What are the Benefits of Guest Posting?

What are the Benefits of Guest Posting?
Photo by Justin Morgan / Unsplash

If you are new to the world of blogging, then guest posting can be a very tricky venture to take on. Not only do you have the risk of being rejected, but it may also damage your reputation if you aren't careful about who or what website you choose to submit your writing to. This is due to the fact that there has been a good deal of "guest posting" scams where individuals would agree to post on someone else's blog, only to fill the space with either duplicated content or their own advertisements. While this does not happen too often, it is still something that you will need to look out for before committing to guest blogging.

What is Guest Posting?

Guest posting is a practice where an author allows someone to write a post for their website, which can range from product reviews to how-tos. The guest poster has the freedom to introduce themselves and include any links they feel will be beneficial after they have finished writing their piece. In many cases, the blogger whose site you are posting on will display your bio at the end of the article in order to give you credit for your work. On some occasions, they may also include a link within the text back to your site.

Why is Guest Posting Important?

If you are looking to gain more traffic to your blog, then guest posting is the way to go. By having someone else's audience read your articles, there is a good chance that they may take an interest in what you have written and follow suit by visiting your site. Depending on how well received your article was, there is also the possibility that future posts may be submitted to the original website as well.

Benefits of Guest Posting

There are many benefits to guest posting, such as:

-Great for link-building – If you are looking to build backlinks to your site, then this is the perfect place to start. Not only will you build quality links that can help with future search engine ranking, but they will also be coming from a highly credible source. If the article is well-received, they may also include a link back to your site.

-Increase traffic –Just like with any postings on a blog, if you are able to provide readers with high-quality content that is beneficial, there is a great chance that they will return for more. This can be done by including keywords geared towards your audience and writing in a way that keeps them engaged and interested.

-Exposure –When you guest post on a popular blog, there is a chance that your readership will increase dramatically. This is due to the fact that they will be introducing new readers to your work and hopefully catering to their needs as well. It may also lead to future work opportunities for you as well.

-Gain loyal readers –As more and more people begin to visit your blog, there is a good chance that some of them may want to become patrons of your work. This means that they will be subscribing to your site rather than visiting each time on an individual basis. When this happens, you can expect to see an increase in revenue if you are able to maintain their interest.

How Can I Get Started Guest Posting?

There are many ways to get started with guest posting, but the easiest way is by sending an email to the blogger or site owner explaining why you would like to submit an article for their site. Make sure that you have a few articles under your belt before you send this request, as many website owners will want to see what you have written in the past.

Once they agree to post an article of yours, make sure that you follow these tips:

1. Look at their site and blog for content ideas--notice any sort of writing style? As a guest author, you should try to match their tone and writing style as best you can. This way, your article will be well received and may even spark a few conversions from their visitors.

2. Check their guidelines--more often than not, website owners will already have a set of guidelines that all authors must follow if they want to be published. Read this thoroughly and make sure that you understand where they are going with their rules. If it looks too complicated, then you may want to reconsider guest posting for them.

3. Add a signature--Whenever you post a comment on a blog or any other website, there is a good chance that your name will appear at the bottom of the page. Apply this same practice to your guest articles and include a link that goes back to your blog in the text near the bottom. This way, visitors can easily see what you have written in addition to a quick way of getting back to your site if they choose to leave later on.

Tips for Guest Blogging Success

1. Make sure that you have a catchy title--if your reader doesn't like your article, they probably won't make it past the title. Therefore, this is where you should try to pull them in and convince them that reading further will be worth their time.

2. Make sure that each guest post is unique--reuse of content from another website can get you into trouble with Google for using duplicate material on your site.

3. Include a full bio with your articles---this is where you can give readers more information about yourself and tell them why they should care about what you have to say.

4. Don't be afraid to link to other sites--this isn't the only place where you should promote your blog, but it's perfectly fine if several of your articles include links to your other work.

5. Be consistent---it's better to end up publishing fewer articles with higher quality than the opposite because engagement will drop if you are not around all of the time.

When is Guest Posting a Bad Idea?

There are some instances when guest posting can be more of a bad idea than a good one, including:

-Writing for the wrong audience – By writing for the wrong audience, you are putting all your hard work in jeopardy. While it may seem like an easy task, there is a good chance that your work will not be received as well as you would hope. The best way to avoid this is to make sure you find the right blogger and write about topics they are interested in instead of creating something new.

-Forced links– If your host chooses to include links within their article, make sure that they are not forced links. This is something that you will need to discuss before the work commences, and it is something that can cause problems down the line if it's not agreed upon properly beforehand. If you know that your host is fond of including links in their articles, then ask them to do so at the end of the piece instead of running the risk of readers becoming irritated by them later on.

Frequently Asked Questions

1: What are the benefits of guest posting to bloggers?

When you have an article written by a guest author, it can bring in new readers who will be interested in reading other entries that you have published. If these people enjoy your blog, then they will become loyal readers as well. Guest articles are also great because they allow you to expand outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Because you will be allowed to read the article before it's published, there is no risk in this type of relationship either.

2: What are some benefits of guest posting on the reader's side?

When you read an interesting article written by a guest author, you will get exposed to new material that may not otherwise be available. Plus, if you enjoy reading this author's work, then it will give you more incentive to visit their blog in the future. This can also act as free publicity for you as well, creating more traffic to your own blog.

3: Can I write an article on any topic?

When you are writing a guest post, the subject matter should be related to the one that they run. If it is not, then they will most likely turn it down or refuse to publish it. Some bloggers may accept slightly off-topic articles, but you should stick with them if you want to be sure.

Once the article is finished and ready to go, make sure that you send it incorrectly. Some bloggers will include a form where they want the article attached, while others may want you to email it directly. If there are any special requests or guidelines, then make sure to follow them as closely as possible.

4: What are some mistakes you should avoid when guest posting?

One of the biggest faux pas includes too much information at the bottom or makes it difficult for people to get back to your site. In addition, do not oversell yourself and say things like 'this is the best article ever -- will come off as cheesy. Probably one of the best things you can do is to not be too wordy with your articles and use short sentences, so they are easy to read.