Welcome to lesson 19 on blogging.
Instead of going into monetization methods, I would like to extend a few more techniques on marketing which I have tested previously and was getting results from it. I am sure these methods could bring you even more traffic if you follow through this lesson.
For this lesson, I am going to introduce to you on guest blogging and how you could leverage from it. This technique could result in something massive if you do it the right way.
So What Is Guest Blogging?
It basically means writing content and publishing it on another blog. You will be puzzled as to why should you write content for others. Aren’t you covering their job as a blogger then?
Yes I agree with you that you are temporary covering their job as a blogger but you get a linkback on the guest post publish on his blog. Not only do you get a high PR linkback but also a free traffic source.
My Experience With Carlocab.com
A few months back, I run another blog and guest posted on Carlocab. Carl Ocab is a 15 year old blogger who has top the Google SERP on the keyword “make money online”. He has 7,000 subscribers the time when I guest posted on his blog but now he has almost 13,000 subscribers and this is something massive.
I did a list post and was published on the site. Just that day alone, I have 500 over traffic from carlocab.com and increase my subscribers count by almost 70. That is the power of guest posting on a well-known blog like his and you can achieve this too.
3 Steps To Finding A Blog For Guest Blogging
1) Building relationship
If you remember earlier on, I mention to you to concentrate on a few blogs to do comment marketing on. This is to build relationship with the blogger and thus open the door for more other opportunities such as joint ventures, guest blogging etc.
When you have build a relationship with the blogger, it is easier for you to request to guest blog as they would have know the quality of content you can deliver just by looking at your blog post. But if till now, you are not writing quality post which could arouse interest for people to drop comments on your post, I would suggest that you concentrate on writing quality content first.
2) Looking for related niche
Be sure to guest post on a blog that is related to your niche to achieve targeted traffic. Imagine you writing about blogging and posting on a health blog. People might click on the link to your blog but they will never stay long because this is not targeted traffic.
3) Look for leading blog in your niche
Results will not be great if you guest post on a smaller blog. I would aim for a blog with at least 1000 subscribers to maximize exposure. I am suggesting this because I know many bloggers have difficulty churning out fresh articles thus this will help you get the maximum results from a guest post.
On the other hand, if you have no problem writing great content, you can target smaller blogs since they are easier to build a relationship with. But, your results will not be as good as when you guest post on a leading blog.
5 Tips To A Killer Guest Post
1) List or “How-to” articles
These are the 2 category of articles I recommend you to stick on. If it is the first time you are guest blogging on this blog, you need to attract attention and get readers to read your content.
2) Use of “killer” headline
Create the most compelling headline that you could think of that will capture the readers’ attention. Use the headline formulas that I have created for you previously and fine tune it to fit into your article.
3) Avoid putting in affiliate codes
The purpose of guest blogging is not to attract any sales but instead to open up another source of traffic. You will lose your credibility if your guest post is about getting the readers to buy a certain product. This is a very common mistake that I have seen in many guest posts which you should certainly avoid.
4) Write your best article
Do not hold back any tips or information that you know on the guest post. Throw in all the information that you know on that post. You need to show that you can write great quality. Therefore, holding back information as a mean to lure readers to your blog to complete the rest of the tips isn’t recommended.
5) Customize your guest blog
Write for the readers on the guest blog. Read on the previous posts of the guest blog which leads to a significant amount of comment and work on it for a continued series post. This is the type of information that the readers are interested in thus it will be a breeze getting them to read your guest post if you continue on the series.
Tasks For Lesson 19
1) Find a related niche blog and asked if they would accept you to guest blog for them. Be sure to apply the 5 tips to a killer guest post.
2) Study the trend of the guest blog that leads to a buzz and try to create a continued series from it.
3) Continue to perform comment marketing and build relationship with the bloggers.
Subscribe to my blog now to get updates for every of my coaching lesson. Next lesson will be introducing to you on using contest to market your blog. Stay tuned for it.
Connect with me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/felixgoh
You can also check out the course outline on my previous lessons.
Wei Liang
ABloggerBlog.com
November 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
This is a great topic. I have done many guest posts for different niche blogs and have had great response to it. It is a great way to attract new followers and gain new readers.
Tara @ Affiliate Marketing Prodigy´s last blog post..Squidoo Daily #2
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Hi Tara,
I am glad that you have successes on guest blogging. Like you say, it opens up another avenue to attract new readers which is what marketing is all about.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 29th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I’m not at the point where I can guest post yet but this definitely makes it more intriguing.
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Hi Trevor,
I do think that you write pretty well with your own style. I have read your profile and have known that you are a teenage from Taiwan. Pretty impressive work so far.
