Image Credit: Clickfire.com
I was recently interviewed by a legal publication on how to be a good guest author and how to invite guest authors to a blog. Turns out, this topic has a lot of breadth to it, and I used my recent guest posts here, here, and here as fodder for this discussion.
And, it got me thinking — what constitutes a good guest author? There are no rules (really?), so I’ve created my own (really 2?). See if you agree, and then please add yours! I’m not in the “frequent guest poster” category at all, so I honestly would like to hear what you’ve got to add.
1. Topicality. Definitely ask the blog owner what topic they want you to address. When that is not defined, then, the sky is the limit and the delay is longer. Take a look at previous blog topics archived so you can conform to some style similarities. Know if the blog is oriented to public relations, small business, or some other vertical orientation. Never submit a topic that has nothing to do with the blog; in fact, a good rule of thumb is to invite the blog owner to approve the topic.
2. Deadline. Do deliver a post by deadline. When the blog owner says, in a month, then set your deadline for a week out and let him or her know you’ve done that. This way you will get that post off your plate, and on to theirs. Now, if that blogger is so swamped with topics and your post is going to sit awhile, then work out an acceptable date in advance of submitting the piece. I worry about relevancy if a blog sits too long in the hopper.
3. Content. Spend double the time on drafting the content, and then put it away a day. Come back to the post fresh to slice and dice and improve. I have a future post in the queue for Firepole Marketing, and Danny Inny wanted a draft, which I rarely if ever do. I sent the draft and then announced several days later I had rewritten the entire post and re-submitted as final. As a rule of thumb, I do spend a lot more time (about a smidge over double) on a guest post than for a post on my own blog, and it shows in the long run.
4. Amenities. I always send a jpg of an image with a credit. That way, the blog owner doesn’t have to search. I send links within the body of the post, as well. This is a must and courtesy for the blog owner. Lastly, I send my bio and a photo (just in case), so the blog owner doesn’t have to do that leg work.
5. Marketing. On the day prior to publication, ask the blog owner what time he/she will go live with your post. Everyone is different — in fact, I had to wait until 1:30 p.m. ET for Spin Sucks’ guest post to go live (ahem, because Ms. Dietrich gets top billing, of course). Over at Ken Mueller’s house, he was prompt at 7:30 a.m. which provided me the opportunity to jump in early to add the first comment.
Once you know when you’re going live, tweet the post, title, and invite peeps to come visit. Throughout the day, schedule tweets with the guest post, add it to Facebook and also Google+. It’s very polite to market the heck out of your guest post for someone else’s blog. In fact, that’s a must do for anyone guest posting — always market your post at least 10 times throughout the day and the next day on the Interwebz. (Hilarious; I NEVER do that for my own posts. What’s wrong with me?)
6. Accessibility. Be very in touch with comments; answer each one, thank commenters, and be professional…unless, of course, there’s a full on blog jack occurring, and then have some fun! Ask me what a blog jack is, and I’ll tell you! That would have originated over at Erica Allison’s house when she was on holiday. I guest posted for her, and boy, did we party like it was 1999!
7. Make a goal for comments (optional). Dog gone, I have to admit, I’ve made a game of this whole commenting thing. If you have Lifefyre in comments, it’s really easy to chalk up the comments. My new goal is 150 comments, and then I’m done. So far, I’ve made it happen, and have even been known to spark some inanity just to tally the numbers! Out of the four guest posts and one podcast interview, all but one tallied higher than 158 comments. I’m lucky if I break 100 comments on my own blog! Yes, call me competitive…
So, here’s my seven! How about you?
Excellent list here, Jayme! Most of all, I like the tone of respect with which you approach this topic. It’s a luxury and a privilege to be asked to guest post at someone’s house (as you like to call them), not a right and not a guarantee. Treat it as such and respect the blog owner’s time, topics, and audience. I find that my guest posts are always better than my own! Maybe I should go on vacation and invite myself to post at my own blog…Hmmm.
