If you Google the phrase, “guest posting” right this very minute, you’re sure to come up with a fair amount of results. And once you decide to click on links and see for yourself what people think guest posting is all about, you’ll be met with slightly differing opinions regarding the subject matter.
One article after another will tell you the advantages guest posting brings to you and your blog or website, which, for the most part, are improvement of your writing skills, more blogosphere exposure, backlinks to your site, new friends, to name just a few.
Other articles will tell you what guest posting is not, which, in general, is the abuse guest posting has been garnering from, well, some “guest writers.” But everything else considered, here are three actual and very important lessons I personally learned while guest posting:
1. Guest posting is not spamming.
If we take a look at the meaning of spam, Webopedia would say that a spam is an advertisement for a certain product sent through an e-mail mailing list. And yes, those are the ones that generally go into your spam folder. That is, if you’re lucky.
Now, a guest post gets labeled as spam if it screams blatant advertising. There are avenues for these sorts of advertising, but guest posting is definitely not one of them.
2. Guest posting isn’t all about the backlinks.
It’s a given that guest post writers are after the exposure they can get for their blogs or websites, and I won’t dare to deny that. But if backlinks are the only reasons you’re writing guest posts, chances are you’ll be writing crappy posts that no one will care to read.
If your mindset is focused on backlinks and not on quality content that readers will enjoy reading, what can you expect to come up with?
And instead of you getting the backlinks that naturally come about with guest posting, you get nothing but a virtual sign on your chest that says “Warning: Guest Writer to Avoid.”
3. Guest posting is building relationships.
I don’t advertise guest posting in this blog, and I don’t offer guest posting opportunities as of yet (although I’m seriously considering the possibility). But there had been occasions in the past when I’ve been approached, and I relented given that the posts themselves were OK.
But what bugged me about those two occasions was that the people who approached me never even cared to send me a thank-you note after publishing their articles.
It was obvious from that gesture alone, or the lack thereof, that all they cared about were the backlinks.
The verdict … well, my verdict
I seriously considered taking the posts down, but I try to honor my word where I can. I promised to publish their articles and I did. But really, it wouldn’t have hurt if they took time to extend their gratitude, which is why I always make it a point to thank my gracious hosts for sharing my posts with their audiences.
And if they require that I take time to respond to comments, I do.
As for those two guest posters, they never will get second chances from me again. Who want to be used anyway?
Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Well by guest blogging on other blogs you’re building a portfolio of your writing skills on a wider scale and by doing this every so often you are telling people that you can be trusted.
I totally agree with you, Juan!
haven’t tried guest posting before.. but i agree! guest postings should also be about building relationships! 🙂
Right you are, Berylle. And thanks for visiting!
Might as well try guest posting! 🙂
I recommend that you do. I’ve learned things I never would normally learn if I had not tried guest posting.
comprehensive thoughts about guest posting. i learned a lot 🙂
I’m glad you learned something, Ed.
Guest posting is something I have yet to consider though one of my friends did ask to guest post so I gave him the chance but I did ask him that he should promote it. Guest writers should also try to make a meaningful content and not just for back links as guest posting is an opportunity to promote yourself and if the content is not good, people won’t even bother with the links.
I’d say you hit the nail hard on the head, Franc. 🙂
I had an experience like that too… After publishing their products…I never heard from her again…ever… What hurts me more is she is one of the people I respected… 🙁
Yes, that can be pretty disheartening, if not maddening.
Guest posting is still new to me. Last week somebody from Bloggers dot com asked me for guest posting, and honestly I don’t know what to say. I just politely told him that I haven’t tried that. Anyway, your post today gave me some ideas. thanks!
If you’re the blog owner, remember that you always have the freedom to accept or reject a guest post. If you think it doesn’t fit, my suggestion, don’t force it. 🙂
Guest posting is good, as long as the client pays you the right price
That’s one other way to look at it, yes.
