Survey about reaching out to travel media and bloggers.

[Adriana Gallegos]

As a PR and marketing professional, I would like to know what's the best way to get your attention to cover a certain campaign or issue.

 

Also what sources do you look to for stories?

 

Any feedback you could give me will be very much appreciated. Just add a comment to this discussion feed.

 

 

[Jan Schroder]

For Travelgirl magazine and our blog, the best way to reach me is through email. Even though I get hundreds a day, I do look at them (briefly!) to see if it's anything we would cover, either in the magazine or for our weekly online column at www.travelgirlinc.com

 

[Simon & Baker Travel Review]

Great points from Mary Jo! Being familiar with our publications, editorial guidelines and our target audience makes it much more likely that we will respond to someone's email or phone call. An on going relationship is ideal, especially with someone who is trustworthy and truthful.

 

Best of luck in your efforts Adriana! 

[Chris Backe]

Travel blogger in Korea here. 

Get my attention by keeping it relevant. Don't send me a press release on your new offerings in Cambodia. Tell me why I should give your product / service a try - and why my readers would be interested in it as well. 

Take a look at my 'About' page - it's written with people like you in mind. If I've done my job right, anyone with half a brain can understand the blog, the author, what's talked about, what's not talked about, and so on.

[Girls That Roam]

Hi Adriana,

Each of us are different as you can see. As a journalist and media slut I agree with a lot of what many others have said. I receive 100s of emails daily covering the various beats that I write about, including travel, and my column "Out in the World" for the Bay Area Reporter. I prioretize my emails as such:

1. Editors/Fellow Journalists/PR Friends: I answer the people who I have a relationship with first. I agree that it is best to develop a relationship with travel writers/bloggers, we will look at your emails first once we know you.
2. I am open to making new PR friends. It's pretty obvious if someone has read my work or at least knows something about what genre's I cover when I open an email. Knowing the genre or subjects that I write about isn't enough though. Usually, that something extra is personality or some kindred connection or simply humor  that makes me stop and pay more attention rather than just scan and delete.
3. Finally, I scan and delete unless there is some information that catches my eye that I think I might need in the immediate future.

I agree with several others' comments to read and read people's articles, blogs, columns, etc. Mention whatever it is about something they wrote that caught your attention and why or how it helped you. I honestly believe that because I am a voracious reader and information magnet that is why I have such a high success pitch rate.

Also, listen to bloggers, editors, and journalists when at a gathering with us. We tell you what we are looking for and what we are open to adding to our editorial calenders, because we are always looking ahead, but always open for something innovative and special. Sometimes, it's simply all about timing.

I hope this helps.

Go roam,

Heather Cassell

Founder/Publisher/Editor

Girls That Roam

www.girlsthatroam.com

www.girlsthatroam.com/wsw2012

[Nancy M. Dickinson]

For me, I'm on all sorts of PR lists and I regularly get press releases.  I read every one of them and decide whether or not it would appeal to the readers I'm trying to reach.  

Mary Jo has the best point, though - get to know us BEFORE you need us.  This is a symbiotic relationship where we need each other to be successful.

One thing that happens to me most is: I try to write for families and recent empty nesters.  When I get a press release for a trip that doesn't apply to either of those groups, it kind of bugs me because it's as though the PR person doesn't know me at all and it feels like it was sent out with a "shot gun" approach.

Finally, I do some occasional writing for AAA.  I've been approached by people who think I can just call them and try to get an article done.  AAA does their editorial calendar meeting once a year and it's a year in advance.  I also do a column on Examiner though that has gotten less of my attention since a family trauma a year ago.  I do need to get back into that.

I hope I've given you some ideas.  I know I haven't written much here but...