I’ve mentioned quite a few times how guest posting may help your business grow. I also shared why in my opinion this is the ideal marketing strategy – where quality matters and everyone wins.
Unfortunately, not everyone can get this right. So are three things guest blogging is NOT:
1. Guest blogging is NOT link building in the first place
I know I have emphasized link building benefits of guest posting quite a few times: but if link building aspect is the first in your list of reasons why you start guest blogging, you are getting it WRONG from the very start.
This way you have good chances to sacrifice on the quality of your content (and the strategy overall) by attempting to get as much link love as you can. Don’t think about building links at all (they will come naturally). Think about other (much more important!) aims you are going to achieve: brand awareness, fans and supporters, reputation, etc!
If you only need link, don’t even start guest blogging. Period
2. Guest blogging is NOT article distribution!
Fellow marketers, I know you feel tempted to find a leak here: “Why would I spend 2 or more hours creating a great article and then post it to only one blog? Why not publish it on several blogs?”
Now, here’s my advice: DON’T do it. You’ll just screw the relationships with powerful bloggers and influencers in your niche and achieve nothing.
Try playing by the rules and you will be amazed how much more effective it is!
3. A guest post is NOT the same as product/tool review
I’ve seen enough of that. Plenty of guest posts I’ve seen focus on the by-line: just a couple of paragraphs of mediocre content and then dozen of sentences describing who the author is, what he does and how awesome his product is.
Before submitting this useless stuff, try to imagine why would a blogger want to publish it. Remember a blogger doesn’t require anything in return for linking to your site. All he needs is some good content his readers would appreciate.
Don’t waste your time doing blogger outreach if you have nothing of value to offer.
Now, to conclude, I am a marketer myself and I’ve dealt with many people who need fast, cheap results. If you are one of them, just don’t try guest blogging. This tactic is only effective if you do it right. Just don’t waste your time.
Img by Lars Plougmann
Joseph
Latest posts by Joseph (see all)
- Chatting Guest Blogging at #Pitchboxchat - December 19, 2018
- How to Collaborate on Content: Co-Create, Interview and Find Guest Bloggers! #BizapaloozaChat - December 5, 2017
- Ann Smarty Talking Influencer Marketing at #BW_Chat Twitter Chat - February 26, 2016
Hal Brown
These are simple, common sense things to know, yet I'll bet you see this constantly. I used to submit article queries for publication in paper. It was a no-brainer, follow the rules or get a ruthless rejection slip. We all make mistakes, but I get tired of all the chest-beating and self-serving sites posts and tweets.
Jeeze, can I use anymore hyphenated words in this comment? 🙂
Corporate Hampers
Cheers, Hal,
It is not invigorating to read about some guys personal achievements bio whilst all I am seeking is something meaningful about a specific niche.
Plus. love your use of punctuation instead of using but or with.
Hesham @ FamousBlogg
I believe that guest blogging is not a link building method, it's more than a way of gaining more readers from different blog communities!
Recently, I have received a few guest posts for my blog, and I found so many of them has lake in the information, maybe the writers of these posts was thinking of it as a link building more than giving real value for readers so I had to reject some of the posts.
You know?! I want to contribute some guest posts to publish them on other blogs, but when ever I write something I feel it's not good enough to be published elsewhere than my own blog, because what I publish on other blogs should be more useful and have higher value because it's talking about me, so I change my mind so many times.
Popppy
Now that feeling 100%.
I am trying to write for a living, and I get scared showing my work to others…
I know there is no point writing and keeping it all for 'my eyes only' but it is a very hard one to overcome.
I always feel and think other peoples work is better than mine.
Pops ~xx~
Michael Aulia
Well said, Hesham! 🙂
Nile
Amen on #3, although I would also expand it to finding ways to market a product you are associated with. I recently got an offer to guest blog on my mommy blog for a product I would stay away from as a mother. I was really upset…and yes, it was from here, but in no way the site's fault. I really had to refrain from laying into the person about how to go about guest blogging correctly. Save the plugging for side comments on podcasts or for banner advertising, or sign up for PPP or SocialSpark as an advertiser.
Oh well… *sighs*
Nikki Selene Lamagna
Thanks for this info. I recently started writing on my blog on a more consistent basis and want to start writing some guest blog posts. I completely agree with number 1 regarding link building. I understand the value in it but isn't the goal here to share your knowledge, brand yourself as an expert, and put out killer content? It almost seems counter productive; if you don't have great content but a million links coming to your site, your visitors will never come back!
Thanks for the insights.
Stacey Cavanagh
Well said, Ann.
The product review element is something that particularly irritates me. And also people who don't take the time to read through the blog in the first instance to get the type of material that the blog's readers like to read!
Jim Rudnick
Spot-On Ann! I think that more folks who do blog on a guest basis should be required to read this one post!
Especially the #2 item…and that should be paramount in any guest bloggers “marketing” mindset, eh!
🙂
Jim
Nick
Great article. I do think it's possible to write an effective article and still gain one link. It's the people that want 30 links within a 500 word blog contribution. If your blog doesn't engage your readers than the odds of them visiting your site is about zero.
