Delete. That was the sound of me getting rid of another poor guest post pitch.
I used to respond to every guest post request I got, but lately I’ve been inundated with approaches that are, quite frankly, poor.
That’s probably one of the reasons that a lot of prominent bloggers are refusing to accept guest posts.
I have to say that I love a good guest post. But I’m not so desperate to find guest bloggers, that I will take any old post that someone throws my way. Here are the issues that make me turn down guest post approaches.
1.The Anonymous Guest Post Approach
I have a name, and it’s not hard to find. If you send a guest post pitch without a name, with a generic Dear Sir (I’m a girl, but it’s amazing how many of those I get), or even worse, with the wrong name, then there’s no point in reading past the first line. Because that tells me that the blogger couldn’t be bothered to click one link and find out who to send the guest post approach to, which means that the post is likely to be shoddy and sloppy too.
2.The Guest Post Form Letter
Somewhere out there someone has given a bunch of people a couple of templates to use for trying to get guest posts placed. As a writer, I am very tuned into language so I can tell when someone is using a template.
I’m all for bloggers making their lives easier, but my issue with these approaches is that there is no effort to personalize the templates. I’ve had pitches which still have the words ‘insert topic here’ in the email – that spells carelessness and is another reason to delete without reading.
3. Stop Texting Me
A guest post pitch is not a text message – and it’s not a tweet either. There’s no word or character limit which means there’s no need to substitute ‘U’ for you or use any of the other common SMS abbreviations. If you want to convince me that you are the right person to write on my site then take the time to write your pitch email properly.
4. Forget the Essays
At the other end of the scale from SMS speak is an extended ramble where I can find no evidence of what the post idea is and why I should publish it. Take a leaf out of a professional writer’s book, and when you send a pitch to blogs that accept guest posts, craft the kind of approach you could send to a magazine editor. Include:
- the title
- a brief description
- how it fits my blog or audience
- why you are the best person to write it
Finish up by telling me which site you plan to link to in the bio. Bloggers who try to hide this info create another red flag for me.
5. Does The Guest Post Fit?
Let’s take a look at that third point – how the post fit my blog. You know and I know that guest blogging is an exchange. I get good content; you get to be published somewhere else with a link to your favorite website or blog. But that doesn’t mean that I’ll take anything. If it’s not relevant to my audience, there is no incentive for me to publish the post.
Here’s a tip for prospective guest bloggers: it’s better to spend a few minutes browsing the blog so you can find something that is relevant to my readers.
6. Novelty Value
After running a blog for several years, there are a lot of topics that have been covered in every possible way. Some of these are old standards that you can come back to time and again, but to do that there has to be something unique about your take on the topic. Better still, identify a content gap that you are qualified to fill and pitch me the post that will fill it. That will propel you to the front of the queue.
7. Poor Grammar
Assuming you get to the point where I read your post, there’s still one more issue – the grammar. I do accept guest posts from people whose native language isn’t English. I speak several languages myself and can easily pick up and edit the errors that result from writing in a language that is not your own. But bloggers who are – or are pretending to be – native English speakers have to get the grammar right or their post goes straight into the trash.
Why is this a big problem for me? Because anyone who comes to my blog will judge me by the writing that’s there – and who wants to be known for poor writing? I admit that I’m hard to please, but I’ve published dozens of guest posts over the years. I love the chance to offer readers someone else’s perspective. It just has to be well-written and interesting – I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
{ 138 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: myers_richard
March 12, 2013 at 5:48 AM
Hi Ms. Ileane,
I enjoyed reading your expectations for a guest blog. I am enjoying more writing time these days and would love to do a guest blog for you at sometime in the near future. I am currently involved with writing some articles for a new seniors magazine. The editor of said publication perused my fledgling website and after reading my blogs (all two of them), contacted me to write for her. I am pleased to be able to impart some good news your way and hope things are good on your end.
Have a wonderful and productive day,
Richard Myers
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:05 AM
Glad to hear you have had some success with guest blogging, Richard; you must know how to pitch.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: internetdreamof
March 12, 2013 at 5:51 AM
Guest post submissions is something I monitor very closely on Internet Dreams.
If the guest post is something that they didn’t talk already with me before or if the guest post that doesn’t darn add more value to the blog, forget it!
Guest posting needs to be your best possible written content and done at a pace that will produce a masterpiece every time.
You bring up some common and excellent points Sharon.
Samuel recently posted..3 Twitter Tools For You To Succeed On Twitter!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:06 AM
I agree, Samuel, it’s better to discuss the post idea first.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Hi Sharon,
Great share!
At times I have felt the template for the request has been copied from the best blog but it has not been personalized to really make an impact. Several times the guest post doesn’t fit into my scheme of things so that really goes into trash for sure.
Thanks for this great share.
