Being a guest blogger on a site is a fun and informative experience. If done properly, you can get your insight and opinions out there for new readers to enjoy. Doing so can also increase traffic to your own sites. There are some specific things you can do to land a guest post on a blogger’s website.

Identify the Target Market

This sounds tougher than it actually is. Take some time to read through the site. Who is most likely reading the posts? Those readers are the target market. For example, a blog about sports cars is going to have a different audience than a blog about sewing patterns. You need to write for the people reading the site. Consider things like the subject matter, age, gender, and other demographics. Also get a sense of the tone for the blog. Some blogs are very formal in their wording. Others are more conversational and friendly. Keep this in mind when creating your guest post.

Composing the Perfect Email Pitch

Once you know the target audience of the blog, it is time to pitch your idea. Sometimes bloggers will openly invite guest posts. Look for a section on their blog about how to submit a guest post. Most will have some instructions as to what they are looking for and how to go about submitting it to them. Read these carefully and make sure you follow them exactly. They may include suggested topics, tone of voice, word count, and how many links you are allowed. If there is not such a section, you can email your pitch. Open with a brief introduction stating who you are and that you are interested in providing a guest post. Next, outline your idea and provide links to your own work. Do not include your entire post at this point. Close by thanking them for their time and requesting a response back. Do not feel insulted if the blogger does not want your post, not everyone wants guest posts or they may not feel like yours fits with their site.

Writing a Compelling Post

Chances are that you feel passionate about the subject you are writing. However, it is important to add facts and citations if possible. This gives you some credibility with the readers. If you have experience in the field you are writing about, include that in your post. Some bloggers ask that guest writers include a short bio or author byline. This is the perfect place to give yourself some credibility. Decent grammar and spelling is a must. A blogger will not post something that is difficult for their readers to make sense of. There are plenty of programs that will spell and grammar-check your work. It can also help to have friends or family read your post and help you edit. If this is not possible, proofread it yourself a few hours after finishing it. Otherwise, your brain can skip over mistakes that would otherwise seem obvious. Also keep in mind that blog posts are not novels. Stay within the suggested word limits. If you were not given a set number of words, then make your post about the same length as others on the site.

As a guest blogger you can share your insight and experience on topics that interest you. It is important to write to the targeted audience, compose a friendly email pitch, and create a compelling post. Enjoy writing your guest post!

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