Successfully pitch a guest blog post idea and it’ll be a home run!

by on June 2, 2012

Guest blog pitchAre you on that pitcher’s mound, thinking to pitch a guest blog post idea to another site, but not quite sure how to do it?

Ok, well, usually a pitcher tries to strike a batter out.  Think of it like a baseball game where the teams are playing together. The pitcher(you, the guest blogger) pitching so that the batter (original blogger) together can have a home run.  You give the right curve, the batter can take it, and then it’s outta the park!

Why guest posting is good

Guest posting is a valuable way to get yourself out there to readers who don’t usually see what you write or might not be familiar with your small business. It’s all about getting yourself in front of your target audience. It’s great exposure and can generate new subscribers to your e-mail list and more traffic to your website.  You also have the opportunity to build backlinks to your website – aka links from the guest post back to your own website/blog (good for search marketing, especially when you use your keywords in the text links!).

Steps to follow for guest post blog submission

  1.  FIND GOOD BLOGS TO SUBMIT TO.  First and foremost, you must be looking for sites that also cater to your target audience. Obviously keeping it to your niche or industry will work, but don’t be afraid to branch out to other sites where your target hangs out.  Not sure where to start? Google and/or Twitter search your business keyword + guest post/submit a guest post/etc. Once you’ve found a suitable blog, take a look at their focus and target audience for the last 2-3 months of posts.  Do you fit into the picture? Would your area of expertise offer value and a fresh perspective for their readers?
  2. RESEARCH GUEST POSTING GUIDELINES.  Once you’ve found a blog you’d like to guest post on, check out their website to see if they have any guest posting guidelines.  If so, follow these instructions to a tee.  If not, then proceed ahead.  There are 2 ways to go from here: Safety Sam would send a quick email or Twitter direct message to check if the blogger accepts guest blogs (I usually do this while also suggesting my idea for the guest post at the same time) while Brave Betty would go charging right in and send material that will be hard to refuse.
  3. WRITE YOUR GUEST POST/S.  If you’re going to write before being accepted, write it as if it’s going to be posted.  Go the full nine yards here.   New original content or angles.  Posts backed up by research, charts, etc. You may want to write more than 1 article that way you can pitch multiple ideas at the same time in one email.  Guest bloggers have commented that sometimes what they thought was the least likely pick was actually what the blogger chose.  You just never know! And make sure to keep in mind the style and tone that the site uses in their posts and try to match that.
  4. SEND AN EMAIL WITH YOUR GUEST BLOG ARTICLE/S OR PITCH.   Keep the email short and concise.  Give a little intro of who you are. Talk about why you like the site and why you would be a good fit for a guest blog post. Show that you actually took the time to go through the site and for gosh sakes personalize the email when you’re writing to a site run by one blogger. (I don’t know how many pitches I’ve received without my name addressed. Seeing as my name is all over my site, I know immediately that they never bothered to even have a look around- no thanks!).   Include a link to your blog, as well as some other sample guest posts if appropriate to show your style/range of writing. And if you’re including a potential post or two that you’ve already written, include a short description of it and why it would be perfect for their audience.

Bonus success tip – what many forget (or don’t bother) to do

When many business owners think about guest posting, all they are thinking about is themselves. How the post will benefit their small business. How it will help their search rankings. How it will send more traffic their way.

But first and foremost, guest blogging is about establishing a relationship with another blogger or site. Think about this – would you be more likely to accept a post from someone you are already familiar with or a complete stranger?

So I start my guest posting quest by first taking the time to get to know the blogger in some way or making myself known to them. I get on social media and share their posts. I comment on their blog. I read through their website and make myself familiar with the type of content they produce and their style. After a few weeks or months of this, then I’m ready to send that pitch email. Sure, some really large sites might not be easy to “get to know” on a personal level, but it’s still worth a shot.

Hopefully with the above tips, your pitch is a home run and the blog accepts your guest post!

What if it’s a strike out or you don’t hear back?  Absolutely no worries. Submit your wonderful articles or ideas to another appropriate blog.  Don’t give up champ just because it didn’t work out right away.  The very worst case scenario is that you can just use these articles or ideas for your own blog.  And aren’t we always looking for more blog post ideas for our own blogs? So really, you have nothing to lose.

Do you write guest posts as part of your online marketing strategy? Any other success tips to share? See ya in the comments!

Comments, likes and tweets are always appreciated! Did I mention that I LOVE your feedback?

Image source: Meawpong3405 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Tracy June 7, 2012 at 9:20 pm

Great tips Martina. I just submitted my 1st guest post to a complimentary website today. I agree it’s very important to make sure it not only pertains to your own audience, but the other website as well. It can be the start of a good, long-term relationship.
Tracy recently posted..Chainmaille Jewelry Review

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Martina June 8, 2012 at 1:41 pm

Good for you Tracy! Sounds like you have just the right attitude when it comes to guest posting. Many people make the mistake of not valuing the relationship building process – major missed opportunity.

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Shaun @ GuestBlogPoster.com June 16, 2012 at 3:04 pm

I think if there is any golden advice for guest blogging, it’s making sure you’re legit. If you don’t know the topic or are just providing crap content, don’t bother posting. Don’t just go for the link, go for the possibility of extra traffic and getting your name out there!
Shaun @ GuestBlogPoster.com recently posted..5 Ways Guest Blog Posts Can Help Your SEO

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Martina June 19, 2012 at 8:08 am

Very good point Shaun! I get a alot of guest post requests from individuals that have nothing to do with small business – they are just interested in the link. But of course, I’m looking for valuable content that would help an entrepreneur. You have to make sure that there is a good fit for the sites you contact about proving a guest article. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time!

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