Top 10 Blogger Etiquette Tips: How to be a Classy Blogger
5. Don’t be a gatecrashing @$$hole! I have four letters for you – R.S.V.P. !
There’s nothing more annoying than getting your party all ready, with the perfect number of plates, the perfect number of cups, and the perfect amount of food then… having some @$$holes crash your party!
It’s always best practice to RSVP to an event so that they expect you and prepare the right stuff for you.
Just as bad is muscling your way to an invite! Some bloggers do everything in their desperate quest for an invite. They put PR people or event organizers on the spot until the poor souls (who are very PR friendly) have no choice but to awkwardly give you an “invitation.” If it doesn’t work with one person, bloggers will go around fences, climb walls and use their sly snaky ways to find someone else who will give in. The PR Agency, the event organizer, the owner of the place, or even other bloggers who can bring a +1 !!! Sneaky sneaky @$$holes like these get avoided by other bloggers and the professionals in the industry. Avoid doing this or it’s you people will be avoiding soon.
R.S.F-ing.V.P. damnit!
4. Arrive on time, or at least reasonably-fashionably-late.
Although I’m more a fan of starting things right on time, the Philippine time is a bit different. From my experience, events usually start around an hour after the printed start time. So coming about an hour late is usually acceptable.
On the other hand, coming early (on time) has a lot more perks. You get to mingle with the organizers and VIPS already there, and you won’t have to worry about being late! Best of all, you’ll surely make the organizers happy!
If you have to be late, try to keep it within one hour max for these events.
3. Don’t misrepresent someone else.
We’ve had this problem recently – https://www.wheninmanila.com/scam-warning-wheninmanila-com-imposters-and-fake-representatives/
But the thing is, it’s really easy to figure out if someone is doing this. All you have to do is talk to the organizers of the events. In fact, they will usually contact me asking about features we supposedly promised…. only to find out it was a faker just using our name to get into events.
Though you think you’re getting a 1up for being able to namedrop your way into an event, the organizers end up figuring out who you are and they start banning you from events and removing you from their mailing lists. So in the long run, this will really hurt the faker more than he/she may know. And as they say, Karma’s a BIATCH!
2. Don’t think you’re a VIP.
Staying humble and down to earth is one of the best qualities of the biggest celebrities! They make it that big because the people around them like them and want to help them. Thinking you are larger than life and demanding too much will get you on the “Do Not Invite” list for many events!
The second you start thinking you are better than everyone else, you start treating people badly! This of course only leads to them doing the same to you.
1. Do write about the event / brand / company who was nice enough to invite you.
Although not required, it is proper courtesy to, of course, write about the event / brand or company who invited you.
IF there are any reasons you do not want to write, due to a very negative experience or other factors, you must immediately bring this up to the hosts and give them constructive feedback they can use for the future. They may even ask you to give them a second chance and to come visit them again. This is not required but it is up to you if you do want to go back and try it out again.
But, either way, there are VERY FEW acceptable reasons based on extreme events or circumstances that make it understandable that you won’t write about something you were invited to as a blogger. Even if things weren’t “perfect” (which is really rarely the case as we’re all just human), you can still write about the things you did enjoy and the things you want to talk about.
Also, try to link to and mention the proper things in your article. A little research and proof-reading goes a long way.
P.S. BONUS TIP
THE GOLDEN RULE: Be nice.
When it comes down to it, it’s all about your reputation in the blogging world. In this blogosphere, the word travels FAST! Though you shouldn’t just be nice for the sake of PR and hoping that people invite you to events, you’re supposed to be nice… well… because that’s supposed to be what your moral compass tells you to do.
Say please, say excuse me, say thank you. Smile! Approach people with a genuine interest to get to know them. Send an email after the event to show appreciation for the invite. It’s these little things that will add up to you having created a great impression, and making new friends.
You get what you give.
Treat people nicely, they’ll treat you just as nice and invite you to more events. Give people respect, and they will return high respect towards you. Give people crap…. well… you know the rest…
P.P.S. Dress appropriately 😉
Top 10 Blogger Etiquette Tips: How to be a Classy Blogger
