Landing a Guest Post Gig
Stacking the Odds in Your Favor
Throwing Away Your Chances of Success
Feedback Red Flags to Watch Out For
Finding Motivation for Guest Posting
When Guest Posting Overtakes a Blog
Common Guest Posting FAQs
After You Get the Yes to Guest Post

Today’s focus is on whether you should accept guest posts for your blog and what to look for when deciding on submission approval.

Should I accept guest posts for my blog on a regular basis?

Accepting guest posts generally depends on how you feel about guest posting in general.

Guest posts can be a blessing to give you a break from blogging and offer your readers something new or interesting. Some bloggers have weekly or monthly guests, some accept guest posts for vacation time, and some blogs operate solely thanks to guest posting.

It’s an especially good idea to accept guest posts if you know that you won’t be able to maintain posting for some time. A long illness, a blogging burnout, family emergencies or other life obligations that get in the way are all great reasons to say yes to a good guest poster.

On the other hand, guest posts can be a lot of work. The screening process is never fun. You’ll need to read and edit every post. You may need to revise or reject posts. The consistency of tone, style, quality or value-for-reader your blog offers might suffer. People may not be interested in reading guest posts either – they want you.

Whether you accept guest posts or not depends on what you hope to achieve and what you will realistically receive. Analyze the pros and cons, and develop a strategy that works for you and your readership.

How do I choose guest posts for my blog?

The factors that determine which guest posts get a pass and which don’t depends very much on what your standards are and what you’re willing to tolerate. Here are some elements that might figure in your selection process:

• Proper approach: There’s a right and wrong way to ask.
• No arTEESTe attitude: This is about traffic and business, not art.
• Determination and motivation: How badly do you want this? And why?
• Initiative: If I have to think for you, then I don’t need you to write for me.
• Quality of writing: If you can’t write well, you have no business writing.
• Quality of content: Do you have clear ideas, concise advice and good thoughts?
• Relevancy to niche: Need I explain this one?
• Value for reader: Provide applicable tips, helpful advice and thought-provoking ideas.
• Credibility and reputation: No-name brand? No guest post.
• Transparent intentions: Don’t be sneaky. Be up front and honest.
• Manners and friendliness: If you’re rude, you’re refused.
• Going the distance: Manage and respond to comments for your post – or don’t come back.

Different blogs may have different standards for guest posters. Some don’t mind editing guest posts and others aren’t picky about responding to comments. It’s really all up to you.

How do I say no to people who would like to guest post on my blog?

Yeah, that’s tough, isn’t it. We hate saying no ourselves.

You do have to learn how to say no. It’s not necessary to justify your reasons – don’t go into details. “I’m not accepting guest posts right now, but thanks for thinking of my blog,” usually suffices.

There’s also no need to pick on people’s work, no matter how bad it is. “By the way, you may want to look at taking some grammar courses… I can see you really need some help.” Um, just no. You’re not the be-all and end-all of perfection. (Do some people really think they are? Damned straight. There will always be lofty know-it-alls out there.)

You could suggest another blog to the person. “I’m not accepting guest posts this week, but maybe you could try XYZ or ABC? They might like to have this.”

Every blog and blogger wants a guest post win-win situation. It’s all about enhancing credibility and reputation. Figure out why you want to accept guest posts, from whom, what you want to achieve and what ensures a mutually beneficial arrangement.

This concludes our nine-part series on guest posting. We hope that you’ve enjoyed the series (we enjoyed writing it and sharing our expertise). Thanks for both reading and commenting.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where Harry makes a return to blogging with a report on the Geek Squad.

Guest Posting: Should You Accept Guest Posts on Your Blog? Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

Landing a Guest Post Gig
Stacking the Odds in Your Favor
Throwing Away Your Chances of Success
Feedback Red Flags to Watch Out For
Finding Motivation for Guest Posting
Common FAQs on Guest Posting

Today’s post covers what to do when writing your guest post, as well as your responsibilities and managing the situation once your post goes live. Enjoy.

What’s the rule of thumb about linking to my blog in a guest post?

Good question. I have two opinions for you:

My opinion on links is that when you guest post, you already receive credit (your name in lights), a link to your blog, and a byline that should also include a link to your feed. That’s enough, really.

However, my friend Sonia Simone has a different take on links – and a good one. Sonia adds one link to a relevant post on her blog that adds to the conversation in her guest posts. Why guest post if your content isn’t useful to readers? She also links to an especially relevant post of her own in her bio instead of linking to her home page.

