Guest blogging means that you are writing blog posts for someone else. It may be that they asked you to do it and they are paying you. Or you are living out your dream of writing for a high-profile blogger who can get you noticed. Either way, blogging for others can become a drain on the creative juices.

There are advantages to writing blog posts for others:

•    Exposure (the good kind)
•    Name and brand recognition
•    Business opportunity
•    Chance to write on new topics

This is only a few of the reasons. But, when you decide to guest blog, be sure that there is time in your schedule to do it. As a business owner or the owner of a blog, you already have a long list of responsibilities.

If you are a parent with an online business, you are also juggling family life. Blogging can take a lot out of you. It is not easy to call up those creative urges on demand. With your own blog, you are familiar with the niche enough that you can write intelligently with minimal research if you needed to.

For guest blogging, you have to bring your “A” game. First of all, you are trying to make an impression on the owner. You do want to be invited back don’t you? Getting a sense of another’s “voice” does take practice. If they give you a list of the types of topics they would like you to talk about, you have to have time to do the preparation.

Keep Everything Balanced

While guest blogging is important for the four reasons listed at the beginning, so is your business. With so much time going into the posts for another, your own work can suffer if you’re not mindful. Your own readers and clients won’t let that slide and they shouldn’t have to either.

If you decide to endeavor into guest blogging, remember a few things:

•    Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Keep your posts at a manageable number.
•    Don’t commit to more than one blog at a time.
•    Schedule time to write your posts and those for the guest blog (you may need to let your blog go for a couple of days in order to write enough posts to schedule for the weeks you will be blogging elsewhere.)

If you want to guest blog, go ahead. It’s a great way to stretch your writing muscles. But, while you are stretching, don’t overextend or your visitors may feel the pain.

Search engines not only look at the keywords on your website and in your content but the types of links that are connecting you with others. Use your bio to help increase those quality links when you decide to guest blog for others.

Guest blogging gives you a chance to interact with other audiences. You have your own readership and they like your voice. But maybe others just haven’t found you because you are in a smaller niche market or you are more general and they are reading in a specific niche. Blogging for others can bring you both together.

When you blog for others, you will get a space for your bio. Now, they don’t want to draw traffic away from their website or blog so you may only be allowed to mention one website. Use that chance to the fullest.

Within that bio, what you say is just as important as the website link that you add. You have one chance to impress them enough to get them to click on the link and visit your website or blog. Mention facts about your business and yourself that will catch the reader’s attention.

What you are hoping to do is build backlinks. Backlinks are the inbound links coming into your website from other places. You don’t want just anyone linking back to you but someone who is interested in the same things.

Guest Blog for Whom?

Choose who you blog for very carefully. When you get the invitation or while looking for possible guest blogging spots don’t just do it for the money or because you are flattered to be asked. Check them out. If their website is reputable and based on a similar topic, you could have a winner.

Even money is not worth a bad association. Let’s say that you are asked to guest blog for a friend. They own a business in Internet marketing. Your blog talks about home-based Internet businesses. There is a commonality here that can work to your advantage.

When you include your website link in the bio, you know that those clicking on it are at least interested in Internet marketing. Some of them could be business owners, who visit your site and will trade links with you. Your readers who take advantage of the online business ideas will need the help of an Internet marketer to get their business growing.

Such quality backlinks help you in the networking arena and on the search engines. You are now being noticed by others who find your business worthy of their time and their name.

It is every blog owner’s nightmare that they will let the devil in the front door. Everyone who wants to blog for you is not right for your blog. But, when the naughty blogger comes to visit, you’ll have to smooth things over with your audience.

You are a blog owner who wants to find guest bloggers. It could be because you need more time to attend to the other areas of your business. Or, you are looking for ways to increase your traffic. A new voice on the blog can stimulate growth and give faithful readers new reasons to love you.

Even if you use certain measures to choose your bloggers, there are chances that a bad apple will slip through the cracks. Actually, they may have a popular blog or have come to you on the recommendation of someone else. What may spurn the naughty behavior is not the post itself but the comments that go along with it.

All guest bloggers have a chance to interact with the audience. When comments are made, they can respond back. Now, everyone is not going to like your guests, but what you are shooting for is an open mind.

Guests who post also have to watch their comments on the blog as well. These are your readers and new visitors who are posting comments. When the guest blogger gets out of line with their responses to irate comments or makes irate comments, there will be backlash – for you.

What to Do?

When readers are angry, they will let you know in no uncertain terms. If you have a suggestion area on your website or blog, they will use it. While you monitor your blog as much as you can, something may slip through.

1. When you notice the incident, make an immediate post. Let your readers know that you are handling the situation and are sorry for any comments that may have offended them.
2. Pull any scheduled posts by that blogger. You don’t want readers to feel you don’t care by letting this person continue to post.
3. Talk with the naughty guest blogger. Were they having a bad day? As a business person, you are held to different standards. They may be personally offended by something someone says in a comment but can’t let it get the better of them. The guest also can’t use their posts as an open forum for stating disagreeable positions that may offend that blog’s readership.

You can plan for most outcomes, but in the event that a guest blogger irritates your readers, damage control is important. Be proactive and go to your readers instead of waiting for them to come to you.

Writing is one of those activities that only get better with practice. Maybe you are a fair enough writer for your online content or blog, but you can always improve. Writing about a variety of topics for others gets those creative muscles working again.

Many writers have written on a number of topics and in a number of media before they decided on the one they liked. If your business is writing, then in the interest of expanding your skills, guest blogging is a great way to do that.

Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is when you write blog posts for others. It’s like being a guest on a late night talk show but with less name-calling and bad jokes. Blog owners won’t just choose anyone for their guest spots, so you must have done something right if they are asking you.

Now, it’s time for you to impress by writing what they need with your voice. If you are writing on a topic that you don’t have much experience with, you’ll need to start from scratch.

1.    Do your homework. If you are running a general gardening website and another business owner asks you to blog for them on daffodils, you may have some work to do to become thoroughly familiar with that flower.

2.    Follow any instructions to the letter. The blog owner may give you the blog post titles. Within their word count and the context of the title, deliver a product that will meet and, dare we say, exceed their expectations. If you have questions, ask them before you get started.

3.    Read past blog posts for hints on style. Of course you are a fan of the blog for which you are writing. You like the posts, but now you will reread them to see how they layout their information and get to the point in such a short piece.

4.    Write a rough draft. You probably stopped that a while ago for your own website. You are so acquainted with the material that you don’t have to. But, for someone else, write without editing and then go back and fix it until it is the way you want it to be.

If you are used to writing longer pieces of content or reports, a blog post is a nice change of pace. The tone is usually more conversational and fun but with an emphasis on the facts. It is a new style but one you may want to adopt to create your own blog for your business.

You have worked hard to build your blog audience. It may be an extension of your online business. The blog is where customers and other visitors can pick your brain and find out about products and so forth. Maybe it’s time to branch out and ask others to post to give your readers some variety.

Variety is the spice of life they say. If you have gained a following on your blog, the readers more than likely love your voice. But, other bloggers can add another dimension to your site. Here is an example.

Let’s say that you have an online craft business. You have expertise in the field, but maybe you want to expand your knowledge base into other aspects of crafting. Having followed other blogs, you have found sites that specialize in things like doll making, miniature building and the like. Asking them to blog for you can be just what you need.

You can gain the knowledge you seek from your guest blogger. Come up with a list of possible post topics for them to write on. Each one can cover a topic you wish to learn more about. If you don’t know what topics to choose, take a poll on your blog to see what devoted readers want to learn more about themselves.

With ideas in hand, the next thing to do is choose a guest blogger. You can decide on more than one if you like. However, if this is your first time, I suggest inviting just one to see how they work out and how your audience reacts to their posts. Here are a few tips for you to proceed:

• Choose someone in a similar but non-competing position.
• Be sure they run an honest blog or business (not the antagonistic type, always causing controversy).
• Check to see if the potential guest has positive feedback from their own readers.
• Find someone whose style you are familiar with and like.
• If you’re giving them topics, they should agree to write about (and have some knowledge on) the topics you choose.

You don’t want any surprises here. Anyone blogging for you is attached to your reputation. They may be well-known in some circles, but not necessarily to your readership. By letting them post, you are telling your fans that they are okay. Remember your readers already trust you, don’t give them a reason to stop now.

Some people don’t think about that crucial point. Let’s say that your writer wants to write on their choice of topics. Something they say elicits negative comments from your readers. As a result, your readers may become leery of your judgment and leave the blog.

It won’t happen all at once like that, but it can happen. One way to head off such a potential problem is to let your guest writers upload their posts to have them published pending your administrative review. Don’t just give them free reign to go in and publish their posts immediately. Take the time to read over what they have written before you put it out there for the world to see.

Having others guest blog for you is a great way to give readers a treat. Just be sure the writers you choose are worthy of your audience.

Networking Opportunities Made Possible by Guest Blogging

Just like in the offline world, sometimes it is “who you know” that counts. In online business, there are many ways to network with other business owners. One way is through guest blogging.

You are building your business and making your mark in cyberspace. As a complement to your business, you start a blog. It is a place where readers and customers can interact with you, find out about new product offerings and get business information.

Networking is important for business owners. You can find new partners for business ventures, resources for upcoming product launches and ways to increase your visibility. Those who you give a chance to may turn around and offer you a helping hand one day.

There are two facets to networking through guest blogging:

• You as guest blogger
• Guest bloggers on your blog

You as Guest Blogger

Through your work, you make contact with suppliers, clients and other business people. Everyone that they know is a potential new contact for you. One of your clients or those in your business circle may ask you to guest blog for them. If you know the person and their reputation, this may be a no-brainer.

With their influence, you are opening yourself up to a new audience of business owners and other readers who can be of use to you. Always bring your best work to a guest spot just as you would on your own site. You want to be remembered (in a good way).

• Interact with your audience. Ask questions in your posts that they can respond to via comments. Answer comments with advice and a friendly voice.
• Add a website or blog link to our bio box so interested readers can find you.
• Post links to the guest blog posts on your website to interest your readership. This builds trust and expert status.

Guest Bloggers on Your Blog

Finding the right guest blogger is not easy. Getting the cream of the crop is even harder, especially if you are not well-known. Even so, only extend the invitation to those that you trust and have read their work.

• Ask friends who have blogs or online businesses and clients with expertise to blog for you. They can give your readers a new insight into what you do. Besides, you are also bringing their readers to your place for a look see.
• Set down ground rules: No foul language in posts or comments. Stick to the topic assigned. All work is to be reviewed before publishing. A bad incident could get you labeled and cause the larger, more influential bloggers to shy away from you.

Networking is needed to get your name on everyone’s screen. Use both sides of guest blogging to make your own networking opportunities with those who can benefit from a reciprocal relationship.