Every now and then I get a fairly interesting email question from a reader. One came in last week asking about the proper way to launch a new product or service among the blog community and when I answered it, the reader suggested that it might make for a good blog post. He had a good point, so every now and then, I'll be posting a Q&A style post here on the Search Engine Guide blog.

Question:

I am building an interactive mapping tool designed for property managers for link bait purposes (per your suggestion at SES).

As I get closer to finishing the tool I want to make sure I get the tool in front of the proper people when I release it.

My question is: can I invite too many people to try it out at one time? Is there a proper etiquette to promoting your link bait? Should I send the invite out to try to a small select group or just broadcast it out there?

If I send it out to too many people and they all talk to each other, will they feel like they are being used?

Thanks!

Dave

My Response:

Dave,

In general, I wouldn't worry about introducing the tool to too many people at a time, though a "rolling launch" may not be a bad idea. While there are some bloggers that like to get an “exclusive” sneak peek at things, word spreads so fast in the blog world that it's not like you can really keep it under wraps anyway. Besides, the whole point of using something like this as link bait is to have it spread, right? ;)

My suggestion would be to go ahead and release it to as many people as you'd like, but to email them with information a day or two before you launch it (and make sure you mention that it won't launch publicly for a day or two.) Just make sure that you send INDIVIDUAL emails to people instead of a big bulk mailing. It takes more time, but it's more likely to be well received. ;)

Warmly,

Jennifer