Finding The Right Site For Guest Blogging

I have had to turn away a lot of requests for guest blogging. I know others who have. Now, for those who are into guest writing on other sites, I am sure you are like – “Why would you do that when you can get some links back?”

As much as I would love to, I have found after a lot of experience that it is best to carefully choose where to write. The wrong place might be for a site that was made for all the wrong reasons or a place that I do not share many of the same opinions.

I am going to share a short guide to finding the right site to guest blog.

• You really have to scope out a site and make sure the people know what they are talking about. If you go in and your ideas conflict, you will probably be uncomfortable about posting again in the future.
• Read the rules and requirements for guest posting at another person’s website. While you might be excited to post, you might not be submitting what will fit or your writing might not be in the format that is required. For example, some blog owners ask you to organize your posts in a certain way with h2, h3, h4 tags. Some blog owners might even not allow you to to link to certain sites.
• Site traffic is not always important. Newer sites might become popular or at least have decent traffic later on. Some larger sites might not be a good idea. There are some that I have felt were created for all the wrong reasons, like making money before creating a valuable site.
• Do not take on regular guest posting right away. You might not be able to fill those requirements even if you offer to do an article every week or even every other week. Life happens.
• Do not spread yourself thin. You have a life. People are aware of it… well except for the small percentage who forgot that part.
• If a blog owner is breathing down your neck for another article, you might want to go elsewhere. While the site might be great, you are not obligated to contribute regularly. If the blog has ads, basically you are making them money. Your site comes first before contributing elsewhere. Why? – Well, you cannot develop a site if you are constantly elsewhere.
• While being offered money to blog might be great, you are probably better off submitting your guest post to places that can back up their word and get the traffic that makes good money. A lot of people get strange when money is involved and because it is not your blog, and you might not have a contract, you should probably avoid people who wave the money around unless they promise to pay you per post.
• You really should be in first for sharing your content, engaging with readers, and getting some link love back. You are trying to establish yourself in your niche as someone who is influential.
• Try to keep in your niche. For example, if you are usually in tech, it might be weird getting non-relevant links back from a mommy blog. Also, visitors might be a bit confused when you write at a site outside your own blog’s niche. They are usually looking for material similar to the site they just left and hope to find it on your site. Side Note: For any mothers who might be into tech and social media, perhaps having a mommy on the side might be great. Use that site for getting links back.

What are your own guidelines for finding the right site to guest blog at?