Men with Pens » Guest Posting

How to Create Guest Post Guidelines for Your Blog

Agent X — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:00:18 +0000

It’s well known that one of my strategies used to rise to fame came from being everywhere, all the time. I used the power of guest posting and blog commenting tactics to reach people around the globe.

If reaching people is what you want, you’ll find plenty of advice on guest posting right here at Men with Pens, including great tips on accepting guest posts to your blog – like this post on submission guidelines from Ann Smarty. Enjoy!

You know there’s power in guest posting and that it’s mutually beneficial to both parties. You might even be thinking of accepting guest posts on your blog. (Check out this post for great tips on how to find great guest post authors.)

The next step is to create a solid guest post policy of guidelines.

Why You Need Clear Guest Post Guidelines

With a clear list of guest post guidelines, you can:

Cut down on low-quality submissions: If you state your criteria for approval, chances are that most people will adhere
Cut down on irrelevant submissions: Let people know what topics to cover in their posts
Cut down on poorly-formatted post – and save your time on formatting them)
Avoid any misunderstandings
Have solid grounds to modify or reject the post without offending anyone

What to Add to Your Guest Post Policy

Besides the obvious such as how to apply as a contributor or the process of submitting the guest post, you may want to include the following in your policy:

Your Quality Requirements

Some people (myself included) think that strict standards limit the author’s creativity. For example, a post shouldn’t be too long to be awesome. However, without standards, you’ll be flooded with low-quality posts, so clearly state the quality you expect in terms of word-count length, language, originality and uniqueness.

Your Preferred Topics and Subjects

List some specific topics you’d prefer for guest post content. You can suggest some areas that you don’t have expertise in and thus would like an outside perspective. Alternatively, you can share some post ideas, basing them on posts that you know are especially well received by your audience.

Your Link Requirements and Policies

It’s very important to mention what you’ll accept in regards to linking, because that’s usually what causes plenty of issues and misunderstandings. You might:

Ask the guest poster to link to other posts found on your blog, or make it clear you’ll add internal links yourself
Specify how many links guest posters are allowed to use in the content and byline
Specify your position on affiliate links within post content (normally forbidden)
Express your opinion on keyword-rich anchor text (like Daniel, you may be against SEOd links in guest posts)
Mention whether guest posters are allowed to link to their own content within the post

Your Post Image Requirements

Do you require an image sent in with the guest post to make it more attention-grabbing? That’s up to you. But keep in mind that if you do request images or the poster sends one in, you should know that image attribution is important. All images should be properly attributed and have been credited. Remember, the image is published on your blog: you don’t want stolen images there!.

Your Republishing Policies

Some blogs allow republishing of guest posts; some don’t. The traditional position is that the post belongs to the blog owner, is credited to the author and cannot be republished anywhere else. This protects from duplicate content issues. Some authors may be unaware that they can’t publish their guest post elsewhere, so it’s best to make clear whether you only accept original content and whether you expect your blog to be its ultimate home.

Your Editorial Policies

Do you edit guest posts? How many edits should a guest post author expect? Let people know to avoid misunderstandings. : “Please don’t be offended if we suggest changes.”

Your Formatting Preferences

You may want to include a few lines about how you prefer guest posts be formatted, such as:

Using subheadings in the post body (I usually ask guest posters to include H2-H3 tags)

Whether you prefer HTML formatting

Using short paragraphs or bullet points (to make the post easier to read)

Now that you have a good idea what to include on your guest post guidelines policy, write one up! Don’t forget to make it easy to find on your blog, and give the link to anyone applying to be a guest poster.

Do you have guest post guidelines? Share some of your favorite policies or guidelines in the comment section!

Ann Smarty has been guest posting for the past two years. Her passion resulted in My Blog Guest, a community of guest post bloggers. If you want to submit to hundreds of high-profile bloggers or find quality writers ready to contribute to your site, come join!

