Photo credit: kakisky
This Feature Friday article is written by Christopher Roberts.
Why does anyone bother guest blogging?
What’s the point of it?
Guest blogging is very important for both the blogger and the blog they are guest blogging on.
Why is it important for bloggers to guest post?
Many bloggers don’t see the point in guest blogging and it baffles me!
There are so many reasons why you should guest post every so often.
1: Guest blogging gives you a new perspective.
Ask anyone who has written a guest post before, and they will tell you that there is something different about writing for someone else.
When writing for others, many people actually find that they try much harder when writing. I know some who verify facts 1,000,000 times before their guest posts, but half as much time on their own blog!
It’s sort of like your house. You do what you want in your own house, and expect others to accept that. If however you go to a friends house, you do things there way, you respect their rules. You are still you, but you are a different version of you!
2: You learn more about yourself.
When writing on another persons blog, many authors change their style – slightly or completely! Guest blogging really makes you evaluate the way you do things; how you write, where you put your pictures, if you have any other media, who you link to etc.
Want to discover a whole new dimension to yourself and the way you write/publish content?
3: Advertise yourself.
When you guest post on a popular blog, people get to know you.
People look out for you in the comments.
People follow your links and check out your other work.
Some bloggers that I met on the blogosphere have a fantastic and unique style, and it’s often through guest posts that I find their blogs. If someone likes your content and/or writing style, they will research you.
4: Get keyword rich backlinks to your website/blog.
If you don’t own a site, you can probably skip this point.
If you do, you can link to your content (where relevant and within reason) that you have written on your own blog and around the blogosphere. You can link to your friends and choose the keywords. Blog authors don’t mind, as you are providing them with great content, and merely linking to great resources.
Why is it important for blogs to encourage guest posts?
Some blogs like (my latest project) Technology Bloggers and larger site Blogcritics are designed to only feature guest posts.
But what about blogs like Ari’s? Why does Ari encourage you to guest post via the Friday Feature series?
Some bloggers (not Ari) need guest content to keep them on track. I know a few bloggers who have been slipping away from their niche, and a short guest post has set them right back on track.
Guest posts also show blog authors what sort of content people expect to see on their blog.
Articles by guests also help to add diversity and greater depth to blogs. Sometimes a guest blogger is an expert of great ideas; other times, having a ‘weird and wacky’ guest author can add new fire to a blog.
Be warned, though:
Blog owners are careful because some people submit content which isn’t up to standard or is unoriginal. Bad guest posts can destroy a blog by turning off readers and harmful duplicate content in SERPs.
Here are 4 great blogs to contribute guest posts:
Blogcritics: Diverse blog accepting content in many areas.
Dragon Blogger: Justin Germino writes about technology and entertainment.
Lillie Ammann: Writing about literary, faith and life.
Windows Talk: All about PCs and great giveaways.
A final note…
I hope you are now motivated to guest post if you haven’t before, and if you have, do you think what I am saying is true?
Get out there and start guest posting!
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{ 48 comments }
I Agree, I do alot of guest posting, and it teaches you that hard work pays off, it’s a very rewarding service, I’ve gotten more SEO value than traffic though.
May 13, 2011 at 8:43 AM
One of my reasons to guest blog, the SEO benefit
Yes SEO related benefit too. But you should not over guest post because getting much number of backlinks i very short time is not good from google’s eye.
And also allowing lots of people to guest post on your website is also bad.
May 13, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Nice post Christopher! This is a great topic that I have been recently wondering about.
I totally understand why you would want to guest post on someone else’s blog to help with exposure, backlinks, etc….
I have recently been asked if I accept guest post on my blog and I have accepted a few but now I am starting to wonder what the benefit is for the blog owner? Is it just for the fresh content?
Hi Ari!!! =]
May 13, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Fresh content, keep you on track, variety etc., as I mentioned in the article
Hey Chris
You nailed this one – guest post on Ari’s site.
Can’t be bad.
Loved your short sentences and conversational style all backed up with a real message – Guest blogging is important!
I’d love to write for other blogs but I struggle to write for my own.
Nice one Chris.
Keith – the casual blogger.
May 13, 2011 at 2:54 PM
“Loved your short sentences and conversational style…” – Why thank you Kieth!
