5 Effective Guest Posting Tips That Are Going to Make You a Better Guest Poster

Guest posting works as a long-term traffic getting strategy, particularly if you can secure a regular gig on another, more popular blog, but guest posting isn't just about writing something that would fit on your blog and then sending it to another blogger for publication. Nope, it's much more complex than that.

To help you become a better guest poster, I've defined 5 key things that you need to do in order to be the best guest poster that you can be.

1. As the blogger what they'd like you to write about

I know it seems slightly obvious, but if it is then why do so few people do this? When you're guest posting, you aren't writing for your own blog, but for another blog audience, which means you have to find a suitable topic that isn't too far from what they're used to reading.

2. Study the nuances of that audience

Some blogger like to close blog posts with questions, while others like to be controversial. Study the nuances of the blogs you'll be guest posting on and learn what works well and what doesn't. Do you need to write list posts, include a series of images and/or screen shots, or write 1500 words? If so, then do it.

These nuances are subtle, but can be learned by reading archives and studying user engagement. It's not eas

y, but it's the smart thing to do.

3. Read the archives

Yes, you need to read through the archives of blogs so that you can not only learn the nuances of the audience and the blogger writing the content, but so that you can get a feel for the story behind the blog, and include a bit of that story in your guest posts.

You are much more likely to have a guest post accepted if you've done your homework, as it will be evident in your writing, and will help you shine through.

4. Respond to comments

This isn't a must, but it makes a big difference and helps solidify your reputation as a good guest blogger. You should be honored for the opportunity to guest post on another blog, and though your guest post is part of repaying that honor, the rest happens when you spend time to engage and respond to the audience that read your post.

This is also a perfect time to get them over to your blog, and it's a free podium for you to speak from. Why would you pass that up?

5. Follow Up

After your post has been published, and you've responded to comments, send an email thanking the blogger for the opportunity. This sort of professional behavior will separate you even further from the rest of the pack, and should make you a shoe in for frequent guest slots.

I hope you enjoyed these tips, let me know if you've tried them and how they worked for you.