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How To Get Great Guest Posts On Your Blog

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As the due date of my latest baby approached, I decided that hosting some guest posts on my site would be a better idea than trying to write while sleep-deprived. While I had submitted posts for a few other sites before, I didn’t have any experience hosting other writers on mine. So I didn’t know how to attract people.

I stalked a few other blogs looking for their guest posting policy, thought about how I wanted to run things on the little screen time I’d have as a new fourth-time mom, and came up with the following tips to solicit guest posts for your blog.

Are you ready to open your blog up for guest posts? These 8 tips will help you get great content for your blog. | Blogging Tips

How To Get Great Guest Posts For Your Blog

1. Decide what you want

Will you expect your guest to answer his/her own comments on your blog? What works for word count on your blog? If you make your expectations clear you’ll really help your guest and avoid conflict over deadlines, editing, etc. later on.

2. Make your contact info accessible

An email address, Twitter handle, contact form – whatever method you prefer is fine, but if you make people look for it they… won’t.

3. Advertise

Twitter was most successful for me, but I also posted my request for posters on my blog and Facebook.

4. Ask your friends

Bloggers you interact with on a regular basis or some of your most loyal followers might be the most eager to write for you. Look for opportunities within your niche to reach out.

5. Provide a topic

People don’t always do this for me, and it makes writing a post incredibly difficult sometimes. When potential guests ask me for a topic, I skim through their blogs and try to come up with a unique topic that will interest both of us. Your guest needs to know what your audience wants.

6. Leave plenty of time before the publishing deadline

If the post falls through, you want to have time to come up with alternate content.

7. Return the favor and write for them

It’s an easy way to compensate your guest. Swapping posts will keep up your traffic and might challenge you to write outside the box, too.

8. Commit to being a great host

Be prompt in responding to questions. Advertise his/her work like you would your own. Make it worth your writer’s time to be with you instead of at home for the day.

Bottom line? You’ll be most successful at recruiting guest posts if you make writing for you a pleasant, simple experience. If you treat people the way you want to be treated, word will get around the blogosphere that you’re a worthwhile person to write for.

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Comments

  7. Stacy says

    Those are all excellent tips! I have a page on my blog explaining all that is involved with guest posting on my blog: the topics I accept, how to contact me, the benefits of guest posting on my blog, etc. It’s been very successful, I don’t usually have any shortage of requests!

  8. Living the Balanced Life says

    Great to see you here Lindsey! Awesome post with great ideas. I need to have some others guest post, but I tend to be a little controlling, lol! I will need to lighten up with that a bit I guess?
    Bernice

    • Lindsey says

      HA!
      You never know what you could learn from inviting in a fresh perspective. I tend to be on the controlling side too, but I make myself let up on occasion.

  9. Charlotte says

    This is a great list of tips! Thanks so much for helping–I have often wondered what the “guest post etiquette” is so it’s nice to have it all outlined here.

    Plus, it’s just nice to know that a significant amount of time doesn’t have to go by without a post–there are so many in the bloggy world who are happy to lend a hand!

    • Lindsey says

      Sometimes it’s ok with me, like if I have a couple of extra ideas floating around – but I like a little safety net just in case the blogger forgets or the material’s not a good fit.

  13. Stephanie's Mommy Brain says

    I was just thinking about guest posts the other day. I’ve written a few posts for others but not hosted any guest posts on my blog in a couple of years. That’s for sharing the tips!

  16. Steph from Be Positive Mom says

    Thanks for the tips! I have a monthly series that a new mom guests posts each month. Sometimes it can be challenging to get people to commit, so I figure not to fret and move on. You’ll find the right person who is glad to guest post and work with you!

  17. Luci says

    Have just been contemplating someone guest posting my blog. How would you have them answer their own questions? Would you send them the question every time one was asked ? I assume we don’t allow anyone to have the password to the blog itself..

    • Lindsey says

      Do you mean, how do they reply to comments? When I guest post I check over to the host’s site a few times during the day and answer comments as they come. You don’t need to login to the site to do that.

    • Lindsey says

      I don’t think I’ve seen a request on Facebook before, besides mine! It’s the time of year where we’re looking to slow down in writing though, so I’m not surprised.

  24. Caylie says

    Awesome article Lindsey! Great to look at guest posting from the opposite perspective to ‘normal’.
    Do you have any specific suggestions for bloggers just starting out to help recruit guest posters?
    Cheers, Caylie

    • Lindsey says

      I got to know some bloggers who started around the same time I did, and who shared some of the same audience. And I asked them. Asking the first couple of times can be a little nerve-wracking (like, who’d want to write for ME?) but if you put yourself out there you might be pleasantly surprised at the response!
      You can also put the message out on Twitter and Facebook, and have a guest post policy page accessible on your blog.