And I could talk for hours about my own experiences with guest pitching.
Challenges of guest posting
When business owners and creatives give guest posting a try, the hard part is the pitch.
And getting it wrong will do nothing but annoy the sender, and inspire them to hit the delete key.
But What do others find impressive?
Recently I took some time off from my online business, and I asked some of my favorite bloggers about their ideal pitch.
And the responses I got were pretty insightful…
“Having guest bloggers who are in my larger community/niche, or with whom I have mutual biz friends is always preferable.
You can trust them more quickly knowing what others in your community already have.
I’ve been working with guest bloggers for a long time and have seen some shady stuff, so that trust is really important.
Secondly, while the blogger doesn’t need to talk just like I do or about my exact ‘corner’ of productivity, making an effort to match the overall tone of my site is important.
Finally, I love me some detailed content!
A lot of times, you see people ‘throw together’ guest posts just to get their name out there.
But those posts should be some of your best stuff if you’re just starting out.
Researching the topic, including examples, and referencing related posts I’ve already published are a quick way to my heart.”
“I love when guest post pitches have some personality to them. They let me know a little about who they are as well as their idea for a post.
I am intrigued when guest posters include actual titles of posts they are working on and would like to send over. This way I know exactly what the post will be about.
It is also important to actually read the blog and look through some of the posts on the site you want to guest post on.
I love when a pitch includes some of my posts they found interesting or inspiring.
This helps me know they will generate a post that will fit my audience.
I also ask for original images as much as possible in the post.
I am a beauty blogger so this is important to me.
If not original images, at least high-quality stock photos.
Images are so important in my niche and really all niches.
Finally, I really love when a guest post pitches mention that they will include a Pinterest image that I can tweak to my branding.
“A perfect guest post pitch includes who you are, what you do, your prior guest posting experiences, and why you want to write for a particular blog.
Before sending the guest post pitch, ‘stalk’ the blog’s editor, join their e-mail list and follow them on social media channels.
It is easy to spot those people who are reaching out just for the exposure from those who have a genuine interest in the publication.
Before sending the guest post pitch, ‘stalk’ the blog’s editor, join their e-mail list and follow them on social media channels.
Once you do reach out, mention something they wrote that you found interesting, or comment on an Instagram post that made your laugh.
Many blogs that accept guest posts have a guidelines page, so make sure that you follow that accordingly.
Even if they do not mention they accept guest posts, do not hesitate to e-mail and ask.
Just make sure to include some sort of connection that you have with the blog, at least three guest post pitch ideas, and end on a note that you are open to other ideas and suggestions.
If you do not get an answer a week from the day you sent the e-mail, it is okay to send a follow-up message.
Also, just because one publication rejected your pitch, does not mean that another will too.
“On our blog, we offer guest features for our #BoldBossTribe series.
The pitches that really stand out to us are people who have taken the time to add some detail to their submissions and aren’t afraid to be raw with their stories.
There is so much fluff online these days about starting businesses.
So we appreciate people who share that owning a business isn’t always a clear path to success and sometimes your path will change along the way.
When we accept features, we’re really looking for stories that will inspire our audience.
You may be approaching guest blogging to expand your reach, but your content needs to be mutually beneficial to the person you are pitching.”
“The ideal guest blog post pitch to T1International is one from someone who clearly understands what is important to us.
Someone that shows they are willing to incorporate themes we are passionate about into what they have to say will almost always get us excited, even if they don’t have perfect writing skills.”
I am a freelance writer and editor, and I draw on my experiences as a neurodivergent person to provide advice and create content for disability-friendly organizations. I've worked with Spot App, Uptimize, E-bay, and Saatva Mattress Company. My writing has been featured on Weebly Inspiration Center, The Good Trade, Search Engine Journal, and more. I was diagnosed with dyspraxia when I was four years old. I wrote a book about my disability, "Stumbling through Time and Space: Living life with dyspraxia", available September 2022 through Jessica Kingsley Books. My advocacy efforts are dedicated to furthering a supportive community for neurodiverse people. I am a founding member of the Dyspraxic Alliance and Dyspraxia Magazine Panel Member.