I discovered one huge guest posting mistake recently.
By accident.
I received a nudge to respond to comments from one of my old guest posts. After responding to a few readers I noted something funny; this post generated some 2200 views back to my blog.
Not bad at all. I noted something else. The post was fairly new, not even a few months old.
The post I wrote was a search engine success.
OK, maybe someone with serious Klout promoted the post but I felt the impulse to run a Google search for the phrase, “make money on Facebook.” Wow. I did not believe my eyes!
I was number 1 on Google. On page 1.
I ran a search for, “make money with facebook.” Wow. I was number 1 on page 1 of google again. Not bad at all.
I ran the search, “how to make money on facebook.” Guess who popped up at 23? On page 1 of google? Me. I outranked INC.com articles.
Rarified air here.
So, how did I identify a mistake amidst all this success? How did I see a grave guest posting error among the search engine domination for these competitive key phrases?
What is the Guest Posting Mistake?
I realized how many guest posts I wrote entirely UNRELATED to making money online. This one nailed it. This one sent me targeted prospects. This one sent me quality prospects.
I attracted people who wanted to make money online.
Excellent.
But I thought back to the 30 or more guest posts I churned out entirely unrelated to making money online. I covered a variety of topics. Great. I showed my range. But making money online focuses on hyper targeting prospects. I get no bonus points for displaying my range.
I do not build my list by covering topics outside of my niche. I find the spare opt in or 2 but rarely do these folks join my gifting team or ask for my consultation services. Nope. I screwed up. Big time.
The Main Issue
You write a guest post targeted to the blog author’s audience. The post should be popular with the blog’s regular readers. But you need to work in your niche too. Finding the balance might be a challenge.
No worries. Enter keywords. Cover a topic attractive to the readers yet add niche specific keywords to grow your list. Cover both bases. Make sure the keywords are relevant.
I write guest posts about blogging but tie in making money online with each post. I help people make money online.
Once I topped google for the above example, I was struck with an idea. Every guest post I write needs to contain niche specific keywords. Or I waste my time. I might help a fellow blogger, which is awesome, but I intend to establish my authority.
I intend to develop my expertise in a particular discipline. How do I grow my online businesses? By promoting my online businesses. I promote my businesses by sharing helpful, usable content peppered with keywords relevant to my niche.
I want to help bloggers. I enjoy blogging guest posts. I render the best service by growing my audience while growing the audience of my fellow blogger. Win win all the way around.
Actionable Example
You can write about social media, blogging, internet marketing or network marketing. Make sure to tie the topic into making money online if you teach people how to generate cash online. If you teach people how to blog you can write a guest post tying in social media with blogging.
The Ultimate
Write a guest post for a blog completely within your niche. You teach people how to blog. You write a guest post for a blogger who teaches people how to blog. Perfect match. But one problem exists. You find more opportunities by branching out into a more diverse audience.
Many bloggers focus on one particular discipline but cover sub topics, or niches, within the main topic. Many of these bloggers attract massive, targeted audiences. You need to speak to these folks.
I repeat. Speak to these folks. Write a post tailored to the audience but add your keywords. Excellent. Both bases covered. Grow your list. Provide value to a massive, targeted audience.
Your Turn
Did you ever make this guest posting mistake?
Do you write guest posts on niche specific blogs only?
Or do you write guest posts on blogs outside of your niche?