My window for guest blogging will be opening soon and ABloggerBlog could be the first platform for you to guest blog on.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Wei
Another solid post. Building relationships is significant, without relationships- we don’t have trust, opportunities, we don’t learn from one another and I dare to say, we may not even have success. Your blogging success may have never occurred if the bridge known as a friendship was never in place.
I had a stranger ask me if he could guest post? Notice, I said a completely stranger! I don’t know this guy, and he thinks I’m gonna let him guest post. He must be dreaming. The best advice ever given, build relationships with other bloggers. Stumbled and Reviewed!
Miguel Wickert´s last blog post..New Pages At Simply Blog
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Hi Miguel,
Networking is still important isn’t it? It applies both on reality and internet that relationship building is important. We can’t possibly trust a complete stranger and this is the same for the Internet.
Although we are connecting through words, we know the sincerity within each other which brings us closer. Thanks for the stumble dude. I owe you one =)
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 29th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Guest blogging is one of the thing that helps both bloggers to help out each other. One gets fresh contents and other gets exposure. A fine article Wei!
Tamal Anwar´s last blog post..Gears for tactical needs
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Hi Tamal,
You got it right dude. Guest blogging gives mutual benefits to both parties. At the same time, it gives the blog a fresh new thoughts by another author. Will be opening up for guest blogging soon, so will you be interested to participate in this blog of mine?
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 29th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Great write-up. Guest blogging is a great way to socially network and get you some visibility.
James LaBarr´s last blog post..SEO Tools SEO Guides and Reviews
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Hi James,
So what are you waiting for? Start working on guest blogging today to increase the exposure of your blog.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 29th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Wei Lang, thanks for more great content. I appreciate your ideas on leading us, step by step, to more effectiveness with our blogs. Great Work!
Steve@Success Factors´s last blog post..I’ve Fallen, and I Can’t Get Up! Mired in MythUnderstandings, Part 1
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the compliment again. Like I mention earlier on, your success is equivalent to mine. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any doubts.
Wei Liang
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November 29th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hmm To be honest a decent post.Great tips.Ill use them When I write one soon.
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Hi Harish,
I’m glad to be able to draw your attention to my blog. Thanks for your compliment and remember to follow the tips to a killer guest post =)
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 30th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Hi Wei Liang,
Great post, valuable tips, I’ve seen guest post work very well for friends of mine, and have been invited to do alot, I’ve only had time to do 1 guest post in the last few weeks but it worked really well.
Webdesi3´s last blog post..Funday Friday: Vol 5
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Hi Webdesi3,
Great that you have experimented guest blogging and since it works for you, I strongly urge you to continue doing it. Set aside 1-2 hours to churn out a fantastic HTML tutorial should be pretty easy for you isnt it?
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 30th, 2008 at 6:27 am
You gave me some work to do
Btw, this link is broken as I’m checking it…
http://abloggerblog.com/2008/11/courseoutline/
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Hi Codrut,
Thanks for informing me about this. I have fixed the error. I am certain you know what you are doing in terms of marketing from the quality of your blog. Let guest blogging bring your blog to the next level.
Wei Liang
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 30th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Building the relationship and then writing for the particular reader are the two most important rules.
Whether or not affiliate links are allowed is not up to the writer, but the blog owner instead.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..A Winner For The $5 Favicon Contest!
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hi Dennis,
“Whether or not affiliate links are allowed is not up to the writer, but the blog owner instead.”
You are right on this but as the guest writer, we should show some respect and avoid putting in any affiliate links in the first guest post. It wouldn’t seem nice right?
We can never escape relationship building when we talk about marketing. There is always this personal touch that is needed.
Thanks for the input Dennis.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
Dennis Edell Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:55 am
@Wei Liang, absolutely, never put the links in on your own. If you truly feel adding them will help, ask first.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..Are You Committing These 3 Articles Marketing Mistakes?
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November 30th, 2008 at 8:48 am
You hit all of the important points. At first I was very nervous about guest posting, but you have to realize that the blog owner trusts you to do your best. The person I wrote for is a very good online friend and has higher PR, so I did receive a decent number of visitors and excellent feedback comments. So it was a ‘win-win.’ It’s never too early to start building those types of relationships.
SBA´s last blog post..Free Blog Ad Design - limited time only.
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Hi SBA,
I am glad that you have such fantastic opportunity from your friend. Did you say your friend? =) So that’s the importance of relationship building isn’t it?
You will not get such a chance to guest blog on it if you did not have any contact with the blog owner. But one more thing to be certain is that you write great content which the blog owner trust that your guest post will be just as good.
Good job SBA.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Guest blogging is indeed one of the most powerful strategy to create a more awareness of your blog and gain (read:steal) more subscribers from the host.
The question remains, “Where should you guest post?” Your choice of host and what you write make all the difference.