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How to Create Guest Post Guidelines for Your Blog first appeared on Men with Pens
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How to Wow Blog Editors (and Get Published)

Agent X — Mon, 17 May 2010 05:00:05 +0000

Today’s guest post comes to us from Laura Spencer, a well-known crack writer, blogger and head editor at Freelance Folder, one of the blogosphere’s largest hangouts for freelancers. She responded to a post written last week about when your guest post is held hostage – and her comment was so well thought out that I asked her for her opinions on how to be a great guest poster. Here it is – enjoy!
So, you’ve decided to incorporate guest posting into your marketing strategy. Good for you.
Guest posting can be an effective way to reach your target audience.
Guest poster Chris Birk did a good job recently of describing how a writer feels when a guest post is accepted but has not yet been published. However, with all due respect to Chris’s excellent insights, that’s only half the story.
As an editor at a blog, a writer for three blogs, and an owner of two blogs–I have been on the receiving end of a lot of guest posts over the years. I can tell you one thing: While many guest posters are extremely talented, some are not. A few are pushy and some are even rude.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of emailing off four, five, or more guest posts quickly and then expecting to see your work on the blog of your choice the very next day. After all, the blog editor/owner has probably been waiting breathlessly for your little darlings, right?
Sorry, no. Usually, things don’t work that way.
Thoughtful Actions to Help You Get Published
First of all, every single blog is different. Every blog editor or owner has different expectations and needs. This can make it tough to break in as a guest author.
However, there are some relatively easy steps any guest author can take. These steps will usually increase the chances of getting a post published. Here are my suggestions:

Before your write your guest post, read the blog where you want to submit your guest post. I mean REALLY read it. Take the time to study the last four or five posts published. Look at the style and tone of the blog. Scan the topics that have already been covered.
Look for a writer’s guidelines page. Not all blogs will have this page and sometimes the page is hard to find. But, when a guidelines page is there make sure that you follow it to the letter. This page is a blueprint for you and usually describes what a blog is looking for.
If the blog is missing a writer’s guideline page, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a blog doesn’t accept guest posts–but, it could. Look at the blog site again to see if any other guest authors have already been published. If in doubt, a polite email to the site owner may be in order.
Make your post as editor-friendly as possible. This includes proofreading your post thoroughly. If possible, format the post in HTML. If the blog uses images, find a royalty-free image that fits your topic and attach it your post.
Once the post is accepted, be sure to iron out the important details, such as whether or not you will be paid for the post and who owns the published post.

What to Do While Waiting to Be Published
Oops! You’ve sent your post in. It’s been a day or two and you haven’t heard back from the editor yet. Or, the editor said they would use your post, but it’s been over a week and they haven’t published it.
It’s time to shake the dust from your feet and move on, right?
Wrong! If you submitted your post to a large blog, remember that they may get dozens of guest posts each week. Often, posts are scheduled in advance (sometimes way in advance).
If you submitted to a smaller blog, the site owner may be blogging in addition to doing a regular job. He or she may be busy with work, or they may even be on vacation.
Be patient. It’s perfectly acceptable to email your contact and ask about the status of your post.
Common Mistakes Guest Authors Make
Here are some common mistakes that I’ve seen guest authors make. (You’re reading this post, so you now know better. I don’t want to catch any of you making these mistakes. )
Don’t submit:

A guest post that has nothing to do with the topic of the blog
A guest post that is a thinly disguised advertorial, chock full of affiliate links
A guest post that has been used elsewhere
A guest post that you wouldn’t be proud to put on your own site

Do you accept guest posts on your blog? What guidelines do you have? Are you a guest poster? Has this post been helpful to you?
Laura Spencer is a freelance writer with over 19 years of professional writing experience. She blogs at Writing Thoughts and is editor for Freelance Folder.

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How to Wow Blog Editors (and Get Published) first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

What to Do When They Hold Your Guest Post Hostage

James — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:00:26 +0000

Photo credit Antonov Roman

A polite intro, a list of my choice of topics and a really well-written email got my attention, and Chris swooshed right through the hoops (not that I have any) to be today’s guest poster. His advice is perfect for those who write and submit guest posts around the web – use it wisely, young Jedis, and always for the power of good.

It’s an awful, mind-numbing, frustrating feeling.

You’ve successfully completed a stellar guest post. You’ve pitched it just as successfully. The site editor raves about your work and welcomes you into the authors fold. You take a fleeting moment to revel in self-satisfaction before heading off to the next assignment.

