Care and feeding of influential bloggers

Way back in my first iteration of agency life, I was given a list of "how tos" for pitching editors.  You know....don't call near deadline, don't ask "if you got the release I just faxed," etc.  (Yeah, it's true -- we used to pitch by fax, back before the earth's crust cooled.)

My friend Michael Arrington runs TechCrunch, an outstanding blog on Web 2.0 companies.  Mike has a quick eye and mind for what's good and bad in technology, and in business and the world of deals.  Thanks to that expertise, and the insights on the blog, TechCrunch is bedcoming more influential by the day.

So, naturally, Mike is getting pitched.  He doesn't mind -- sometimes this is how he finds good companies to cover.  But he of course wants a good pitch and gives the world the top ten ways to pitch a blogger.  I know these lists are out there in other places, but read his because it's good and relevant.

What's at the top?  This:   Build a kick-ass company.  Well, I'll be dipped.  Whoda thunk that?

Bonus:  Instructful exchange with the spokesperson of a company that Mike jumped the gun on.  Dave kept his head.