When you’re just starting up, PR can seem like the easiest part of a founder’s job. All you have to do is talk to journalists about your awesome company. Sounds easy enough.

The problem is, talking to the media is a lot easier than getting their attention in the first place. To improve your chances, here are five pitfalls to avoid:

1. Don’t send blast emails.
Believe me, I understand the appeal of blast emails — sending thousands of emails at the same time makes your PR task a piece of cake.

While it’s an easy out for you, it can be irritating to editors and writers. It is obvious when you send the same email to all your contacts and just change the name. There is no sense of personal connection and many times you’re sending the pitch to the wrong people.

Rather than just shooting in the dark, spend the time researching. If you can find 10 solid contacts, you’ll probably get better results than blasting.

2. The world doesn’t revolve around you.
Your company is the center of your world, but it is not the center of the world. It is important to keep that in mind when you start hearing ‘no’ from the media, as not everyone will want to do a feature on your stellar new product.

Related: Lessons in Traditional PR…From a 14-Year-Old Philanthropist

While the rejection might feel like a personal blow, it isn’t. An editor might not be interested for factors outside of their control, such as limited spacing in the publication.

Even if a publication can’t cover you this time, don’t give attitude. Instead, be gracious because you never know when another opportunity will arise.

3. Ditch the boring cookie-cutter template.
You won’t get very far in PR, if you just pitch your product or services over and over again. Instead, look for other ways to get your story out there.

When I work with my clients, I always look for story ideas beyond the obvious. I use their leadership style, hobbies and company culture to position my clients as experts. You can turn these narratives into contributed content. A lot of online outlets have contributor guidelines, so check them out and pitch away.

4. If your product or service isn’t ready for coverage, don’t pitch.
You have one opportunity to make an impact on the editor, so make sure you are putting your best foot forward. If your product isn’t finished or still has obvious kinks, you don’t want to be written off without a fair chance.

Also, if you are selling a consumer product, make sure it is available for purchase. The last thing you want to do is not have a product ready, as it makes you look bad and could result in a burnt bridge with the publication.

Related: 5 PR Tips From Bond, James Bond

As an entrepreneur, I know that you are eager to get your company out there, so you can start making money. However, if you are patient and wait for the right moment, it will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

5. Don’t harass the media.
Some editors might disagree with me, but as a publicist, I think if you haven’t heard back about one of your pitches, it is okay to send a gentle follow up email. The best approach is to politely check in to see if your contact has any questions or needs additional information.

That being said, there is a fine line between following up and stalking. Err on the side of caution and don’t follow up more than once or twice. If you haven’t heard back, it is safe to assume that there is no interest.

PR can be a very important tool in giving your company the momentum it needs to move forward. A top-tier placement is invaluable, as it has the potential to put your product or service in front of thousands of new costumers. However, don’t make mistakes that could ruin your relationships with editors.

Before doing PR, think about the longevity of your company. You have a long road ahead, so make sure you don’t rub people the wrong way in the beginning.

What other PR mistakes do new startups make? Let us know in the comments below.

I work at a technology-based business incubator, and one of my roles is to help our clients raise capital. Whether these companies are trying to raise capital through debt or equity, the…

Google and Adblock Plus, the browser add-on dedicated to eradicating “annoying ads” everywhere on the web, have had a complex relationship.

In March, for “interference with another service or product in an unauthorized manner.” That makes sense considering how much money Google makes off advertising, although organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation called the “censorship … not only a betrayal of the principle of openness, but a betrayal of the trust that people put in Google when they decide to buy an Android phone.”

Then in July, word spread that Google (and others) reportedly paid to get on AdBlock Plus’ “white list,” meaning the advertisers that get a free pass and show up on users computers even if they’ve downloaded Adblock.

That just goes to show how powerful Adblock has become. 

PageFair is a service that measures how much ad blocking cost websites. According to its estimations, ad blocking cost Google $ 887 million in 2012. Granted , but that’s still a sizable chunk.

