Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Avoid Shopping Around Finished Pieces
- Avoid Using a Rigid Pitch Template
- Don't Only Pitch Big Blogs
- Don't Leave Promotion to the Host Blog
- Don't Neglect Comments
- Quality Over Quantity in Pitching
- Get Noticed by Blog Owners
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
Have you ever put in the effort to write an amazing guest post only for it to be rejected? You're not alone. The landscape of guest posting has become increasingly competitive, making it harder to get your content accepted. Many aspiring guest bloggers face similar hurdles because they fall into common traps. Don't worry; this blog post will guide you through the seven mistakes most people make when guest posting and what you should do instead to thrive.
Ready to master the art of guest posting? Keep reading to find out how you can stand out and get your guest posts published.
Avoid Shopping Around Finished Pieces
Many bloggers believe that writing an epic post and shopping it around to various editors is a solid strategy. After writing, they quickly start pitching it to multiple blogs, hoping for a quick acceptance. However, most blogs don't want pre-written pieces. They prefer content specifically tailored to their audience and requirements.
What to Do Instead
Rather than pitching completed articles, invest your time in researching blogs you admire and that have a similar audience to yours. Thoroughly read a few posts and the blog's about page to understand their voice and focus. Then, brainstorm ideas that would resonate with their audience and run a search to ensure the topic hasn’t been covered already. By pitching tailored ideas, you show the editor that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in providing valuable content.
Avoid Using a Rigid Pitch Template
While pitch templates can save time, they tend to result in generic and stale pitches. Most editors can easily spot templates, leading to higher rejection rates. Using a template leaves little room for the personalization that editors appreciate.
What to Do Instead
Use a flexible framework instead of a rigid template. This allows you to tailor each pitch while ensuring you include essential elements. A typical framework might include:
- A personalized salutation.
- A quick introduction about yourself and what you like about their blog.
- A brief outline of your proposed post.
- Key hooks and keywords.
- Links to relevant writing samples.
- A concise concluding paragraph.
Document what works and what doesn’t as you pitch, and tweak your framework accordingly.
Don't Only Pitch Big Blogs
Understandably, landing a guest post on a big blog is exciting, but it's incredibly competitive. Focusing solely on big-name blogs can lead to frustration due to numerous rejections.
What to Do Instead
Include smaller blogs in your pitching strategy. Smaller and midsized blogs are more likely to notice and accept your pitches, providing valuable exposure. A balanced approach is about 70% pitches to smaller and midsized blogs and 30% to larger ones.
Don't Leave Promotion to the Host Blog
Many guest bloggers promote their posts once or twice on social media and then leave the rest to the host blog. This isn't enough. Relying on the blog editor alone to promote your post can limit its reach.
What to Do Instead
Take an active role in promoting your guest post. This includes multiple social media shares, mentioning your post in your newsletter, and even creating follow-up content on your own blog that links back to the guest post. Continuous promotion keeps your post in circulation and maximizes its impact.
Don't Neglect Comments
Not engaging with comments on your guest post is a missed opportunity. When readers comment on your post, they’re looking to connect with the author. Neglecting these comments can diminish the potential for building a loyal audience.
What to Do Instead
Check with the blog owner if you can get notifications for comments on your post. Make a habit of visiting the comments section every day for at least a week after publication to respond to all comments. Gradually, you can reduce the frequency, but continue to revisit and engage indefinitely.
Quality Over Quantity in Pitching
Believing that sending a large number of pitches will increase your chances of acceptance can lead to hurried, low-quality pitches. Overemphasis on quantity can lead to poor personalization and creativity, resulting in fewer acceptances.
What to Do Instead
Focus on creating high-quality pitches, even if it means sending out fewer of them. Develop a pitching routine that allows you to invest adequate time in researching and crafting each pitch. By prioritizing quality, you increase your chances of acceptance and build a better reputation with editors.
Get Noticed by Blog Owners
Cold pitches often go unnoticed because editors prefer working with people they know or recognize.
What to Do Instead
Spend a few weeks building a rapport with the blog owner before pitching. Follow them on social media, engage with their posts genuinely, and become a recognizable name. When you do finally send your pitch, they’re more likely to give it the attention it deserves.
Conclusion
To succeed in guest posting, avoid the common mistakes of pitching pre-written pieces, using stale templates, focusing only on big blogs, neglecting promotion, ignoring comments, prioritizing quantity over quality, and pitching cold to blog owners. Instead, tailor your pitches, diversify your targets, promote your posts actively, engage with comments, focus on quality, and build relationships beforehand.
By following these strategies, you'll increase your chances of getting published and become known as a valuable and thoughtful guest blogger.
FAQ
What are the key components of a strong guest post pitch?
A strong pitch includes a personalized salutation, an introduction about yourself, what you like about the blog, a brief outline of your proposed post, key hooks and keywords, links to relevant writing samples, and a concise conclusion.
How do I find smaller blogs to pitch?
You can find smaller blogs by using blog directories, searching for niche-specific communities, and checking out the guest posts sections of popular blogging platforms.
How can I effectively promote my guest post?
Promote your guest post by sharing it multiple times on social media, mentioning it in your newsletter, creating related content on your own blog that links back to the guest post, and engaging with the audience in the comments section.
Why is it important to engage with comments on my guest posts?
Engaging with comments helps build a connection with readers, shows that you value their input, and can drive more traffic to your own blog or website as readers seek more of your content.
How can I balance quality and quantity in my pitching strategy?
Develop a flexible pitching schedule that allows for thorough research and high-quality pitches. Prioritize quality over quantity and gradually increase the number of pitches as you become more efficient in your process.
