I Have Some Good Problems...Please Help Me to Resolve Them

Recently, I have been inundated with e-mails from purported PR people asking me to discuss the content of their PR pieces.  I have also been receiving requests to link to blogs, give my biography to new listing sites, review books, provide advertising and affiliate opportunities, questioned as to how to be featured in "Going Solo; Confessions and Inspirations" or "Passed the Bar - Hung a Shingle" and more.

I view these as good problems.  I guess it means people consider this site worthwhile and a place for their product or service to be seen.  Thank you for that, truly.  (Ironically, when I've read what I am about to write here on other sites I thought "I would never do that."  Now I understand why they do it and why I need to, also.)

Here's the thing.  If you notice there is no advertising, nor has there ever been advertising.  There is a legitimate reason for that.  It's not because I haven't been solicited. But as a consultant I have to stay completely objective.  While there might be many great products out there, not all products are right for solos or for each and every solo.  And by advertising the product on my site with an affiliate link it is an endorsement of that product and an implication I receive a fee for the endorsement.which could impact my objectivity.  That's why I don't advertise on this site.  Therefore,

1. If you have a product or service, please do not ask me to advertise on this site.  However, there may be opportunities at Solo Practice University PROVIDING I have an opportunity to review your book, service or product at no cost to myself and I determine it is a worthwhile option for readers of this blog and the students at Solo Practice University.  And if it is a really worthwhile book, service or product for solos, chances are I've heard about it and will be posting at some point whether you contact me or not.
2. If you ask me to review your book and I agree, I would naturally expect you to comp me a copy and you should naturally expect the review will be honest.  It doesn't matter if I know you, don't know you, like you, don't like you, the review will be honest.  And there is no guarantee I will even post a review on this site as the content may ultimately not be relevant for this readership.  I'm being totally upfront.
3. If you are interested in being featured in "Going Solo; Confessions and Inspirations" here are the requirements:  750-1000 words about how you became a solo, your honest experiences and feelings about the process and how your story may benefit others.  Please do not submit puff pieces or public relations pieces.  I reserve the right to edit and/or decline for length and content. 
4. If you are interested in being featured in "Passed the Bar - Hung a Shingle" here are the requirements:  You must have hung a shingle within 18 months of graduating from law school; 750-1000 words about why you chose this route, your honest experiences and feelings about the process and how your story may benefit others. Please do not submit puff pieces or public relations pieces.  I reserve the right to edit and/or decline for length and content.   
5. I do not post press releases: If you are a public relations person, this is a BLOG.  It means I don't post press releases.  A blog is about conversations and relationships.  I am not a news agency or a publicity clearing house.  It's become necessary to write this because I am getting numerous press releases. I immediately hit delete. Sorry.
6. Please do not ask me for link exchanges.  Write good content. I'll find you, possibly discuss you or share your content with another blogger and you'll get your link either here, there or in numerous places you least expected.
7. If you leave comments like 'great post'  with the sole and obvious intent of simply providing a link to your service or product to get free advertising through the back door, I reserve the right to delete your comment or keep your comment and delete your link.  Add to the conversation in a meaningful way and I will leave everything intact. Harsh, I know, but it's not ego driven.  It just really, really annoys me and tells me you know nothing about the intrinsic value of blogging.
8. And one last thing, if you are a new site in beta asking me to provide a biography with links to my site(s) for a free listing on your site, please don't tell me that after it's out of beta you may charge me for my listing if you think you will profit off my name by doing so.  That's just really bad marketing and shows you 'don't get it.'

I have always been very responsive to e-mails from my readers, guide them the best way I know how, will review appropriate books and more.  And I'm happy to do it because I enjoy promoting quality products and services and books. I learn, too, and look forward to passing along this knowledge.   I'm just starting to run into these 'good' problems in greater quantity these past six months and am looking to address it the best way I know how. 

Don't flame me for setting down some rules, OK?  It's not my ego talking...it's my e-mail inbox screaming at me. :-)

Comments

[Gordon Firemark]

Susan -

your Rules are terrific. They illustrate that you have both common sense and integrity.

There's a place for advertising, marketing, and PR... but sometimes you just have to say "no".

PR and Advertising flacks can take a lesson from these rules.

Keep up the good work... you're setting a good example for the rest of us.

-Gordon

[Renee]

I have to agree with the last commenter. It makes me value your opinion even more. Thanks for not channeling advertising through your blog or promoting products or services you don't believe I would find beneficial to my practice.