How Guest Posting Can Help Grow Your Blog

by Jeff Goins | 65 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

I’m writing guest posts like a madman these days. More than I ever have, in fact, in over six years of steady blogging. In addition to my commitment to regularly post on this blog, it’s quite an investment of time.

So, why am I doing this more now than ever?

Because guest-posting is the single most important strategy for growing your blog readership and platform.

Allow me to explain.

Photo credit: John Ward (Creative Commons)

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:

1. Guest posting builds relationships with other bloggers

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 for 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.

2. 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. (If you want to know more about this, read my SEO guide for humans.)

3. Guest posting introduces you to new communities

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 big fan of allowing other people to guest post on my own site. 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. 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

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 matters

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. (I talk about this more in my eBook, Before Your First Book.)

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.

Want to get better at guest posting? Get this course from Chris Garrett: Guest Posting for Quality Links and Targeted Traffic

Do you guest post? Why or why not?

*Photo credit: John Ward

Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links.

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About the Author

Jeff Goins

I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. I live in Tennessee with my wife and dog. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

What would you say is the best way to ask to do a guest post? Do you write and send it to them? Do you ask first to see what they are looking for?

I understand that having great content on your own blog is probably a top priority as people aren’t going to want to put junk on their own. So assuming you have that, what is the best way to proceed?

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Hey Ben – thanks for the comment. I think that it depends on the audience (but this probably deserves its own post, and to be honest, I was planning on it).

Here’s what I’m seeing in the blogosphere: The best guest posting opportunities are birthed out of relationship. If possible, ask to meet up with a local blogger, buy them coffee, share your story, etc. Then follow up via email with some ideas for a guest post

It’s not formulaic, but here are my suggestions:

1) Check to see if they have guest post guidelines on their site. If they do, follow those. If not, proceed…

2) Read up on the blog, see what topics haven’t been covered.

3) Send a short, informal email to the blogger, pitching an idea or two, with some links to stuff you’ve already written (to prove your chops). I might add that you shouldn’t put yourself down in anyway (i.e. “I’m just a measly old pseudo-blogger compared to you!”). That doesn’t invoke a lot of confidence. At the same time, don’t be overly proud or puffed up.

4) If they like the idea, proceed to write the best dang post you’ve ever written. Make sure that it reflects the general style and feel of their site. (e.g. If every post has bullet points or numbers, use some bullet points and numbers.) Don’t send multiple drafts or iterations. Try to write something as close to ready-to-publish as possible.

5) If you don’t hear back, follow up with them in a week or so.

6) If you still don’t hear back, follow up one more time, letting them know that if they aren’t interested to let you know, so that you can take the post elsewhere.

7) If they post it, promote the heck out of it. If they don’t, try pitching it elsewhere or posting it on your own blog.
Whether you succeed or not, d o the whole thing over again. (Sidenote: If you DO get rejected, don’t take it as a “I don’t ever want to post any of your garbage every again, unless, of course, they actually say that. Don’t get discouraged and don’t let that be the last time you send them an article idea.)

Hope that helps! (Btw, I’m totally copying this and editing it to turn into a post soon…)

http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

Thanks! This is really helpful. And I am happy to have helped you write a new post. Teamwork!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Thanks, Ben! You may have noticed that I turned this into a guest post for @MichaelHyatt:disqus ‘s blog: http://michaelhyatt.com/seven-steps-to-writing-a-successful-guest-post.html

http://www.solobizcoach.com SoloBizCoach

Damn Jeff. Your last comment is a second blog post. Great advice on guest blogging. Thanks

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Thanks, Fred. I intend to edit and repost that

http://twitter.com/andreamv Andrea Meyer

Thanks for both posts today! Busy Monday! I’m newer to blogging so I’ve guest blogged once. Would be interested in pursuing more opportunities. Now, I’ll start my research.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

you’re welcome.

http://twitter.com/andreamv Andrea Meyer

And, I did not pay attention, this is from Friday. Busy Friday. I need more coffee.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

hah! no worries. my hope is that the content here is more or less timeless — or at very less not so narrow that it only applies to a certain day or week!

http://popparables.com Keri

Just saw a link to this post on FB, such a great post and Ben asked the question I was thinking while reading this. I think the best guest posts pay homage to the mission of the blog/voice/intent of the original blogger, but bring a fresh perspective to the topic. And, I totally agree with Jeff-build relationship first and then proceed to offer to guest post or ask them to guest post. The trust built makes it easy to say “YES!”

http://stevencribbs.com Steven Cribbs

I have heard that guest posting can be a really good thing. I haven’t done a guest post yet; but, I have started thinking about doing so – maybe trading posts with some other bloggers that have similar blogs.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

That’s a great way to start, Steven. A lot of people sit around, waiting to be asked or invited. The best bloggers seek out guest posting opportunities.

