Since I started accepting guest posts, I’ve had to reject about 85% of the submissions.
So I thought I’d create this post to explain why and to help those who may be considering writing a guest post for this blog.
1) Your Post is Too General
Does the Web really need another generic article about SEO? The #1 reason I reject most guest posts is because the article is too wikipedia-like and can be found on numerous blogs or anywhere on the Web.
2) Too Much Theory. Not Enough Fact.
Let’s stick with the SEO topic since I seem to get so many articles on this. I am not going to publish a post about “5 plug-ins that will improve your search engine rankings” if you have no proof those plug-ins are really making an impact.
You all know my feelings about SEO and all the misleading info that’s circulating on the Web, so I’m not going to feed into it by publishing these overdone, theoretical posts.
As I mentioned on my guidelines page, I love guest posts where the author uses their own proof and examples (through screenshots, stories, etc.) to illustrate points made in the article. Not only does it make the post credible, but it’s just more interesting to read.
Yes, we all know contests can help generate traffic and exposure, but it’s more intriguing when the author explains how contests have worked for them. Carletta did a great job of that with her guest post.
3) You Ignore My Guidelines
It’s amazing how many people blatantly ignore the guidelines I wrote on the submission page. And the worst is when I get a post that is completely off-topic. Recently I received a guest post on kitchen cabinets.
Seriously?
Kitchen cabinets?
Sometimes I wonder if people just haphazardly surf the Web looking for any and every place to submit their content. They don’t care how relevant the site is. They are all about quantity and submit their content anywhere hoping someone will bite.
What an amazing waste of time! It’s much better to take the time to submit fewer articles to relevant places than submitting to every site you can find.
4) Your Post is Too Self Promotional
I don’t mind a guest poster plugging their site once or twice within an article if it fits the message and they are providing quality information.
Ann Smarty’s post on guest blogging had a few links to her site, but it was such a well-written article, I didn’t mind so much. Plus, the site was relevant to the piece.
This is actually a very clever way of promoting your website through guest posting. The trick is to provide enough useful information so the blog owner doesn’t mind the plug.
It’s about finding balance. Unfortunately many of the guest post submissions are too heavy on the self promotional side and very light on providing quality information. A guest post shouldn’t come across as a review or advertisement for your site, product or service.
5) Your Writing is Poor
Typos and poor grammar get no love on this blog. One major benefit of having guest posts is that I can take a break from writing, but if I have to spend an hour fixing your piece then what’s the point? Your guest post shouldn’t make more work for the blog owner.
How to Get Noticed
One way to improve your chances of getting your post accepted on any blog is to read though some of the blog’s existing posts. Really study the author’s writing style and take note of the post subject matter.
For example, I like revealing articles driven by personal experience. All you have to do is look at my recent posts and see how I often use my own experiences to illustrate points and educate. I rarely write encyclopedia-like posts, so a generic article explaining what affiliate marketing or SEO is probably won’t fly here.
It’s also a good idea to e-mail the blog owner before submitting the post to make sure your idea is on the right track. Of course, there’s still no guarantee your post will be accepted, but it will increase your chances.
Do you accept guest posts on your blog? What has your experience been like?
All good points Lisa. I’m just starting out with guest posters and I’ve had some interesting offers such as, ‘I can write you an article on X if you link to my Viagra site.’ lol..No thanks!
Having said that, if you weed this kind of stuff out, there some great writers looking for homes for original, relevant content that have contacted me so it’s working a treat already!
cheers.
LOL kitchen cabinets? The relevance is striking! I wonder how productive that person is? LOL.
Recently I submitted a guest post at a popular blog which has more than 15000+ visits per day, But I got rejected! I never got rejected from any of the guest post I had submitted in other blogs, While I was thinking I came across this article with wonderful tips!. Thanks for the article. The main reason which I think My article was rejected is Ignoring the rules of writing for them
I have a page with guest post submission guidelines and I prefer the narrative storytelling (in other words make me feel like I am there) type of post. However, I do not “publicize” the page, you have to be apart of one of the circles I engage in to know, then contact me. I don’t want to be bombarded by people treating guest posting like article marketing. My site is relatively new and I am still honing my policies and procedures so some post fall through the cracks of my preference, but overall my experience has been pretty good.
Guest posting is a brilliant technique.It benefits both the blogger and the readers but it can be an unhealthy sign for guest posters who do not interact/communicate with readers. Those planning to publish guest posts should read such articles.
On my blog also I get many self promotional guest posts. I loved your idea of having a page with reasons why guest posts are rejected.
I loved this post. Thumbs UP!
Hi, Lisa
Well i recently started a blog and thinking of offering gusts posts on my blog and i really like how you describe how guest posting should be by following your guidelines its very straight and simple to understand… wich makes alot more easy for the blog owner and the Author…
Everyone wants to post articles to get backlinks from other sites.
couldn’t agree mooooore lissssa!
Hi lisa, ever since I found your website I have found it very inspiring and useful. I am impressed with all your knowledge and the way you have created your site to help guide people through this business. I speak from my own experience that it isn’t an easy process of building a website and giving enough content so that visitors will stay on your site and read every piece of useful information that you have provided to them. I am a single mother and have been working very hard at learning all aspects of this business. I try to give enough valuable content so that my readers will understand every aspect of it. I do not know how to allow people to guest blog but I can understand how you might feel when someone does not follow your guidelines. I hate to say this but if I am being honest so far out of every search I have done about this business your website is the only one that has given me the information I needed to get started. So with this post I Thank You for providing me with the information I needed to know to get started with my own website.
