Have you ever tried guest blogging? It’s all about creating content for a blog that doesn’t belong to you. Guest blogging is a brilliant strategy for making your writing skills popular. This activity provides rich opportunities for large-scale exposure to the public and brings back a great amount of traffic for both involved parties, yours and the hosted blog.

When blogging becomes a daily occupation and you wish to make it a profitable one, then guest blogging is the best next step. You can boost your work, establish your personal brand (as an authority in your market) and build a strong business networking circle for future partnerships.

Featuring Guest Posts

Bear in mind that, if we don’t water the blogging tree it will never give us fruits. Showing up in the tribe of guest bloggers means that you are sharing a certain culture and you are actively supporting other bloggers in your own nest. If you haven’t already, then start today by adding a “Guest Blogging” column to your own blog. Give a little, to get something in return!

Guest blogging is a great way to spread your expertise while also growing your personal brand.

Guest blogging is a two-way street. So make room and share your columns with other fellow bloggers that are close to your target audience. A new voice will add fresh air and a variety of topics to your blog. Believe me, that is ultra engaging and will boost traffic!

Guest Blogging Goals

Define your strategy and your specific goals. Make it clear and have an action plan for at least 1 year. Getting into the Guest Blogging game means that you see it as a business activity and you should treat it with the best professional terms.

Before you get started, are you sure that you can engage in a strict schedule of writing and PR communication? Set a calendar and create a list of priorities. For example, if you are a Fashion Blogger then you should create a list of 12 new posts about Fashion trends, Fashion tips, Fashion Sources, Fashion Weeks, etc for the following 12 months. By that we mean:

• Create a list of topics, headlines, and a brief summary for each post
• Create a second list with the desired guest blogging opportunities
• Match which topics fit better with certain blogs
• Start writing the first (at least 2) blog posts. No, you shouldn’t publish this content on your own blog. Please, wait until it’s first published as a guest post, and then make a referral post about the exciting news.
• Open your calendar and note each submission, answers (both positive and negative ones), and when are going to be published.
• Prepare a “thank you for accepting my post” note for each blogger that said: Welcome to my Guest Blogging Column.
• Prepare a “thank you for your time, I would love your feedback for the reasons my post didn’t get into the publishing queue” note, for the cases that your work was declined.
• Announce the big news the day each post is published.
• Make a Publications or Press page and update the listings after new publications.
• Create a dedicated blog post for each Blog that has accepted to collaborate with you. Old school courtesy never hurt anyone!
• Make your short author bio appealing and SHORT. Two lines are enough but if they ask you to send a second detailed bio, then be extra careful and add a more professional voice. Profile photos should be bright and optimistic.
• Add your social media links and your blog link to the first submission letter. Don’t ask them to add your social media links if their policy avoids it. Be patient and polite… soon they will ask you to send your links.

Make sure that each post adds to your authority value. Don’t create thin content and wait for a miracle to happen. Guest posts should be informative, well written, have more than 1000+ words, and have excellent visuals or graphic assets. Act proactively and check if your content can be linked with previous posts of the host.

All the above will help you find mutual business opportunities. A new audience will read your posts and most probably other bloggers will show interest in collaborating with you as hosts or guests.

Top Benefits of Guest Blogging

Publicity and Networking are the top benefits of guest blogging. Of course, more traffic for your blog is expected. In my opinion, the most important benefit is personal branding empowerment. When we establish our expertise in a field, then the results are spectacular. So, don’t be surprised when more invitations arrive on your doorstep!

The top benefits are:

• Your blog gets popular
• More traffic
• Better search engine results
• New audiences get familiar with your work
• Your blog gains trustworthy signals
• Better backlinks
• Productive networking
• More guest blogging invitations
• Establish your name as an authority in your field
• Better content quality
• New collaborations become easier to find
• Add fresh voices to your blog when starting your own Guest column
• Search engine machines notice your blog
• Social media sharing keeps growing
• Develop long-lasting relationships with other bloggers in your field
• You can earn money by start selling your content

The Dark Side of Guest Blogging

The digital world is an extension of the real world. Behind each digital account, there is a human being. Some are good people but some others are the worst kind of people. Scammers, criminals or rotten individuals that want to harm others. Be really careful, before you start giving away your work and your personal information to strangers.

These are all things to look for before offering to guest blog or sending an invitation to a fellow blogger. Check the following:

• How long they have had their blog?
• Is the domain safe?
• Have they published the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Cookies Policy pages?
• Do they follow GDPR guidelines?
• Is there a signup form for their newsletter?
• The visuals and graphics they use, are professional?
• The structure of the blog/website is professional?
• How many posts are published?
• When was the last time they posted something new?
• Are there any comments from visitors?
• Have they replied to the visitor’s comments?
• What’s the general voice in their digital footprints?
• Do they own branded social media channels? (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn)
• Are they active on their social media channels?
• What is the nature of the content they post on their social media channels?
• Are there any reviews on their social media accounts or/and website or blog?
• Check their language: syntax, grammar, and scope of interest.
• Is there consistency between their blog ID and their social media channels?
• Can you locate their physical address, official email, and telephone number?

Also, be sure that your guests are coming from a respected business background. To make a long story short, research is crucial to guest blogging. If both sides don’t see eye to eye on certain principles, then it won’t be easy to form a look-alike’s voice and have a good fit. The content should agree with your business’s mission and identity.

Guest Blogging Guidelines

When you find the perfect blogging match (for your blog) then follow the rule of simplicity. Make clear what topics you prefer and which keywords are a better fit for your business. If there is a deadline for new content and a process of editing, then introduce this schedule to your guest.

Remember to thank your Guest Bloggers for their input. A good word can work miracles!

IdeaDeco Guest Blogging Invitation

Grab your coffee and send us your article. Be part of our guest list. We would love to publish your thoughts or ideas! Our digital community has +120000 verified members. Here is the entry door!

#GuestBlogging

Great sources to read:

• The Ultimate Guide to Guest Blogging – Neil Patel
• A Beginner’s Guide to Guest Blogs – Lifewire
• 150+ Sites to Guest Post in 2018 – Advanced Web Ranking
• How Blogging Made me a Better Listener – Areti Vassou