There’s a steady rumor that accepting guest contributions might negatively impact the blog quality. Here’s the truth: It’s not guest posting; it’s how you do it, dummy 🙂
Most of the hugest blogs you know enjoy (regular) contributors from guests on a weekly basis; and that’s the major reason why they grew so big: Free contributions allow them to have lots of great content daily without huge investments.
Can you name a couple of examples of such blogs? Just from top of your mind!
@SanaKnightly Moz, SEJ, Marketing Land. Search Engine Land. All except regular contributions. #myblogguest
— David B. Faltz (@dfaltz) August 15, 2013
Wikipedia 🙂 #myblogguest
— Don Sturgill (@Don_Sturgill) August 15, 2013
SearchEnginePeople does a good job with guest posting #MYBlogGuest
— Jacque Fairbourn (@jacquefairbourn) August 15, 2013
Now, those huge blogs were small once. They grew *together* with their contributors… But how did they start? Or better question would be “How you, as a medium-size blogger, can get big together with your contributors“
- Step 1: Install our guest blogging plugin. It makes it *extremely* easy to publish guest posts. Don’t forget to publish your own content (Here are some cool and easy content ideas for you to spice up your blog)
- Step 2: Don’t just publish guest posts: Invite your favorite authors back (Read: How to find regular contributors using MyBlogGuest)
- Step 3: Take your blog and your contributors seriously…
this will end up being the best takeaway from today 🙂 RT @myblogguest: Step 3: Take your blog and your contributors seriously… #MyBlogGuest
— Jacque Fairbourn (@jacquefairbourn) August 15, 2013
@myblogguest low-quality contributions will affect a lot more than just blog quality; It kills brands. #MyBlogGuest #guestblogging
— Ash (@fetchprofits) August 15, 2013
@socialwebcafe @SanaKnightly Intent makes a big difference in quality and desire, too. #myblogguest
— Helen Hoefele (@figmentations) August 15, 2013
Now, while we discussed Step 1 and Step 2 previously, let’s stop for a minute and see what Step 3 entails (and some examples):
Take your blog and your contributors seriously…
1. Use checklists and editorial calendars.
In mid summer we empowered our publishers with two cool checklist features:
- You can create your own list of requirements within Articles Requests feature and promote it throughout the site using “permalink”
- You can set up your checklist for all Direct submissions (authors will have to check each point which hopefully make them read closely what you are looking for)
Additionally, I have a checklist on formatting articles within WordPress for you to download.
Also, if you have an editorial calendar, feel free to use MBG follow-up reminders and Watchlist features to make sure your planned contributors are on time.
With recent conversation at the MBG G+ Community, I just revamped use of an editorial calendar. I see how guest blogging fits. #myblogguest
— Helen Hoefele (@figmentations) August 15, 2013
2. Take it: Your blog is one of millions that exist on the web; Make it the major destination for your contributors by giving them increased visibility (share and tag them everywhere)
Featured publisher: @ldylarke is usually very passionate about promoting her contributors and giving the public credit:
3. Stop complaining on your contributors not participating: That’s your blog, so try and nurture the discussion yourself!
Featured publisher: @patweber and featured example of the awesome discussion on a guest post: Tools to manage lists
Back to the beginning: guest blogging works for those who do it right. It doesn't work for spammers and scammers. Go figure. #myblogguest
— Don Sturgill (@Don_Sturgill) August 15, 2013
Last but not least: Stop thinking about yourself as a host and your contributors as guests. Change the mindset. Think about them as a team that will bring your site to the next level. It’s all about joint forces. It’s all about not being alone any more!
That’s the bare minimum of maintaining high quality and growing together with your contributors. Please share your own tips and tricks!
Joseph
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