Thanks for that comment re respect. I believe that’s true although the tone was unintentional. I do consider getting an invitation to guest post the way it’s done rather than inviting oneself to do it. I agree…go on holiday so we can take our own writing to another notch! See you soon!
Great tips. Definitely something I’ll be using for myself, and for sharing with others.
Nothing to add, Ken? Oh, man, of the prolific pen?
Dear Most Creative Comment Troller Ever,
Well, you rock as a guest blogger (and a blogger) so you should DEFINITELY proclaim authority on that level. And I love the idea of creating etiquette for the guest blogger. We are, after all, a guest in someone’s home, yes? I think the biggest thing is to be in it because you care about the community in which you are visiting. If you’re just doing it for the link love and the exposure, it shows, and that is lame. That means, making sure your topic is not only relevant but will also spark conversation. It means, like you said, responding to all comments. And WORK IT LIKE YOU OWN IT. hahaha. Cause that is how you roll.
Oh, that is so awesome, Ms. Gerber. Like to the 9th power! That tip is a goodie, too…CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY YOU WRITE FOR…absolutely! And, how cool is it that today I was invited to guest post in Bulgaria? Fitting. She hadn’t seen this article, either. Karma flying around the world. Thanks for inviting me to your house, and wow, that comment tally is off da hook — highest evah!
I’m remembering 1999: it was a very good year (cough #TeamBlogJack:)
Really great tips here. I’m always honored and happy to GP, and the 2 keys for me? Provide excellent, wonderful, inspiring, hit-it-out-of-the-park content, and then be a good guest and be available to respond to comments on a timely basis. @lisagerber:disqus makes a key point in saying that you should do it because you care about the community in which you’re a visitor…ditto that! I can’t imagine GP’ing someplace where you don’t give a rat’s patootie about community. After all, that’s what blogging’s all about: people. Cheers! Kaarina
Yes, yes, indeed! And, let me ask you right here, right now…got a GP for moi? Would love your business coaching insights to this zany world we’re in.
Definitely! I’d love to GP for toi…or vous. Gotta’ make sure I abide by all the guidelines and etiquette, and will be in touch about a potential topic. Cheers! Kaarina
Great rules, I will use these for my blog! It is also important to seek out guest bloggers who are able to speak about a topic that you are not particularly familiar with. At least for me, I will be looking for guest posts that can add breadth to my blog, sharing knowledge or experiences that I do not have as access to.
Ciao!
Am totally on board with you, Kine, and I appreciate you popping in here to add your thoughts, too. Giving your blog some depth and breadth is a great exercise. Now, what is your blog link, please?
I actually have not launched my blog yet, but I will send you a link as soon as it is up!
Great list! Thanks for the link love. I’m sorry you weren’t able to get 150+ comments on your guest post at my place. Maybe I need Livefyre! 😉
I’ve been meaning to write about this because I’ve done a decent amount of guest posting lately and there are some best practices that will help you stand out. Here’s what I would add…
8) Follow the writer’s style & voice. I read a lot of the content at a particular blog before submitting a guest post. I want to make sure mine fits the style and voice of their blog so it seems like a natural fit. I’m not saying you should give up your own style, but you need to be cognizant of the house that your host built.
9) Send proper files. You touched on this a little above, but I think it really helps the host when you send both a text and HTML file of your post. That way, they don’t have to spend time formatting your post. You’ve done all the work for them and it makes it easy.
10) Be gracious. I thank every last person who tweets/shares my guests posts. I do this at my own place too, but I think this goes a long way when you’re a guest poster.
I could go on and on, but those are a few of my tips. Great advice, Jayme!
Yes, I have seen you doing a ton of writing all over, Laura. Great way to build your traffic, too. Now, about switching to Lifefyre…I think it’s inevitable. Sigh. A makeover and a tweak.
