Content Marketers: If you’ve *really* been reading my blog, then you know it’s my personal wine journal

[Definition of content marketing: Wiki ~ “Content marketing is any marketing format that involves the creation and sharing of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers.”]

I have to go on record with this one. Many times a week, I get a pitch similar to this one,”

Hi Jo,

I have been reviewing your site and what look[s] like your most popular posts[,] and think I have some twists to those [stories] that your readers would like. I am a guest blogger[,] and I wanted to write you real quickly [?] to see if you would be willing to look at some topic ideas that I have for your blog “Wine Blog”. [Business writing 101… all punctuation belongs *inside* the quotation marks.] I have been writing for blogs for a few years now[,] and I feel like I have some interesting ideas that you may really like.

Sorry, I couldn’t help but do some minor editing. She continues…

Please go through some of my writing samples, (of course, she’s provided links, but I’m going to spare you):

• Three Ways to Immerse Yourself in a New Culture Vs Being a Tourist 
• Are You Training Your Employees with Archaic Methods?
• 8 Essential Habits for Effective Writing

I should have titled this blog post, 8 Essential Habits for Effective Writing, and the list would be:

1. Know your audience.
2. Know your audience.
3. 3-8, Know your audience.

So, I ignored her… I just get too darn many of these queries, and have reached the point of simply deleting them.

I have a lot to do, guest bloggers, besides having to fend you all off. Plus… your stories contain advertising links that are referred to as “content marketing.” That’s the REAL MOTIVE behind your querying me for a free “guest blogger” post…. I mean, com’mon, let’s be honest here.

I wasn’t born yesterday, and nothing’s for free… (Where’s PT Barnum, when you need him?)

You’d think that my ignoring her would have made her go away? Oh, no… Back she comes….

Hi,

Hope you received my previous email. Waiting for your response on my Guest Post proposal.

Here are some of my writing samples to present an idea on my writing style:

Oh, goodie… more advertising samples…

So, I answered her. At first I thought, “Should I really write this?” Then I thought, “Oh, yeah,” because the link to this post is now all I’m going to send to these people who want to sign me up for their “free writing” on my wine blog… Wine being the operative word, which doesn’t need any of their “twists.”

If you want to give someone a “twist,” content marketers, go to alcohol blogs where, “I’ll have that with a twist” makes more sense…

I wrote:

Debra, If you’ve been reading my blog, then you know it’s my personal wine journal. I’m not sure how anyone can write any of that for me…

#fedup