Sonia and I both offset our links by linking to cornerstone content on the blog in question so that we never take more than we receive.

I’ve submitted a guest post and never heard back on approval. What should I do?

Not everyone replies to their email immediately, and some don’t reply to certain emails at all. You sending a request does not guarantee a reply. It’s nice when it happens, but no one is under obligation to answer.

First, don’t panic. Be patient. A week in real life isn’t that long, even though it may feel like forever in the virtual world.

Follow up on your request. Send a simple, “Hey, I sent you an email about a week back. Did you receive it? Let me know.” That’s all.

Still no answer after another week? Send a brief and VERY polite note to say, “I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be using the guest post I submitted to you elsewhere. Thanks anyways.”

What are my responsibilities after I submit a guest post?

I’m glad you asked. Yes, you do have responsibilities, unspoken as they are. When you submit a guest post, you are entering into a mutually beneficial agreement. If you don’t uphold your end of the bargain, you won’t be invited back.

On the day your guest post goes live, it’s a good idea to write a post inviting your readers to go visit the blog and welcoming readers from the other blog who click through to visit yours.

Even better is writing a post that relates to your guest post so that there’s more than just a welcome to read. It creates a good flow and gives people a double-whammy of content and comment opportunities.

Be present. Your day (and often the days that follow) will involve fielding comments on the blog where your guest post is located. Get in there and answer those comments. Address questions. Discuss. Interact. Don’t just post and walk away; that’s a cheap cop-out. Don’t just drop by to give one or two general thank-you comments to the crowd, either. That’s even cheaper.

Give your guest post some social media love at the blog that posted your content. Stumble your post, Digg it and Twitter to the crowds. Don’t just wait for traffic to come to you – help drive it to your post and to that blog.

People hate my guest post. The comment section is full of complaints. What do I do?

A guest post gone wrong is never fun. Yes, you may want to run screaming into the comment boost with a big stick to beat your point into people in some vicious defensive action. You might want to quit your job, leave your home and go cry in a box somewhere for three weeks.

I wouldn’t advise either. Yes, it’s disheartening when people publicly mention they didn’t like what you wrote and yes, it hurts. Does it really matter in the big scheme of things? Is it a reflection of you and your self-worth?

I don’t think so. You can’t please everyone all of the time, and writing is extremely subjective to personal opinion.

Stay calm. Stay positive and cheery. Thank people for their comments. Avoid any debate situation or veiled snark in your replies. Don’t get defensive and be Zen. It’s tough, but you can do it – and you may actually make people like you because you could take the hits and roll with the punches.

How often should I guest post?

The more exposure you have, the better. If you submit one guest post only and readers never see your name again, they’ll forget you. You’re invisible. You’re just another face in the crowd.

But when readers see your name crop up repeatedly and at different blogs, they start to notice. They remember seeing you before. They get curious. “Just who is this James Chartrand anyways? That’s the fifth time I’ve seen his name this week.”

They click through to learn more about you from your site – and voila. Conversion. Success.

Guest posting is free content. Shouldn’t I be working to earn income instead?

Yes and no. Yes, your financial needs should be met and you should never invest more time in guest posting than you can realistically afford.

However, focusing on short-term income and neglecting long-term potential is a common mistake. It’s easy to get wrapped up in keeping money coming in and setting aside steps to take that ensure longevity, more passive income and business growth.

In fact, the job versus business issue can be like a treadmill that you need to jump off. The more you focus on now, the less you can break away to devote your attention to the future. Do work on bringing in cash and making ends meet, but be prepared to sacrifice a little money today to invest in better long long-term potential.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post. It covers whether you should accept guest posts on your blog, what approval factors to consider and the biggest problem, how to say no to requests.

Guest Posting: After You Get the Yes Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

Landing a Guest Post Gig
Stacking the Odds in Your Favor
Throwing Away Your Chances of Success
Feedback Red Flags to Watch Out For
Finding Motivation for Guest Posting
When Guest Posting Overtakes a Blog

Now it’s time to look at some common questions on guest posting and our opinion of the answers. Enjoy.

Does guest posting really help grow a blog?

Take a look around you at our blog. We grew this blog from nothing but guest posts, social media and blog commenting. Do blogs really earn business? Well, it worked for us; it can work for you, too.

