Guest posting is very popular in the blogging world right now because guest blogging provides a lot of benefits. It is a fantastic way for a new blogger to find new followers and for a more seasoned blogger to grow his or her online presence even more.
Once you’ve decided to take the big step to start guest blogging what steps do you need to take in order to make your efforts worth your time?
Steps to Get Your Guest Posts Accepted Every Time
Find bloggers in your niche
If you write about how to make money online then you need to go to other blogs that write about that topic so that you can bring some of those readers back to your blog. If you submit a guest post at a blog about building healthy relationships then most of the readers there won’t be interested in what you have to say and they won’t follow you to your blog. You may have gained some new exposure but it hasn’t done any good for you.
Look for their Guest Posting Guidelines
This is the most important point of all! Pay close attention to this one!
Every blogger is different but one thing that we all have in common is that we have a way that we run our guest blogging on our own site. Sally the blogger may want you to email her a Word copy of your post but many do not.
If your first guest post is at Sally’s blog then do not make the mistake of assuming that every other blogger on the planet has the same guest posting guidelines. Bloggers are very busy people and most who accept guest posts have taken the time to post a page outlining their guest posting guidelines.
The guidelines are posted for a reason: they want you to follow them! Take the time to read them carefully and to follow the steps and directions outlined there. If you don’t you will raise your rate of rejection significantly. Bloggers don’t want to have point every guest blogger to their guidelines, show yourself to be self motivated and you will go far in guest blogging!
- If they want you to include an image – include one!
- If the want you to write about certain topics – write about those topics!
- If they want you to include links to their posts – include them!
- If they want you to create an author bio – create one!
- If they want you to use a gravatar – use one!
- If they want you to respond to comments – respond to them! Many will remove your links if you don’t!
Build a relationship first
You don’t need to take them out on a date to get your guest post accepted but you should start building a relationship by commenting on some of their posts. Let them get to know you and let them see that you are engaged on their blog.
Many bloggers won’t accept guest posts from people who show up out of nowhere and I may be joining those ranks as well. I find that those who don’t engage before posting are the same ones who won’t reply to the comments left on their post. Soon I will be start a link removal process for my guest posts.
Write top quality content
As a blogger at any level you know that content is king and it’s even more important when you are submitting a post on someone else’s blog. Let your work shine and let it shine bright.
This not only gives your work a higher chance at being accepted but it also helps to make their readership curious to see what kind of amazing content you have on your blog.
If you follow the steps outlined here then you have raised your chances of getting your guest posts accepted by leaps and bounds!
Do you have any other tips to add? Share them in the comments section!
To Your Success,
(Image by Johan Larsson)
Thank you for reading! I'm Stacy, the owner of this blog. You can learn more about me here.
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I like the tips you pointed out. This will really help guest bloggers. (And me!)
Alicia invites you to read… My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
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Stacy Reply:
May 17th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Thanks, Alicia! I’m glad that you found them helpful!
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Awesome advice.
Guest posting is something I really need to start doing. Since I have not yet accepted or submitted any guest posts I can’t really say much about it, but I will say that when it comes to building relationships and focusing on writing quality content, well those are things we should be doing anyway
Thanks for the inspiration Stacy!
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Stacy Reply:
May 17th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Thanks, Micah! We should definitely be building relationships and writing quality content anyway! Those are two of the foundations of blogging!
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Guest blogging is a great way to get extra exposure and improve writing skills. Thanks for these tips, Stacy. I’m thinking about starting guest blogging. Surely this article will give me some useful guideline.
Sumon @ WP Cypher invites you to read… Google PR (Page Rank) Update May 2012
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:23 am
I’m glad that this will help you out, Sumon!
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Yeah Nice tips Stacy. I am doing guest post for Building good relationship with blogger and your tips is really nice for all who want to do guest post on othersites.
BTW have you changed your Layout of its my screen?
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:30 am
Thanks, Amit! Yes, I did change my layout. I removed one of my sidebars. Thanks for noticing!