Sapna
Sapna recently posted..Awesome ways to get Facebook likes and Tweets(Cartoongraphics)
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:07 AM
Thanks, Sapna. I don’t know about you, but the approaches I get are not that great. When someone sends a great pitch, I really notice it.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Wrapping Up 2012: Q4 Blogging Highlights
Twitter: enstinemuki
March 12, 2013 at 6:12 AM
Hi Sharon,
How are you today?
Generally, there are two groups of people that submit these guest posts : SEO companies and bloggers.
Those template styles, dear sir, etc , posts are generally from some SEO representative with poor guest posting knowledge. They collect money from clients and want to get their free way to your blog. Often, I don’t reply to such mails.
I love working with bloggers. If you get a guest post from a fellow blogger, you’ll always quickly make it out. Most bloggers are informed on what to do before submitting a guest post so most of these silly errors are avoided.
Interesting article Sharon and thanks for bringing it up.
Hope you have a greet week
Enstine Muki recently posted..How CommentLuv Plugin is Damaging Your SEO!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:08 AM
Hi Enstine, doing well thanks and you? The trouble with the SEO company pitches is that some of the people they get to pitch don’t know what to do with the template. I love working with real bloggers who want to write, but unfortunately more and more of these awful pitches are creeping in.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: getmediawise
March 14, 2013 at 3:49 AM
Hi Sharon,
I totally agree with you, there are far too many people who are interested in just getting totally spun content submitted as a guest post. So the trick would be to like you said, check for poor grammar and then look at the context of the text when related to the blog.
We haven’t yet opened our blog up to guest bloggers but we are considering it. How does it work for you?
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 14, 2013 at 8:20 AM
I like having different voices on my blog, so from that perspective it works very well, Karl. The only issue is quality, but since I have the final veto, that’s OK. I’ve also had a few guest posts that have had a terrific response from my readers.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Testimonials and More
Twitter: thescript102
March 12, 2013 at 6:13 AM
Awesome Posting
I also receive many Guest Post offers but most of them are Spun
thanks for sharing this cool article do keep it up
anis recently posted..How to Make Money Using Pinterest !
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:08 AM
And there’s no point in that, is there, Anis?
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: itsTanmoy
March 12, 2013 at 7:06 AM
Nice article !!
I always try to get guest post as much as possible. But maximum articles are poor article and not related to my niche.
Tanmoy Das recently posted..How To Get Lyrics Automatically While Playing Music Video On YouTube
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:09 AM
I love guest posting too, Tammoy, but I usually discuss it with the blogger unless I already have a good idea that it will be relevant. And I always do stuff that’s good enough to post on my own blog.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: ghua
March 12, 2013 at 7:22 AM
Hello Sharon!
Excellent points. I never did any guest blogging but I will keep your post in my mind!
Best Regards
Siegfried recently posted..How to view website in different resolutions
Me too, I also never did it before. the above points will save me to get rejected. Thanks Sharon for the awareness
Sarah recently posted..Elegant Themes Discount » 49 Cent/ Theme
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:10 AM
Glad you found it useful, Siegfried and Sarah.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: Rohitkabdwal
March 12, 2013 at 7:33 AM
nice article Sharon,
writing guest post is a technique to publish your blog in the global platform but for the same purpose you need to have the proper knowledge of how to write a perfect article with no mistake, there are no chances of committing error while writing a guest post..,
you have give the nice list of these errors which are committed by guest bloggers..,
I think your tips will help many people reading this article. thanks
Rohit recently posted..Java: What is Java (basics covered)
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 8:11 AM
Writing techniques could be another whole post, Rohit!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: Tradecashforum
March 12, 2013 at 8:51 AM
I think there will not be any issue for guest post writer to give his/her proper details.
Because bloggers are always looking to connect and they need to connect with real people.
Usman recently posted..Best time to invest in HYIP sites!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 1:27 PM
No objection to connecting, Usman, but I do object to poor content.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..A Writer’s Quirks
Twitter: Tradecashforum
March 13, 2013 at 5:18 AM
Poor content is of no use to visitors, and you will eventually loose visitor interest towards your site.
Usman recently posted..ForexGold – New HYIP Program !
Twitter: Solarbenefits
March 12, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Hello Ileane and Sharon,
i don’t see anything wrong with those advises since there are mostly common sense tips.
It’s useless to write about carrots (even though your article is exceptional) in an internet marketing forum .
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 1:27 PM
But it’s amazing how many people ignore common sense when they make an approach, Radu.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: Solarbenefits
March 31, 2013 at 7:17 PM
I believe that is a matter of your background education and not a lack of knowledge.
Radu recently posted..Jasmine & James Wedding
Twitter: queryfreewriter
March 12, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Amen Sharon!
Bad guest post pitches have really soured me on the whole concept. It was fine when it was a traditional PR tactic that people took seriously. But now most of the pitches are just from SEO firms and spammers looking for quick links. I cannot support those kinds of bloggers, and I will not put the reputation of my sites behind them.
