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Guest Posting: Common Questions Writers Have
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:
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.
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18 Responses - Leave your comments too!
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James is reading:
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Taylor is reading:
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Social Hookups
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Regular guest posts? Research? Readership numbers?
What? You want me to do more work? Where does it stop?
Alex Fayle’s last blog post..Expanding Tastes
Supremely practical, James, and with the usual panache. About RSS subscriber counts: any blog that doesn’t display the count usually has either way more or way fewer subscribers than one would imagine. Usually (not always), it’s fewer. A low feed count on display is not a big red X, but it’s gotta be worth your time. A high feed count on display doesn’t mean the blogger is “better” than anyone else. I’ve been surprised several times by finding a lower feed count than I expected based on my other impressions of the blogger.
Michael Martine’s last blog post..Read This If You Want to Make Money Blogging
@ Alex – What, did you think blogging was supposed to be *fun*?
@ Michael – Ahh, panache. I’m going to add that word to my lexicon, lol.
You bring up a very good question many people have – should they post their RSS numbers or not? Should they hold back until they reach a certain point? I’d be extremely interested to hear your views on this.
I should be so lucky! I suppose that I operate in a very narrow niche and other bloggers do not see any merit in asking me to blog for them. If they do, these thoughts, will certainly come in handy. Thank you.
Nicole Price’s last blog post..Custom T-shirts
Thanks for the tips at the end of the post. I don’t want to post more than once a day on my site, but I still have plenty to say. I’m only on my third week with a live blog, so I didn’t think I had the credibility to do a guest post. Now I realize that as long as I can write, I have the credibility. Last week, I got an offer to do a guest post on a blog I really like (super exciting). As far as posting RSS numbers, I can’t wait to post mine. There’s a number I’m waiting for before I want to display. Hopefully, I’ll hit it by the end of the month.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..Your Baby’s Born in the Rough Draft. You raise it in the Rewrite.
@ Writer Dad – Add one to those numbers. Just went over to take a look. You have a nice clean design, the posts are entertaining and insightful, your personality shines through… I’ll put you on watch
@James – Personally, I didn’t display my feed count until it was over 500. Some folks will say do it at 100, but that’s too low, in my opinion. If you want to use it to encourage sign-ups it has to be somewhat impressive… or it will have the opposite effect!
The number of blogs with subscriber counts over 1,000 is remarkably small compared to the number of blogs out there, so my thinking on this now is to waith until you have over 1,000.
Michael Martine’s last blog post..Killer Posts from My Clients? Blogs
This is a really great, well thought out, and helpful series of posts. (no, this is not a damned spam comment)
I’ve done a number of guest posts in this first year of blogging (at least once/month, on average) and I look at it as a side portfolio where I can show other people what I’ve written. I don’t expect huge traffic or subscriber increases back to my own blog when I guest post, it’s more of a case of doing a favor for someone else or extending my presence out in new directions.
At any rate, your pens are as sharp and inkful as ever.
Mark Dykeman’s last blog post..A year has passed since I wrote my note
@ Michael – Hm. You’ve given me something to think on and I feel a post brewing. I do agree that the effect of social proof and groupthink is a valuable one for RSS subscriptions – hey, 1k people like this blog, therefore, I should sign up too. Hm, hm.
@ Mark – I appreciate the compliment perhaps more than you realize. When I first started writing, I thought, “A series on guest posting? People will think I’m nuts.” And yet, every post has received thoughtful comments, good questions and the reinforcement that people did want to know more. I’m glad my experiences have helped.
Now. If I can just make this pen slice bread…
@ Michael, I’ve heard some people say you should wait until you have 50 readers, but that seemed way too low. I waited until I had 250, but I can understand waiting until 500, or maybe even 1,000–though that would take a lot of patience! Skellie made the interesting suggestion that you should post your numbers only if they’re higher than readers would assume.
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..Randy And His Wonderful Pauschisms
Re: Posting RSS Numbers
I definitely agree about not posting numbers until your numbers are up. But I think it depends on your niche as well. If your blog is directed at left-handed, colour-blind artists who live in New Mexico, perhaps 50 is a high number.
I think as most people have alluded to, the only advantage to posting numbers is to attract other subscribers by looking popular. The actual number may be highly subjective though. A good approach may be to start posting when your numbers start going up steadily. For example, if you hit 100 and your number of subscribers starts going up by 5 per week, just watching the climb can make a pretty impressive impact on your blog.
(There’s an idea — is there an RSS chart you can display? Show your readers how your blog is growing rather than just tell them the current number…)
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..One Dime Is All It Cost: How to Keep Your Content Current (And Why You Should…)
Perhaps it would be best for a blogger to start on the smaller side with their guest posting and work themselves up to, oh I don’t know, copyblogger?
Then again, if you have something outstanding, why not try having it posted with the A-listers first. If no success, only then submit to the smaller blogs.
One gust post a week?! You’d have to be a truly prolific writer to succeed at that. I’m not sure everyone is capable of it. But, as I always say, practice makes perfect.
Great tips.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..What’s The True Value of Blog Comments?
@Hunter – I’m not familiar with where exactly Skellie says that or in what context, but I guess my questions is: how would you know what your readers assume for your numbers? It seems a bit gauche to ask.
Michael Martine’s last blog post..Killer Posts from My Clients? Blogs
@ Hunter: I really agree with Skellie on this. I prefer to leave my guests guessing, rather than me putting it right in front of their face.
Now, if I had 5,000 or more subscribers, in front of their face would be a good thing.
Did not Dosh Dosh wait till he had 10,000 before he showcased his stats?
It’s all about the Matrix…
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..What’s The True Value of Blog Comments?
Heh, I’d be gauche. Then again, our numbers are posted. So I can’t be gauche just to be different. Can I be right instead?
You said a blogger should wait a certain amount of time, building up, before putting herself forward as a guest blogger. How long is long enough, approximately? Does this change depending on the regularity of the posts? Is there a milestone that one can guide to?
Ravyn’s last blog post..Incorporating the Inhuman: The Skeleton of the Other
@ Ravyn – There are too many factors to determine what specific amount of time before beginning to tap people up. In general, if no one knows you, it’s a bad idea to ask.
There are more factors listed in the next two posts to come. Cheers!
Excellent post, James. I have copied and pasted parts of this to a text file for reference later (in addition to the stumble!).
About the RSS numbers, I think if I had over a 1000 signed up I’d post. That truly is a lot of people listening. No, not compared to Problogger, but 1000 people is still an impressive number. 500 and I’d consider it.