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Amit Shaw Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:25 am
Yeah now its really looking superb. I can share your post easily which i couldn’t before
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 3:00 pm
That’s good to know, thank you! I didn’t realize that it made it more difficult for others to share!
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Hi Stacy,
thanks for sharing your insights. I find the relationship building part highly important. I occasionally get requests from strangers or people who left one or two generic comments. That’s not what we want, right ?
Cheers
Oliver
Oliver Tausend invites you to read… Color To Success In Pictures – How To Talk Correctly To People
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:30 am
Hi Oliver,
You’re exactly right – that’s not what blogging is about!
Stacy
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The part you said about finding blogs within your niche is quite important. Not only for traffic, but SEO. I’ve found posting on relevant blogs helps your site’s rankings a lot more than other ones. Nice tips!
Mark@Oklahoma Business Blog invites you to read… Book Review: The Art of Money Getting by Barnum
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:35 am
Mark,
That’s a great tip, thank you for sharing!
Stacy
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Hi Stacy!
Thanks for inviting me back to your Blog…I know, it’s been
awhile.
Everything evolves, or takes shape, because of a relationship.
It’s the elemental piece that is needed in every puzzle.
KUDO’s on your fine accomplishments here!!
Have a highly inspired day…your tribal friend Steven Suchar
Steven Suchar @ StevenSuchar.com invites you to read… A Heaping Helping Of Leads For Network Marketing!!
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:45 am
Thank you very much, Steven! It’s great to see you here again!
Stacy
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Hi Stacy!, Great advice. This really is helpful since I’m starting to write a blog for a guest post. Thanks!
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:46 am
Thank you, I hope these tips help your success!
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Nice points, I think it’s important to first spend some time on blog and understand what readers are actually eager to know. Only then you can come up with right kind of guest post which would be liked by both blog owner and audience.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:46 am
That is a very important part of guest blogging!
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This is really a wonderful insight, this is very important to understand specially when you own a business. by following your tips and advises I am sure that our own blog site will rank quickly.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:47 am
Thank you, Kate!
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The right mindset is everything. Think for a second why you’re submitting this guest post.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:48 am
Hi Candice,
Mindset is important for any kind of success!
Stacy
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I do agree with you on building relationships and writing top quality content. Aside from that, I think you should really be consistent in what you’re doing. Once you’ve already established relationships with other bloggers, make sure to know how to maintain it and make sure you continue to write top quality contents.
Elena Anne invites you to read… Quinoa and Weight Loss
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:56 am
That’s very true, Elena!
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The tips you pointed out on proper ways to guest post are great, and I agree with you that it is quite disappointing when you publish a guest post and that author never bothered to reply to the comments being made on their guest post.
It’s only fair that you discredit them if they do not take the time to reply to the comments made on their guest post in your blog.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:00 am
Yes it is, Felicia. Especially when I’ve asked them if they can follow through with my guest posting guidelines before I publish their post.
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Hi Stacy,
I don’t blame you one bit for removing links for people who don’t engage. They post and ditch and never come back once!
The sad part is that since most of these people are getting paid by a 3rd party to build links, they don’t even care and most likely they won’t even notice. I have had a few like that guest post on my blog in the past but I’m getting better at spotting them and that makes big difference.
Ileane invites you to read… How To Get More Guest Posts Accepted
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:05 am
Hi Ileane,
I’m beginning to get better at spotting them too. At first I didn’t realize that they were getting paid by 3rd parties.
Stacy
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This is very valuable information. I would like to start submitting guest posts, and these tips are very helpful. I’ll need to get started reading, commenting, and building relationships with host bloggers. Thank you for this fabulous write-up.
Anthony Thompson invites you to read… Self Manager – More Human Attributes that Will Get People to Like You
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:06 am
Hi Anthony,
With a plan like that you will likely do very well! Good luck to you!
Stacy
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It’s interesting how often I get comments (that usually get trashed instead of approved) asking if they could do a guest post. It doesn’t usually take much of a search to see if the “host” has a guest posting guidelines page. Usually, if I don’t see a link to one directly at the top of the page (like Stacy has here), you can usually find one either in the About area or the Contact area.
