How Indie Devs Should Approach Bloggers

Bloggers don’t owe you coverage. They owe their readers value. Your job isn’t to persuade—it’s to package a story their audience will thank them for. That mindset shift turns outreach from a cold ask into a collaboration.

This guide shows you how to become a blogger’s easiest “yes”: what to send, how to pitch, when to follow up, and how to make their job (and yours) easier.

What bloggers actually need (and why they ignore you)

• Reader‑first angle: “How this solves {specific problem} better/faster/cheaper.” Not “we launched X.”
• Proof and artifacts: screenshots/GIFs, short demo clips, sample data, a test account or promo code, and a clear before/after.
• Credibility: why you built it, constraints, honest trade‑offs, pricing clarity.
• Frictionless publishing: quotes, hero image, alt text, captions, and links with UTMs.

They ignore vague, ask‑heavy emails. They say yes to ready‑to‑publish stories.

The 5 coverage angles that consistently work

1. Problem/solution guide: “Generate changelogs from git in under 2 minutes” (with steps and a tool that does it)
2. Comparison: “Raycast vs Alfred for devs—speed, scripts, and setup” (your tool can appear as the utility that enhances either)
3. Integration story: “Sync Linear roadmaps to Notion without adding seats”
4. Case study: “How {role} cut {metric} by {X%} using {YourApp}”
5. Data or teardown: “We analyzed 1,000 app store reviews—here’s what moves conversion”

Asset checklist (copy/paste)

• 6–8 screenshots: hero, setup, aha moment, two advanced, pricing page
• 60–90s demo video with captions
• 3 GIFs (under 5MB) for key flows
• One‑page summary: problem, solution, who it’s for, pricing
• Quotes: 2–3 customer lines with permission
• Link pack: site, docs, changelog, pricing, UTM’d trial link
• Test account or promo codes (time‑boxed)

Email scripts that get replies

First contact (short, specific)

Subject: Story idea for {Blog}: {problem → outcome in 90s}

Hey {Name},

Your readers often write about {specific friction}. We built a tiny fix that gets them to {outcome} in under 2 minutes.

Quick view (90s): {demo link}
Steps: {doc link}
Assets: {drive/folder link}

If it’s useful, I can send a ready‑to‑publish draft or join you for a 10‑minute co‑demo. Either way, happy to tailor it to your audience.

— {You}

Follow‑up (value add, not nag)

Subject: Quick update on {story angle}

Added a case study: {metric} improved by {X%} for {role} at {company}. Also shipped {integration/feature} that your readers asked for here: {link}.

Happy to send a draft with screenshots if helpful.

After coverage (close the loop)

Subject: Thank you + here’s what your readers did

Thanks for the write‑up—{specific compliment}. Within 7 days, {number} readers tried it; {metric} improved. We added your article to our site and sent it to our newsletter.

If you want an exclusive angle next month (e.g., {integration/benchmark}), I’ll share assets early.

Pitch timing and cadence

• Tuesdays/Wednesdays: higher reply rates; avoid Mondays and late Fridays.
• Monthly cadence: one new angle per month (feature, integration, case study, teardown).
• 2 follow‑ups max over 14 days, both with new value.
• Keep your lanes: don’t spray generic pitches; map 10–15 blogs to specific angles.

Build a “press kit” page (it’s not just for press)

Create a public page with live assets:

• Logos (SVG/PNG), brand colors, one‑liner
• Screenshots + captions, demo video, GIFs
• Founder photo + short bio for quotes
• Facts: launch date, pricing, platforms, usage stats (honest)
• Changelog highlights and roadmap hints

Link it in every outreach. Update monthly.

Make coverage easy to write (structure)

Offer an outline bloggers can lift:

• Headline: problem → outcome
• Intro: who this helps and why now
• Steps: 3–5 bullets with screenshots
• Proof: metrics, quotes
• Caveats: trade‑offs, known limits
• CTA: trial link, doc link

Technical touches that impress

• UTM parameters per blogger to share performance transparently.
• Fast test environment: prefilled data, reset link, and 1‑click “aha” template.
• Embeddable widgets: live demo with copy‑safe code snippets.
• Public templates: Notion/Linear/etc. with “powered by” footers.

Measurement (so you both win)

Track and share:

• Trials from each article (utm_source=blogger‑name)
• Activation rate within 7 days
• Conversion lift on the article week vs baseline
• Retention of referred cohorts

Offer a mini report back to bloggers—this is how you get invited again.

Avoid rookie mistakes

• Asking for a review without a story
• Over‑polished assets with no substance
• Hiding pricing or gating basics behind calls
• Spray‑and‑pray outreach
• Ignoring reader criticisms in comments

30‑day outreach plan (simple and compounding)

Week 1: Prep

• Build press kit page; record the 90s demo; write two outlines.
• List 10 blogs; map each to an angle.

Week 2: First pitches

• Send 5 tailored emails with assets.
• Post a problem page on your site to anchor the angle.

Week 3: Follow‑ups + ship

• Add one case study or integration; follow up with value.
• Publish your own article; share to newsletter.

Week 4: Close the loop

• Report metrics to bloggers; thank them publicly.
• Plan next month’s angle (comparison or teardown).

Templates (copy/paste)

UTM link (example)

https://yourapp.com/try?utm_source={blogger}&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign={angle}

Aha template checklist (JSON)

{
  "id": "press_demo_v1",
  "steps": [
    { "id": "connect_integration", "label": "Connect Linear", "event": "integration_connected", "props": { "provider": "linear" } },
    { "id": "import_sample", "label": "Import sample issues", "event": "import_completed" },
    { "id": "run_first_rule", "label": "Run first automation", "event": "aha_action" }
  ]
}

Coverage outline (Markdown)

# {Problem} solved in 2 minutes

Who this helps
- {role}, {context}

Steps
1) Connect {integration}
2) Choose {object}
3) {Outcome}

Proof
- {metric} improved by {X%}
- Quote: “{line}” — {Name, Role}

Caveats
- {trade‑offs}

Final thought

Approach bloggers like collaborators with an audience to serve, not gatekeepers to convince. Package a reader‑first story, bring real assets, and make measurement transparent. Do it monthly, and you’ll build relationships that compound—coverage that keeps showing up because you keep shipping value.