Most guest posters do admit to seeing results with each guest post they write. They receive traffic, exposure, credibility, new readers and new business.

Of course, the success is subjective – one person might feel guest posting is a failure unless readership boosts by thousands overnight. Another guest poster might be happy to have ten new faithful readers. It all depends on your measure of success, honestly.

When should I start submitting guest posts to other blogs?

If you’re brand new and just out of the gate, forget guest posting. Build your own blog and grow it a bit before asking others to highlight your work. Give people a nice site design to look at and build up content for visitors to read.

However, do keep an eye out for unexpected opportunities to submit a guest post. A blogger who mentions feeling run down, overworked or ill might appreciate the extra help – and that can be very beneficial for you.

Be ready to offer a helping hand when you can. It just might be the boost you need.

Which blogs should I target for guest posts?

Look at the health and vitality of the blog. Are there posts going up on a regular, consistent basis? Do readers drop by and comment? Does the blog have a credible image? Is it very new and struggling or more established and growing well? Are there a handful of readers or a good base that offers traffic potential?

It’s a good idea to know which readership you are trying to attract via your guest post, too. There’s no point in submitting your post to RockYourDay if the topic of your content is better suited for CapturingFantasy. Find blogs that have the readership that you want, and find readers who want what you offer.

Blogs that have RSS subscriber numbers that are similar to your own, slightly above or slightly below tend to offer the best return for your time and investment. Don’t limit yourself by avoiding bigger blogs, though, and use the power of small blogs too.

Should I submit my guest post to an A-list blog?

Ahh, the A-listers. They have thousands of readers and enjoy wonderful celebrity lives. A guest post on their blog would be seen by all those people – what fame! What glory!

Well, that’s great and yes, having your name figure on an A-list blog does feel pretty good. But is it the best thing to do? Often, no.

A-list blogs receive hundreds of guest post requests in any given week. Everyone wants a piece of the action. You’re competing against all these people and your odds aren’t the best.

A-listers are busy people, too. You may not receive a reply to your submission request for some time, if at all. Do you really want to stress about potential approval for a few weeks?

What are your expectations of that coveted publicity, too? Are you looking for huge spikes of traffic and thousands of new RSS readers? Good luck. That won’t happen. A-list readers aren’t known for visiting guest poster blogs.

Do you expect to amaze readers and become the next Maharaja of the blogosphere? Good luck with that too. There’s nothing new under the sun, no matter how original you think you are. But you can create great content that gives your blog a boost.

Looking for credibility or a reputation boost? Well, that’s a possibility. “I posted on Copyblogger/ZenHabits/Lifehack/Techwhatever! ! I am great!” No, I’m sorry, you’re not.

Yes, you get bragging rights for that single post. Yes it can improve your reputation. But unless you are invited to return, approved for future submissions or become an overnight success story from the exposure, one A-list guest post does not a star make.

Sooo… There’s no point in guest posting, is there.

Of course there is. Each guest post puts your work in front of readers and increases your chance of being seen and heard. That’s what you want.

Play your cards right and take advantage of the opportunities you have. It’s crucial to make guest posting work for you. Here are some tips that help:

• Submit guest posts frequently – at least one a week is great
• Submit guest posts to various blogs – spread out and share the love
• Choose your targeted readership wisely – pick the right crowd for your content
• Analyze blogs for leveragability – know realistic potential returns before you submit
• Be smart – how many readers does the blog have? Ten isn’t worth your time
• Interact and participate – don’t just post and run. Answer comments and questions

Should I ask to retain copyright of my guest posts?

Unless you have sold or transferred all rights to your content, you retain full rights to your work. You wrote it, it’s yours, free and clear. You can theoretically do what you want with the post unless you and the blog owner have agreed otherwise.

However.

Guest posting is, in essence, content that you give away. You are giving someone a gift, and generally speaking, gifts shouldn’t come with strings. “Hey, I bought you this great shirt! I’m gonna wear it every now and then, though. Hope you don’t mind.”

Of course, these views are my opinions only and generally based on my personal values and beliefs. Other people feel differently, and that’s cool, too.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, in which we’ll discuss some common questions that crop up about your guest post. Discover the secrets of linking effectively, the responsibilities of a guest poster – and what to do when the crowd hates your work.

Guest Posting: Common Questions Writers Have Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

Landing a Guest Post Gig
Stacking the Odds in Your Favor
Throwing Away Your Chances of Success
Feedback Red Flags to Watch Out For
Finding Motivation for Guest Posting

Now we’ll discuss transitioning into guest posting – and how to avoid being a greedy content consumer. That couldn’t be you… right?