Yet again, great stuff, Wei Liang.
Yan
Blog for Beginners´s last blog post..Google Tips on How to Improve Your Adsense Earnings
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Wei Liang Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hi Yan,
I am missing the “Blog for Beginners” for some time. =)
I guess I did cover the the questions on my article right, Yan?
Wei Liang
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Blog for Beginners Reply:
November 30th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
@Wei Liang, Of course, you did. I’m just reinforcing your message…
Blog for Beginners´s last blog post..20 Reasons Why I Choose WordPress
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November 30th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Yeah, I know that you do one of the guest post ar Carlocab blog, LOL. I immediately try to do the guest post too but inexperience in it.
I’ve been wondering how you can do it in one post. Pretty cool… and thanks for sharing this tips.. great job…
Sayz´s last blog post..Blogger? Internet Marketer? or Blogger? Which One?
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hi Sayz,
Now you know the techniques used in guest posting right? You can head right on to carlo’s blog and do a guest post again =)
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
November 30th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
This is my first time to visit your site. I see that you have interesting and helpful tips here. Keep it up!
Diana Rupert´s last blog post..Hot RIM BlackBerry Bold 9000 World Phone 3G WiFi Bluetooth eMail
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hi Diana Rupert,
Glad that you landed onto my blog. Do remember to subscribe to my RSS to get updates in here. Thanks for the visit =)
Wei Liang
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December 1st, 2008 at 12:49 am
I have yet to approach a blogger in my niche to write a post on their blog. Although I have made a few blogging friends I regularly talk with I never emailed them yet about a posting.
I guess I should just take the plunge.
Good stuff here Wei.
Bruno Auger´s last blog post..The Technology Of Indexing
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Hi Bruno,
Its time that your tried it. Email your friends and ask to do a guest post for them. Remember to keep me in the loop for your guest post. I will definitely want to take a look =)
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I tried guest posting and so far got some good results from it but not like you do
Blogging from Scratch´s last blog post..Site is for sale and November Income Report
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Hi Blogging from Scratch,
I tried several ways of guest posting before hitting a successful one. You see that I said killer guest post tips and I do mean it =) I guess I will never see your guest blog again since you are selling your site.
Sad to see you off from the blogosphere. Hope you will be back some days again.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 1st, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Awww.. Wei Liang. Guest posting for Carl must have the best thing right?
Ben Pei´s last blog post..Making Money With Residual Affiliate Income Opportunities
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Hi Ben,
It was a great experience and will certainly do it again one of these days. Perhaps you can head there and do one guest post too.
By the way, I saw your guess post on Dennis site. Greatly written. =)
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pm
By the way.. Your shirt should reach you soon. Sorry I have been busy with the army and couldn’t get any time..
Ben Pei´s last blog post..Making Money With Residual Affiliate Income Opportunities
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Hi Ben,
I read from your blog that you are recalled back for reservists so no worries about the shirt =) Thanks for it. Hope to see the next contest on your blog again.
Wei Liang
P.S There is a internet congress this weekend. Are you going?
[Reply to this comment]
December 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Interesting post and a good timing in my case because I was exploring more about guest blogging and there you go mate with your post. Guest blogging is indeed a strong way to market your blog also to gain more readers. It would be good to if you get to do guest blogging in niche sites or blogs with good page rank.
Again its also very important that while we write a guest blog it has to be honest and not with an intention of just marketing. This is will help you gain trust and credibility.
Thanks Wei for this wonderful post.
Cheers
Krish
Krish´s last blog post..How To Choose Right Keywords For Your Blog
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hi Krish,
You got it right buddy. I guess you are ready to try guest blogging out. Do stay tune till I opened up ABloggerBlog for guest posting all right? Hopefully I will hit onto a PR3 to entice some guest blogging work in here =)
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Yes i have heard about this and experiments as well and it is effective too… But sum times i thought that instead of doing this it is better to create free blog on blogspot of wordpress ? and put a articles on that …. what is your opinion on this… its as good as to getting a link from diff domain on diff IP..
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Hi Cars for sale,
if you set up a free blog, you need to spend time marketing it again. But if you do a guest blog, the marketing is done by the owner of the blog thus saving time on your part.
On the other hand, it is a win-win situation for both blog owner and guest blogger since it is like mutual traffic exchange. Guest blogger could actually refer readers from his blog to the blog owner and vice-versa.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 1st, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Great post!! Really a great way to promote your self and you ideas. Also, you make people come to your blog if you create a good impression on the guest blog. A great article there, and that can really make people subscribe to your blog and increase your readership.
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 1st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Hi Machinery Trader,
That is why guest blogging is a great technique to increase readership. Although guest blogging might not result in a lot of traffic, but it will increase your subscribers count if the guest post if quality.
