It gets to a point where you just want to reach out and head-slap them. Do your damn homework, people! But I doubt anyone legitimate is on the other side.

At least you got to vent your frustration. 🙂

1. 'Dear website owner'. My web address CONTAINS MY NAME. The email address they sent the email to CONTAINS MY NAME. How difficult is it to address me personally?

2. No idea whatsoever what my website is about, nothing at all to indicate they've even looked at it.

I suggested that they at least TRY not to look like spammers. Of course, I didn't get a response, but it made me feel better sending it :o)

A PR person got in touch recently with this answer to my ProfNet query: "Did you get what you need? I have XX sources in YY topic if you're interested."

Why this worked — she didn't try to oversell it. Plus, she had the right sources for the right topic. I didn't use her experts, but I did respond. But I've had PR people who twist that topic like a contortionist to try making their people fit. That does a huge disservice not just to me, but to the people they represent.

I often get press releases and responses to queries I've posted that are utterly unrelated to what I do or asked for. It makes me mad, and I often want to respond like you considered responding–angrily and accusing them of wasting my time. But, like you, I don't.

The thing that irritates me the most? I'll post a query on Help a Reporter Out being very specific about the topic I want. Let's say it's how to hire a social media expert. And I'll get responses like this:

"I'm a social media expert, and I've been doing it for 10 years, and I'm just freakin' awesome, and I was once on TV, and some people might recognize me, and you should interview me on that basis alone."

What does that have to do with the topic I'm writing on? The best answers are those where someone says, "I've hired 10 social media experts, and here are three tips I've learned from the process…"

Like you said: It's all about tying your query into the request/publication/client's work, etc.

Which brings me to the point I've learned as a writer: If you show you've done some research and thought about the client's business and needs, you're already ahead of your competition. Top that off by offering a few ways you can add value, and you're golden.