Are You Thinking About Writing Guest Blog Post Or Accepting Guest Blog Post?
Over the years I have accepted tons of guest posts from writers. I did it because I wanted to provide more value to my blog. It was a win/win situation. I got fresh content and the writer got a backlink and exposure.
It seems google had enough with low-quality guest posts. I have to admit I have been guilty of allowing low-quality posts on my blogs. I was trying to be nice, however, it backfired because in trying to be nice I lowered my own pr.
We Are No Longer Accepting Guest Posts Unless…
Before I tell you the requirements that you need to have in order to guest post here I want you to read this FIRST => The decay and fall of guest blogging for SEO. If you are one of those spammy guest posters that Matt Cutts is talking about your days are numbered.
Also a warning to you bloggers out there who are allowing these guest posters to post. Stop it! You’re hurting your blog. With that said in order for me to allow your guest post, you need to be an established blogger, blogging on your own blog for at least 1 year.
If you don’t meet that requirement forget about it!
It can’t be a free blog either, you must have your own self-hosted blog to qualify and even then I will visit your blog and read your articles to make sure you are providing quality content on your blog.
So How Do You Get Your Guest Post Out There?
It’s not that doing a guest blog posts is bad. The problem is like most things it only takes a few bad apples to ruin the entire bunch. This is why If you are going to pursue doing guest blog posts, you need to make sure what you are writing is of the highest caliber. You also need to understand how keywords work. I can’t tell you how many times I have been approached by people who want me to put up their guest blog post even though the post itself is pretty weak.
The best types of blog posts are posts that draws the reader in.
Keep that in mind if you still want to do guest posting. My personal opinion is guest posting can still be a powerful tool and a win/win situation. A good friend of mine and a guest blogger here at ProfitOnKnowledge.com
She wrote:Â HOW TO BUILD A COMMUNITY USING YOUR BLOG
…She just got done writing a really good article on the same subject: Â Guest Blogging Is NOT Dead Says Matt Cutts
Now It’s Your Turn…
Do you write or accept guest blog posts? How do you feel about what Matt Cutt’s says?
Guest blogging is still valuable, like what you said it’s a win-win for both authors and publishers. For the publisher, think of it as a means of increasing your exposure and offering a diverse range of topics, opinions and expertise. For an author, it’s still a great way for you to build your reputation, increase your site’s exposure and gain new followers. Gone are the days of building links using this tactics, but you can still benefit from guest posting.
Guest blogging can be powerful, I believe though now more than ever quality is so important.
Hey Larry,
I’m sorry you got caught in this mess with the “low quality” posts but I know that a lot of people get really busy and with all good intentions have others write for them. I’m also sure though that most of the sites that your posts linked to weren’t spammy but in Google’s eyes obviously not quite up to par. Lesson learned right!
I’m just so honored though that you asked me to guest post here and that you included that link here and to my post on Matt’s announcement as well. I’m just hoping that this will help everyone move forward with continuing to crank out really great content. Looks like you’ve got a great plan in place now.
Thank you again and you have a great year my friend.
~Adrienne
Thanks Adrienne,
Thank you, ya I did get hit with low quality post. I blame myself though, I should have more carefully thought about what I was doing.
However, I totally agree with you the lesson was learned. Also have a great year! 🙂
I do not know if that is really true, because what is next then, comments on blogs? Maybe
there was some changes at guest blogging but if guest blogging was been good until now I think it will be good in the future to.
A lot of people was afraid of hummingbird algorithm and told that there will be big changes but I didn’t saw big changes in search engines, not for my websites and blog.
After reading Matts recent post, everybody raving is Is guest blogging really dead?, NO it not really dead but if it is used for some bad link building practices then the blog will be (or may be) dead.
There were countless blogs still enjoying the benefits of guest blogging by the way of its outstanding quality and the number of readers comment and their social shares.
So the guest blogging is evergreen, but depends on for what purpose we’re using. Link building or trust building.
Thanks.
Hi Naveen,
I agree with your statement. Guest blogging can still be awesome if it’s used for trust building. Thanks for sharing your view..
