There are loads of how-tos out there on getting press from blogs. Getting publicity is an invaluable way to grow your brand, so why do so many small business owners insist on sure-to-fail tactics? Although many of these seem like no brainers, I see these mistakes frequently in my online travels. So here are a few things NOT to do when trying to get press for your brand.

1. Give Attitude
When you’re trying to get press for your brand, you’re basically asking someone to do you a favor. Press is usually free. Occasionally you may get asked for a sample (my $.02 on that topic here), but in general, asking for press tends to cost nothing. This is why it’s super-important not to be a jerk. Don’t complain if the blogger has a specific format they want inquiries in. Don’t whine if they ask you for high resolution product photos or a press kit. If you’re not prepared to cater to demands from bloggers and magazine editors, don’t ask for press in the first place. The worst thing you can do is give these people a hard time or send them a nasty correspondence.

2. Nag nag nag
It’s totally fine to keep press contacts up to date on new product launches and special events. It’s reasonable to follow up if you’ve sent a sample to someone. What you don’t want to do is be a pest. Hassling an editor or blogger repeatedly with the same (or a similar) pitch, when they’ve given no indication that they’re interested is nagging. Pitching the same contact repeatedly in a short period of time is nagging.

What should you do? Query your contacts no more than once a month and never send them the same or a similar pitch. If you don’t have anything newsworthy to share, don’t bother. Save that contact for the future when you actually have news for them.

The pitch on the left re-frames an already pitched product as one that is timely and relevant. The pitch on the right reiterates information already sent to the press contact that didn’t receive a response the first time it was tried.

3. Link the press to an inadequate website
If you want a blogger or magazine editor to give you some press, you need to provide them with access to quality product photos, quality product descriptions and a good looking website. If your product photos are murky and gray and look like they were shot on your basement’s stained carpeting, fix that before you start asking for press.

If your website looks like it stepped out of Geocities in 1998 fix it. Don’t ask for press until you’ve got a pristine, well-designed, attractive site. While you’re at it, make sure your product information is as detailed as possible. Publishers don’t want to send their readers to a site that’s hard to use, doesn’t provide a sizing chart, doesn’t really have any return or contact information.

Don’t even think about asking fore press from a single media outlet until you’ve addressed all of these issues.

4. Ignore press contacts
Say you’ve got an interested blogger or journalist who wants to give you some press. Make it your number one priority to pay attention to her. If she needs a product sample by Tuesday, Fedex it. If she needs you on the phone at 2 for an interview, make it happen.

All the hard work you’ve put into generating press is useless if you can’t follow through. Make sure you’re on top of all inquiries you receive from publishers. Make yourself easily accessible and easy to work with. Editors and bloggers are pressed for time and often up against deadlines. The easier you can make life for them, the more interested they’re going to be in working with you.