My biggest pet peeves are poorly written pitch emails and irrelevant pitches. If you’re too lazy to spend five minutes on my site to see what it’s about, you’re too incompetent to have access to my readers. And if you can’t handle the English language well enough to send me a short email, then you shouldn’t be writing posts for English-speaking audiences — on a writing blog no less.
I’ve been able to cut down on some of these garbage guest post pitches lately. Here’s what I did:
1. I changed the term “guest post” to “contributor” or “guest contributor.” This eliminates spammers who do nothing more than troll Google for sites mentioning guest post guidelines.
2. I no long accept pitches unless they include the full article. I do not have the time to wade through dozens of BS requests as it is. I have even less time for follow-up cycles with people who start out saying they’ll write about anything, then eventually send some ideas, and then eventually send the article. They now have to send it for review up front, or they get no response at all.
Before we got anywhere from 5 – 15 pitches a week, most ignored for not following our guidelines. I’ve now cut that back to 1-3 per week, and the pitches have been a bit better.
Jenn Mattern recently posted..Avoid Costly Freelance Writing Scams
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Thanks for those tips, Jenn. I think I’ll use them to update my guidelines – again! I keep having to up the ante to fend off the spammy requests.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: morningtadka
March 15, 2013 at 2:16 AM
Hi Jenn,
Nicely figured out the facts that do occur on most of the Blogs .I have not accepted Guest authors on my blog for these reasons.But I am thinking to start with guest author shortly.And these points put together By both Sharon and You will surely help me.
Thanks and Regards,
Joel
Joel recently posted..10 Best blogger templates Free Download For You
Twitter: moralde_lyon
March 12, 2013 at 9:34 AM
I agree with these entirely. Even though my blog is not that big and known that much yet, I do get a few blog guesting requests every now and then. Though I didn’t notice any abuse of request form templates, I do get to read some articles that were spinned versions of some other already-published articles. Though I do need to increase the frequency of new posts on my blog, I’m not that desperate enough to accept badly written articles.
I will be keeping these points in mind, too, should I myself be venturing into doing guest blogging someday.
James M. recently posted..My Kids Love Oz The Great and Powerful
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Focusing on quality from the start is a great strategy, James.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: queryfreewriter
March 12, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Ack. Number two should be “longer” not “long.” It’s not lost on me that I just complained about poorly written emails and then forgot to proofread a comment before hitting “submit.”
Jenn Mattern recently posted..Blog Post Ideas to Fall Back On
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 9:57 AM
One of life’s little ironies, Jenn. That’s happened to me before, too!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: Linda Paul
March 12, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Thanks for this information. I’ve been considering inviting some people to write guest posts for my blog. I am leery of accepting poorly organized rambles with questionable grammar. Your post helped me realize that it is acceptable for me to edit a guest blogger’s piece.
Linda recently posted..Down time: Another Trifectra Challenge
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 6:50 PM
I’ve included that in my contributor’s guidelines, Linda – as the blog owner, I reserve the right to edit all content that appears.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Hello SHARON HURLEY HALL
Many times, I am seeing such kind of nonsense . Bloggers have to be sensible while writing any guest post for any blog. It gives a very irritating impression to the authors.
Monika recently posted..Pinterest’s New Look. Complete Redesign
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 1:26 PM
That’s true, Monika. It doesn’t take long to make a good impression, but it takes a heck of a long time to erase a bad one.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: NLCuk
March 12, 2013 at 11:19 AM
I think is this an article that should be shown to all would be bloggers, let alone guest bloggers. If you can’t even successfully pitch yourself as a guest blogger, are you even suited to blogging in the first place?
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Good question, Nick? I also think that if you’re pitching to people who are already blogging and writing, you have to up your game.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: freedommmc
March 12, 2013 at 11:33 AM
#3 is hilarious.
Here’s a tip that works I’ve been writing about this.
The person they are typically writing for is usually a legitimate client that is getting hosed by a low quality blog promoter.
I recommend you follow up with them and offer your high quality services.
The people who spam email guest post requests all day and post spam comments always work for someone.
Darnell Jackson recently posted..What I learned from Adrienne Smith – Q&A with the founder of AdrienneSmith.net
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 1:26 PM
That’s a great tip, thanks, Darnell.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: annewayman
March 12, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Add me to the amen chorus!
Anne Wayman recently posted..Should You Have a Writer’s Blog?
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 6:50 PM
Thanks, Anne. Somehow I knew you’d agree!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: TechInitio
March 12, 2013 at 3:39 PM
A bloggers should be sensible while writing guest post.
Trashy guest post and annoying habits deserve special place in a dumpster.
Thanks for the share!!!
Some of the points are part of my “dump it” agenda too.
Rashmi Sinha recently posted..Samsung vs Sony vs HTC – Which Android Heavyweight Is The Best?