I would definitely choose more subscribers over more traffic =)
Wei Liang
P.S. Great to see a new reader in here.
[Reply to this comment]
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:16 am
Great post, guest posting is one of the most underrated but most important tips in getting traffic. It’s the best way in my mind, you just need to go about it the right way. Getting a guestpost on carl ocab is quite a steal, and most of us have to build up to that, but even getting 50 new visits a day is definitely worth a guest post. I would recommend writing as many as you can get the opportunity for.
How to Blog´s last blog post..What is Twitter Flipping?
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:57 am
Hi How to Blog,
“I would recommend writing as many as you can get the opportunity for.”
I agree with this only if it is on a blog with either high subscriber counts or high daily traffic. Of course I am not despising smaller scale blogs but if we are talking about maximizing our input, then this will be the right approach. With that said, I do guest post on smaller blogs too but results aren’t that fantastic.
Like what you said, even an additional boost of 50 traffic a day is worth the effort and the chances of converting this traffic to regular readers are very much higher.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
How to Blog Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
@Wei Liang, That’s true. If you can get ones with high subscriber and traffic counts, then by all means go right ahead. Like you said it’s a great advertising opportunity, because the readers are most likely looking for similar things as your ones. And your right, I typically sigh away from smaller blogs, I’m very greedy in my choices lol. Always shoot for the highest in my opinion.
How to Blog´s last blog post..The Importance of Linking to yourself
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December 2nd, 2008 at 3:13 am
This post is really BIG and usefull for any blogger who want to be a professional blogger, I always search for blogs who offer Guest posting
Chetan´s last blog post..My First wordpress plugin released
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Hi Chetan,
“This post is really BIG..”
Hopefully you don’t mean that I post long articles because I am quite used to it actually. I tried shortening it but I just got too much to share. =)
Look out for my blog which will soon be opening up to guest blogging.
Thanks for your visit in here.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
[...] Guest Blogging - Wei Liang talks about his experience with guest blogging. [...]
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Guest blogging on top blogs is the best way to get exposure for blogs. But when they come visiting your blog, they must find something great to stick on. Then the effort is worth it.
PC´s last blog post..Performancing Ads Changes Affiliate Terms
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Wei Liang Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Hi PC,
That is an important point that you picked on. Marketing a blog without quality content being posted on your blog serves no purpose. This is something that all bloggers must keep in mind.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 am
First time here, and I love it.
Great post !
About the topic - My blog is still small, and it’s growing at it’s own pace, but what I dislike the most is that other bloggers (especially big bloggers) just ignore you. Ok, if you don’t want to allow to put a guest post on your blog say so, but just don’t ignore the person. This has been annoying me really
Best regards,
The Moneyac
TheMoneyac´s last blog post..Some small updates for the blog !
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 am
Hi TheMoneyac,
I know what you are talking about when you said you got ignored. I am not speaking on their behalf but I guess they are getting too many similar request everyday and is just ignored it.
Lack of personal touch on their part and it would annoyed readers if our mail keeps getting ignored. My advice is to try finding smaller blogs with 300-500 subscribers to start with and build some credibility up first before approaching the A List bloggers again =)
Good luck in guest posting.
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 am
These are all great tips and although I haven’t given guest posting much of a try, everyone I know who’s done it says it really pays off.
Melissa Donovan, Copywriter´s last blog post..Doing Business Online with Multiple Income Streams
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Hi Melissa Donovan,
It is time to try guest blogging and test the results for yourself. Experimenting and collecting results are part and parcel of a successful blog.
Good luck with it.
Cheers
Wei Liang
[Reply to this comment]
December 5th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Some very good tips here on guest posting. I have just recently began guest posting and I have to say the benefits are tremendous. I say anyone that is serious about being a bloggers should include guest posts as part of their blogging. You get incoming links as well as exposing your writing and blog to a new reader base. The blog owners gets quality content for their blog. It’s a win win situations really.
Houston search engine optimization´s last blog post..Integrating Web Leads into Your Sales Process
[Reply to this comment]
Wei Liang Reply:
December 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hi,
I am glad that you experienced your own success in guest blogging and you just got the facts right about it. Both the blogger and blog owners are going to benefit not only in terms of content exchange but also traffic.
I will be hoping to see you more in here. Thanks for the visit.
Wei Liang
P.S. Thanks for the encouragement you have gave me through the email. Hope this quality content would keep you coming back for more information.
[Reply to this comment]
December 7th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
[...] Blogger Blog gives Lesson 19 - Guest Blogging or how to write a guest blog [...]
December 9th, 2008 at 4:11 am
[...] 5 . Lesson 19: Guest Blogging [...]
December 10th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Fantastic information…subscribed!
DemoGeek´s last blog post..Google introduces Gmail Task Manager
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