We bloggers are real people beneath the gleam and gloss of fame. We eat, we sleep, we go to the bathroom, we get discouraged, we get tired. If we had “real” jobs (and I say that with sarcasm), we could even take a vacation for a recharge-the-batteries holiday.

Well, not bloggers.

Readers bask in the creative content or the stunning personality of their Beloved Blogger, and they take no prisoners. They appear to be understanding, but they love with a steel hand.

“A small break? Oh, certainly. Take a weekend. Maybe a week or two, even – if you really need to. But you will come back. Or I will leave you.”

It’s a problem.

Some blogs begin as single-writer affairs. The writer develops a readership, a community and a following. People fall in love a little and idolize their favorites. Come on, admit it. You know you do. We all do.

And it’s all good. Putting a blogger on a pedestal is fun for everyone. The blogger gets continual adoration, praise and makes plenty of friends. It’s the big times. The readers converse, talk and get chummy with their favorite celebrity. Blogging allows that personal connection.

There’s a problem with that, though, and it’s one that many bloggers start to realize after they achieve popularity. Two hands. One brain. And usually, some other projects that actually bring in money besides blogging.

Bloggers can’t shut down, but they can’t continue to maintain the pace they have. They’re stuck.

So Beloved Blogger takes on a guest poster. Maybe that poster becomes a regular. The workload eases, the blog is nicely populated, and projects set aside come back to life. It’s peace at last.

As it should be.

Most blogs serve a purpose, and that purpose is usually money. Blogs are built to sell, are monetized heavily or they become gateway blogs to attract clients. It makes no sense that a blogger be chained to the responsibility of free content when he or she needs income as well.

Bloggers are like anyone else, though. They want to grow their business and achieve more. They want to expand and offer new projects to readers.

But they can’t. They have to blog. So sometimes, they turn to guest posting. A weekly post here, a regular there… maybe they even take on a blogging partner or two.

Readers are cruel. They unsubscribe when they miss their Beloved Blogger. The rumbles ripple through the blogosphere and discontent grows. People complain. They tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on…

Readers aren’t very forgiving with a Beloved that replaces content with guest posters. Fickle people, you.

How to Avoid the Gilded Cage

If you’re a blogger, be careful with your branding. When you brand yourself personally instead of branding your business, you jam yourself in a cage. If you grow and achieve success, you’re screwed. Your readers aren’t going to accept change easily and you will have a rough time of it.

Multi-author blogs are a good answer to blogger burnout. Having more than one poster helps maintain consistent quality – and make sure it’s the same quality you provided, or better.

Another option is a regular guest poster, someone who consistently returns on a specific day or two per week. This person has to be one whom readers can develop a relationship with and whom they can get to know.

Find someone who can offer great work and on a regular basis. Make sure the person is someone that both you and your readers enjoy. Begin slowly, warn your readers and introduce the new blogger.

Listen to feedback, too. You can’t please everyone all the time, but if most of the crowd aren’t happy, find out why – and do something about it.

How to Be a Kind Reader

If you’re a reader of a blog undergoing transition from personal to business branding or moving from single to multi-author format, be understanding.

Don’t play into that selfish, spoiled brat behavior, demanding stellar quality and frequent appearances from your Beloved. If you do, you’ll become just another greedy content consumer, uncaring about the person behind the writing. You’re just waiting for the machine to churn out more.

Support Transition

Speak up. If you don’t like specific guest posters, say so. Be specific. Some people do speak up, but most don’t. Send a private email. If your Beloved Blogger doesn’t know what you don’t like, how can change occur?

Be respectful. This isn’t your blog. Blog owners can and should be allowed to take decisions for themselves and their best interest. Blogging should never be a job unless someone is paying you for it.

Be open-minded. Are you complaining just because you’re pissy that your Beloved isn’t around as often as before? Have you truly given the guest posters a fair shot to see if they offer true value? Most do. They’re just written in a style and tone that is unfamiliar to you – for now.

Ask questions. The guest poster is there to answer your thoughts. Speak up and discuss. Build a relationship. You may find that you like the person after all. You just didn’t give him or her a chance.

Know the glamour and the garbage. Does our life here at Men with Pens look shiny and easy? We’ll be the first to say that what we do isn’t easy at all. The work is hard and wearing. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before saying the person shouldn’t make changes.