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Good to know you feel the same way, Rashmi!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: millercathy
March 12, 2013 at 5:12 PM
You know where I stand on the subject, Sharon.
One of my funnier ones I shared on Twitter with the following Tweet ~
Dear #guestblogger if you have been following my #bizwriting site for so long, why send a guest post idea for storage units? #justsayin
Cathy Miller recently posted..Quick Grammar Tips to Honor National Grammar Day
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 5:14 PM
I love it, Cathy! Great way to handle it.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: brettalanseo
March 12, 2013 at 5:30 PM
@shurleyhall – I recently began to allow guest posting on my blog. I feel like I’m reading my exact experience with it so far. Bottom line, guest posting is advertised as an easy way to keep continuous content being published on your blog, however, you end up spending a lot of time filtering through the junk.
I commend Ms. Illeane for all the hard work she puts into reviewing great posts from new authors each day. It is an often thankless job.
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Ileane does a fantastic job of attracting quality guest posters, Brett. It’s one of the reasons I’m so happy to guest post on her site.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: melaniekissell
March 12, 2013 at 5:58 PM
Way to spell it out, Sharon!!
Melanie Kissell recently posted..Out With The Trash And In With The Treasures
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 12, 2013 at 6:51 PM
Thanks, Melanie. Do you have a policy regarding guest posts?
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: melaniekissell
March 12, 2013 at 7:09 PM
Hi Sharon
Until today, I didn’t have a guest posting policy …
But thanks to your post, now I have one!!
Melanie Kissell recently posted..Out With The Trash And In With The Treasures
When trying to guest post, of course it is a must to be impressing the site’s owner. As a site owner as well, I wouldn’t want to compromise my site’s reputation for a poor guest post. I’d rather not have one.
Dylann Andre recently posted..Starting a Small Business at Home
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:38 AM
That’s a good policy, Dylann.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Hi Sharon!
Recently i have started guest posting in my blog and started to receive many articles. But i don’t know how to choose the best one. will you help me
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:39 AM
Well, Vishnu, I think using the tips above will help. Apart from that it’s about finding one that adds value to your readers – you will be the best judge of that.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: socialvani
March 13, 2013 at 1:15 AM
I delete posts if they do not meet the guest blogging requirements. Out of every 10 guest blogging emails received, i reject about 7-8 because a) they are from SEO agencies and b) they don’t make the effort to read guidelines.
Sometimes its a complete waste of time
Chitraparna Sinha recently posted..Are You Small Business Ready? 7 Questions to Ask yourself
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:40 AM
Exactly the problem I’m talking about, Chitraparna. But then you sometimes get a really great post which makes it worthwhile.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: marthapreston4
March 13, 2013 at 1:30 AM
wow I never thought about all the minor details of guest posting I really need to revise my policies
marty recently posted..The Top 10 “Top Ten List”
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:41 AM
My posting policy is an ever-evolving document, Marty. In fact, I made a change yesterday based on Jenn Mattern’s comment above.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Thanks Sharon for these tips. I now understand what mistakes I often make while pitching for a guest post, I owe you big time.
Oh yeah, that is why I never take a risk to write a guest posts! As every man I’m scared of critics. Anyway, the post hits the nail on the head)) Thanks
Evan recently posted..2013 review of Mint Themes – A Fresh New Look For Your Site
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:42 AM
Don’t be scared, Evan. If you write something that’s right for the blog’s audience, then you won’t have a problem.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: vikramravtani
March 13, 2013 at 4:10 AM
Wow..I have never thought of these.I think i should revise my guest posts.
vikram rajpurohit recently posted..How To Write Interesting Informative And Interactive Blog Posts
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:42 AM
Glad you found it helpful, Vikram.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: techfreekz
March 13, 2013 at 5:35 AM
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for publishing these common mistakes, which a blogger does while submitting a guest post. The most important point according to me is grammar. Without proper grammar writing a post is waste. Visitors will only interact and will have some excitement for your post, if you write well without grammatical mistakes. So always try to write simple but grammatical error free post.
Thanks once again for publishing this post.
Regards
Kshitij Jain
Kshitij Jain recently posted..Best Antivirus For Mac 2013
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:43 AM
Poor grammar is often a deal-breaker for me, Kshitij, though I make some exceptions for people who are writing in a second language.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: akhilendra1
March 13, 2013 at 6:05 AM
Really nice and informative post, there are many who will simply address you as “Hi” in their mails, chances are they are sending that mail to more than one persons with a very generic approach. I have observed that bloggers are better than many professionals from “Not so established” SEO agencies. They send bulk mails and often don’t follow standard practices. Thanks a lot for this informative post.
akhilendra recently posted..How To Do SEO With Content Marketing
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:44 AM
Yes, I can spot a bulk email at 1,000 paces, Akhilendra, and it goes straight in the trash.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Hi Sharon, it was a good post and I can’t help but agree on all the points you mentioned about guest bloggers. What I feel about the reason behind these poor guest posts is the lack of passion for writing. These are generally driven by an urge to earn from writing, which is not bad at all but you must know if it is your cup of tea or not.