Great tips to keep in mind here, Stacy!
Grady Pruitt invites you to read… What Are You Grateful For?
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:08 am
Thanks, Grady. I get a lot of comments and emails asking if I accept guest posts and it always surprises me. I could probably have it written in neon flashing text and they still wouldn’t see it!
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Link removal is a good idea, if someone makes a guest post on your blog and abandons the place when people start commenting it makes the blog look deserted which is never good.
I like to connect with people on twitter before I discuss guest posts, I think that works.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:15 am
Hi Rene,
That sounds like an interesting way to work through the approval process! Thanks for sharing!
Stacy
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The First step for acceptance of your guest post is to comment on the blog and these comment should be according to the post.There should be no grammatical mistake in the comment.Proof read your comment.
Contact the blogger are social network to build a communication chain.
Write a research based and quality post to be accepted for publishing.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Thanks for sharing these tips, Maja!
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Hi Stacy,
Thanks for these useful tips. The blogging guidelines were not something I considered, so I will definitely have to create some.
I do agree that content is king, but originality rules. When you have an opportunity to guest post, especially on a blog that has more viewers, it is indeed the perfect time to shine through the blog with some original content, instead of simply posting a re-take on a hot topic. You’ll be invited back to guest post, for sure.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Hi Roseline,
Great point about originality! That is one of my requirements for guest posts.
Thanks for stopping by!
Stacy
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Guest posting is a very sensitive work you’ll engage with. You’ve put time in making blogs and unsure if what you’ve done been accepted that’s the negativity of it. But it’s up to the blogger how she or he handle it.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:55 pm
It does take work but it’s a great experience!
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This post is very helpful for all those who want to write guest post. I am sure a new guest blogger can be successful by adopting these techniques.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Thanks you, Azam!
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Guest posters also needs to get to know the blog owner’s audience and complement the blog’s writing style.
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:57 pm
That’s very true, Paul. That is one reason that I am reconsidering my guidelines because I find that those who I don’t know tend to resonate less with my audience. Not always but often.
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It is of great help to build a relationship with the blog owner you’re guest blogging for. One can do some blog commenting before a start and can also connect with them through Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.
Rayna Miller invites you to read… Fatcow
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Stacy Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Hi Rayna,
Using social media to connect is another great way to get to know a blogger. I’ve gotten to know several readers on FB.
Thanks,
Stacy
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I find your tips very helpful, thanks! I have been contacting bloggers about a possible guest post partnership and these tips are just what I need. I do read people’s blogs, I read their posts and their guest post guidelines but seldom leave comments. I guess I need to work on the building a relationship part. Excellent reminder, thanks!
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Stacy Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Hi Gen,
It sounds like you are well on your way to successful guest blogging! Good luck!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… So You Want to Publish a Kindle Book
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Yes, I’ve just started my blog a few weeks ago and I’ve been working on building a dedicated audience. I’ve been trying to look for other blogs in my niche. My niche is kind of vague. If it had to be in a niche, it would be the spirituality/New age niche. Thank you for your guidance. I freakin love your blogs, the articles are GOLD.
Mike Park invites you to read… How To Talk To God: A Simple 3-Step Process
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Stacy Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Hi Mike,
Thank you very much! What a great compliment!
I’m sure that as you continue to blog longer you will find that you are able to narrow your niche and also find others in your niche. It always takes a while to get everything flowing.
Good luck!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… 5 Ways to Lose Your Blogging Mojo
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HI Stacy, Great post. I guest posted for someone who sought me out about a year ago and now I have another guest post being posted tomorrow. I am super excited about it. I love your tips and I too want to do more guest posting. How are you doing? Oh guess what? I have my first ebook almost ready to launch for purchase. I’m so excited about it. It is called “God’s Remedy for Transforming Stress into Rest.” I was so happy to see you have some ebooks for sale too. Blessings, Amy
Amy Hagerup invites you to read… The GPS Guide to 3 Steps to Healthy, Effective Problem-Solving
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Stacy Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Hi Amy,
Thank you very much! How is your ebook coming along? How are you selling it? I’ve been researching kindle lately because I’m pursuing my nearly forgotten dream to write a novel. I’m very excited about that!
