Guest Blogging a serious venture that can make you thousands, or even millions of dollars. On one condition, that you treat as a business not a side hustle.
Where do you start?
That’s easy by guest blogging. Yes, writing guest posts will help you;
- Get quality traffic
- Become an authority
- Boost your portfolio
And these are just the ice-breakers, there’s so much more you derive from guest blogging.
But do you make your first guest blogging shot count?
Well, you can hire guest post outreach services who handle the essentials for you. Or use the tips below to start guest blogging even when no one knows who the hell you are.
Sound good?
Let’s get to it.
Find Relevant Blogging Opportunities
Look for websites in your niche, search for the best blogs to post in. After all, you want to make the most of the guest blog, right?
Here are a couple of ways to do that;
Do a quick Google Search
Google is the land of opportunity and doing a quick search helps you filter out through the noise. Simply search for the“keyword + guest post.”
For example, if your industry is health, type “health + guest post”
It’ll narrow down your options to the relevant blogs only.
Follow the Prolific Guest Bloggers
Think of the great guest bloggers in your industry, look at the sites they write for. These are good places for you to also publish.
To do that simply typethe word “guest post by,” (and insert the name of the prolific blogger). It’ll show you all the platforms the person has posts.
Use Backlinks
Pull up a backlink analysis of your competitors, do a thorough search of their blog using tools like Open site explorer
Why?
Because these backlinks take you straight to the websites they’ve ever written for. Use that information and do an even better guest post.
Do Background Research on the Blog
Want to write a post that gets accepted fast?
Well, get to know the publisher’s expectations. Find out their target audience, the level of writer they want, and what kind of posts they accept.
Here’s how to do that;
Look at what others do
Take a look at the previous guest posts. Did they perform well? Do they have enough comments to generate traffic?
These are the vital questions that need answers to, pronto.
See who Guest Blogs There
One secret to guest blogging success, is finding out as much about the competition.
Here’s what I mean:
As an entry-level blogger don’t expect to get published on high ranking blogs. These kinds of blogs may only accept professional bloggers. As such, you want to find out who writes for them and if your work compares to theirs.
See the Kind of Posts that do well
Do you want to boost traffic to your site? Build a strong domain authority?
There are no two ways about it, you must write a compelling post, that hooks readers.
Looking at previous posts that did well helps you do just that. It guides you on what people want to read more about and fuels ideas on a topic.
Know the Basic Pitch Practices
Of course, there are rules. In fact, without them, the whole thing would be a catastrophe.
When you follow these standard practices, you sound more like the pros. They include;
Reading the Guest Post Guidelines
Each site has its own set standards to guest post, know them, understand them and keep them.
Personalize your Pitch
Talk to the person in charge like in a one on one basis, connect with them on a personal level. You are more likely to get what you want this way.
For example, in an email you can say “Hi” instead of “Dear Sir/ Madam.”
Introduce yourself as a Professional
No one wants some third-tier blogger posting on their website. Instead, they look for knowledgeable people who run their own blogs.
So, make sure to introduce yourself as a blogger first as a bonus.
Know when to Strike
For the best possible outcome, you want to hit the nail while it’s hot. This requires a certain level of precision and skill to execute well.
But here are the signs of a good time to ask for a guest post;
- When a website expresses interest in guest posts
- If you get a mention from the blog
- If the blog lists you or your services in one of their posts
Final Thoughts
Guest blogging has to be one of the best ways bloggers gain traction. You get exposure to a whole new audience that boosts your traffic.
To say the least, it’s a gem.