A Couple Guest Blog Posts Worth Reading

I’ve talked about guest blog posts with clients quite a bit.

I really do believe guest posts on other blogs are beneficial to all involved:

• the blogger getting the guest post (as long as it’s quality)
• the blogger providing the content (as long as they know how to subtly promote what they do)
• the readers of the blog (sometimes a different voice can “strike a new cord” with active blog readers)

Here are a few guests posts I’ve done that will give you some ideas on how I do things (the first two guest posts were requested from a reader of Moller Marketing that thought his audience could benefit):

• I Have a Business Website – Now What?

Here’s a sample of what I shared there:

I’ve worked with thousands of clients who are either just getting started, have dabbled a bit with online marketing, or who have quite a bit of online experience. Although they all have different backgrounds and knowledge about internet marketing, most usually seem to have one thing in common…

They don’t know what they really want their website to do.

What can a website do for my business?

Makes Sales: Products, services, memberships, information, affiliate products, advertising space, cross promotions – what CAN’T you sell online? To me, if you have a website and you’re not selling something (even another companies products, services or ad space), you’re missing a source of business revenue. (read more…)

• The How-To’s of On-Site Search Engine Optimization

Here’s a sample:

Hopefully by now you’ve focused in on what you want your website to do for your business.

1. Make sales
2. Generate leads
3. Serve as an online resume

A website can perform these and many other important functions, but I recommend you FOCUS on one or two core things first before you attempt to become the next “Wal-Mart” of your industry.

Here’s a quick review of the three things you need to do short-term to make your business website effective:

1. Make sure your website is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly.
2. Create a way to capture names and emails.
3. Start a pay per click campaign. (read more…)

Is Guest Posting More Valuable Than Posting On Your Own Site?

This is a common question.

The answer is an astounding…Maybe!

Here’s the catch:

• Guest posting is great IF you have a consistent blog that you can direct people to.
• Guest posting is perfect IF you are competent in the topic you’re writing about.
• Guest posting is ideal IF you have a pretty good understanding of the audience you’re writing to.

Guest posting is AWFUL if you don’t understand the three points mentioned above.

Why Guest Blog Posting Can Be a Waste of Time

Consistency (or lack thereof): I had a conversation with Darren Rowse from ProBlogger.net about 2 months ago. In that conversation he mentioned that blogging is NOT for everyone if they are not consistent. If you blog once every six months and then the next day and then 2 years later, it’s better that you don’t even start. A blog like that will kill your credibility with potential readers that get let down when you’re high on promises and low on delivery.

Knowledge: It’s IMPERATIVE, when you offer to do a guest post about a specific topic, that you provide content that enlightens, expounds, or teaches something of value to the target audience. If your post is regurgitated ideas or re-written content from somewhere else, readers will most likely catch on and your guest post will hurt you more than it will help. One way I’ve found to be most successful with guest posts are real life case studies on how I did something specific and the result of the test.

Target Audience: Would you ever write an article about Utah dermatology for a memory foam mattress company? Do people interested in ballet have a care in the world about the New York Yankees or their fans? I’m sure you get the point. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. Ask them questions. Find out what they want to know. Read the blog you want to guest post on and be aware of what’s been shared in the past before you invest the time to compose something that is completely out of their league or gets no reaction whatsoever.

Conclusion

In my opinion, guest posting can have huge results for an online business.

It can build credibility.

It can get you new readers.

It can help you increase sales.

And most of all, it’s a great way to build quality business relationships. And that’s what profitable business is all about.

How do you plan to use this information to improve your online business?