing industry. I have made a list (from Alltop and Technorati) and plan to start writing to them soon. Your strategy is interesting. I am using it already, pitching people using your and others' reviews.