“I’d love to write for other blogs but I struggle to write for my own.” – Technology Bloggers can never have too many posts, if you ever get some time
Thanks M8
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 13, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Hi Ari,
I’m back!
Hi Christopher,
Yes, guest blogging rocks. I just had my first guest post on gini dietrich’s blog yesterday and wow, what an experience. I have several others in the queue for other blogs and can say that it really does push me to make it original, unique and fit with the other blogs’ community and their expectations, without sacrificing my own style. I like your guest blogging series and have started asking a few people to line up posts for my blog – I’m hopeful that it will help get me on track and keep me there!
May 13, 2011 at 3:13 PM
Well done!
Good luck for the future, and thanks for the comment
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 13, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Guest posting also gives you a chance to get out of your usual niche. Sure it’s great for marketing reasons to stay in it, but if you’re in the mood to write about a topic that doesn’t quite your own blog, then you have a world of other options if you start looking throughout the blogging world.
May 14, 2011 at 9:17 AM
That is very true Kristi, ‘hopping’ out of your niche every now and again can really improve your writing + it gets you guest posting on other blogs!
May 14, 2011 at 1:13 AM
Hi Ari,
I know the importance of guest blogging but I think that new bloggers should only write for their blogs and should not focus on other blogs to write guest posts however they can invite others to write guest posts for their own blog.
1) I am not Ari
2) I am a ‘new blogger’ (in essence) and this is a guest post by me…
Where is your logic? Please reply and prove me wrong
May 14, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Well Mr. Christopher!
You may be right but please keep remember that blog is a place to discuss and share different opinions, so I share my view point as you shared yours.
As for as the question of Logic, I think that there are much more important things to handle for a new blogger than writing guest posts. Firstly he should maintain his own blog and when his blog is established and maintained well, I think he is not a “New Blogger” any more.
I think, I have tried to make you clear my opinion.
Please reply to this comment!
May 16, 2011 at 4:29 AM
Naz, I am sorry if I made you cross/confused, you just don’t know my writing style! I like to challenge things, sometimes even if I partly agree (like in this case) just to get a roaring debate going, to get to know my commenters etc.
Thanks for the comments, I see your points, I respect you
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 17, 2011 at 4:00 AM
Hi,
Thanks for understanding my point and leaving a kind reply.
Yes, I didn’t know your writing style but now after knowing it I like it very much. As in this way your commenter can get more involved with you in your discussion.
Once again thanks
Hi,
In my opinion, guest blogging is something very important because you get a lot of advantages from it. You get to know a lot of new people, make a lot of friends, get backlinks, get traffic, get popular, get requests for guest-blogging by other persons and you are exposed to a very big number of readers and visitors by guest blogging on others’ blogs. I do myself guest blogging whenever I have free time because it’s something really useful and it does help a lot. Thanks for sharing!
You are most welcome George, thanks for the comment
Christopher,
Nice post. Thanks for mentioning my blog.
May 16, 2011 at 4:31 AM
Lillie, it’s my pleasure!
You have a great blog, and you accept guest posts, (as your latest article shows – even if it is only a select few!) how could I not mention you
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
Getting links and making some new friends in your field are well worth the effort. It’s something I didn’t get in tune with until just recently, and I’m sorry I waited so long.
I have to say that guest blogging has been one of the most effective ways to build links to my site. Not only does it get you some traffic from the post on the blog, but the links built through guest posting on an authoritative blog are really good.
There is definitely something in the Google algo that really values good quality guest posts, with embedded links on strong domains. That is the #1 recipe for search success in my opinion.
I am not sure about number 1 recipe for success, but it’s certainly in my top 5
Aside from link sharing guest posts also serve as a refresher for the readers. If you are always blogging sometimes the blog posts begins to be predictable. It’s a great way to have variability in opinion within a blog.
May 17, 2011 at 4:22 AM
Thanks for adding that Dian, some useful feedback
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 15, 2011 at 9:41 PM
I am into guest blogging and I can say it is really a good way to build a reputable web pretense and business projection. As of SEO’s concern, guest blogging is definitely a kind of a high level article marketing. No doubt, guest blogging may replace article marketing soon, maybe.
May 17, 2011 at 4:24 AM
I can see where you are coming from Kira, but I think that they are two separate things. Thanks for reading the article and leaving me some feedback
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 16, 2011 at 1:37 AM
I don’t know much about guest blogging, I can do blogging but now I really get some idea about guest blogging.
