Whether you’re looking to build a business in 2022 or grow the one you already have, a guest post is a terrific way to get your name out there.
What is a Guest Post?
A guest post is when you write an article or blog post for another site.
In many cases, companies will not pay you for this post. Instead, you create the post in exchange for free publicity on a website.
Paid Guest Post Blogging Sites
That said, some websites will accept paid guest posts. But they’re not paying you; you’re paying them.
You are paying this company to publish your guest post for its readers and visitors. Just be warned that doing this too much can be pricy.
If you choose to pay websites to publish your posts, make sure the price is reasonable, and you are reaching the right audience. Just like paid advertising, a paid guest spot is only good if it reaches the correct audience.
Why is a Guest Post Beneficial?
Whether you’re paying for a site to publish your guest post or a site has agreed to publish it for free, there is a mutual benefit that goes with it.
According to New Breed Revenue, a guest post can attract traffic back to your website and vice versa. It can boost domain authority for both websites, increase brand credibility and awareness, and build relationships with peers in the industry.
Leading marketing expert Neil Patel says they are also beneficial in establishing yourself as an authority in your industry.
Best Places to Submit Your Guest Post
When you’re looking for a place to submit your guest post, you want to look for websites that are considered leaders in your industry. You also want to look for sites that reach your target audience. For example, I might look into marketing websites, sites that write about sales funnels, or sites that offer advice to small businesses.
Active blogs with a strong presence on social media are also a draw. You want something that posts regularly and shares on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. These will help make sure that you’re reaching a new audience on a larger scale.
What Should I Write About?
While a guest post is ideally about getting your message out to a larger audience, that’s not the appeal for the website posting your content. Your business goals need to be secondary. Your primary goal should be to make valuable content for the host website.
When deciding what guest post to write, study your target website. Figure out what its readers are interested in and how you can serve that interest. Look at what kind of content the website has published before from guest authors. Think about what might hold value to the website’s readership.
When writing a guest post, you want something that fits seamlessly into the website’s content.
Guidelines to Pitching a Guest Post
Once you have an idea for the guest post you want to pitch, read up on the website. Does it accept guest posts, and if so, what are the rules? Many websites have strict guidelines for the types of posts they accept or what they’re looking for. If you don’t follow the rules, you make it easy for the website to say no.
When sending your pitch, let the website’s managers know why you targeted them specifically. Address them by name and explain why you think you would be a good fit for a guest post. Tell them why you’re experienced enough to teach their readers a thing or two.
Guest Post Writing Tips
Once you get that yes, you need to make sure that you offer excellent service. This is about building relationships and putting your best foot forward. Because of that, you need to put as much time and energy into writing a guest post as you would into providing outstanding service to a paying client.
Information is Key
As explained before, the guest post is about providing value to readers. Your marketing needs are secondary at best.
Your guest post should be packed full of useful information. This is your chance to show why you’re a leader in your industry.
The side bonus is that the more informative and valuable your guest post is, the better marketing it is for you and your business.
Strive to Fit In
When writing your guest post, you need to pattern it after the other posts on the website. Is there a particular structure that’s used? Do they use a lot of images or bullet points? Are posts usually listicles or more essay-like in structure?
Make your post look like it’s supposed to be there.
Include Links
Internal links to other articles on the website are super helpful. Not only do they improve the overall health of your blog post, but they help the website rank higher in search engine algorithms. The better the website does, the better you do too.
Write As You Talk
I’ve written a few posts about this before, but the best blog posts and guest posts are the ones that have your voice. Don’t be stiff and formal. Write as you talk.
Not only does this make the message that you’re conveying more interesting, but it also gives people an idea of who you are. It gives them a sense of your personality.
If you want more details on this, check out Intentionally Inspirational founder Jason Wright’s talk with Nick Usborne of Conversational Copywriting.
Copy Edit
Lastly, read, reread and re-reread your article. Not only is this post your voice, but it’s a representation of you. Read your article. Take a break and then come back the next day with fresh eyes.
Make sure your post expresses the proper tone and message.
Copy editing is essential.
Conclusion
If you follow the above guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to gaining more exposure for your business through guest posts.
Just remember to put the reader and content first, and you’ll do fine.
Written by Erika Towne