Matt Keegan
I blame this thinking on the article marketing crowd. Back in 2005 and 2006 I leveraged article marketing which was effective for a time. Since then, I discovered that this was wasteful. It is simply better to write unique content and posting that once on a good site than having it littered all over the internet on a bunch of Adsense income generating sites.
Corporate Gifts
This is the truth – it is all about patience, not becoming complacent and being genuine and honest. I have never had much faith in article writing and re-writing – personally I went and looked for articles that might appeal to me and found there were few.
Like the simplicity of one original content blog post and the weight it will deliver. Can't wait to be a part of this – but also, am mindful that it is all about writing a quality article, and THEN sharing it amongst your online community.
Latief@AnotherBlogge
Agree with you Ann. I'm doing guest blogging not for link but for get the new audience and give the blog my personal touch 🙂
Cheryl from thatgirl
To your excellent list I would add: don't submit articles that are a mismatch.
For instance, my blog is funny – or at least, it's meant to be. Sometimes, I don't feel so funny. But, mostly, if you want to submit something to me, you're going to have the best luck if you're not being really serious. You'd be amazed at what people send me sometimes.
Their work agenda is placed before my "be funny" one – publish my post about my work or my business please. What ever happened to the concept of "good fit"? If it doesn't fit, I can't and I won't publish. I'm happy to accept posts that people can relate to and enjoy a smile over.
Darius Stone
Great article Ann.
I have been guest blogging for 6 months now for one website, though some of my content is also syndicated elsewhere.
However, every Friday, I do a column that is unique to this one website which is considered one of the best in the niche.
Link building was never my intention – I doubt I even knew anything about link building when I started.
Guest posting has done much more for me in this time in that it has made my name more recognizable in the niche and it has built my reputation in a way that I would never have imagined. I have also built cordial relationships with several of the big name bloggers in my niche who consider me in the same light as them. I will still continue the guest blogging as it's now a brand of its own, and it's part and parcel of my overall marketing strategy.
Patty Mooney
I have some pieces on Ezine Articles and what I've found (via Google alerts) is that some people have taken my content, translated it to another language, and then re-translated it into English. The result is a regurgitation of complete gibberish. With my byline. I'm stunned. I don't want my name on that – excuse my "French" – complete crap. Any advice? These particular sites seem to be blogs out of other countries with no real person at the helm other than "admin" and with no links going anywhere. It's just weird. Should I be happy that my name is out there? (yet the content is completely meaningless). Has anyone else experienced this?
Because of this, I am rethinking my Ezine Articles participation and am leaning more towards the guest blogging with one customized piece out there for the world to enjoy, rather than a telephone game* gone wrong. (In case you are too young to know about the telephone game, it is where one person in a circle whispers something to the next, and that whisper goes around the circle. By the time it reaches the last person, it has morphed into something completely different.)
Ann Smarty
@Patty, I am wondering what's Ezine Articles policy for that?
As for guest blogging strategy, sadly, with it you won't escape scrapers and thieves. This is something all content creators suffer from.
Craig
Great post as usual Ann (sorry, I know that seems redundant at this point). I've personally been much too busy lately to actively participate in the guest blogging, but these posts are always a reminder that I need to get my butt in gear.
Might I also add that, due to my current lack of time, I've done precisely as you say. I know that I can't give a guest blog that's 110%, so I'd prefer not to do one. When I do put a message out there representing my brand or philosophy, I want to make sure it's the best possible representation, not a 'quick fix'.
Jacob Maslow
Ann,
You summed up many of the blogger complaints nicely and clearly explained what should be done.
My background is on the eCommerce side. Many, if not most SEO firms hype a proposal as thick as the healthcare bill with all the "work" that will be done to justify their hefty consulting fee.
Quantity is emphasized over Quality.
Understandably, if a company is to pay thousands of dollars per month, they want some reports. Typical proposal involves making 700 requests to bloggers and other sites in your industry. Variations include lots of directories and article submissions.
Branding and awareness is harder to package and tough to sell to management even for someone within the company.
At the end of the day, the over-hyped guys get a couple of links from crappy sites with Zero real content.
Consultants get their fees, the guys with the 5 minute template site usually end up charging a nominal fee for each link and the eCommerce company gets screwed.
Companies that outsource needs to ask a lot of questions, check references and be involved in the process for the project to be successful. Companies also need to do a lot of home work before even beginning any SEO projects.
By doing the proper home work, I avoided dealing with any one that will poison potential relationships with their spam.
Patty Mooney
Ann, I checked with Ezine Articles (on the content-to-gibberish topic) and they pretty much leave it up to the writer to do all the work of contacting the perp and if no justice is served, then the writer should inform their ISP service, etc. This is a situation, I think, of battle selection. Does one really want to spend the time in that direction…. I'll be interested to hear whether other writers experience this, and what they decide to do. I guess I'll just leave sleeping dogs lie on this one…
By the way, thanks for a WONDERFUL site with great exchanges and fabulous potential for positive outcomes.
