Replying to Writers’ Requests: A Guide To Getting Known as an Industry Expert
Business owners must get their names out there to become known as industry experts. However, having a website and posting on different social media channels may not be enough. You need a more targeted way to showcase your knowledge about your niche. You must have something more focused than simply letting your target market know about your product through reels or getting backlinks to your website through guest posting.
Of course, you can still generate site traffic through these tested marketing strategies. But are they sufficient for you? Would you grab it if given another opportunity to make your name known?
Now, have you heard about writers’ requests for quotes? They usually come through emails writers send asking for answers about specific topics or product applications within your industry. You might have received several of these but chose to ignore them. Why? Because you don’t see how answering these questions can help you and your business.
These writers are giving you a platform you can use to share your voice, knowledge, and expertise. Answering their questions will get you heard and published. As these writers typically present the information they get from you in quotes, you will get your name and that of your company out there.
Reasons It’s Essential To Respond to These Writers’ Requests
If you already have a well-oiled search engine optimization (SEO) strategy, responding to writers’ requests for quotes can boost all your efforts in this area. Even if you already have your SEO copywriting methods down to pat, it won’t hurt to entertain other ways for your brand to get featured.
Aside from building your personal brand and increasing your chances of becoming known as a thought leader in your niche, responding to writer requests for quotes can boost your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. The exposure and additional backlinks you get can also generate more business revenue.
However, you can only get the desired results if you correctly respond to these writer requests. Half-baked, poorly thought-out answers won’t address the questions well. They could result in wasted time and, of course, no additional exposure.
So if you are still on the fence about the worth of responding to writer requests, the following reasons can provide a clear picture:
Boost your credibility and online presence
Nowadays, your online presence and credibility go together. You can build a robust online presence by regularly posting high-quality content on your website and social media channels. These include informative blog posts, videos, reels, infographics, and memes or GIFs. If you do this, you can expect your credibility as an authority in your niche to shoot up.
However, if you look at it closely, online credibility is all about two things: authoritative sites linking back to your website and the popularity of your brand and products. If you have both, you’ve got it made. If not, then you have to work at it every day.
Although becoming well-known as an industry leader takes a while, generating backlinks from reputable websites can be as easy as spending a part of your marketing budget on getting them. However, there is another way to get these backlinks. All you have to do is respond to writers’ requests. They get you the link juice you need to establish your name in your niche.
Generate more links from high-ranking posts
Providing appropriate responses to writers’ requests can be one of the most cost-efficient methods of getting credible inbound links. Remember that links are the top currency in the online world. They can increase your content’s ranking in search engine page results (SERPs), resulting in stronger brand credibility.
Backlinks to your company’s website or blog posts, LinkedIn profile, or personal site can bolster your SEO efforts. Over time, they will help you generate more organic traffic. As a result, these inbound links can help free up a part of your marketing budget for other needs, like better graphics or videos.
Get more content for social media postings
Regardless of whether you produce enough content for your business, getting your hands on more is always a good idea. When you answer questions posed in writers’ requests, there is a big chance that you get additional content without investing more time and money in creating content.
Reply to a request well, get quoted in an article, share it on all your social media accounts, and benefit from it. Although it will take some effort to answer these requests, know that you will get a shoutout from it that can provide you with high-quality content you don’t have to do yourself.
Network with business owners and experts within the same industries
The writers who send you requests for answers regarding your business or how you use products intend to use this information to create informative content. They add your answers as quotes to their posts to indicate that they got these responses from real-life people.
You are one of many from whom these writers requested information. Suppose they are writing about using AI writing tools like ChatGPT in web development. In that case, you can be sure they also asked the same questions from other business owners within your industry.
When you get quoted along with these people, you will get the chance to network with them. It is even possible that you’d get a shoutout along with an industry leader you already know or idolize. Although this doesn’t put you on the same level immediately, it is a step in the right direction.
Attain better leverage for future hires or fundraisers
Hires and investors are becoming the same, especially when looking at a business’s value. Gone are the days when hires will blindly believe you when you wave dollar signs to their face and tell them they are a good fit for your company. Now, job candidates do their due diligence in looking you up online. They will examine your work culture and how they can grow with you.
In the same way, investors are becoming more meticulous about who or what they decide to pour money into. They won’t only look at your numbers. They will look into your credibility online and offline. They will check your values as a person and as a business owner.
If you get quoted in high-ranking content, you will put your name front and center for everyone to see. Getting featured this way will eventually earn you the title of industry expert or thought leader. It will get you the people and funds you need for your business to succeed.
Get the chance to correct the deficiency of appropriate information within your niche
When you become “quotable,” you grab the opportunity to provide more information about your niche or industry. Although a lot of content is available online, business owners can fill many gaps in knowledge. There are things readers don’t know and questions you can answer.
When you address the information deficit prevalent in specific niches like fintech, programming, or software development, you pave the way toward offering answers that may surprise your audience. Put yourself before them and speak their language using pop culture references. You can even cause a behavioural change that will open people’s eyes to how they perceive information.
How To Craft Responses That Will Get You Published
Now that you know the different reasons responding to writers’ requests is worth the time and effort, it’s time to learn how to create responses that will make you “quotable” and get published. It’s not enough that you throw together a line or two.
The following tips will help you find the right ideas and words for creating responses that will make writers sit up and think of you in the light of an industry expert:
Read and understand the writer’s request well
It is understandable for business owners to be busy. While writers don’t expect you to spend too much time on their requests, they appreciate answers written with thought and creativity. So read the questions well and ensure you understand what the writer is asking from you.