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:55 PM
Nothing wrong with earning, Nathan, but it’s important to deliver quality too.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: deep_singh13
March 13, 2013 at 8:11 AM
Hi Sharon,
I learn something new with your blog. Excellent points. I never did any guest blogging but I will keep your post in my mind!
Thanks for share with me!!
Deepak Mehra recently posted..Accounting Management Software
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:55 PM
Glad you found it useful, Deepak.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..A Writer’s Quirks
Twitter: khajamoin1
March 13, 2013 at 1:10 PM
Hi Sharon,
Simple yet important points to be noticed while going for guest post.
Few add ups.
The way you approach the blog owner is also important.
Not very impressive approach can end up rejecting. And also your previous work, it impacts much when you`re posting on huge blogs this one.
What do you say Sharon?
~@Khajamoin1
Khaja Moin recently posted..How to Setup MaxCDN and W3 Total Cache in WordPress
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 13, 2013 at 6:56 PM
Showing previous published work definitely helps a blogger’s credibility, Khaja.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Blogging in 2012: Third Quarter Highlights
WOW! I used to have a blog and was thrilled when guests had spent a few minutes of their time to post a comment. These days, it seems that it is harder to post on blogs. As well, regarding the grammar issue, I have noticed that several are from India, Pakistan, and those parts, and their grammar is not perfect! So, give us a break, and just be thankful that we spent some time on your blog!!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 14, 2013 at 8:20 AM
Love getting visitors and comments; hate getting spammy pitches, Frank – I don’t see a conflict there.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: bloggingheaven
March 14, 2013 at 9:42 AM
Who wants that his guest post get deleted but thanks for the measures so that everybody knows the core and don`t make these mistakes in future.
Tayyab recently posted..EXPECT GOOGLE PANDA UPDATE ON THIS FRIDAY OR MONDAY MARCH 2013
Twitter: bloggingheaven
March 14, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Thanks for the measures so that everybody knows the core and don`t make these mistakes in future.
Tayyab recently posted..EXPECT GOOGLE PANDA UPDATE ON THIS FRIDAY OR MONDAY MARCH 2013
Twitter: pathaderavi
March 14, 2013 at 10:53 AM
I guess mostly The Guest Posts are Rejected because of Duplicate Content.. Mrs. Ileane Smith have clearly Mentioned that if the Contributor seems not be Replying to the Comments then the Post will Not be Accepted. All these things Clearly resemble that the Post and Author both must be Genuine and Unique
Ravi recently posted..4 Methods to hack Facebook Account used by Hackers
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 14, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Duplicate content is another important issue, Ravi. I check all submissions in Copyscape and won’t publish anything that has previously appeared on another blog.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: freelancers254
March 14, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Hi Sharon,
I agree with you especially on the part of templates. I have read several blogs that talk about guest posting and they strongly advice that the use of templates should be avoided. The blogs stress that templates are supposed issue a guide to the user so that he or she can have an idea on how to guest post.
Wilfred Imbukwa recently posted..Online Success In Creating Quality Blogs For Freelancers
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 14, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Yes, templates should be a guide, but a personal approach tailored to each blog works much better.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: rich_blog
March 14, 2013 at 7:16 PM
Great post. Recently I have received several guest post offers. But unfortunately posts ware poor quality and condition was to place also some link to gambling site. This offer was like SEO suicide. In my opinion it’s very good to first know the person who will be providing post, without this you can have a “surprise”.
Best Regards
Kamil
Kamil recently posted..Amazon $40 Gift Card Giveaway
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 15, 2013 at 1:27 PM
I always ask what site people plan to link to, Kamil, for that very reason – it’s amazing how many people think that asking me to include “just one little link” to a spammy site will work for me. It never does!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Presenting My Work to Clients
Twitter: tpottspot
March 14, 2013 at 11:00 PM
Sharon,
Loved the stuff you shared here about screening guest bloggers!
Some of the stuff you mentioned like concealing links, bad grammar or even bad ‘taste’ are familiar to me! Those who tend to conceal or withhold information are the ones I ignore above all others!
Thanks for the info Sharon!
TJ
TJ Philpott recently posted..Effective Marketing Makes Product Quality Insignificant
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 15, 2013 at 1:27 PM
Hope it helps with your own screening process, TJ!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Testimonials and More
Twitter: techblowup
March 15, 2013 at 7:06 AM
Great article, poor grammar is a point which can make your post bad. So we have to take care of these things while preparing the post.