Some of you may think that I’m speaking of one particular blog. I’m not. I’ve seen many blogs move from single writer to multiple authors in the past six months. I’ve seen many of my friends burn out and walk away. It’s a struggle sometimes, as seasoned bloggers juggle their business, their blog and their life.

I support each of these bloggers as they try to reestablish balance. After all, if Beloved is tired, there ain’t no lovin’ goin’ on at all, now is there?

Speaking of business, blog and life, we’re not quite done with this series on guest posting. Stay tuned for next week, where we answer your questions on guest blogging (drop them today in the comment section!) and discuss our stance on guest blogging – amongst other good things.

Guest Posting: When Your Favorite Blogger Pulls Back Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

• How to Land a Guest Post Gig
• Stacking the Odds of a Yes in Your Favor
• The Attitudes and Mistakes that Blow Your Chances
• Avoiding Guest Posting Problems that Damage Your Blog

Today’s topic is one that cropped up often in the comment sections of these posts: finding the motivation to write content you’ll give away.

Finding the motivation to write a guest post isn’t easy. It’s a struggle, and guest posting can be hard work. What to do?

Writing for your own blog can often be great. Having a solid post that attracts attention and comments brings a fantastic feeling. It’s victorious. It fills you with pride. How could you possibly feel the same about content you write for someone else? You’re giving it away, after all.

So the situation becomes conflicting. It isn’t as much fun to write guest posts. It creates pressure. It can be a chore. Many writers feel they shouldn’t give away something that good, either – a truly great post should benefit their blog, not someone else’s.

These common problems can easily be resolved: Don’t write guest posts.

Write for yourself and your blog. Write freely and use all your creativity. Make your post perfect. Make it something people will want to share and discuss. Write from the heart and from your soul.

Aim for that fulfilling moment that occurs when you sit back, look at your work and realize, “Wow. This is good. Damned good.”

That’s your guest post. Give that work away.

At first, it’s heart wrenching. Each time I showed Harry a post that made me feel victorious, he nearly cried when I said, “I’m going to send this post to so-and-so.”

“Are you kidding me?” He’d be shocked. He’d protest. “This is way too good, James. This belongs here, on our blog. Come on!”

But no. Posts that good didn’t belong here. They belonged in the hands of people who could offer more. They belonged in places where they’d be seen and read.

The work I loved the most had to be shared – and it wouldn’t be shared enough here at our blog.

It hurt, but I gave some very good content away in our early days. I still do. I always will. I understand that if you give nothing, you receive nothing in return. And I understand that sometimes, you have to give just because it’s the right thing to do.

Make no mistake, though – I have a blog to populate, and every piece of content I write has a home. I write for me first. Yet each week, I hit on an idea, an angle, a tone or style that is more than good. That rocking post I wrote? It just doesn’t belong here.

I never know which posts those will be. I never write with the words “guest post” or “featured blogger post” looming my mind. I never have blog names blinking in my brain while I write. I write for me.

So my motivation is always there. I don’t have to look for it or find it. I write because I love doing so, and sometimes, I write great things. Those posts are ones that Men with Pens will never see – but someone sees them.

And that’s the point. It doesn’t matter that your work is published here or there. What matters is writing for you, putting your work out there for people to read – and reaching them.

That’s all.

Enjoying the series? Good. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where we explore one common guest posting issue that many people struggle over. Is that person you?

Guest Posting: Finding the Motivation to Write Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

Today’s post looks at some reader reactions to guest posting and some tips on making the arrangement a success.

There’s a trend happening around the Internet. Work smarter, not harder. Don’t burn yourself out trying to post a ton. Ease up on blogging. The solution? Fill your blog with guest posts! Take a vacation! Hell, bring a new blogger onto the team and split the work forever!

Good strategy? Mmmmmm, maybe not.

People subscribe to blogs for a few reasons:

• They like the information, advice or entertainment
• Everyone else seems to be subscribed
• They’ve heard it’s a top blog
• They’re monitoring the blog’s content or its growth
• They’re friends with the blogger

Readers quickly develop favorites, a bond with the blogger and familiarity with the person’s level of content and style. Blogs create a personal connection. With each new post that delivers what readers expect and want, the blogger reinforces trust and loyalty.

People like consistency and they resist change. They become comfortable and develop expectations. They even get selfish and demand continuity of what they’ve come to expect. Disrupting that comfort zone causes defensive resistance.