Guest posting is sharing on what you’ve in mind in line with the issue or the event. It takes a lot of skills to do it. If you’re not adept or good in writing mechanics, better polish your article first before sharing it through “guest posting.” This is only my suggestion. One prominent blogger requested me to guest write to his blog, but my contribution didn’t make it for I wasn’t informed if its status.
That’s right, sir Gil. Normally, when bloggers do guest posting, they usually come up with better articles than those they would publish themselves on their blogs because the audience is now wider scale.
I’m thinking if I should do this. Thanks for the insight!
I strongly encourage you to try it some time. There are a lot of things to learn, really.
Haven’t tried guess posting yet. Hmm. Perhaps I’ll try when I already have all the time I need to make articles that make sense. hehe. Thanks for the insights! 🙂
Of course, your articles make sense, Lily. 🙂
I am a newbie to the blogging world but with how you coin your word and bring about your point I came to realize and couldnt agree more that guest posting should be building relationship.
That’s true, Charlton. In the blogging world, if you’re a jerk, word will get out. Bloggers will know, one way or another.
Thanks for this! I haven’t tried accepting guest posts on my blogs or writing posts for other people’s sites. This is very helpful info.
Glad to help, Leah.
does writing for ezine or having blogger friends repost what you posted in your blog a form of guest-posting?
I don’t think so, Merl. That’s a different form of posting altogether. 🙂
I don’t blog for money so there are many bad blogging practices I don’t really know about. But it does grate on the nerves when all bloggers care about is increasing their blog traffic.
Having said that, I do think guest blogging is a great way to break our own writing styles. I’ve only had one guest blogger in mine and I’ve also written one for another blogger. So far they’ve been fulfilling experiences.
Good for you, AJ.
Building relationship is one thing. Guest posting will also help you in branding. You get a wider range of audience, hence a potential added authority in your chosen topic/s.
Amen to all that.
This is a nice tip, will try this guest posting if someone will offer it.
Thanks for the kind words, Bam. Yes, I recommend that you do so. You get to learn a lot, things you normally wouldn’t by blogging alone.
oh!!, I’ve heard it before but I just never mind it. So. that was clearer now. It’s like you’re building a relationship and helping each other get larger audience. BOOKMARED!!!!
That’s right, Philip. Essentially, what it’s about is that the blog owner get free quality content and the guest writer gets exposure to a bigger audience.
I’m due for a guest post about a product that I’ve won in a raffle. It’ll be my first. Thanks for this tips 🙂
Wow, congratulations, and best of luck!
haven’t tried guest posting but somebody emailed me about this might as well give it a try.
Claire, you better be careful. Those two guest posters who disappeared after I published their posts actually contacted me as well through e-mail.
I haven’t tried guest posting..parang nakaka pressure naman yan! ;p
Like in everything, there’s always a first time. But once you get the hang of it, it gets better. 🙂
I have guest posts on one of my blog, one way of taking them is sharing the post on wall and to all the bloggers group to let them know about the author. And reading your post, from now on ,i will make it a habit to thank them thru pm or email .thank you.
You’re welcome, Mommy Tess, and thanks for visiting!
I was approached before by a potential guest poster but I had to decline. The article wasn’t really related to by blog’s niche and it had tons of backlinks.. 🙁
Yes, you always have the right to decline, especially if the post doesn’t at all fit. And the tons of backlinks, too, can be very disheartening, unfortunately.
I have done two guest posts and I believe it can contribute to a better ranking although I think the primary consideration would be sending out the message which our articles or posts carry to a wider audience.
I agree with you on that count, Teresa. Good to see you here!
I wish to try guest posting
but I’m still having second thoughts.
Maybe, in the near future. I want
the experience of sharing my
thoughts and ideas.
That’s a good place to start, in my opinion, Marri – knowing that there’s something you’d be able to share.
A blogger should know for himself if he has what it takes to even guest post. it takes a very good writer to make one post that readers will remember and go to his own site.
You are right about that, too, Che. Thanks for visiting!