It’s great to see you again!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… So You Want to Publish a Kindle Book
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Very good tips Stacy! YOu have such an active blog with such an enthusiastic readership and I was *thrilled* to have a guest post accepted here!
My tip would be to guest post consistently. You have to use this as a marketing strategy, not a one shot thing.
It also helps to look around the prospective blog and make sure your guest post isn’t similar to any recently published posts.
Jill invites you to read… Fainting Anxiety: Win!
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Stacy Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Hi Jill,
Thank you! I would love to have you guest post here any time!
Those are great tips that you’ve added. The first one is the main reason that I haven’t guest posted anywhere in a while, I don’t have the time right now to make a marketing strategy with it. When I get back into guest blogging I want to do it right!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… 101 Proven Ways to Get More Blog Comments
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Am loving the content you provide! I love learning and finding ways to improve, so thanks for making that so much easier. I’ve been writing for a while and have never considered guest blogging! (cringe) Time to get with the program!
Katy
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Stacy Reply:
June 20th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Thank you, Katy! Guest posting isn’t for everyone but it can be a great way to gain exposure for your blog!
Stacy invites you to read… The Course That Literally Changed My Life (For the Better!)
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Thanks or these tips-guest blogging is such a great way to develop some great relationships with fellow bloggers. Quality content really is key-I am often turned away by the poor grammar and low quality content I am sent by bloggers requesting a guest post. Thanks again!
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Stacy Reply:
June 20th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Hi Lisa,
All of your points are very true! Thanks for stopping by!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… 101 Proven Ways to Get More Blog Comments
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It sounds like you have a great plan. Good luck!
Stacy invites you to read… Why You Are Better Off NOT Learning From a Guru
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Thank you so much for the tips. I have been getting a lot of request lately from people wanting to guest blog on our site. Most of them will ask to guest blog and when you contact them because they have a great site, he or she will say well I don’t know what I could write about. I feel like sending a note back and say you contact me because you were bored? So I just don’t respond. I don’t know if that is professional but I find that annoying. Hope it is okay, I will be following you. I love the knowledge your provided.
Cynthia invites you to read… Weekend Inspiration
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Hi Stacy,
Thanks for the nice informative guide on guest posting. Its really important to get your article approved in a blog where you desperately want it be to approved!
nikhil invites you to read… Tips on How to Get Rid of a Computer Virus
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I really didn’t know much about guest posting so I searched it on Google. I got sent here. It’s a really good post. I went to your page with your guidelines on it. I also followed the links to your guest posts on other blogs. You are obviously a great writer. I am impressed that your guest posts get PR2. And all the comments you get is a testament to you and your writing ability. I like the fact that your guest posts are on blogs that use CommentLuv so you are getting backlinks on each response. Do you find that getting the backlinks is helpful or is the traffic that you derive from the post worth more?
Richard Brokenshire invites you to read… What is blog commenting?
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Can a rock be made smarter? I think so now. I am dumber than a whole box of them about blogging but slowly and surely I am becoming that one ‘rock’ which is gaining on intelligence. Thanks to Ms. Stacy. It is now true. Old rocks CAN learn new tricks! Here, watch me roll over! See! Told you so!
I am very interested in my blogs reaching the most amount of people I can because what I have to educate them with can save their lives and the lives of their children, provided the parents are strong enough to share what they learn. Let’s hope so.
I see that others have made invitations. Perhaps I should also. I, bob De Long, invite you to read about your future at: http://gnoled.blogspot.com and believe….
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Guest posting isn’t easy, but it is also super helpful in terms of growing your site and getting more traffic. When you write a guest, you are marketing yourself and your products. This strategy can help you gain exposure online and build solid reputation in your niche.
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Thanks for the tips Stacy. These are explained clear and explicit. Sometimes i feel really dissapointed when the author don’t bother to reply me. Hope to reply from now on.
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