While many strongly value AdBlock plus, which is downloaded 50,000 and 100,000 times a day for Chrome and Firefox, respectively, PageFair believes that its power is ominous. According a PageFair blog post:

Other publishers must follow suit and rethink digital marketing strategies and the way they interact with customers, or our web experience may change drastically in the near future. The concept of a fully pay-per-view internet is a frightening but potential reality. Adblocking downloads are increasing at an alarming rate, while feasible alternatives to banner ad revenue are not. These ads may be a small inconvenience, but blocking ads will eventually lead to websites being forced to adopt costly measures we really don’t want.

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lolz lolz it’s actually just a stupid jewel case you guys

For Little Monsters, this might come as bad news; for everyone else who’s still trying to decipher the that Lady Gaga churned out three weeks ago, this’ll probably come as a relief. Gaga has admitted the ARTPOP app is just gonna be some lame-sounding “interactive jewel case.”

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Student loan deal passes the House, starting up in Baghdad, building office furniture from old appliances, how to take a summer vacation, going for an easy A, proof student ventures actually work, advice for becoming insanely successful, what Obama’s grand bargain means for business, the key to igniting business ideas… This week’s notable news and tantalizing tidbits for young treps:

1. Student loan deal: The House overwhelmingly moved to roll back rates that had doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1, when Congress failed to agree on an earlier deal preventing the hike. Under the new bill, which will likely pass muster with the president, undergraduates would pay 3.9 percent on new loans, graduate students would pay 5.4 percent for new loans and parents taking out PLUS loans would pay 6.4 percent. The rates would be fixed over the life of the loan but change for new borrowers up to a cap of 8.25 percent, 9.5 and 10.5, respectively. (New York Times)

2. Breaking down barriers in Baghdad: After failing to find employment for almost two years, a 24-year-old college graduate living in Baghdad named Marya, decided to take a business idea to Startup Weekend. Her idea, called Cartoon, would address sensitive social issues through cartoon videos, but with casualty bombings and gender stereotypes still commonplace Marya faces an uphill battle. (The Huffington Post)  

3. DIY office furniture: Office décor can cost a fortune. Outfit your startup HQ with a little ingenuity, know-how and broken appliances? Here’s how to make a stylish lounge chair out of a broken washing machine. (Wired)

4. Still time for vacation: Some entrepreneurs get anxiety about leaving their business in the hands of employees, but taking some time off doesn’t have to produce grey hairs. Josh Golden, founder and CEO of Table XI Partners, shares the secret for setting up your team when you have to get off the grid. (CNN Money)

5. Go for the easy A? The results of a recent study make deciding on an undergraduate program a bit more difficult. The study suggests that, “candidates who happen to graduate from schools with higher grading norms may actually have a better chance of being accepted to college or graduate school.” (Business Week)

6. Proof student ventures do work: A Philadelphia-based startup called Firefly received $ 20,000 from the Dorm Room Fund, recently partnered with a live-chat company called Olark, and now boasts 5,000 corporate clients and six-figure revenue. This student-founded startup is a great example of how young entrepreneurs can make it without looking to outside funding. (Pando Daily)

8. Advice on becoming “insanely successful:” 17 big-name entrepreneurs offer insightful advice on being successful. This is not your average ‘tips’ list, but a detailed plug for some of the industry’s lesser-known insights into what it takes to make it as a trep. (Business Insider)

8. Making great ideas catch on: Not all ideas are great, and not all great ideas lead to success. Using examples from the past, this article discusses the factors that go into igniting great ideas. (Fast Company)

9. Is Obama’s grand tax “bargain” really a deal? With much fanfare President Obama presented his latest tax-reform proposal in a speech given at the Amazon shipping facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. Having heard this tune before, many business owners are skeptical. Find out what this “grand bargain” would mean for your business if embraced by Republicans. (Entrepreneur)

10. Managing conflict in a small team: Few things are as important in a startup as a team that challenges each other, but keeping criticism constructive and team cohesion tight is difficult when tempers flare. Here are four conflict-resolution tips. (BPlans)