I welcome Matt Cutts recent comments.
Hopefully it will reduce the number of spammy guest blog requests I receive on a daily basis.
If that happens it might also help genuine guest blog requests get seen easier.
Hi Mark I am hoping so too!
I am tired of getting emails from folks who just want to offer me spammy blog post so they can get backlinks.
Hi Larry
I think that some posts are written on the fly and just are not even worth publishing. I have never had anyone guest post, but I did one for what I thought was a good site. I still believe it is a good site. But they were getting all sorts of contributors and building a fine site. They asked me to write about my blind cat (was on a pet site). They published it and gave me a backlink, told me the URL for it and it was visible for quite sometime. About 4 months after it was published I just went to their site and did a search for blind cats, it never showed up. Then I went through the URL they provided and found it. I could see no earthly reason why they would not provide the post to their readers as it was very helpful. That kind of turned me off on the posting bit for others. I have been asked by people that I have visited their sites and I know they would not bury my work. But for now time is an issue for me to be writing guest blogs.
I feel that the owner of a blog should be super careful what they accept and publish from anyone else. They ought to be a commenter on your site already to have the privilege of getting to do a post for you. Your site reflects who you are and does not just reflect on the author of the post.
Glad you found out it is not worth publishing poor quality posts and you never know how many other sites it is published on!
Mary
Hi Mary first thanks for coming by and commenting. Unfortunately due to the fact that some people are self centered it has become harder and harder to be kind.
It sounds like at one point where you submitted your article was a do follow blog, then more than likely due to Google Algorithm changes they had to go from Do Follow to No Follow which effectively buried your site.
Your not the first person to mention that a guest poster should be someone who is a regular reader of yours. I am going to adopt that policy myself.
Thanks for commenting…
Hello, Larry Rivera
Really enjoyed reading your post. Really impressive post, i can say that. Keep writing informative and useful post like these one.
Thanks..
I think the fact that guest blogging is dead doesn’t even make sence, in my opinion we just have to be careful when accepting guest posts and we gonna be fine
thanks for this usefu article! 🙂
Hi Anis, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I agree it’s not dead. If there is one thing that matt cutt has let us know is “don’t publish weak articles”
Hi Larry,
Ahhh guest posting.
I guess I see it like everything else….
Everything depends on the integrity of the work. Whether it’s guest posting, our own posts and even our comments.
We want to see real and genuine heart behind the person writing the words. And because we live in a world filled with humans living in survival mode…lack and desperation for profit/ greed takes precedence over authenticity.
I was lucky enough to be Adrienne’s first guest on her blog this year – and I can honestly say that the experience brought out a lot of fantastic discussions in the comments.
But then again, I wrote from the heart.
So I say there’s hope. We just need to discern the difference between those with a real message – and those who are just taking up space.
I actually feel this goes beyond blogging and extends into everything else we do 🙂
Hi Dana thanks for visiting. I absolutely agree with every word you said. I really hate that greed and desperation is so rampant online.
For the record bad guest posters isn’t the only thing that hurts our blogs. Also publishing low quality private label right articles can bring down your site as well.
I love your blog 🙂
Hey Larry,
I am guilty of accepting low quality guest posts in the past (although that wasn’t because I was nice…I was just being lazy and accepting the post, just because I wanted to publish something).
Big mistake! It wasn’t too bad though…I wasn’t serious about blogging. Blogging was just a hobby, so it didn’t matter. But, I am more serious about it right now. So, I won’t be repeating that mistake.
As for Matt’s opinion, I am glad he decided to announce this (although the original blog post title was controversial, it did get a lot of attention, which is good for him :D), we have had enough for spammy guest posting requests.
Anyways, thank you for sharing this, Larry 🙂 Good luck with the new policy!
Hi Jeevan, thanks for stopping by brother.
It’s okay man, I think most of us have done it at one time or another. On the surface it seems like a great idea. Underneath though you end up lowering the quality of blog.
I am also glad he spoke up about the issue.