No matter how great your online content is, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd these days. There are over 600 million blogs on the internet at any given time, so you can imagine that staying visible can be a problem! But it’s not an insurmountable one. The answer is to spread your net wider and, in this article, we’re explaining why guest posting is the key to boosting your visibility.
What Is Guest Posting?
Right, so you’ve got your blog all set up and you’re publishing your posts on a regular basis. While this is great, it’s also limiting. Guest posting is all about sharing the love by getting your posts featured on other folk’s blogs. The idea here is to find blogs which are similar to yours but not competing and then to reach out to the blog owner to ask for your content to be linked.
But it’s a marathon not a sprint, so don’t expect results overnight. The best way to start is to take the time to identify potential blogs that may be useful to you. Then you ask for a guest post, right? Not so fast – that would be jumping the gun and, quite frankly, come across as maybe a bit rude.
You can find target blogs by searching for the kind of content that would be a good fit for your posts. You can also keep it delightfully straightforward by simply Googling “Write for us” as this will net you a surprising number of hits really quickly.
Once you have a list of blogs, it’s time to start the long game. Get to know the blog inside out and be sure to like and comment on posts as this will mean that the blogger becomes familiar with your name. You can then progress to starting a conversation about his or her content. Once you’ve developed a rapport, you can then, finally, bring up the subject of guest posting.
Be My Guest
Guest posting isn’t just a case of getting your content shared and then ghosting the blogger, there’s an etiquette involved here (yes, really). Once you’ve secured that all important spot, there are some things you need to keep in mind and, these are:
- Thank your host – This may seem like stating the “bleedin’ obvious” but you’d be surprised how many people skip this important step.
- Quality content – Always ensure that your post matches the standard of the host’s content – and never make massive changes after the article is published without running it by your host.
- ….And engage – Once your post is out there, you need to make sure that you engage with it – for example, reading comments by followers and replying to them.
Just like in real life, a thoughtless or rude guest rarely gets invited back.
High Vis Is A Good Look On You
Now that we’ve taken you through the fundamentals, it’s time to turn on the high beams and take a look at how guest posting can super-size your visibility online:
Ask the audience
It goes without saying that guest blogging can expand your audience – but it doesn’t stop there. It can also help you to tap into followers that you may not have thought to target on your own blog. For example; the blog may have followers with interests that while not directly related to your content, are still relevant. This means that they’re sharing your content with a brand new group of people.
Cracking the credibility code
When you’re introduced onto somebody else’s blog, you’re setting yourself up as a thought leader which instantly lends credibility and authority to your online reputation. This can be extremely valuable not just for attracting more followers but even possibly monetising your blog long-term.
Start your engines
Anybody with an online presence knows that getting picked up by search engines is the holy grail – and guest blogging can really help here. When your content is featured on one or more high quality blogs or websites, the Gods of Google will smile upon you by improving your ranking. This, of course, means that when people hunt for content like yours, they’re more likely to find your blog as opposed to somebody else’s.
Terrific traffic
If your blog is attached to a website selling a product or service, guest posting is fantastic for driving traffic directly to the site. When somebody clicks on a link in your content after enjoying the article, they’re much more likely to stay awhile and maybe even make a purchase.
Brand on a run
When you get your content published on other blogs, you’re making your name known and this, in turn, feeds into recognition and credibility. The more people see your brand, the more familiar they are with it – and the more likely they are to buy. This works online just as it does on the high street where consumers automatically flock to a store that they know and trust.
The Do’s And Dont’s Of Guest Blogging
When starting your journey, there are a few golden rules to keep in mind and these are:
The Do’s
- Do only share high-quality content
- Do thank your host
- Do reciprocate by offering to host on your own site
The Dont’s
- Don’t badger bloggers for a post
- Don’t forget to engage with the content
- Don’t ghost the blogger once your article has been shared
As we’ve mentioned, etiquette is very much a thing in the blogging arena – and rushing into requests like a bull in a china shop will rarely net the results you’re after.
Networking For New Followers – And New Collaborations
Guest posting is an extremely valuable tool for anybody with a blog and, as such, it should never be treated like an afterthought. Put together a proper strategy and then work on building relationships rather than trying to get quick results from only high-value blogs. And as you go along, try to keep the word “guest” in mind and always remember your manners!
