How to Blog a Book

Inspiring You to Build Visibility, Boost Authority and Become an Author Post by Post

Inspiring You to Build Visibility, Boost Authority and Become an Author Post by Post

  • Home
  • About
    • Vote This Blog One of Writer’s Digest’s Annual 101 Best Internet Sites for Writers
    • Resources for Nonfiction Authors and Bloggers
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
  • The BOOK!
    • Table of Contents
    • Page One
    • NEW! Revised and Expanded–2nd Edition–of How to Blog a Book
    • How to Blog a Book (Revised and Expanded Edition) BLOG TOUR
    • Previous Virtual BookTours
  • Services
    • Blog Services
    • Coaching
      • Blog and Blog-to-Book Coaching
      • Author Coaching
      • Writing and Book Coaching
  • Courses
    • The Productive Writer Course
    • Inspired Creator Community
    • High-Performance Writer Group Coaching Program
    • Turn Your Blog Into a Book Production Machine
    • Build a Business Around Your Blog
    • How to Blog a Book Audio Course
    • How to Blog a Book eCourse
    • How to Blog a Book Audio Recording
  • Contact

November 20, 2018 by Nina Amir 6 Comments

5 Essential Pointers for Dealing with Guest Post Requests

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket

how to respond to guest blog post requests

Guest blog posts can benefit a web site in a variety of ways. You may not be getting requests from others to post on your site…yet, but you will one day–and you want to be prepared for that day. How do you do that? Take to heart the tips offered by Beth Bauer (@JourneyofBethB). They will help you know how to respondto guest blog posts requests

One rainy day, a couple of years back, I opened my e-mail and saw a request from another blogger asking permission to write a guest post for my travel blog. A big smile spread across my face as I remembered when I first started blogging. I sent out a bunch of the same requests to other successful bloggers.

Now, the tide had shifted, and I was the one receiving the requests, not sending them. I saw it as a sign that I had arrived. Then, I stopped to wonder if I should accept the guest blog request or not.

There will come a day when you find yourself wondering the same thing: “Should I accept this bloggers request to write a post for my site? Do I want to publish their work on my blog?”

If you find yourself asking those questions (now or in the future) and wondering how to answer them, don’t worry. There are five essential pointers for dealing with guest blog requests.

Research the Sender and Their Writing Style

The first thing you should do after receiving a guest post request is conduct a Google search on the sender. Don’t only look at their blog, but research them as a person. What else do they do? Make sure you can trust them and will feel confident that they aren’t involved in anything controversial that could damage your reputation.

Spend some time reviewing their writing style. Is it similar to yours? Is their writing grammatically accurate? Is their content engaging, or are you already bored just a few sentences into a post? Ask yourself if it would be a good partnership.

Ask yourself if working with the writer would be a good partnership.

Click To Tweet

Respond Promptly

Once you’ve determined whether you want to allow the blogger to do a guest post or not, respond to the request promptly. If you are going to turn the person down, avoid the temptation to ignore their email. You may want to spare them any disappointment, but not responding is unprofessional and will do them a disservice. It could also hurt your reputation, especially if you do it often enough. Bloggers are a community, so treat others like the professional colleagues they are.

Respond to the guest blog post request promptly

Click To Tweet

Be Honest and Polite

Not too long ago I received a guest post request from a girl that obviously spoke English as a second language and struggled to use the correct grammar and punctuation. This reality was painfully clear from her e-mail, and even more apparent on her blog. I sent her a polite response, thanked her for reaching out, but explained that I didn’t feel her English writing was accurate enough for my readers. I encouraged her to improve her English skills and then send me another request.

Get Permission to Edit Their Work

If you agree to let someone do a guest post on your blog, make sure you get his or her permission ahead of time to do any minor editing. We all occasionally omit a word or make other common little mistakes. Even the best grammar checking software doesn’t catch everything. Ask them if it’s okay if you make a few edits. Then, if you do make some changes, before posting the article, send it back to them with the revisions highlighted so that they can see the edits you’ve made. Avoid any debate about the changes. It’s your blog. If they get defensive and can’t accept constructive criticism, kindly end the partnership.

Make sure you get the writer’s permission ahead of time to do any minor editing.

Click To Tweet

Make Sure the Post is Right for Your Audience

When you receive the guest blog post, read it carefully several times. Ask yourself if your audience will enjoy the article. Will it keep their attention? Is it content that will add value to your site? Will the post be shared and reread? If not, be honest and ask the sender to rewrite it, or professionally terminate the arrangement. Don’t feel obligated to post substandard work on your blog.

Don’t feel obligated to post substandard work on your blog.

