Matt Cutts, head of Google’s Webspam team, recently announced that guest blogging was “done”, which lead to a major controversy. He later explained his statement by sharing guest blogging only for SEO was done.
With the future of guest blogging is shrouded in doubt. It is more vital now than ever before to craft the art right. Here are a few tips that might help you do the same:
Strategize
If you are new to the world of guest blogging, it is wise to avoid running blindly into fray. Planning a roadmap with a few initial pit stops is advisable when you venture into anything new. Get a board out, chalk out the primary and secondary goals, which you want to reach and then follow through.
Target your audience
Do your research. You have worked hard to write a new post, so don’t send our request mails to every site that accepts guest bloggers. Aim for the sites that match your subject and skill best.
If you want build a sturdy SEO foundation through your guest blogging caimpaign, then must only focus on blogs that have a decent SEO status –look at the Page Rank, Alexa Rank, Domain Authority, mozRank, Custom Rank etc.
Use http://www.check-domains.com/website-analysis/website-analyzer.php to get all of these numbers and some more.
Research is Key
Before stepping into unknown waters, it is best to be armed with a little background information.
Make sure you know the answers to some basic questions.
‘Which blogs are receiving the most online traffic?’ ‘Which sites can boast of readers who submit regular meaningful feedback?’
Track Social Activity
The craze of social media isn’t a new one to hit the public, nor is it one that looks to be ebbing any time soon. It will help to find out how many of the posts are being shared on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Give Quality precedence
Try not be carried away by numbers of online traffic or reader feedback when choosing the blog on which your work should be published. Quality must always take the front seat. You have obviously taken a lot of effort in every post that you write. Therefore, be sure that the blog on which your work is being put up holds high quality and interesting content.
Do not approach it as an SEO link builder
For a long time now guest blogging has been exploited as a tool to build backlinks to individual websites. This is the dying branch of guest blogging. Use it instead for the genuine intention of sharing information and ideas.
Build a relationship
One of the biggest advantages you receive as a guest blogger is the relationships you form through the journey. When you look at the bigger picture, you realize that the blogger whose site you are contributing to is slowly becoming your ally. His/her readers, who are contributing to your growth with their valuable feedback, could be your followers in the future.
Keep your expectations simple
If you are contributing in guest blogging, you must know what exactly to expect from this experience.
Enormous traffic? May be not.
Wealth and Recognition? Definetely not.
Value and Trust? Yes, Of course.
Keep in mind that the relationships you form through guest blogging will probably remain with you for a long term. It may take time to build these relationships, but have no doubt; it is through them that you will be fueled for your larger goals.
Image courtesy: Freedigitalphotos.net/Stuart Miles