My inbox is constantly overflowing with press releases and invitations, while my postie and I are on better terms than I am with some of my mates. I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where there's always something new to write about and I always have the latest product to test, but with that comes the tricky decision of picking what to feature. Although some items and ideas are a no brainer, some take much more consideration; there's often a fight for survival going on in my office - even if it is between a lip balm and and a body lotion. But from a brand point of view, how can you ensure you have the best chance of a feature possible" What are the key ways to guarantee a successful piece of outreach" There may not be a magic answer, but there are key things to avoid to prevent your product from being ignored or overlooked; here are the five main reasons I'm not writing about your product - and what you can do to fix it.
1. YOUR PITCH WAS RUBBISH 
The opening email in any brand-blogger relationship is just as important as any first date. You have to make me feel comfortable in your presence, explain why you're better than everyone else and show me some pretty pictures. I would say about 50% of the emails I receive on a daily basis are poorly constructed, don't tell me what I need to know and make no effort to sell the product. I frequently have to ask for press releases or website links, while images copy and pasted into an email have less chance of b...