Prakash recently posted..UC Browser download for PC or Computer Free | UC Browser for PC
Twitter: deep_singh13
March 15, 2013 at 7:46 AM
Hi,
actualy i am new in blogging line so m spending time researching and learning abot good bloggers..
I appreciate the way u present posts..!
hope to get ua help n feedback as per my problems.
Deepak Mehra recently posted..Accounting Management Software India
Twitter: george_defo
March 15, 2013 at 7:59 AM
The title of the post was shocking. I am not however into accepting guest posts and I had posted about that on my blog but recently I got a pitch from someone saying how great my blog was and why she had the ideal post for me. The links for a payday loan site. Result delete
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Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 10:59 AM
I get a few of those, too, George – with the same result.
Twitter: xtrmlyrsky
March 15, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Really enjoyed reading this post. i am seriously fed up of these guest posts. In one of my blog i am having more than 1000 pending guest posts.
People now a days submit copied articles just for the sake of a backlink.
Sushain recently posted..How to Root Sony Xperia Neo L MT25i
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 15, 2013 at 1:29 PM
@Prakash @Deepak @George @Sushain – thanks for your comments. Flattery doesn’t work when it comes to guest posts, especially when the pitch itself proves that the blogger hasn’t ever read any of my content.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Your post cover most of important points while dealing with Guest posts.It is important that content has substance and it is useful to your readers.One more important thing is to take care of spelling and grammar mistakes….
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Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Content of substance, is definitely important, Karnal, otherwise, what’s the point?
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: indblog
March 15, 2013 at 4:44 PM
Great article, Sharon. I would be interested to know how you deal with guest posters who disappear once their article is published? I get this FAR too much and I am left to answer the comments and a lot of the time it is about subjects (SEO, affiliate marketing, etc) that isn’t my strong point.
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Twitter: shurleyhall
March 15, 2013 at 5:45 PM
That’s very annoying, Dean. The only answer, so far, is not to accept future posts from them. It’s because of bloggers who link drop and run that so many people are turning posts down unless they know the quality and also know that the blogger will be responsive.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: SoCalMobileAuto
March 16, 2013 at 12:21 AM
Thanks for the read. I was going to ask the same question that Dan asked. I always get request and good content. But they never stick around to follow up on comments left. Guess they are only in it for the link. Lol
Joe S. recently posted..The Truth About the Kozak Auto DryWash Cloth
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 18, 2013 at 8:12 AM
Many are, Joe. It’s really nice when you have a guest poster who will stick around to reply. When you accept posts from people you already have a relationship with, then you tend to get more of the interaction you expect.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: whatswithjeff
March 16, 2013 at 3:54 PM
Woah, that sounds like a treat. ^_^ Number one problem why your content gets deleted is that it’s duplicate or rehashed from somewhere else. I mean information about a particular topic is not really original, but the way how you deliver the article makes it original.
Jeff recently posted..What are the Best SSD For Your PC, Laptop or Gaming this 2013: Q1 Report
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 18, 2013 at 8:13 AM
I don’t even know why people would submit rehashed content, Jeff. Every professional blogger I know checks before posting, so it is a total waste of time.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: AdeyemiAdisa
March 16, 2013 at 10:08 PM
I have had lots (I meant too much) of guestposts submitted on my blogs. My problem is not only about the copy & paste articles as well as the poor grammar, but I also have problem with some of these so-called guestpost writers that at times sounded really bossy. They make you feel like they are doing you a favour buy submitting their crap articles on your blog. Some of them usually come up with emails like ” I submitted an article 3 days ago and you have not published it. Why haven’t you published my article?Help me publish it today, it’s really urgent”.
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Twitter: shurleyhall
March 18, 2013 at 8:15 AM
I’ve had a few of those, Adeyimi. Again, my view is that I’m in control of my blog. I don’t mind a follow up after a week or so, but before that it’s way too soon to be hunting me down. And it’s likely to backfire – if I’m unsure about publishing a post, a pushy attitude will send it to the round file.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: FerbHinlor
March 17, 2013 at 8:36 AM
Yeah Sharon, I see a lot of people are using abbreviation nowadays. As I think of it, several posts before I read, they included so many ‘stop texting me’ messages and everybody gets it but writing a post sharing with the whole world is important to say in a proper way to make it more understandable.
Thanks – Ferb
Ferb recently posted..10 Secret Strategies to Make You Look Good on Twitter
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 18, 2013 at 8:16 AM
I’m sure there are blogs where text speak might be appropriate, Ferb, but for most it’s not.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: deep_singh13
March 18, 2013 at 7:44 AM
Hi,
I really enjoy your article it is superb. I am moved by your blogging skills and find your posts attractive.
I am a new blogger and would like to learn from you.
Thanks for share with me!!