And then nothing happens.

Days elapse, but there’s no sign of your published piece. No emails from the site editor. No indication whatsoever that your work will ever see the light of day.

Your guest post is being held hostage.

It’s not like you can all the police. But God knows you want to.

Why Does This Happen?

There are dozens of reasons why writers wind up in this content limbo. Bloggers and site editors, especially at top-tier outlets, are generally busy people. Dozens of content requests and guest post submissions pour in each week. Editors are often multitasking for their site and can easily get sidetracked.

But some tilt a little too far toward instant gratification and lose sight of a contributor’s work as soon as an agreement is in place. Mutual respect and empathy are two keys to cultivating a worthwhile writer-editor relationship, and an imbalance can contribute to a guest post being held hostage.

So what should you do?

It probably depends (at least in part) on who you’re writing for. If it’s a big-name site, you’ll probably want to take a different tack than you might with a smaller outlet with less traffic and credibility.

But silence from you only services to tacitly condone the practice of a hostage guest post, which only means more headaches down the road at other sites.

Definitely stop to remember that whole mutual respect thing. Writing posts and creating relevant content is part of a symbiotic relationship between authors and site owners. Getting a reputation as a snarky, demanding writer probably won’t boost your industry rep or your bottom line.

Here are five steps writers can consider when their work has suddenly disappeared into the ether:

Calm Down

It’s tough but true. Firing off a biting email demanding answers and an apology probably won’t win you repeat business. Write the email and then trash it. Or just take a breath and stop to remember that other people have lives. Give the editor at least a week if there’s been no discussion about a timeframe for posting your piece. Get back to pitching and writing.

Determine Intentions

It’s probably time to circle back to the editor after a week to 10 days. Check in to inquire about the pending publication of the piece and make sure there are no lingering questions or concerns. It’s always a good idea to ask about headlines or artwork (and it’s an even better idea to include them as part of your initial submission).

Get a Firm Commitment

By this point, that nasty email is starting to feel like a missed opportunity. If you’re closing in on the two-week mark, it’s probably time to respectfully seek a firm commitment from the site editor. Ask for a specific run date and remind the editor why your piece was timely and a solid fit for their site in the first place. Especially note any time-sensitive elements of your work as a way to spur action.

Shop Elsewhere

Site owners and the search engines alike abhor duplicate content. But writers with a piece in limbo should consider pitching the idea to other sites. If the original piece finally comes through, then you can always conduct a substantial rewrite and push the piece along to other interested venues. This is also a way to gain some leverage when the time comes to have one last email exchange with the original site editor.

Ultimatum

This is the end of the line, somewhere around the four-week mark. Your work has been hostage long enough. Firmly yet respectfully give the site editor an ultimatum — publish the piece by this date or you rescind the right to publication. Or, better yet, that you’ve changed your mind and will be submitting the guest post to a competing site that will publish your work instead.

No matter your method, remember that professionalism and mutual respect should still win the day — if for no other reason than it’s a small world, especially among people who create and share information for a living.

Chris Birk works with GrowthPartner, a unique firm that provides angel investment and online marketing expertise to emerging companies. A former newspaper and magazine writer, he teaches journalism and media writing at a private Midwestern university. He blogs at Write Short Live Long.

From the Pencil Cup

Want to learn more great tips on all things guest posty? Check out these great resources:

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
What to Do When They Hold Your Guest Post Hostage first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

How to Avoid Wasting Your Blog Client’s Money

Agent X — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:30 +0000

There are people out there that have been readers for a long time – they’re like old friends by now, and I’m always glad to see them. One of those old friends is Rebecca Laffar-Smith, who tossed me a guest post that I think carries a pretty cool message worth thinking about. Enjoy!

We’ve all heard the hype that every business must have a blog. And many online copywriters are thrilled to land a new blogging gig – so thrilled they rarely pause to wonder if writing for their client’s blog is really the best investment of that person’s marketing budget.

Have you ever considered how your time could more effectively benefit your client by not writing for their blog?

Why Would Your Client Pay You to Write Free Information?

