Is Guest Blogging a Good Way to Reach My Ideal Audience?

by Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady

I wish people would ask less about how to write a book than about the REAL issue on their hearts, which for people who come to me is about how to make a difference with their book.

When I mentor visionary individuals through the transformative process of writing a book  I often say, there’s more to being an author than just writing and publishing a book.

Well, technically if your sole aim is creative expression and you have no desire to leave a legacy, then I suppose it doesn’t matter whether another person ever sees your writing. But if that were the case, you would not be here reading this article.

Who Is Your Ideal Audience?

What’s an author without an audience to touch?

People who come to me want to make a difference and have a positive impact on the world. And before any messenger can imprint a message onto people’s hearts, it’s important to know who cares about that message.

Those who care will resonate with the message.

That message needs to be in the book, yes. AND it needs to be “out there” on blogs, in articles, in videos – in all the various places and spaces where your audience lives.

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The Power of Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a way to reach your ideal audience where they are, on the blogs they are already frequenting.

Any old blog won’t do.

Don’t think that slapping your work on any website, even a very popular one, is right just because it’s popular.

One of my friends put up a profile and article on the AARP website, only to get banned within an hour because of how he presented himself.

This fabulous article gives terrific advice on how to be a highly valuable guest blogger. There are also some resources that can help you find blogs.

How To Submit A Guest Post That Will Be Accepted!

Original article source: BadRedheadMedia.com: by guest  Peg Fitzpatrick (co-owner of 12Most) and creator of #MyBookClub on Twitter! 

Guest posting is a great way for new bloggers to hone their writing skills as well as expand their fledgling network. However, there is a right and a wrong way to go about requesting a guest post spot.

• First, make a list of blogs that you really like to read and respect their content. Do they accept guest posts? Who is the contact person and what is their email address?
• Do research on the site prior to submission. What type of content do they share? Does this fit with your niche or goal for blogging? Make sure this it is a good fit for you and the blog; you need to provide them with a reason why you should write for them.
•  Spend some time coming up with a title and a few sentences about what your post will be.  The title is essential and should pique the interest of the reviewer. This is the story of your post boiled down to the essence. It should be tweetable and easy to share. Every post title should be:

• unique
• interesting
• informative
• At this point, you may write an email to the blog contact person. This should be a personal email and start out with a friendly introduction. Make sure that you are following whatever guidelines they list on their site for guest posting. Send a link to your blog and a few links to some of your best work.

Here are a few examples of what big blogs have for guest posting requirements:

How to Guest Post for 12 Most

Want to Write for Social Media Examiner?

Guidelines and Suggestions for Guest Posts at ProBlogger

 

Top tips for submission:

1. Be polite — please and thank you still go a long way
2. Spell check and re-read your submission prior to sending. If you can’t write a proper email, don’t waste their time submitting a post. Carelessness and lack of attention to detail are evident in many of the emails I receive for 12 Most submissions. These get a rejection letter.
3. Provide them with all the information that they request. Be thorough!
4. Don’t pitch the same idea to multiple blogs. Be considerate.
5. Follow up in a few days if you haven’t heard from them unless, like Social Media Examiner, they say that they receive many requests and it may take up to sixty days for a response.
6. Be prepared to actually write the posts that are accepted. There are times that people submit a request, are approved to post and then never follow up with the post. Don’t flood the blogosphere with more writing requests that you can handle. If you have an idea that you really love, write the entire post while you are waiting. Impress the blog owner with a perfectly crafted post upon approval. Meeting the commitment that you made to the blog is essential for relationship and reputation building.
7. Be prepared to send a short bio with your submission. Don’t make this overly promotional but you may be able to include a link to your blog and a few social media links as well
8. If you are accepted for submission, follow the guidelines and submit your post in a timely manner. Make sure that you watch the blog to see when your post is running and reply to comments. Many large blog sites will not have time to contact you individually when your post will be live, remember they are receiving a lot of requests. Be considerate of their time. Also, make sure that you share the post with your network of followers and tag the blog owner so they know you are proud to be a part of their blogging community. Saying thank you via email or tweet is also a good gesture.

I hope that you consider these common sense suggestions next time you are submitting a request to guest post, and I wish you luck in your guest posting endeavors.

How have you had success with guest blogging? Have you started submitting guest posts to other blogs? What other tips can you add to guest blogging success?

Resources:

100 Sites to Submit Guest Posts by Brian Keith May

MyBlogGuest — a community of guest bloggers where you can find guest blogging opportunities

How to be a Good Guest Blogger by ProBlogger

Peg Fitzpatrick is a positive vibe producer, social media butterfly and all around happy person! She is Director of Marketing and Social Media Manager for Kreussler Inc. as well as being the Brand Sparker with re:DESIGN. Peg is thrilled to have contributed a chapter in Guy Kawasaki’s latest book, What the Plus!

Along with being a writer and Managing Partner at 12 Most, she is honored to be on several of the “best of” online and blogging lists. You can find her on the Alltop Twitterati list.

Peg lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Richard, their three children and Oliver, their golden retriever. Please follow Peggy on Twitter, “Like” re:DESIGN and My Book Club on Facebook, circle her on Google+, and visit her blog.

Go Ye Forth and Guest Blog!

• So find a few blogs on which to be a guest.
• READ the guidelines.
• FOLLOW the guidelines.
• ADD value.
• Be a respectful guest!
• Share your guest post to YOUR network.
• Respond quickly to comments.

Here is a network I am also using to both guest blog and find guests: MyBlogGuest.com

I am just getting familiar with this network myself. Watch for more articles on guest blogging and MyBlogGuest!

Guest blogging is a GREAT way to connect with your ideal audience!

Writing a book isn’t the only way to convey your message. Articles, videos, blog posts, social media posts, podcasts, radio shows and any other way of spreading the word FIRST begins as imprinting a message.

Be clear about your message. Speak to your ideal reader, one-on-one.

First focus on the value to people and your ideal reader will find you.

Follow your bliss!

Ronda Del Boccio, the Story lady

#1 bestselling author.

PS – Need more help writing and publishing a book?

Sharing the success stories of my students is the highlight of my day. And I’d love for YOU to be the next success story !

You can get started with the FREE 30 Day Awakened Author Challenge gets you off to a great start with a full a-z online writing course. You’ll discover how to follow your bliss all the way from idea to written to published book in 30 days.

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What Is the BLISS Butterfly?

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Will you be the next visionary author to follow your bliss and become an Awakened Author? I’m ready for you!

Original article source

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Is Guest Blogging a Good Way to Reach My Ideal Audience?