Guest blogging - why you should do it and how to get started

In my one-minute sales pitch at a recent networking event, I spoke about guest blogging and, to my surprise, it was met with many questions and a lot of interest about what it entails and how to go about it.

I know that blogging can feel like a drag – you want to concentrate on your actual business and not have to do the essential writing that goes with it. I can help you with that and with guest blogging, which sometimes does require a little more effort, I’ll admit.

As a blogger for business, I like to join the dots between my clients and see where they can guest blog on each other’s websites. I look elsewhere too but sometimes the right blog host is right in front of you!

What is guest blogging?

Guest blogging is writing a blog that is going to feature on someone else’s website. You might wonder why you should go to the trouble of writing something from which you, your website and audience won’t benefit but it is worth it, I promise.

Writing as a guest blogger

As we all know, blogging for your business is essential for two reasons: you can share a story or information which can boost sales, educate your customer base, and help you to build trust with them; also, it’s great for SEO. No forget great – it’s fantastic! In a blog you can use lots of keywords (not too many remember otherwise it won’t read well) which will help Google, and the like, identify your website’s relevance to potential customers’ searches.

So why, you might ask, should I ‘waste’ all that good stuff on someone else’s website?

Firstly, you’re discussing your product or service with a new audience. Make sure that your guest blog host is related to your business in some way otherwise the exercise is likely to prove futile e.g. if you’re a hairdresser then you may want to guest blog on a beauty therapist’s website; if you’re a hairdresser, you might want to think again about writing a guest blog for a children’s clothes’ website. You want your host website’s audience to be likely to buy from you.

Secondly, guest blogging will help to improve your website’s domain authority. Don’t worry, all will be revealed.

What does domain authority mean?

Domain is a common term in website parlance (domain name) and domain authority is related. It is:

‘a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine result pages.’

That was taken from the Moz website so as they created it, they should know! You can check your website’s domain authority on the Moz website, here. The domain authority score is between 1-100 and the higher the better.

Improving your domain authority score

So, back to guest blogging. One of the ways that your domain authority can be improved (another is sound website SEO) is by the number of backlinks. A backlink is a link to your website from another. This backlink is seen as an endorsement of your website, making it (seem) more trustworthy and therefore moving it higher up the Google search rankings.

A guest blog, therefore, should always contain a link to your website.

Benefits as a guest blog host

If you’re a guest blog host, you might wonder what’s in it for you. Here are four reasons why hosting a guest blog is a good idea.

• Fresh content (with very little effort on your part) on your website is good for SEO and if you find the right guest blogger and there’s an overlap on keywords, then you’ll benefit there too. New keywords may bring a new kind of buyer to your website as well.

• Blog reciprocity – could your guest blogger host you for a guest blog therefore improving your backlinks and domain authority?

• Guest blogging allows you to demonstrate the breadth of your network and it shows a degree of security too: you’re happy to share your space with others and allow them to showcase their wares.

• Social media content - a guest blog provides you with social media content and further inspiration.

How to get started with guest blogging

You might be wondering how to get started with guest blogging but simply begin by looking at your network. Who within your network has an audience that would benefit from / suit / like to buy your product or service?

And then just ask! I have found over the years that not only is it true that ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’ but you’ll be amazed at what people are prepared to give – it could be the start of a great business relationship!

I love writing blogs – I like the format, the length and the diversity of the subject matter, all thanks to my clients. If you would like me to remove the burden of blogging and guest blogging, get in touch!