How to Attract Guest Posters to Your Blog

How to Attract Guest Posters to Your Blog

Guest blogging is a win-win situation; providing the blog owner fresh content in exchange for a free backlink and author bio for the contributor.

Finding quality writers to post might be the dream but it won't be as easy as you think, especially if you're just sitting back and waiting for people to find your blog.

Here's what you need to know to ensure you are attracting the guest bloggers you need to your blog.

Build Your Brand and Community

Most guest bloggers are in it just for the backlink and exposure the article will bring for their own blog. And, for that reason, they will more likely be attracted to popular blogs, any blog with a strong brand and built in readership. After all, a high traffic blog almost guarantees their own guest post will be seen, read and interacted with.

The more active your blog community looks (in terms of blog post comments, shares, etc), the more likely you are to get the high quality guest posts you want. Share your content around your social networks and interact with other related blogs until you have a decent flow of traffic on a daily basis.

Let Your Readers Know You Are Hiring Guest Bloggers

You can't just assume your readers will automatically know you are accepting guest posts. You'll need to actively advertise your guest posting opportunity by including a 'Write for us' or 'Guest posts welcome' link under each post.

Ask Other Blog Owners to Post

If your brand and community are strong enough, other blog owners may welcome the opportunity to post for you in exchange for a backlink to their own blog. So don't forget to drop these blog owners a line to let them know you would welcome a guest post. In any event, you'll probably attract fellow bloggers as contributors to your own site if you are regularly commenting on their blog. This type of interaction is a valuable source of traffic and community interaction for both blogs.

Make A Standalone Page for Guest Posting Application

Creating a dedicated Guest Blogging page will help you weed out undesirable spammy guest blog posts while ensuring more high quality contributors have all the information they need before they start writing.

Tell the guest blogger what you will and will not accept in terms of content, so they know up front whether or not your site is a good fit.

Stipulate any guest posting guidelines or rules as well as what type of author bio and backlink you're providing in exchange for the free post.

Including a 'Contact Us' form on this page will encourage more submissions.

Carefully Consider Your Compensation

You might not be paying money for the content, but that doesn't mean it's free. And, what you give as compensation should equal what's being received.

Think about it from your guest bloggers point of view. What do you have to offer they would be interested in? Why would a blogger take time to post on your blog and not another?

Don't forget why your contributor is posting, so be sure any compensation you offer is worth their time. Offering an author bio box with backlink to their home page is a good start, or for more established bloggers you could give a 'keyword' link inside the post linking to a specific page on their site. Some writers won't care as much about the backlink as the exposure or chance to build their writing portfolio. Emphasize these benefits when recruiting quality guest bloggers.

The Future of Guest Blog Posting

Once you have attracted a few high quality writers who are publishing on a regular basis, it will be easy to get more. Just be sure to actively promote that you need 'guest posts' to attract other writers to your blog. Ask everyone you know (even non-writers) to contribute to your blog. Add an invitation to write for your blog, where ever you go, even your email or forum signature. Keep the momentum for guest posting going by showcasing your best writers with pinned posts.

Building a good bank of content doesn't happen overnight, especially when you are depending on the efforts of others via guest posting. But, it's well worth the effort and time you invest.