A guest post can shake stability, creating unease with readers.

The first guest post sends a small rumble of change. The readers think, “Hm. What’s this?” The reader’s interest is piqued. He or she may nod approval politely, comment and then visit the guest blogger’s home page

Generally, though, readers expect their Beloved Blogger to return soon. A day off is fine. Beloved blogger will come back tomorrow.

Let’s say that a few days later, another guest post pops up. Now readers think, “Hm. Again?” They read politely, comment, visit… but they’re not sure they like this. Beloved Blogger is coming back, right?

By the third guest post, readers start to wonder. “Is this guest posting here to stay? I’m not sure I like this.” If the guest posting keeps up, the thought processes are pretty simple: “I want my idol back.”

The protests begin. Readers might complain. They might start to dislike the trend. They wonder what’s going on with Beloved Blogger. Does Beloved Blogger not love them back?

It’s risky business.

Reader loyalty is fickle and trust is easily broken. A reader who feels betrayed will find somewhere else to go. The person seeks out a blogger who offers consistency and commitment. Why stay if Beloved Blogger isn’t hanging around much either? Readers didn’t sign up for guest posts to begin with.

Think of the situation like a favorite fruit. Readers who enjoy bananas shop for bananas. When they find a good banana vendor, they expect good bananas.

When they get apples, they’ll shop for their bananas elsewhere.

Introduce Change Carefully

If you decide to accept guest posting on your blog, introduce the concept to people before making a move. Loyal readers deserve to know that change is coming, so give them a heads up and warn them. That helps give them time to accept and adapt when guest posting begins.

Screen Guest Posters Carefully

Be sure to choose guest posters that reflect the tone, style, level of information and type of blog that you have. If you’ve always given five-star content, guest posters who offer only three stars aren’t going to do your blog any favors. Choose guest posters wisely and carefully for what they offer.

Create a Pattern

People like consistent, expected patterns and stability. If guest posting will be a regular occurrence, establish a pattern. Choose specific occasions when you’ll accept guest posts, a particular day of the week for guest posting or one regular guest poster with whom readers can become familiar.

Listen to Feedback

If your readers start to grumble, listen to their feedback – and welcome it. Yes, it’s your blog, you can do what you want, and you can’t please all the people all the time, but you do also need reader support and praise. If readers are still complaining after a few weeks, change the situation. Find a way to compromise or a new method that works for everyone.

Pay Attention to Commonalities

If there is negative feedback about guest posting, pay attention to common threads of complaints. Most likely, readers aren’t protesting the concept of guest posts. They may be unhappy with certain posters, the quality of the content, the level of instruction or the poster’s tone and style. Make changes and reestablish peace.

They do say that any press is good press. Personally, I don’t think the boost from bad press is worth losing readers. Keep your readers happy, listen to what they have to say, and find a middle ground that suits you and suits them.

Are there times when you should accept guest posting? Yes indeed, there are. Our next post will look at some of the reasons to accept guest posts – and some of the reasons you shouldn’t.

Guest Posting: Watch Out for Complaints Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

But what about skeptical guest posters, the ones who aren’t sure about the value of guest posting, look down on it and who see few benefits?

Well, if you want to guarantee that your guest posting attempts achieve low results, ramp up that arTEESTe attitude, create a self-fulfilling prophecy and give guest posting half a serious shot instead of a real college try.

Perfect. Welcome to failure.

Remember that you aren’t writing for free or giving something away. If you feel that your work is above all this business of guest posting (and make no mistake; it is a business), then keep your content and your attitude.

In fact, the notion of “giving it away for free” couldn’t be more inaccurate from its shortsightedness. You have the opportunity to capture new readers, new clients and more sales. It’s all about you and what you make of the opportunity.

The blog owner isn’t giving you something for free, either. Yes, he or she is doing you a favor and giving you a chance, but “what’s in it for me” works both ways. Blog owners expect something from your guest post in return for its moment on the stage.

A good guest post should give the owner’s blog credibility and traffic because your work is that good. It could earn Diggs or Stumbles or go viral. The blog owner gets good stuff; you get good stuff by association. Win-win.

Oh, by the way? Blog owners are going to check out your site. If they visit your site and find a sloppy blog, uninteresting posts, erratic posting, rehashed content, a poor product or a negligible service, you’ve blown all your chances. They certainly don’t want to promote anyone that brings down their reputation.

