Guest Blogging

Hey guys! I'm a photographer and pro blogger for a few different websites, so I thought I would get a "Guest Blogger" thread started here! 

Watcha Should Do:  

If you are a blogger looking for content, leave a post including: 

• Your blog URL and an introduction to the types of posts you are looking for. 
• Put up your request with your blogging requirements. (Average length, bio and image size needed, a particular topic if that is what you are looking for, and image sizes and numbers...). 
• Include the best way to submit the post to you. 
• Inform potential writers of any changes you will be allowed to make to the piece. (This includes sentence restructuring, grammar and spelling, etc.)

If you are a writer looking for a blog: 

• Give the title and subject of the piece you plan to write or have already written. 
• Include it's length or proposed length. 
• Include a snippet of the post.  I suggest around 500-600 CHARACTERS...not words. 
• Double check your piece for grammar and spelling mistakes! 
• Wait for at least a few hours before choosing the blog you will be accepting. 

Quick Pros for Guest Blogging: 

• It has THE BEST return on investment for your time if done correctly.
• The validity of your website, and those websites that are being linked to in the article, is boosted in Google's eyes when you publish great content from outside sources.
• With other writers on board, you can really focus now on creating a better reader experience and building your client base.
• When you write a post and have it published, that incoming link proves not only your importance to Google...but to readers as well. They are more likely to head over to your blog to see what else you've written. 

Checklist for Writing an SEO Friendly Blog Post: 

• Write a post that is MINIMUM 500 words.
• Write in your own voice! Just pushing a post out is not going to get you the web traffic for your own blog. Write a blog post to be proud of and that will get attention from the readers. The goal is for them to want more. 
• Try to include important keywords naturally within the first paragraph of your text.
• For every 500 links, include around two valid outgoing or inner-post linking URLS. 
• The longer the post, the better. 
• Include images that can be tagged and linked to URLS. 
• DON'T include too many links in the post!!  This can be seen as bad in google's eyes. 
• Including a sign off and call to action for readers at the bottom of the post. Your name, your website, your blog and a facebook URL are perfect! 
• Also, be ready to include a small bio and a photo of yourself for the blog master to include in the post. 
• The more creative you are with the topic of your post, the better it will do for traffic.  

                For example: A topic titled "5 Great Poses for Engagement Photography" might do...ok.

                But a topic titled "Great Poses for Photographers Who are Ready to Think OUTSIDE the  

                Box" is even better!!!  

• DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE TO NUMEROUS LOCATIONS!!! This is TERRIBLE for SEO (google calls it "Duplicate Content" and will DEFINITELY get the blogger in trouble). Submit your piece to ONE blog. If the blog fails to put up your post within the time frame given, inform the blogger that you are retracting the piece and will be placing it elsewhere.

So, to sum up...writers, post your proposed/already written pieces below. And bloggers...introduce yourself and post what you are looking for! And don't forget...if you are NOT a good match, don't hesitate to politely decline the post.  Quality is amazingly important when it comes to blogging.