Your clients have heard what you have – that every business should have a blog. They’ve heard that blogs generate free advertising. Blogs are effective tools for viral communication. Blogs are loved by search engines for fresh content. Blogs keep customers coming back again and again. Blogs build brand and trust. Much of this is true.

But a blog is free information. And free information is readily available these days.

What’s more, your clients are rarely in the information industry. They’re not in the business of giving free information to their customers. Free information doesn’t make money. Free information doesn’t pay the lease on their brick-and-mortar store. Free information doesn’t feed their employees or put dimes and dollars into their 401k plans. Free information doesn’t pay for health insurance or holidays.

There are other, more effective, time-efficient, cost-reduced ways of achieving everything a blog can provide. And, for most businesses, it does NOT make sense to have a blog.

Good News for Content Writers

Don’t worry. You don’t have to give up on blogging. In fact, you can make even more money as a content writer if you choose NOT to write blog content. Tell your clients:

You can offer them greater value for money by not writing for their blog.
They can save money and increase their return on investment by eliminating their blog.
They can increase their exposure by having you write for OTHER people’s blogs.

By offering guest post services to your clients, they’ll enjoy benefits such as:

Their name on the lips of their competition
Content that will be syndicated across MANY blogs
More page views direct to their sales copy, higher conversions and targeted visitors

There’s more you can offer your clients instead of blogging services. You can write an information product they can sell or give away free that leads to residual income and exponentially increasing their site visitors. You can bring them traffic by leaving well-written comments on the blogs of their competitors. You can spruce up the conversion rate of their existing site content and sales copy.

Your clients can have all this with no ongoing commitment to pay or perform, no continued maintenance, no time or money-sinking additional self-promotion techniques, no risk to their business brand, and for the same (or less) money than they currently pay to maintain their blog.

Sometimes, the most effective way to be the best freelance writer for your client is to tell that person why you shouldn’t be hired for a specific job. If you know that your client would be better served in other ways, say so. Offering honest insights that save your clients time and money makes you memorable – and both you and your client make more money doing less work.

Have you ever suggested alternative ways you can benefit your client’s bottom line? Have you considered if your own blog is cost effective? What other ways can we increase the return on investment our clients make by NOT blogging?

With over ten years experience writing web copy, Rebecca Laffar-Smith now focuses on maximizing the effective online presence of small business with web technology and design solutions. Rebecca hosts a community of writers with the Writer’s Round-About Collaborative Blogging Project and encourages writers to do less for more by creating efficient routines and eliminating unnecessary procedures.

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How to Avoid Wasting Your Blog Client’s Money first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Guest Posting: Should You Accept Guest Posts on Your Blog?

James — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:00:07 +0000

You’ve made it to our last post of our nine-post series on Guest Posting. (It’s a little amazing, isn’t it? Here’s what we covered in Day One to Day Eight:

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.

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Post by James Chartrand

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
Guest Posting: Should You Accept Guest Posts on Your Blog? first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Guest Posting: After You Get the Yes

James — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:00:09 +0000

We’ve reached Day Eight of our Guest Posting series, and the second installment of FAQs. You don’t want to miss the rest of the series, and you can find each post here:

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.

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Post by James Chartrand

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Guest Posting: After You Get the Yes first appeared on Men with Pens
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Guest Posting: Common Questions Writers Have

James — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:00:03 +0000

Welcome to Day Seven of our series on Guest Posting, a look at some FAQs many have. We have three posts to go before this series wraps up. If you missed Day One through Six, here they are again:

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.

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Post by James Chartrand

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Guest Posting: Common Questions Writers Have first appeared on Men with Pens
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Guest Posting: When Your Favorite Blogger Pulls Back

James — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:00:58 +0000

Today is Day Six of our Guest Posting Series. Day One through Five covered:

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.

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Post by James Chartrand

Guest Posting: Finding the Motivation to Write

James — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:00:41 +0000

Welcome to Day Five of our series on guest posting. We’ve covered:

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?

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Post by James Chartrand

Guest Posting: Watch Out for Complaints

James — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:02 +0000

Welcome to Day Four of our series on guest posting. We’ve looked at one easy way to land a guest post gig, how to better your chances of approval , and how to blow your chances of success.

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.

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