So in this case, yes, your guest post was a waste of your time.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, a look at the flip side of guest posting, the blog owner’s perspective. We’ll look at how to introduce guest posting and some of the reader reactions you should watch out for.

Guest Posting: Throwing It All Away Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

Don’t worry; it’s okay. Those feelings are common. You can help stack odds on your side, too, to help get that “yes” you’re looking for:

First, have a thick skin. Rejection isn’t personal, and it’s not a reflection of your self-worth. Thank the blog owner for considering you and taking the time to read your request. Graceful acceptance of a refusal matters, and it can keep the door open for another try in the future.

When asking someone to accept a guest post, attach your post to your request. Big blog owners are busy people, so give them as much as you can and don’t make them chase after you. Remember, you want them to like you – make it easy.

Be friendly and personable when you send your request. Mention something about the blog owner or the blog, too. Show you know who they are and grease the wheels with a compliment. Also, don’t be stiff or formal. Relax. Present your request with friendly confidence.

No answer? No problem. Some blog owners receive so many requests that they turn off their customer service when it comes to guest posting. (Sucks, but hey.) Don’t be afraid to send a follow up email in a week or two if you don’t hear back – maybe the person just has been too busy.

No luck? No worries. Use the guest post on your own blog and be done with it. Write something better and try again at a later date. Look for what you can improve, too. Analyze posts on other blogs that get many comments. Find new angles to present old ideas in new ways. Be fun. Be interesting.

Offer something of value, too. There has to be something in it for the blog owner. If you’re just asking for handouts, your chances of acceptance become slim.

The best value you can offer? Rocking content. It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete no-name brand and just walked into the Internet. If your writing kicks ass, it’ll get posted, and it’ll have an effect on your returns.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where you’ll learn exactly how to blow all your chances at getting anything out of your guest post – and how to avoid throwing it all away.

Guest Posting: Stacking the Odds for a Yes Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved

Should you? Shouldn’t you? What might happen? Will anything happen? Which blogs? Which bloggers? When should it start? When does it stop?

Oy. Confusing indeed.

Guest posting can have many positive effects, and it can have many negative effects as well. Posts tossed about here and there aren’t ones that will achieve specific, measurable goals. Taking the time to manage the situation properly and good things happen.

A well-written (and by well-written, I do not mean classical literature) guest post submitted to a carefully selected blog can have strong results – new traffic, new readers, new business, and new credibility. Fantastic. We’re all for that.

Likewise, a well-written guest post by a credible writer submitted to your blog can help engage more readers, increase your reputation, lighten your workload and earn more traffic. We’re all for that, too.

But just how does guest posting happen? What’s the process? What are the pros and cons? How do you know what to do? When should you do it? When should you avoid guest posting altogether? How do you navigate the process?

We’ll tell you. This post is the first in a small series on guest posting to help you learn more about its powers, the drawbacks, some problematic situations and great solutions. Enjoy.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

I’ve often been told that I ask too many questions. My response was always, “If I don’t ask, I’ll never learn anything.” Asking has brought me many good things: jobs I wanted, promotions I sought, skills that interested me, knowledge I desired.

I specifically remember the first time I made a conscious effort to ask for something I wanted. It happened in Grade Four, when I was the only English kid in an all-French school. The most popular girl in the school was in my class, and I’m sure she didn’t even know my name.

Everyone loved her. She was perky, bright and friendly with long blonde hair, the ultimate girl-next-door. I trailed behind her and her entourage from a distance at recess and lunch hour. I would’ve given anything to be part of that group.

One day while filing into the classroom, someone bumped me by accident. It was her. “Oh! Sorry,” she smiled like the sun. Before I knew it, I’d blurted it out.

“Would you be my best friend?”

Guest posting is just like that. You need to know who you want to accept you, and then you need to bite the bullet. Some blogs openly request guest posters with a little ad or link, but most don’t. You need to ask, or you’ll never know.

(The girl said yes, and we immediately struck up a fast, close friendship that lasted years. I still talk to her today.)

How about you? How do you feel about asking people for something that you want?

Stay tuned for Monday’s post, where we’ll tell you how to avoid throwing away all your chances of success with your guest post.

Guest Posting: Landing the Gig Isn’t That Hard Another rockin' post from the Men With Pens! Copyright 2006 - 2010 30 Sous Zero Inc - All Rights Reserved