MichaelDPerkins

That is something that I have not ever done. I’ve never asked. And because of that guest posts come in splurts. I may go a month or two without any, but then when someone sees that I’m willing, I get asked a lot. I think I should ask more often.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

you should

Megan

Are you talking about asking to post on other people’s blogs or asking people to post on yours? Because I don’t have that much traffic yet but would really love to include other people’s posts on my blog http://babystepsthroughthebible.blogspot.com. Which one are you suggesting?

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Both but specifically posting on others.

Charlie Chang

I would like to but sometimes I feel like other bloggers would look at a post of mine and be like, “Eh, that sucks! I don’t want that garbage on my site!”

nicodemusatnite.com

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Well, Charlie, you’re just gonna have to get over that or give up on ever being able to guest post. (Or maybe, you just need to spend some time growing as a writer, which is perfectly fine.)
http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Btw, dude, your blog is hilarious! you don’t have anything to worry about.

http://hopefulleigh.blogspot.com/ HopefulLeigh

I’ve guest posted a few times but I haven’t actively sought out opportunities before. Reading this makes me think it should be one of my next steps. Thanks for your wisdom, as always!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

it’s worth a shot!

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

I would love for you to Guest Post on any (or all) of my blogs. http://www.tillhecomes.org gets the most readers right now.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

I’m down.

http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

Anyone on here want to write a guest post? Haha, gotta take the chance right?

I am blogging through the Bible one chapter at a time. All you need to do is study the chapter and write something on it. I range from totally irreverent humor to thoughtful reflection.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Hmmm…

http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

Is that like a “not cool, man” hmm or a “wow, that was really clever” hmm?

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Not the latter…

But I don’t mind.

http://thewholedangthing.wordpress.com Ben Emerson

Ok good. Honestly I didn’t know. New to the whole blogging thing. I also thought it was funny that you wrote a wonderful and well-thought-out response and I totally ignored it. woops!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Hmmm…

http://twitter.com/not2lindsay Lindsay Goodwin

Ben, I’d *love* to participate in something like that!

http://www.AnnieAndre.com Annie Andre

Thanks Jeff,
It makes total sense to guest post. And ive talked with several people who all say the same thing. Guest posting IS THE single best thing you can do to drive traffic to your blog.

The only thing stopping me is fear itself.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Don’t let it, Annie
Megan

That’s what was stopping me until I finally talked myself into it. Now I’m so excited to start guest posting and having others post on my site! http://babystepsthroughthebible.blogspot.com

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Glad you’re doing this, Megan.

http://twitter.com/ThatGuyKC K.C. Procter

Great post, Jeff! I’m going to link back to it in a post for tomorrow.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Cool!

http://twitter.com/ThatGuyKC K.C. Procter

Here is the link if you’re interested.
http://www.somewiseguy.com/2011/05/guest-posting/

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, KC

http://thisismethinking.com/ Darrell Vesterfelt

You can guest post on my blog any day you want Jeff.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Cool. Checking out your blog now. Looks good.

http://spinningnowhere.blogspot.com Stephanie Kearns

I got to guest post a few weeks ago on Jon Acuff’s blog, Stuff Christians Like. It was the first guest post I ever did for anyone. It was terrifying. But it was also amazing. In retrospect, guest posting should be something that you start small and build up. Thankfully, I did all the stuff you said to do when guest posting!!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Very cool, Stephanie! Love Jon’s blog(s).

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http://www.johnmichaellane.com John Lane

I’m writing my first guest post now! Its exciting and a bit terrifying!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

Cool, John. Good luck!

Adams121

yea I can get you on the first page of google in 1 week email me

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http://www.linchpinbloggers.com/ Don McAllister

This is old, but I’d love for you to do a blog post on my site (linchpin bloggers) whenever you’re able!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

i’d like that, too, don. email me.

http://onlinerookies.com Kalen

Jeff I have worked as a professional guest poster and find many serious businesses use it as their exclusive marketing strategy. One of them was a former professor of medicinal chemistry. He was a brilliant man who could have come up with any number of effective marketing tactics for his site, but he chose to use guest blogging. I figure if it works for them that well, then it should be a major thing to focus on. I am now using it much more seriously for my own blog now.
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http://www.livehacked.com Nick Thacker

Jeff, thanks for this–I’ve recently “relaunched” my blog after a much too long hiatus, and I knew that guest posting was an important strategy.

Now, though, I’m pretty much going to be focusing most of my attention on getting guest posting opportunities (maybe here!), and not worrying so much about SEO, ads, and other marketing ventures.

Thanks for renewing my interest and helping me figure this all out again!
Nick

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

That’s a great plan, Nick.

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http://twitter.com/FlowingEvents FlowingEvents

Nice
http://www.flowingevents.com/
http://danhbavietnam.vn Danh Bạ

In my opinion allowing guest post makes us lazy and sometimes it
redirects traffic to our guest poster’s site. There are also a lot of
problem occurs with the back links of the site. Thanks for sharing such
an informative post with us!!