Hello, hello there! I’ve got another Q&A Wednesday video for you here…all about how to pitch a guest post to a blogger! If this is something you’d like to learn more about, leave me a comment below with your questions & struggles & I’ll write up some super juicy, super helpful, step-by-step articles for you!
Now let me go ahead & say sorry because I’ve got some silly preggo brain going on in this video! CRAZY!
Plus, because I like making things helpful & crystal clear, I’ve written up a sample email you can use below the video & if you’d rather see these tips written down, then they’re there as well.
Sample Pitch
Hi there {Bloggers Name},
My name is {your name} & I’m the owner/editor of {shop/blog name}, where I {briefly describe your shop/blog}.
I’m contacting you today because I’m interested in writing a guest post/being featured for your blog. I’d love to work with you on this. You’re blog is a wealth of information for {their blog’s market} & I think my post would benefit your readers because {your reason}. The title of the post is, {title}, & it’s about {what it’s about – outline}. If you’d like to see the entire post before giving me your answer I can email it to you as a text file or in HTML…whatever you prefer. Also, you can see some other posts I’ve written here {link} & here {link} so you can get a sense of how I write & format my posts! If you’d like me to make any changes just let me know! I’m open to your suggestions.
Thank you very much for taking the time to consider me. I really appreciate it & I’m looking forward to your response!
{Your name} {Your email signature}3 Pieces of Advice About How To Pitch A Guest Post
1} Do your research
- know the blogger’s name
- know who their readers are {market}
- know what topics have been posted on in the past 2-3 months
2} Contact
- use their name
- be friendly
- tell them you’d love to write a guest post for their blog
- tell them why you’d like to write for them & why their readers would benefit from your post
- tell them about your post {provide an outline, basic description, or attach the finished post}
- let them know you’re open to their suggestions & changes
- thank them
3} Follow up
- be patient
- contact them after 1-2 weeks for a reminder
- if they say no…thank them & move on
- if they say yes…write the best post ever & get it to them quickly
Don’t forget to talk to me! What’s holding you back from pitching yourself to a blogger? Leave me a comment & let me know!
You did this process beautifully when you contacted me about a guest post, which is why your guest post is now on my blog here:
http://www.onthedotcreations.com/2011/11/affiliate-marketing-that-rocks.html
Thanks for sharing your technique with everyone! Such wonderful tips from an experienced guest poster!
Thank you so much Julie! I’m honored to be a part of your wonderful blog!
Thanks Meagan! I feel better now that I see an example
I’m not sure if it was my computer, but your video was really dark.
And don’t worry about preggo brain – it’s cute
Or you can edit it out!
Lisa recently posted..Knitters: Have You Signed Up?
Thanks Lisa! Glad it was helpful!
Great vlog, Meagan ! And no your preggo brain isn’t anything to worry about …like lisa said, you were cute..had me smiling !!
I really like how you outlined the process.You really made it so simple with your example too. Very thoughtful of you. Definitely the most important piece of advice is to thank them even if they don’t publish your work. Thanks , Meagan.
lakshmi recently posted..Take a step forward.
You’re so right Lakshmi! You definitely don’t want to burn any bridges. You never know when you can pitch to them again!
i just stumbled upon this post and it speaks to what has been my main focus lately: how to grow my blog. I would love to guest post, but sometimes I feel like what I have done just isn’t as creative or inspiring as what the blog owner has done. I worry I don’t have anything valuable enough to debut. Maybe I am just self-doubting!
Serena recently posted..6 Ways to Score a Great Deal at the Thrift Store
Welcome Serena & thanks for commenting. I hear you when it comes to guest posting. We all doubt ourselves a bit & finding what you have to offer that’s valuable can be a long process. Don’t give up though! The first step to guest posting is knowing who your ideal blog reader is. What do they value? What do they want to learn? Then consider what other sites they follow & read. Follow those same sites, look over their posts, brainstorm something they haven’t covered yet or put your own spin on something they have covered… just make it your own. Then pitch the idea to them & wait. The worst that could happen is that they’d say no. If they do, just move on & try back with them later.
One word of advice though. Make sure you’ve got great info on your blog because that’s where you’ll be directing readers to. You don’t want them to show up & only have 30 posts to go through or to have most of the posts be about your family. Make sure your site is top-notch & lookin’ all snazzy. You want people to like what they see & be interested in what you’re talking about. You have to get your own house in order before you invite people to come stay with you!
You’re doing great BTW! I did check out your blog. I think I could learn a thing or two & get my house lookin’ good on the cheap! Thanks Serena! I love that you’re putting your little men to work too! It’s good for them. They need to learn to be responsible. Wonder if I can get my 3 yr. old to clean my toilets??
Meagan, you’re awesome (which is why I have subscribed!) Your advice couldn’t be more spot-on. I’ve been dedicating a lot of time trying to get my site up-to-par with other DIY bloggers, and it’s been a little tough, but I’m making huge progress. The more time I throw at it, the better the site gets
The points you’ve made about having ample posts, as well as limited posts about family, is exactly what I have noticed lately–that all the successful sites have something super valuable to offer–tutorials….inspiring photos….new projects…etc. I’ll be pulling together more of this, and I think in about 3 months or so, I may be ready to use your info to get a guest spot. You rock! 
P.S. Three is too late. You should have had them cleaning toilets at age 2 (haha, totally kidding!).
Serena recently posted..6 Ways to Score a Great Deal at the Thrift Store