Click To Tweet

Give the Blogger Full Credit

Once the article is ready to post, publish it yourself. Never permit someone else to post on your website. Don’t share your login credentials with anyone. Make sure that its format appears like all of your other posts. And be sure you give the author full credit. At the very top of your blog say something like, “This article is a guest post from …” and then reference their website. Also, it is a thoughtful practice to share with them any comments you receive about the post.

Be sure you give the author full credit.

Click To Tweet

Benefits of publishing Guest Posts

Including guest posts on your blog gives you credibility. It shows your readers that other bloggers respect and admire you enough to write for your site.

Additionally, publishing guest posts might increase your site’s traffic. You might pick up some of the guest blogger’s followers.

Plus, it feels good to help others when you can. And publishing someone else’s work can help them in numerous ways.

Try to live by the golden rule and treat other bloggers—especially those who want to write for your blog—as you would like to be treated. The principle applies to all aspects of life, including guest bloggers.

How do you decide if you should publish someone’s guest blog post? Tell me in a comment below.

About the Author

Beth BauerBeth Bauer is a freelance writer, travel blogger, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur currently working on her third novel. She has traveled to over 20 countries in just the last two years and enjoys life as a digital nomad. She is originally from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A., and when she’s home lives on the Long Beach Peninsula with her dog, Ozzie.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Building a Better Blog, Success Strategies Tagged With: guest blog post, guest blog post requests, guest bloggers

Comments

  1. Anna says

    November 28, 2018 at 7:20 am

    Thank you, Beth and Nina, for this post. I really appreciate the clarity, and that clarity is based on a combination of good will and integrity. Certainly demystifies and simplifies how to handle requests to guest blog!

  2. Amol says

    June 3, 2019 at 3:18 am

    Your blog was just perfect. I received first request for a guest post on my website and I started looking for suggestions. Glad I found your article.

  3. Dimple Anand says

    July 17, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Thanks for this post. I was wondering what to do with the guest post requests which are started showing up in my inbox. Now I can answer. One more thing, if guest posts author offering money also, then what to do?

  4. Nina Amir says

    July 17, 2019 at 9:36 pm

    Usually that means they are wanting to promote a product. Best to stay away.

  5. Catherine says

    July 11, 2020 at 6:50 am

    I appreciate what you’re saying about responding to these requests, however, I get so many of these daily that it’s become a time burden to respond to every single one. As well, they ask me questions that could easily be answered by reading the guest post policy on my website. And, once I open the line of communication, it gets ten times worse. I say “no thanks, and here’s why…” Many will proceed to argue with me. I once counted an email thread of 27 emails with someone who wanted a guest post and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

    I have, unfortunately, given up on “being professional” with guest post requesters, particularly when they have no regard for professionalism themselves.

  6. Nina Amir says

    July 14, 2020 at 12:01 pm

    I get tons of them…writers who work for some company or another and get paid to post on sites with a do-follow link. They even offer to pay. I DO NOT respond to these but simply delete them. I DO respond to those that appear more legit but always ask, “Are you working for someone? Are you promoting something.” Occassionally, I get a nice email from someone just getting started…or just writing to promote themselves. If they have pitched something worth looking at, I take it on spec.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Nina Amir

Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach, inspires writers to create published products and careers as authors as well as to achieve their goals and fulfill their purpose and potential.

Read More . . .

Follow Me!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Google+Follow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on SkypeFollow Us on RSSFollow Us on E-mail

As Seen On:

social proof2

How to turn your blog into a book

Amazon.com
Barnesandnoble.com
IndieBound.com
WritersDigestShop.com

Create a Successful Author Website!

Book. Books and laptopPurchase a copy of my eBook!

Bestselling authors like Michael Hyatt and Joanna Penn use Scrivener and endorse this course! I tried Learn Scrivener Fast, too, and found it a quick, easy way to learn the Scrivener writing technology. Plus, you can use it to produce produce ebooks!
Click here to find out more!

250x250

bluehost

Writer's Digest: 2013 Best Writing Websites (2013)
This website has been awarded a Best Writing Website.
Sponsored by Writer's Digest, Writer's Market,
Writer's Digest University & Writer's Digest Shop.

TFOI Badge

Popular Posts

  • Are You Blogging a Book? List it here!
  • Can You Publish Blogged Material As a Kindle Ebook?
  • Darren Rowse on Book Deals and Discovery in the Blogosphere
  • 4 Ways Digital Marketing Helps You Blog A Book
  • Selling Your Ebook on Your Own Website vs. Amazon

Search

Categories

Archives

Copyright © Nina Amir 2023

»
«
Powered by Conversion Insights: Boost your online revenue.  
Are you a productive, semi-productive or unproductive writer? Take My Quiz To Find Out!
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.