On checking my email today I saw someone wanted me to endorse him.
Since most bloggers do not have a proven, sound strategy to get endorsements from top pros I want to share how I filter out pitches for selecting folks whom I actually endorse.
I filmed a short video on Facebook to underscore what it takes to get my endorsement:
Guys; it takes time, effort and genuine patience – and persistence – to score testimonials from pros. We do not hand out endorsements like candy to a baby, or else we would lose our reputation.
The blogger who asked me for a testimonial today had some blogging skills but I had no idea who he was, nor had he connected with me much prior, not persistently promoting me, endorsing me or mentioning me.
Naturally, I cannot endorse him because I’ve no idea who he is or what he is about. But if he gets to know me, by helping me, and by not asking for anything for a while, we can bond and I can freely endorse him.
Follow these tips to land endorsements from pros.
1: Practice Writing
Skilled bloggers position themselves to be endorsed by pros.
Skilled bloggers practice their tails off, writing 500 words or more daily, online and offline.
Impress pro bloggers. Give bloggers a reason to endorse you. Write like the dickens to become clear, skilled bloggers who snag the attention of seasoned pro bloggers.
2: Become Prolific
Create oodles of helpful content aligned with your niche to pop up on the radar screen of top bloggers.
I felt honored to get an endorsement from Yaro Starak and felt floored to inspire Chris Brogan to retweet my first 2 eBooks.
Being incredibly creative laid the foundation for scoring such big time endorsements.
Create. Publish blog posts. Publish guest posts. Record videos. Broadcast live videos.
Give top bloggers content to chew on, to garner their testimonials.
3: Build Your Friend Network
Build your friend network persistently.
Become connected.
Be a known blogging commodity.
I only write testimonials for connected bloggers because I do not trust blogging lone wolves. Who vetted you, if you have no blogging buddies? More importantly, why does no fellow successful blogger vouch for you by endorsing you, or by promoting your content? Big red flag for me.
But connected bloggers who have oodles of people promoting them catch my attention. I can get on board easily because if top bloggers endorse a blogger I easily see the person has some skills.
4: Do Not Ask for Endorsements Until You Build a Relationship AKA Do Loads of Giving
The easiest way to butter me up is to buy my eBook or to promote me freely on your blog. Help me persistently. Ask for nothing, for a while.
I eventually befriend most bloggers who promote me, endorse me and buy my stuff because everybody loves a giver.
If you follow steps 1 and 2 persistently you will have no issues gaining an endorsement from me. The key is to be generous and patient before asking for a testimonial. Earn my trust. Befriend me. Connect with me.
I will endorse virtually all skilled, connected, generous bloggers who befriend me by consistently serving me.
You need to pay your dues to gain endorsements from established, pro bloggers.
5: Be Patient and Persistent
I landed features on Forbes, Fox News and Entrepreneur among other sites. Imagine how long and persistently I practiced my writing, built connections and helped big time bloggers to pop up on the radar screen of contributors from these world famous publications?
Be patient and persistent guys. Do not rush the process. Do not panic or give up if you have not gained testimonials from top bloggers. Being a top blogger is not easy. We all pay our dues for years as we patiently practice and develop some serious blogging skills.
See the blogging journey through. You will get there.