10 benefits of writing guest posts for other blogs

Posted by Ben on December 12, 2008 | Permalink | Hits: 1692 
Tags: guest posts, networking

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Image by Markus Wichmann.

This is a guest post from Dot Com Dud, a blogger who catalogues his journey towards earning a full-time income online on DotComDud.com. In this post he highlights some key benefits associated with writing guest posts for other blogs.

1. Reach new readers

This one is simple, by posting on another blog you are able to reach an entirely new audience. No two blogs are going to have the exact same readers, so by accessing a new audience, you can attract readers who otherwise may have never heard of you.

The bigger the blog, the more potential untapped readers there will be. But don't forget that a smaller yet more diverse audience can also be a great resource.

2. Target your audience

Giving the right content to the right readers is crucial if you want to be a successful blogger. Guest posting allows you to branch out into different areas and write content that would be out of place on your own blog.

As a guest poster you can focus on topics that already have readers interested in them. This ensures your post will yield maximum results by appealing to a target audience, instead of alienating uninterested readers.

3. Expand your horizons

Just because you blog within a certain niche, does not mean you don't have interests and ideas that fall outside of your own blog's topic. By focusing on an entirely different niche you are able to write something you really enjoy for an audience that will be interested in it.

Another aspect of this is that you get to explore new styles of writing. Improving your skills and repertoire is something every blogger should aim to do and guest posting is an ideal opportunity to put this into practice. If you usually write a formal blog then why not try your hand at humour? If your own blog is largely filled with cooking tips than maybe it's time you let the world know about your political opinions!

4. Networking

Building relationships with other bloggers can benefit you in many ways. You can build a network of peers where you can share advice, information, skills and support when you need it. Guest posting is one of the best ways to build these sorts of relationships because you are giving something of value to a fellow blogger, which is something they won't soon forget.

5. Increase your credibility

It's important that your readers have faith in you and what you write, and this is why you need to build credibility as a blogger. When you have a post featured by another blogger, their readers will usually interpret the gesture as a "tick of approval" towards you.

Readers realise that any respected blogger isn't going to feature a guest post just for the sake of it and will only allow content that they consider to be of worthy quality. Having just about any guest post published is going to make you look good, but on a blog with high authority and respect amongst its readers, it will ensure that their credibility is passed on to you.

6. Get some fresh feedback

Getting critique on your writing is crucial if you wish to improve as a blogger. While you may already get a lot of feedback from your blog's readers, over time their feedback will not be as impartial as it once was. Your regular readers will be used to your writing style and chances are they like what they see, that's why they are your regulars.

When you guest post to an entirely new audience you are exposing your work to fresh feedback. If you take the advice on board, this can help you write better guest posts as well as improve the content on your own blog.

7. Backlinks!

This is an important point for anyone interested in increasing their standings with search engines. Usually when you guest post, it's only fair that you'll get a link back and maybe even a quick blurb or byline about what your blog has to offer. Links from related sites are valuable, and guest posts are a perfect way to get them.

8. Converse with new readers

When you make a guest post, it's not a simple "hit & run" process. Once the post is made you have to remember to follow it up and respond to the comments it receives. This shouldn't be seen as a chore but as a chance to communicate with a prospective new audience. By further engaging the readers in the comments, you are more likely to build a rapport with them that could translate into those readers becoming your readers as well.

9. Get your content out there

Inspiration in blogging seems to comes in waves. At times you'll have total writer's block, and then suddenly you'll have too many ideas to handle. If you are in the situation where you have a surplus of posts waiting to be published but don't want to overload your readers, then why not offer them as guest posts? Instead of waiting around for your great posts to become outdated, strike while the iron is hot and make the most out of a fresh idea.

10. One good post deserves another

By making good guest posts for another blog you are only going to increase the number of opportunities for more guest posting in the future. It might be another post on the same blog, or you might catch the eye of other bloggers that would love to have your content sitting next to their own. But be warned, as the reverse is also true; bad guest posting will give you a poor reputation which will result in fewer opportunities in the future.

Have you been a guest poster before? Do you make it a regular thing? What other benefits have you discovered?

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