What is guest posting?
First things first: let’s
define our terms. “Guest posting” means writing and publishing an article on
someone else’s website or blog.
I offer this on my own site
(occasionally) and do it quite a bit on other blogs with audiences that I want
to speak to. It’s a great way to connect with new readers and get your name
out.
But for the longest time, I
overlooked this essential discipline for growing a popular blog. I wish I
hadn’t. And I hope you won’t.
There
are three reasons why guest posting is such a key strategy for every blogger to
build their online influence:
Guest
posting builds relationships
Bloggers need good content. By being a good guest blogger and
adding value to someone else’s blog, you’re going to build relationships with
other bloggers.
Bloggers make up a large percentage of conversations happening on
the Internet, especially on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. They
can be tremendously influential. Which makes them good friends to have.
By making friends with other bloggers through guest posting,
you’re going to grow your influence in the realm of social media, which will
ultimately lead to more blog subscribers.
Guest
posting is great for search engines
The one non-negotiable you should have for guest-posting is this:
The host blogger must include a link to your blog in the post
somewhere (usually at the beginning or end).
Over time, these backlinks will raise the value of your blog to
search engines, making your content easier to find via Google, Yahoo, Bing, and
others.
Guest
posting introduces you to new people
Perhaps, the best part of guest posting is that it allows you to
enter an already-established community, and share your message. It allows you
to connect with new people, which can ultimately benefit you, if you do it
right.
If you’re adding value to the discussion, you’re going to see that
convert over time to more readers, fans, and followers. Conversely, if all
you’re ever doing is asking or selling, you may end up famous, but with a
reputation you don’t want. (You don’t want to be “that guy” who’s hawking his
own agenda.)
Add value. Help people. Be patient. And over time, you’ll
win.
What
about people guest-posting on your site?
I’m also a fan of allowing other people to guest post on my own
site from time to time. You should consider offering guest posting on your
blog, too (if you don’t already).
If you’re asking for opportunities to guest post on others’ blogs,
this just makes sense. It allows the relationship you’ve developed with the
host blogger to be mutual.
Some bloggers will even blog about their guest post and link to it
from their own blog (giving you some great link juice). Personally, I’m a fan
of this practice.
The first
rule of being a good guest
When I guest post for someone else, I do the following:
·
Link to the post from my blog
·
Promote it on Twitter (several times)
·
Share it on Facebook
·
Thank the person
·
Stick around and respond to comments on the post
While not everyone does this, it’s not a bad idea. However, this
is important: If you have to choose between getting people to guest post on
your site or guest posting elsewhere, do the latter. It’s always better to get
your name out into new communities.
Guest
posting Services for webmasters
According to my friend,
Mike the Search Engine Guru, when it comes to SEO, guest posting on other sites
is five times as valuable as creating new content on
your own site. (So long as you get the backlink.)
Whether that’s precisely
true or not, I don’t care. (Although, Mike is not an imprecise kind of guy, so
it probably is.) The point is that this is an excellent strategy
for extending your reach and boosting your reputation online.
Plus, if you’re a writer wanting to land more “traditional”
publishing opportunities, this is a great first step to eventually getting your
writing featured in news sites, magazines, and other publications.
If you aren’t satisfied with your blog traffic but aren’t posting
on other people’s blogs, you don’t have much to complain about. Start guest
posting today, and see your influence grow.