Deepak Mehra recently posted..Travel Management System India
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 18, 2013 at 8:16 AM
Glad you found the post useful, Deepak.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Wrapping Up 2012: Q4 Blogging Highlights
Thanks for the info. I am looking into starting a blog and your article gave me some pretty good information. Designing websites, is harder these days as there are numerous free programs out there – and people these days want to save money and do it themselves.
So, I am considering blogging as one new venture. Thx again for the advice.
Twitter: geek_says
March 18, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Hey Sharon,
This is something that we all need to implement in our blogs. You have crafted the topic very briefly with a very specific tone of approaching. I guess, you receive a large number of guest blog requests on your blogs?
Hamza Tariq recently posted..Facebook Open Graph Search SEO – Say Hello!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 19, 2013 at 6:08 AM
Quite a few, Hamza, and I do publish some of them.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
They call you sir, and yet they want to guest post without knowing more about you first. That’s really a big turnoff when considering guest posting. I love your insights.
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Amazing, but true, Veronica, and it only goes downhill from there.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Very good information I might add! I am considering adding a blog to my website and found your blog very informative. Being new to blogging, I was not aware of such tactics that bloggers face with each article they post. I will consider your article when and if I start my blog. By the look of the large quantity of comments – it looks like your blog is a SUCCESS! Thanks again and congrats!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Ileane has a great blog here, Charlie, and I love posting here. It’s worth subscribing to the blog so you don’t miss any of her tips!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Wrapping Up 2012: Q4 Blogging Highlights
Twitter: deeannrice
March 19, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Sharon and Ileane,
I like your guest posting rules.
It is so important to have not only good content on your blog but also content that presents itself well.
I think some people who want to guest post do not think about the blog they are guest posting on and how important it is to that blog owner to be well represented.
Our blogs are our face on the internet. We need to look good and be well represented.
Dee Ann Rice
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Google Reader Will No Longer Exist
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 11:03 AM
I couldn’t have put it better, Dee Ann – other people judge us by the content on our blogs, so it’s important to make it stellar (or at least good).
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: HadleyHodgson
March 19, 2013 at 7:09 PM
It’s great to have some good guidelines for guest posting success because it can be quite daunting. I can imagine the frustration because I’ve had several people write ‘good quality’ articles for our company only for them to come back obviously spun.
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Article spinning is a whole other issue, Hadley, which lowers the quality of any blog that publishes spun content. I think it’s morally wrong to spin someone else’s article and pass it off as your own.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: wiiiilbur
March 20, 2013 at 11:25 AM
I really enjoyed this post. I’m very new at blogging so I will have to learn what a guest post is, though I think I understand. The one point you made I take to heart. I go through great lengths to make sure my writing is interesting, and the punctuation and grammar is well done. I deplore how people using this “fast track” medium seem to leave their middle school education behind. We have one difference, however. I tend to over write. I am thinking about taking a twelve step program to control this, but I’m reminded of a note sent by one writer to another. I do not remember their names, but the sender apologized toward the end of his note, “Please excuse the length of this letter, I simply did not have much time while composing it.”
Hi Sharon,
Well, I have never done any of those mistakes. So, I think I should guest post on your blog? huh? Leaving that and coming to the post, Why didn’t you posted it on your own blog so that those dumb bloggers would get an idea?
Anurag recently posted..How not to Frustrate your Readers?
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 20, 2013 at 1:22 PM
If you have something new to say about the writing business, then by all means pitch me a post, Anurag. As for your other question – well, I think I’ll just add a link to this post to my guidelines.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: wilmayulia
March 20, 2013 at 10:41 PM
Hi Sharon!
Thanks for sharing. I never been a guest blogger, but I want to be it someday because of the benefits. It’s hard to imagine that some of your guest bloggers wannabe sent their post anonymously
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 21, 2013 at 8:35 AM
That is kind of hard to believe, isn’t it, Wilma? I use Gmail and Rapportive, so when someone emails me, I can immediately see how active they are on social media and the kinds of information they write and share – it’s another way to weed out those who won’t add value to my site.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: musicianmakers7
March 22, 2013 at 2:44 AM
There are tons of people that submit spun content as guest posts. It’s really annoying to those who actually do it legitly. Also to the admins because it forces them to check for plagiarism and time wasting things like that
Leslie Edwards recently posted..The Basics On How To Make Electronic Music: Drum Loops
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 22, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Yes, it is annoying, Leslie. If I have to do too much checking, then there’s little point.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: tigersaycon
March 22, 2013 at 8:50 AM
Hi Sharon!
I have been doing some guest posts on blogs recently and I have to say that even if how good your content is but your approach is very poor (like using a template to send out requests) chances is, your email will just be deleted right away.
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 26, 2013 at 8:15 PM
Yes, template requests are a no-no, Rigette.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Hire a Professional Writer (With a Side of Geek)
Twitter: jiminkansas
March 22, 2013 at 4:24 PM
Sharon, I enjoyed your post, and these great comments.
