Or anyone else who likes to self-promote for that matter! 

Lately, there seems to be a lot of posts about blog-whoring. This issue seems to rear its ugly head whenever this place gets a new boat load of bloggers.

I don't have a problem with people sending me PMs telling me about their latest post. As a matter of fact, I welcome it. Especially since the "Recent" feed has been clog with SPAM (like a toilet in a drug rehab hospital just before a shake down inspection) which makes it difficult to see the latest real posts by writers.

On April 28, 2009, I posted the following concerning the term blogwhore, blogwhoreing or blog-pimping:

"Wanna Date? "

Now that I got your attention…

Recently, the term "blog whore" has come to my attention. As I understand it, the term (and its many transmutations): "blog whore", "blog whoring", etc. means people who are shamelessly sending Personal Messages (PMs) to their friends about a story they just posted. I resent this term.

Most of the people on OS claim to be writers; most of you are indeed professional writers: authors, poets, song writers, screen writers, journalists, Public Relations writers, even ad copywriters. 

In the real world, writers of all stripes, who take their work seriously (especially comedy writers) form writer’s groups in which they let their colleagues read what they have written.

Successful writer's groups are the ones in which the writers are like-minded or they write in the same genres. In a rather loose manner, I use the OS Favorites/Friends list as a writer's group. This means that if you are on my Favorites list it is because I enjoy your posts and look forward to your next post. And from reading your comments on my posts I have concluded that you like my posts too.

Which is why, I can't understand why a lot of you seem offended when you receive PMs announcing your friends' recent posts. Some OS bloggers even put other bloggers' PMs in their Spam folder. Would you do that to someone in your writing group?

I am well aware that the OS editors have built some mechanisms to announce everyone’s recent posts. On the Home Page the editor’s have placed the following tabs to make it easy for us to view recent posts: Cover, Editor Picks, Popularity and Most Recent. On the Home Page’s left-hand column there is an Activity Feed to so we can see who has blogged, commented, or rated. The right-hand column has two sections: Most Viewed and New Posts. They have even placed a column on our own blog page to let us know our friends have posted something new.  

However, these sections are constantly being updated. So your recent post might get bumped within seconds of being promoted. Of course, if you are interested in one of your friends' recent posts, you can easily check out their blog. However, you might still miss their recent post.

So that is why sending PMs about your posts is helpful.

I am not promoting writer's groups. What I am advocating is a sane way to promote our blogs. For example, I may post something that I think Blogger-X might enjoy. I simply send this blogger a PM asking him to take a look. There is nothing wrong with this. It is similar to announcing to my coworkers, “Hey, check out my new cell phone. It brews coffee.” Those interested will take a look.

In an effort to simplify the PM process, I propose the following:

• Announce to your OS buddies a recent post, simply by writing in the Subject Line: "Posted: [Title of Post]". If your title is very long, just the first three words will do.
• Save your friends time by NOT placing anything in the Message Section. This way they won’t have to open your PM. Most of us are not publishers so your PM does not have to be the length of a query letter. If you need to add more info to the PM write this in the Subject Line: "Posted: [Title of Post]  More". But make the message short. Too much info and I may not need to read your post. Besides, if you have a strong title they won't need to know more.
• Add "Linked" to the Subject Line and provide a link in the message section . For example: "Posted: Title Linked".  

I don’t recommend you PM all your Friends with all your posts just PM the posts you think will interest them.

Of course you do not have to follow these rules. In fact you can ignore, change, add, or delete them to suit your needs. However, if you want to send me a PM of your latest post, please follow them.

So let’s put those hookers out of work by not being afraid to say, "Look at what I just posted!"

POE

Update: If you do send PMs addressing your latest posting, please don't send multiple messages promoting the same post. If you do send PMs addressing your latest posting, please don't send multiple messages promoting the same post. If you do send PMs addressing your latest posting, please don't send multiple messages promoting the same post. If you do send PMs addressing your latest posting, please don't send multiple messages promoting the same post. If you do send PMs addressing your latest posting, please don't send multiple messages promoting the same post. If you do send PMs addressing your latest posting, please don't send multiple messages promoting the same post. Annoying isn't it?

Image Source: Photo Bucket

Text © Trudge164, 2010