Primp My Blog: How To Pitch and Write a Kickass Guest Post

Guest posting or contributing to another blog can be a great way to develop relationships with other bloggers and grow your blog’s audience at the same time. But how do you become a contributor? Follow these guidelines to pitch and write a guest post that won’t go unnoticed!DON’T sit around and waitHere’s a little secret about guest posting – you don’t have to wait for a blogger to ask you to do it. Many blogs, even big blogs, accept and publish guest posts or contributor posts on a regular basis. It is up to you to do your homework and come up with an idea that is interesting and unique and fits well within a blog’s existing content.DO address the blogger by her nameMost bloggers use at least their first name on their blog – find it and use it! You need to show the blogger that you follow their blog and that you understand what their readers would like to see. A blogger is not going to accept a guest post on a topic totally unrelated to their blog’s content just because they like you.DON’T undersell yourselfPlease please PLEASE don’t say something like, “My blog is new so it’s not very big,” or, “I’m a newbie blogger so I’m not sure how to do this.” If your content is solid, the blogger probably won’t care about your blog’s current following. They want your ideas, not your readers. Be professional and open your pitch with confidence!DO share your ideasThis is the most important aspect of pitching your guest post: tell the blogger what it is! If you have a really great idea for a guest post for a particular blog, write up a summary. Better yet, write up two or three! You don’t need to provide the entire body of the post until requested by the blogger. The more ideas you give a blogger, the more likely it is they will see something they like and say yes.DO include examples of your workRather than simply linking to your own blog, it is helpful to include two or three specific examples of posts you have written that are similar in style to that which you are proposing. You can also include a link to a guest post or contributor post you have written for another blog in the past. If you don’t have a blog of your own, include writing samples as an attached pdf.Example of guest post pitchDear Kelly,My name is Kira, I have been a follower of your blog for over a year, and I am a blogger myself. I am a huge fan of your “That’s Handmade?” feature – you find and make so many cute things, I am constantly pinning them to my boards on Pinterest!I am writing because I have some great ideas for Studio DIY and I would be so honored to have to opportunity to guest post for you. I believe that these posts would fit well within your blog’s themes and would appeal to your readers. Here are a few suggestions of posts I would love to submit for your approval:1. “A Very Hungry Birthday” – party decor, food, and craft ideas based on the Eric Carle children’s book. I will style a photo shoot and include a free cupcake topper printable for your readers.2. “Tinsel Town Photo Booth” – a DIY tutorial for how to create a unique photo booth backdrop with sparkly mylar tablecloths – great for a New Year’s Eve or Oscars party!3. “Cupcake Party Hats” – a DIY tutorial featuring directions to create adorable party hats that look just like cupcakes! These would be wonderful for a tea party themed birthday.You can find similar tutorials I have written on my own blog, Her New Leaf, here and here, as well as this guest post that I wrote for a popular party blog in Boston.I am prepared to include original, high-quality photos with the written text for any of these posts. I would be able to deliver the completed post within two weeks time. I would like to be credited with my first name and one link to my blog.Thanks very much for your consideration, I look forward to working with you!KiraDON’T “over pitch”If you submitted your ideas to a blog, wait at least two weeks before following up. Send one professional follow-up email to say you’re just checking in to see if the blogger had a chance to review your ideas yet. Don’t be pushy or whiny, bloggers are busy. If a blogger declines or has not responded within 2-3 weeks, you can submit your ideas to another blog.DO deliverDo I even have to say this? If the blogger accepted you as a guest poster and gave you a deadline, be sure to deliver everything you promised by that time. The more professional you are, the more likely this blogger will want to work with you in the future.DON’T take it personallyIf your first pitch gets declined, be graceful – no one is successful every single time. Take the opportunity to perfect your pitch, test your ideas on your own blog, or submit your ideas to another blog.DO check your spellingNo matter how good the content is, I am never going to feature a post with spelling and grammar mistakes. Treat guest posting like a professional writing job and proofread your work!Have you ever guest posted or hosted contributors on your own blog? What tips would you add?Thinking about guest posting? See how you can contribute to Her New Leaf.