So you want to write a guest post? Here’s what you need to know

Guest posts really have their benefits. People who write guest posts on other blogs are able to get their writing out there and draw awareness to their cause.

But there are many things to take into consideration if you want to approach a blogger to write a guest post for them on their blog. I've been approached by many different authors; some I have happily agreed to publish their guest post, others I have been thoroughly put off by their inquiry.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1) What's in it for the blogger? Anyone who approaches me, saying that they want to write a guest post for my blog, and says that they're offering "a unique article, completely free of charge! All I'm asking in return in a tiny link exchange" makes me roll my eyes. If you're selling a product or marketing yourself and you write a blog in order to draw attention to the service or product you provide, then it makes sense that you might be interested in guest bloggers offering to write articles for you. But if you're like me, and you started blogging just because you like writing rather than because you were trying to promote a business, then it's pretty likely that the writing of articles is generally a joy and you want to do all of the writing yourself.

If you're trying to offer your services as a guest blogger, think about what that person really needs. If you know that they are going away on holiday, for example, that's the perfect time to approach them. They will likely be grateful for your offer. Take the time to think about why your guest post is relevant to the blogger whom you want to publish your article.

2) Do you have a good relationship with the blogger? Nine times out of ten, I'll turn down a guest blogger who contacts me out of the blue who I do not "know". But if a blogger with whom I have a good relationship asks me if I'll publish an article they wrote, I'm pretty much going to always say yes. I'm happy to promote fellow blogger friends. There's no need for me to promote random strangers, so I usually don't.

3) Can you write? This is crucial. Some people send me articles to publish and I turn them down because they can't put a sentence together. It's horrifying. If you want someone to publish your article, for the love of all things holy please edit and proofread it and get someone else to take a look at it before you send it in. Make sure it makes sense!

4) What's your idea? It irks me when a random stranger offers to write an article for me but they want me to choose the topic. If I'm going to choose the topic, I might as well write the article myself! Pitch your idea to the blogger and make sure it's relevant to their blog. For example, if the blogger in question is starting to try out a vegan diet, and you have experience eating vegan foods, offer to write an article about your experiences and advice about going vegan. Those kind of thoughtful ideas are what will give you an "in."

Thoughts on guest blogging? Have you done it? Would you be interested in doing it? How do you feel about people approaching you with their ideas to write a guest post? Leave your comments below!

For an awesome guest post, check out Charlotte's article on my Living Healthy in the Real World blog---as she's a fellow blogger friend and has a brand new book out to promote, it was a pleasure to publish her guest post on my blog 🙂