Speaking from the PR side (I’m APR accredited, but no one cares a hoot about that)it is over-whelming to put together a travel blogger list if you don’t ‘follow’ the travel blogs.

As a travel blogger, the Twitter list feature is something that PR peeps need to utilize. In fact, the TBEX attendee list is posted on the website. Any PR person worth their salt would be going over this ‘media list’ with a fine tooth comb.

Follow me on Twitter @Nancydbrown
Horse lovers @Ridinghorseback

In response to Gary’s comment, I actually do think there are many PR professionals that get their hands dirty when it comes to breaking into the realm of blogger relations. However, to his point about budget/the amount of blogs out there, it can get overwhelming and for a PR person (at least one that works at an agency) time is money. Finding and then getting very familiar with a targeted niche of bloggers could eat up what is allotted to me in an entire month, for example – and that’s before my traditional PR activity.

Also, I totally agree there is an opportunity for an agency that closely manages blogger relations for brands. Brand About Town actually does that quite well- not sure how many others there are out there though.

Also, Chris- as for PR people caring more about a USAT article than your blog, I think that a good PR professional understands that in many cases, the INFLUENCER is the best target for a brand more so than the outlet. And you are an influencer no matter where you write, whether it’s on your blog or even on twitter.

“…that a blogger is somehow less responsible or professional than a…”

I was typing too fast and didn’t proofread–how unprofessional of me!

And I think Gary’s idea of a mini-agency to match advertisers–especially small advertisers–to niche blogs is an excellent idea! Go with it Chris!

There are just a lot of bloggers out there. One reason why you still see companies spending so much on TV is because it is easier and more efficient to spend $1,000,000 with one outlet than it is to spend $10,000 on 100 outlets, or $1,000 or 1,000 outlets.

I think there is a market for someone to start up a blogging middle-man business. They would serve as a ad agency/blogger agent. They would develop relations with 100-200 bloggers in their niche, then work with companies who want to work with bloggers but don’t want to have to learn a whole industry just for one project. They would match up blogs with companies for junkets and advertising.

Someone please steal this idea and make it a reality….

The best place to start would be at TBEX – I already know from Twitter that some PR peoople are planning to go. Those exchanges can be very valuable. I’ve met a lot of people at SATW over the past year.

I’ve heard from people inside agencies that they’ve compiled lists of influencial bloggers, and I’m sure you are on those lists. After all, Princess must have started somewhere for their Twitter cruise. Like everything else in life, it does require a bit of networking though!

I’ve felt it is a symbiotic relationship; I provide some ideas and content obviously related to my focus and having it in front of them, makes their job easier, thus getting my clients into the forefront of the news more likely. If I can’t meet them in the press room, then I read their blog, am on Facebook, or Twitter following, or just “keeping up with what they’re doing now”.

I’ve always taken the “friends” approach to getting my message to the press. We all seem to work together but separately and many times from hotel rooms or separate or isolated offices- or from home offices as “free-lancing” has been forced onto many full-time writers. We in PR are generally people who enjoy interacting with others, but so are most press people. And for me, that means keeping up with regular emails, occasional phone msg, congratulatory notes for great articles or awards, as well as the news items.

There is a huge need for content for blogs/websites/new outlets. PR is about getting your message out to the right people, so getting to know the people you need is just good business and actually alot of fun too!

The bloggers who seem to get the most from PR are the ones who establish personal contacts and network. They have to reach out to PR. PR doesn’t reach out very well to bloggers. I have one of the larger travel blogs on the internet and I can count the number of PR and marketing people who have reached out to me personally on one hand. (and I fully blame myself for not reaching out to more people in PR. I note it more as an observation than as a complaint.)

I don’t think that many PR people know how to work with bloggers yet. Few seem to have done much research to know what bloggers are good and which are bad, which blogs are big and which are small. “Blogs” seem to be treated as if they are a mass noun.

PR people need to do some research. They need to get their hands dirty and read blogs. Find out which ones are most relevant to their clients. Find out who the thought leaders are and develop personal relationships with them. They also need to realize that the sooner they do this, the bigger the benefits will be down the road.