Ann Smarty
Thanks for the kind words, Patty! I am really excited about the project!
andromida
I have just joined in this great site. Trying to be familiar with the terms & conditions. Thanks a lot for the clarification about guest blogging.
steve moore
good call, i am new to the whole guest blogging atmosphere, but i was doing it privatly, and my whole philosophy is that if you give more than you recieve, than you will recieve much more in the end. so i just write great articles and publish them on one blog at a time *meaning one blog to one article only* . i like what you are saying! keep it up
Igor Gjurovski
I just start with some bloggers to write a guest posts on my blog and I have a great experience with them. Their posts are just great.
@JoeHobot
As blog veteran so to say ( blogging for 6 years now) I must say that duplicated content is the most what I hate to see. I mean it's ok to rewrite same topic just cover it bit differently, we all do that , but word for word posting on multiple sites/blogs isn't something that I call "blogging" i call it SPAMMMMing.
Imagine NYTimes writing exact same article what Boston Globe wrote yesterday? 🙂 and then LA Times does same thing the next day.
I also hate when people want back link for guest blogging, I mean com'on is blogging a passion to hear your voice or is it something you have to get back in return? Sure one link might be fine but constantly? F**8 that 🙂 I don't hire bloggers like that.
I have 7 bloggers that do get paid , don't ask for anything in return except the paycheck but hey everyone's time is valuable and has price too right?
Schelli Whitehouse
Hi Ann, I found this group through Lynn Terry. You are a genius and I so appreciate the opportunity to learn (the right way) to guest blog from such a seasoned group of pros!
I'm not even clear on what a backlink is.
I am new to this genre and have been getting more and more consistent since this past December.
The idea of reaching a larger audience and helping other fellow bloggers at the same time is very appealing. I hope to meet some kindred spirits here and I promise to "Follow the Rules!"
Cheers
Ann Smarty
@Schelli, thanks for joining and I hope you'll like it there!
Yes, rules are important to keep the concept clean, so thanks for sticking to them!
Devthom1
Hi Ann
Like Schelli, I'm here courtesy of Lynn Terry.
I'm a complete newby to blogging, so hope to find alot of pointers here and will "follow the rules"
Thanks
Welly Mulia
Hi Ann,
Great tips you have there.
Wannabe guest posters should read your post, especially about the first point. A lot of them don't know what they're doing and think that it's all about the links. And you're right, then they sacrifice content and strive to insert as many links as they can.
Best!
Welly Mulia
Sheree Motiska
Nicely done. I am personally working on something with my own content creation where I am re-training myself to get to the point. I have a BAD habit of giving too many examples and such. I am getting you in my reader as soon as I hit submit. I have a feeling you are going to be a lot of fun to read and a huge help to my own creative and contextual/editing issues.
Pipa
Hi Ann
I'm so new to blogging! I've started my own site and am now dipping my toes in the waters of guest blogging – I'm so glad to have come to you first! Thanks for your fabulous and obvious support. What a great site! Glad to be part of it…..
Joseph Doughty
Ann,
Thanks for clarifying the difference between money-centric bloggers versus relationship-centric bloggers. Found this site through the guest blog forum and I’m looking forward to learning more.
Robert Brady
These are 3 bitter pills for some to swallow, but if this community will keep these close to heart it will make for a great community.
Ankit
Well, I think I should focus more on the Guest Blogging and writing more useful pieces. I was doing wrong in past (Article Distribution) for getting links, but thanks for clearing me.
Lucian Armasu
It's just what I was looking for to promote my new website. Thanks!
Melanie Kissell
There's no question about it, Ann, that high quality backlinks are the ultimate SEO. However, when it comes to taking a seat of honor on someone else's blog as a guest author …
You've got to throw that way of thinking out the window!
For me, being invited to do a write-up as a guest blogger is a primetime opportunity to strut my stuff. I've had a genuine love of language arts since the first grade. So when I'm given the chance to let my light shine, I spend hours and sometimes days crafting a guest post.
My goal is to inject as much of my personality into the piece as I can. So no matter what the topic is, I make sure I'm giving readers a good glimpse into who I am. Most of my guest posts contain some form of "education", but my main focus is on "entertainment".
Your guest blogging guidelines are excellent!
Melanie
Ann Smarty
@Melanie, I wish every guest blogger had your attitude! Thanks for stopping by and joining us!
Melanie Kissell
You got it, Ann! You've created a fabulous community here.
Have a splendiferous weekend!
Melanie
web designer
It depends on who your blogging for really, for many guest bloggers its just a free piece of content, you make introduce your readers to a new blog, depending on how saturated your niche is. A majority of blog readers dont like change.
Doc Campbell
Ann- I think you are spot on with this piece.
I see guest blogging as somewhat similar to being invited to be the keynote speaker at a friend's company convention. I'd like to think that most of us would be concerned about presenting ourselves in an entertaining and informative fashion, so as not to embarrass ourselves or our friend. Why should guest blogging be any different. If after my speech, someone asks me for my business card, that's fine, but it's SECONDARY. I certainly would step up to the podium, and ask for volunteers to distribute my cards, before I began!
/rant
BTW… an excellent idea you've brought to fruition. I just wish I'd found it sooner.