May 16, 2011 at 2:10 AM
Hi, Christopher. Great stuff, mate! Yes, guest blogging is indeed very important, whether you are the guest blogger or the recipient of the guest blogs. Ari has kindly welcomed me as a guest blogger last year and it was quite an experience for me. Although I still have to find more time in a day to be able to write another guest blog article again, I do value those people who have approached me about guest posting. They make my life easier when I am snowed under with work.
May 17, 2011 at 4:27 AM
I know how you feel Wes, just yesterday someone asked me about writing for Technology Bloggers. Currently I still provide most of the content, but it would be great to see more people contributing
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 16, 2011 at 2:28 AM
I think one can introduce his blog and drives relevant traffic to his blog through guess blogging. When you write a guest blog post for the other blog which have loyal readers then you will get a chance to catch the attention of relevant reader or users. By responding on the guest post comments and leaving a good impression you will make the readers to visit your blog too. But it will be only beneficial when the posts on your blog and the guest post you have written is interesting enough to get the attention of reader.
May 18, 2011 at 4:34 AM
Good point, not only does it get links to your blog, but if the readers like your content and style,they may just follow you back to your blog!
Thanks for the comment
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
I think inviting guest posts can add a different flavor to your website. However, you have to make sure to choose a well-recognized icon from your niche and discuss something interesting that could start a wealthy exchange of ideas. This can also be a treat to the readers to get something new from the bucket
May 17, 2011 at 4:33 AM
I see what you mean Paul, add a guest post to add some variety, I like it
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 16, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Hi Christopher, I agree with everything you’ve said about guest blogging and in the 7 or so months my blog has been going I’ve written a good number of guest posts.
I think it’s important to respond to all the comment on your guest blog like you’ve done here. I’ve seen a few where the author hasn’t bothered doing this and it’s disrespectful to the blog owner.
May 17, 2011 at 4:35 AM
That’s something I didn’t mention, and I am glad you picked up on Jamie: reply to your comments. If you just write the article and leave are you really a good guest blogger? I think not!
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 17, 2011 at 3:08 PM
I wasn’t aware of these blogs that accept guest blog posts. I do use MyBlogGuest a lot which is really good as they screen the articles before they are offered in their gallery.
May 18, 2011 at 4:39 AM
Never heard of MyBlogGuest before Steve. It looks like it could be useful for some blogs, but I am not sure that it’s what Technology Bloggers really needs.
Thanks for the heads up!
Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
May 18, 2011 at 4:41 PM
Hi Christopher,
I really enjoyed reading your article. Guest blogging is something I’ve been considering as of late to promote my company blogs. As you mention, it’s a great way to get keyword-rich backlinks to your own website/blog. It’s also a great way to get yourself known in the blogosphere. Every time I read a guest blog post that I really like, I’m always curious to read the author’s own blog, follow them on Twitter, etc.
I look forward to reading more from you, Christopher!
-Petra
May 20, 2011 at 5:56 AM
Thanks for the feedback Petra. Check out our latest post (CommentLuv below) and make sure that you only submit your articles to one blog, or you could appear in a rather bad article like the one mentioned!
hey Christ,now I understand why few months ago, my colleague asked me to help him to do some guest blogging. I didn’t understand it back then, and I didn’t want to ask him too, just felt no interest at all, but now I understand, and i get it, why did he really wanted me to help him back then. Good article man!
May 25, 2011 at 6:24 AM
Christ! I am not the messiah!!
It’s Christopher, or if you insist on being rude Chris.
May 25, 2011 at 4:19 PM
I have just started emphasizing guest blogging in my marketing strategy, and it’s a great way to earn those good backlinks and get exposure to new readers. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own blog and editorial calendar that it’s sometimes nice to emerge and write something for a fresh audience, too.
May 26, 2011 at 6:04 AM
Some good points there Susie, thanks for the comment
Great article. Guest Blogging is important in many ways. Reaching more audience is the most important thing which we can earn from guest blogging.
Great article. Guest Blogging is important in many ways. Reaching more audience is the most important thing which we can earn from guest blogging.
Great article. Guest Blogging is important in many ways. Reaching more audience is the most important thing which we can earn from guest blogging.
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