NickVenturella.com 3-26-17

Your Response Matters

March 26, 2017

Earlier this week I received a email from my website's Contact form. It was from a blogger looking for me to allow her to write and publish a guest post on my blog.

I am open to this idea because I understand that if the content is of interest to my own audience then publishing the guest post benefits my audience and the guest blogger who is looking to expand their audience reach to new people -- my audience.

However, I get put off by those who reach out to me requesting a guest post, but who have clearly not researched the kind of posts I publish or what kind of audience my website/blog has.

This was a case where the person asking to reach my audience clearly had no idea who my audience is.

The short version is that I was annoyed by this email and was about to send off a "thanks, but no thanks," response.

Then I thought about the times I've reached out to others' to inquire about guest blogging, or a similar partnering arrangement, and received a less-than-desirable response even when I had put in the time and effort to research the opportunity and ensure what I was proposing was a fit.

The result was that I felt blown off and really just wanted someone to respond, even if not interested in my proposal, to share with me what I could have done differently to be more effective.

So, with that in mind. I did respond to that inquirer.

I let her know that what she was proposing was not a fit for my blog, so I had to pass on it.

However, I ended up spending 5 minutes to do a Google search and found a list of about 20 blogs that were more of a fit for what she wanted to do with her guest post.

I shared that list with her in my response to provide some value and mentorship even though I really didn't have to.

I got a nice "thank you" email from her after that. I felt good that the small effort I provided in passing on her opportunity likely left a good impression about me, my blog and my brand for this person even though I didn't provide the opportunity she was originally looking for.

If you've been on the

page of my website you've likely seen a bit of a change in some of the language I'm presenting to the world there.

The idea is that everything we communicate has the ability to positively affect relationships with others -- in person or even virtually, so be careful and creative about how you communicate.

...and not because you have to, but because it's the right thing to do to affect positive change around you.

The example above is just one way I'm trying to exemplify that belief.

I still fall short most of the time, even with my own family, but the more opportunities I have to practice such efforts, the better I'll get at it, and you will too.

What you communicate to others -- through words, actions or even creative expressions -- has the ability to affect the relationships you want to serve and maintain or foster toward something bigger and better.

Be conscious. Be a creative leader in how you communicate.

Have a great week!