The Etiquette of Blogging

Blogging has become a major pastime in the USA and worldwide. The Blogosphere is a mix of personal and business websites with various raisons d'etre. But there has emerged a set of rules - a system of etiquette in blogging.

Newcomers to blogging may not know or understand these rules - so try not to damage their youthful exuberance if they mistakenly break one of these rules.

When you communicate with a blogger do not waste their time on anything that is not relevant to their content.

Don't use lowbrow language or four-letter words - whether it be comment or advertising proposition.

Everything you say to a blogger may be published and/or syndicated as well as read by top level journalists covering a topic shared by the blog.

Don't criticize a blogger for not accepting comments at their blog. Contact them by email if they offer one.

Minor mistakes like typos are often not corrected by bloggers because a corrected post would go out into the RSS feed again.

So don't point these out.

If you want to offer the blogger a proposition - such as link or banner exchanfe, or writing an article on your merchandise/services don't put it in the comments of a blog post. Send a personal email.

Target any propositions you might offer only to the interests and niche covered by the blogger. Bloggers want nothing to do with content that is unrelated to theirs.

Do not send a mass mailing press release. Any such announcement must be personalized and cordial.

Do not ask directly for links - just invite the blogger to review your material. They will respond if your ideas are right for their readers.

Try to develop a relationship with bloggers by reading and commenting on their blogs before you start making proposals.

See who is talking about your blog. Search your area of expertise with the blog searches on Technorati.com, Blogsearch.google.com, and Google alerts.

Write your own blog to show other bloggers you "get it." Use trackbacks so they know you're commenting about them at your own blog before you make overtures. (Trackbacks are an automated blogging feature that notifies a blog when another blog talks about them.)

Offer good content. Don't use sensational announcements about your product/service as if it was the greatest thing ever created. Instead explain how you can solve a problem for the blogs readers. Then mention your product/service.