I almost want to say your #8 is maybe on the fence for me…part of the reason why I want different voices is because I want different voices. People who have varying expertise with other background and not the same style as mine. That’s what makes it more appealing for me because it’s not me…make any sense at all?
Agree with you Jayme, per @lauraclick:disqus idea on the host blog’s style. The reason to get a guest to post is to expand right, show different perspectives and points of view. Yes you should respect a blog, not curse up the place or whatever, but bringing your own voice is part of it IMO.
It totally makes sense. And, I don’t think I characterized it in the right way. I think you have to bring your own voice, but you DO have to be cognizant of the host blogger’s style and format. For instance, I think it makes sense to pay attention to photo choices, headers, length, etc. For instance, if the host blogger normally has a 500 word post, your 1000-word post might not go over as well. My point is that you have to stay true to yourself, but you also have be careful to “fit in” a bit so your post still feels at home for the host blogger’s readership. Maybe I’m not articulating that very well though. Does that make sense?
It does make sense, Laura. Do you do all that research before a GP? Wow! Impressive, for sure. Perhaps in the beginning, and then it just kind of becomes second nature, right?
Not every single one. But yes, at first, I spent a LOT of time doing that to get it right. It also helps if you regularly follow the blog. You already know what the tone and community expectations are. That helps a lot.
You have much loftier goals for the number of comments than I do, Jayme! The day before my first guest post was published, I was nervous that I might not get any comments. So my goal was simply to get enough comments so I didn’t feel like a complete failure. Then, my post on Spin Sucks was published the day after yours–another panic attack! But it turns out, all the worrying was a waste. I did the things you mention above, and everything was great.
Oops.. I missed it. (Just jumped over to SS, nice job.)
Let me let you in on a little secret, Marianne…that SpinSucks post I was terrified of…I was so afraid I’d never reach 50 comments, so I went in guns drawn and beat the bushes all afternoon. Lo…it took off like a rocket with its own power booster. Let’s call it stage fright and agree that we both have nothing to worry about … until the next time! Heh
The best part of guest blogging is getting paid. That post I ran over at Bill’s place paid $1.39 a click and generated enough cash for me to buy some really cool toys.
When I revisit my post on guest blogging, I’ll certainly think of this. My stumbling block is #1; if you give me free pick of my post and I just sweat bullets trying to come up with something that won’t suck. You crack me up with #5, I think I have pimped my posts elsewhere than I have my own… and to add, I’ll suggest using the guest post URL for CommentLuv, should you be commenting on other blogs the day of the post.
I must WORD #6 – I’ve been on blogs that do get lots of comment action in which the guest blogger hasn’t taken the time to reply; that’s on my peeve list too. As for the last part, yes #TeamBlogJack can be a total blast and lots of comments are great for the ego, I’d still prefer 10 really good ones over 50 “nice posts” any day. Think for my blog commenting goal, I’d pick bringing in different commenters, getting some lurkers to delurk or attracting new readers to a blog. FWIW.
I can agree with your last statement…delurk — love that word! For sure, I better get at least one new reader who doesn’t know me on someone else’s blog — unless, of course, it’s your house, Queen D!
This is great stuff Jayme. I actually have not known what to do on the picture part, and I like your approach. The host can either use it or not but offering can be really helpful. We all know how much time finding great pictures can take.
I agree with @47d58be98d1441a276245024c9457dbf:disqus about respecting the host, and your list seems to have that at its heart!
Adam! Sorry, I must’ve missed your comment; my apologies. I have accepted many posts for my other blog and rarely were photos included. If they were, they weren’t jpgs, so that was also challenging. As editor, I absolutely give discretion to the blog owner; however, he/she is less inclined to switch out a jpg if it’s provided.
P.S. Did you share your blog with Kaarina? We’re grappling with comment systems right now…which to use and to what end.
This post is helpful, thoughtful, and professional. Well done, Jayme.