{"id":4823,"date":"2016-08-17T07:28:59","date_gmt":"2016-08-17T07:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/charlesavemktg.com\/blog\/?p=4823"},"modified":"2017-04-06T22:57:21","modified_gmt":"2017-04-06T22:57:21","slug":"guest-post-pitches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlesavemktg.com\/blog\/guest-post-pitches\/","title":{"rendered":"Horrible Guest Post Pitches I’ve Actually Received (and Good Ones I Accepted)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Even before Charles Ave Marketing became Charles Ave Marketing, I have been the\u00a0Managing Editor of the Menuism blog. I’m proud to say Menuism has been a client for four years and counting.<\/p>\n

In those four years, I’ve managed our team of writers, contributed\u00a0my own posts<\/a>, developed content partnerships, and worked with guest bloggers. I was even a guest\u00a0on the\u00a0Beyond Your Blog podcast<\/a>, where I spoke about what I look for in an article pitch.<\/p>\n

But in those same four years, I’ve received far more pitches containing what I don’t<\/strong> look for in a guest pitch. Here are some of the worst offenders:<\/p>\n

Spam-o-rama<\/h2>\n

Look, I get it. I might not be the only editor you’re pitching to. But you should act like I am! Don’t send a bulk email that doesn’t even try to hide\u00a0being a bulk email.<\/p>\n

I covered up the email addresses below so as not to publish them. But this person sent me and 39 other people a “pitch” (if you could call it that). My guess is his email provider wouldn’t let him add more. Don’t do this.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4847″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What to do instead: Personalize.<\/h2>\n

The more personal you can get, the better. Know the person’s name you’re reaching out to. Mention the section of the blog where you think your post would fit. Juliet White wrote a great pitch back in 2013 and we featured her posts on Menuism<\/a> for almost three years, until she had to step away for personal reasons. She even mentions the Menuism\u00a0mascot Foodha and his Foodhist philosophy on dessert. Here’s how she got in:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4846″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Not telling me who you are<\/h2>\n

Most of the pitches I receive are spam. But even some of the non-spam ones have spammish tendencies. One particularly egregious error is not telling me who you are. And if I don’t know that, why should I let you blog on my site?<\/p>\n

Actual introductions I’ve seen:<\/p>\n