Ever notice that most articles about how-to pitch the influential people in your industry simply rehash the same tips.

For instance, “Find out what interests the influencer or blogger and then pitch them that.”

Is that it? Sure feels like it’s missing a few steps. Where’s the specific advice?

Glad you asked. Here you go.

1. Leave comments on blog posts. Here’s something to keep in mind: Most bloggers read all of their comments, but they rarely read all of their e-mails. A blog comment adheres to my first two principles of engagement: Acknowledge the influencer and then offer a compliment or open a debate.

With that simple understanding, you can put yourself in front of bloggers simply by leaving a comment on an article they wrote. Do this a few times and they’ll remember your name. At that point you can follow up with a personal e-mail that will probably be read.

This “always reading comments” theory also works with tweets.

2. Send customized mass-mailed emails. Yes, customized mass e-mails can be done. Not only do they look personalized. They are personalized. You’re just merging the activities of mass e-mailing and personalized messages in a far more efficient manner.

The reason personalized mass e-mails have gotten a bad rap is because they’re not personalized. We’ve been fooled into believing that just adding someone’s name and company in an e-mail makes it “personalized.”

It doesn’t. All you’ve done is identify the person you’re e-mailing in the message. Not a big accomplishment. For more efficient personalization tips, read “If you’re going to be fake, try not to announce it.”

3. Take an influencer out to lunch. Influencers are just like you. They like to eat. And they enjoy good conversation. Even the busiest people in the world have to sit down for a meal. A good old-fashioned invitation to grab a meal—make it clear you’re buying—will usually be warmly accepted.

Of course, not everyone’s ready to do that because they may feel a one-on-one meal will put them or the influencer on the spot. To make the meal more comfortable, and to make it a more attractive invitation, invite a group (keep it small) out to dinner.

4. Give an influencer a ride at a busy conference. The best thing a company ever did for me was pick me up at the Las Vegas airport when I arrived to attend CES.

It was seven years ago, and I can’t remember what I saw at that show or who sponsored the parties I attended, but I do remember that Podzinger picked me up at the Las Vegas airport in a gold limousine.

CES, the largest trade show in Las Vegas, is notorious for very long cab lines. Sitting in the limousine, having avoided a two-hour cab wait, I happily listened to Podzinger’s pitch as they drove me to my hotel. I’ve retold this story to dozens of people over the past seven years, but I’ve yet to hear of anything like it since.

5. Always follow up. Whichever engagement technique you choose, it’s critical that you follow up. I’m stunned how this basic principle of human communications is completely lost on people. Don’t let follow up be lost on you. Take notes from your engagement. Those will be your personalization cues that you can use as touch points to send follow up information.

All it takes is a few of these back-and-forth interactions and you know what you’ve got? A relationship—with an influencer. Congrats, you did it.

David Spark is a veteran tech journalist and the founder of the media production and consulting firm Spark Media Solutions. Spark blogs regularly at Spark Minute. Follow him on Twitter @dspark.