Writers must follow writing guidelines, especially when working with editors of highly reputable websites. Some publishers are only open to getting quotes from specific industry experts. A writer will usually explain this in their request.
So do not respond if you don’t fit the criteria they mentioned. Save your thoughts for a writer whose request is right up your alley of expertise and who will likely quote you in their piece.
Be prompt with your response
Of course, this does not mean you answer a writer’s request as soon as it gets to your email. It means you reply at least a day or two, three at the latest, to the request. If you have to respond within three days, be gracious enough to apologize for the delay.
Don’t let the writer wait for weeks or even months for your response. This is inconsiderate and disrespectful. Remember that these writers can quickly lose interest and move on to other business owners willing to give them the time of day.
(But) Respond only if you have the expertise and experience to share
If you are more of a programming guy, do not respond to requests for quotes about fintech. If you can only give hypothetical advice, then it’s best not to reply. Focus on your industry and showcase your expertise in this area.
You can be polite and ask your assistant to send a line or two of apology to the writer, saying that you don’t have the experience or expertise to share relevant insights. Being honest and polite doesn’t unmake you a source. It can even elevate you in the eyes of these writers, and they are more likely to hit you up for answers up your alley in the future.
Note that writers are quick to make impressions about sources. They will question your credibility if you answer anything and everything under the sun. As a result, they won’t even consider including your quote in anything they’ll write.
So take care to reply only to writers’ requests along your lines of expertise and can answer with precise information. This will bolster your reputation and increase your chances of getting featured.
Use an approachable and friendly tone and stick to simple language
Even if you are passionate about imparting wisdom to your future readers, remember to be simple with your choice of words. Knowledge doesn’t mean using pretentious language; not many people can understand. It is about getting your message across succinctly and clearly.
So if a writer asks if you and your teams are using ChatGPT and how it has affected your work process, don’t just say yes and add that it’s been beneficial. Be specific. Tell them which departments use it and how they apply the tool to their processes. You state which part of their procedures are benefitting greatly from ChatGPT and in what way.
While sharing all this information, keep your tone approachable and friendly. Think conversational. Talk “with” your audience instead of “at” them. You want people to warm up to you and look you up for more.
Provide more information, like data and screenshots, if possible
Aside from sounding friendly in your responses, you must be as thorough and relevant as possible. Provide a writer with as much information as possible. These could include empirical or quantitative data or screenshots of something related to the quote requested, like a code you have the authority to share.
Be on point if a writer asks you about your social media marketing strategies and the tools you use to make your processes more efficient. Provide data that is specific to your company. For example, point out that when using the Archive app to get your hands on user-generated content (UGC), you saw a 45% increase in organic traffic. You’d be a winner if you could provide screenshots showing these results.
Mistakes To Avoid When Responding to Writers’ Requests
With everything you have to do, there are always mistakes you must avoid. The same goes for responding to writers’ requests. The following are some of them:
Send a generic response
In this article’s previous sections, we almost waxed poetic about not providing well-thought answers. So it goes without saying that sending a generic response is a no-no you must avoid at all costs. That is the reason we have to repeat this reminder here.
Be relevant in your answers always. That is the key to becoming known as an industry leader or a thought expert in your field.
Be overly promotional or salesy
When a writer asks you for a quote or two or answers to questions, it’s because you can potentially provide invaluable insights into something they are working on. It doesn’t mean you have to talk about yourself or the virtues of your company all the time.
So veer away from replying to requests you have yet to learn of or discuss your service or products unless specified. Instead, think long and hard about what value you can give your audience. Put yourself in front of them without getting in their face. Think about all of these when coming up with your answers.
Not share your credit preferences
You must be clear about how you want to get credited in your quotes. There are several ways you go about this. You can use your company website or other accounts linked to your company. However, you can also ask the writer to link to your LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, or personal brand site.
Letting the writer know your credit preferences will help. However, it’s also essential to remember that, more often than not, writers have guidelines they must follow. Their editors will get the final say on how their articles should go, and these include the links that make the cut.
So when replying to writers’ requests, let them know what you prefer. But don’t get riled up when writers may not be able to accommodate them all the time.
Be unprofessional or rude
When you respond to a writer’s email detailing her request, don’t send her off to an assistant or another possible source. This will not only lengthen the process and potentially result in your getting the shot of being featured, but it will also show your unprofessionalism.
So you can tell the writer that you won’t be able to answer her question because it’s not within your experience or expertise, or you provide well-crafted insights into the matter. Do either in a polite manner. The most well-respected sources are those who know how to treat writers well.
Not check into the writer who made the request
It helps to do your due diligence regarding the writers requesting quotes or answers. Check out who they are, which publications they have written for, and if they do, get good quotes out there. While getting featured is good, you must ensure that you have chosen the suitable writer to provide a platform to get your name or brand out there.
To learn about your prospect writer, ensure that they are who you think they are and if they care about what they say they do. The answers you get will ensure you have a writer worth your effort and time.
Start Replying to Those Writers’ Requests Today
When getting your brand in front of your target audience, you don’t have to stick to the methods you have used for so long. You must adapt to every new way, including replying to writers’ requests. This will make you well-known as an industry expert in no time and allow you to network with thought leaders within your niche.
These writers’ requests can help you generate more backlinks to your brand, get your name featured on high-ranking articles, and more content for your social media efforts. It can even get you the exceptional hires and investors you need for your business to thrive and move forward. These requests are your answer to getting more link juice for your company without spending too much.
However, before you dive into this particular way of brand marketing, keep the tips we presented above in mind. Give relevant and well-thought-out answers and be polite at all times. While knowledge is an excellent currency to get known as an industry expert, courtesy also goes a long way.