When you accept a guest post are you concerned with the relevance of the website that it links to? I’ve had some articles offered to me that were well written and the topic fit my blog but then it would have a link to a site that didn’t have anything to do with the subject.
It’s my understanding that Google’s penguin update penalizes this. What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
jim
Jim Liston recently posted..Memories Of Spring
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 22, 2013 at 8:11 PM
Relevance is a big SEO ranking factor, Jim, though you can no-follow links that have nothing to do with your content if you need to.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..So You Want to Hire a Professional Blogger?
Twitter: bitesizebschool.com
March 26, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Hi Sharon,
Very useful info. I think your tips are also great for using in a guest posting policy.
You mentioned vetting duplicates through copyscape. plagium.com is also a good one. Are you running each article through a dup checker or do you have some other initial way to check? It must be time consuming to use external sites for each article, especially if you are getting lots of submissions.
Do you have some suggestions for detecting article spun content?
Thanks again,
Brett
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 26, 2013 at 8:19 PM
Hi Brett, I use Copyscape mainly because I invested in a Pro account so I can check the whole text, but usually that’s the last hurdle a post has to pass. I’ll only use it if the person has sent in a post where I’ve approved the idea and it’s well written enough to be considered. I’ve heard of Plagium but haven’t used it much.
I find it easy to detect spun content because there’s usually some strange turn of phrase – the words may mean the same thing but we wouldn’t normally put them together that way, you know what I mean? It must be my grammar nerd radar at work!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Hire a Professional Writer (With a Side of Geek)
Twitter: bitesizebschool.com
March 27, 2013 at 12:54 AM
Thanks. Yes – I know what you mean.
It’s just a very manual process to look over all submitted articles. Not many shortcuts.
In addition to what you mentioned about detecting spun content, I’d like to add that sometimes the first paragraph can look very good. But don’t be thrown off by this. The first paragraph can be important to who ever is spinning the content, since search engines will use it for a summary if nothing is specified in meta:description.
Twitter: kooldesignmaker
March 27, 2013 at 5:40 AM
After read your post i learn a lot of thing about guest posting mistakes. Now i can easily understand why webmasters don’t give approval to everyone for guest posting. Now i can understand about he psychology and mindset of webmasters. I tried two or tree times for guest posting and one webmaster offered me for it. After that i never tried to do guest posting again, but now once again i am going to try guest posting avoiding these mistakes you shared with us.
Twitter: easybloggingpro
March 27, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Hello Sharon,
Thanks for sharing these tips on guest posting. I get between 300 to 500 guest posts everyday, when sorting them out by reading and replying to each comment I realize some of these guest posts are repeat messages. I started deleting these type of guest post along with guest post with just a link back to their site. As you mentioned in your blog article here about guest bloggers referring to you as sir, madam or any other name they are just not taking the time to get to knowing you; I have also come across several of these comments calling me a dude. Thanks for sharing this information with your blog followers.
Jannette recently posted..Find Out How You Can Earn A Solid Online Income!
Twitter: shurleyhall
March 28, 2013 at 11:28 AM
That’s a lot of guest posts to sort through, Jannette – how do you streamline the process?
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Hire a Professional Writer (With a Side of Geek)
Twitter: techforworld
March 31, 2013 at 3:00 AM
The most annoying thing is some “anonymous” submitting a guest post. Even more annoying is that it starts from “To whomsoever it may concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”!
Thank you for sharing great tips.
Jignesh Rathod recently posted..How I Made My Hacked WordPress Website Tight Secure
Twitter: blogformatting
March 31, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Great information, Sharon! Here’s how I’d approach a guest blogging opportunity:
1) Do some research see if their audience would fit my guest post ideas
2) Come up with a few ideas of what I’d blog about
3) Let them choose one or the other and even suggest something different.
4) Set time and expectations, such as a guess post in exchange, sharing on social media, email etc.
5) Write up the post, send with images, bio etc.
6) Take back any feedback and update or be open to any edits.
With these steps in mind, Would I get a guest post opportunity on your blog?
If so, let’s talk to get to 7) Guest post published.
Thanks!
Delia recently posted..How to write a ‘Top 5′ blog post in 20 minutes or less
Twitter: mchhimwal
April 22, 2013 at 7:25 AM
I think making a guest post needs more attention and care in writing.This is because ,the post have to full fill requirement of both ,you and Your host for this post.I never do guest posting,But I sure you that I will keep remember the points you mention above.
Mahendra Chhimwal recently posted..Features and Free download Libon for Android
Twitter: kooldesignmaker
April 24, 2013 at 1:46 AM
After read about all these 7 mistakes i learn a lot of things that which things are important in guest posting and which things we should avoid when we are going to post on guest blogs. Guest posting is very time consuming activity and after investing a lot of time if blogger doesn’t approve our post then it is nothing but wastage of time. In this scenario your points are helpful to be successful in guest posting.
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