Thanks
Lisa
It was cool to read this article. thanks for sharing it.
My blog is about creation in PHP, get contributions from kitchen cabinets, Grilll George Foreman, New type of Frosted Flakes etc etc … Everything but hehehhehehe PHP, “ce la vie”
I’ve had the problem of having Your posts that are too self promotional. When people start to let go of trying push something in front of people, is usually when they start to see a lot of success.
i like the way you write the article. Sometimes my guest articles are also rejected but now i got the reason why.
Thanks for sharing
Lisa you always have good post !!!! I love your blog !!! I wake up check my email then check your blog ! you are doing a great job. thanks for all the information on your blog.
I think people are way more interested in getting links and sometimes lose focus. Concentrating more on trying to get as many links as possible and not worrying about creating quality content.
Haha. Kitchen cabinets! That is hilarious! LOL…
I also highly agree with your fifth point that your writing is poor. Reading a poorly written post is really really frustrating.
lol, i’d hide past my geekiness in the cover of generale’. ofcourse im kidding with this oddity in my language profile few sentences back, there is hardly the topics I ca cover up here. Im basically a coder who loves giving precise, on the spot and complete troubleshoot in a chaos-less way. HAH! im hardly in need here, but again KITCHEN CABINETS? who gave that a SHOT!! 😮
Thanks for sharing this post I learned a lot about how to post a good guest post..well done..thank you
Thanks lisa,this post is very informative and may help blogger too.
I don’t guest post too often. and have never written a guest post for your blog, yet i know when i write one, I hope you approve it.
Hello Lisa,
I usually accept guest posts to take a break from writing to focus on other things. My last experience was a submitted guest posting that had to be returned for corrections- it was relevant but had several grammar errors. I really do not believe it was proof read before submitting. I have since created specific guidelines that outline this. I have a regular guest blogger that I have always had a good experience with.
Hi Lisa,
Guest posting is something I am just starting to do. Why I haven’t done it before I do not know.
It makes it so much easier when the blogger lays down the guidelines, otherwise you can spend a good amount of time writing and submitting a post just for it to get turned down.
Your guidelines are clear and precise, make life so much easier.
Pete
I’ve never tried guest blogging or have asked for guests posts on by blog. I guess I never really thought about it, but it’s a good idea to try out.
Btw, on your SBI site, as I was going through the articles, I noticed that you have your Adsense ad right below the article title without any content to break the two. I actually thought that’s against the Adsense TOS? But since you are using it and successfully at that as well, maybe I was wrong about that?
Marika
Firstly thanks for sharing this awesome article. i do agree with you that we should not accept the similar articles just because to fill the blog with number of articles. the content must be unique and the topic too. most of the bloggers are making the same mistake by accepting the guest posts only to fill their blog with number of articles they are not thinking about the quality and the uniqueness. how many times can a reader read about SEO or traffic or other topics.
When people send me guest posts directly I read for quality and if I think it is a good fit, then I copyscape scan to see if its unique and at least less than 10% of the article content is duplicated elsewhere. If it passes I will host it as long as they don’t self promote and only have one or two links in the byline as their credit.
Yes i am completely agree with your blog,if our article fact every buddy can posting perfect and relevant comments.
Thanks for sharing knowledge.
Are guest posts a good source of traffic?
This is something I’ve been considering for some time now. I’ve been avoiding guest posts (both writing and accepting) because I wasnt ready yet.
Would you consider it being a good strategy?
Thanks for the great info!
I have not solicited any guest posts, except on the one large group blog I own. The worst experience I had was a woman who wrote a few posts, got some negative responses, and then went back months later and deleted all her posts. :/
I’ve been asked to write a few guest posts and it was a good experience although definitely more difficult than writing for my own blogs.
Very nice article. It really helps to write relevant posts. Thx!
Hi Lisa.
What do you mean, my writing am poor? LOL
I’ve just accepted a guest post and will publish it shortly.
I’ll let you know how it goes and what the response is like.
I’ll take a look at your guidelines.
Perhaps I should be using something similar.
Yeah – I have guest posted here and at one other blog. I only try to get a guest post when I know it is worth my time. Lisa – your blog gets mad crazy traffic, and so does the other one I wrote an article for. That’s why I did it. Plus I had an idea to write about. You have to have a good angle, otherwise it’s just another article floating out there.
I wrote one for you because I had to pay my respects. Your website is the reason I bought SBI anyways. THANKS!
I think I have been lucky in respect that I have received decent guest posts that are well written and directed at the niches my blog is based in.
Maybe this is because I am a small blog. Maybe things will change when my blog starts geting serious traffic.
It’s crucial to make sure guest posts comply with the spirit of your blog, to avoid spoiling your online identity. 85% rejection is lower than what i would have thought.
Guest posting guidelines are very strict.
i’ve been receiving guest post for over a year now, but my experience haven’t been that bad. most post i receive complies with the goals and vision of my site.
Hey Lisa,
I think i’m good at guest posting. My guest post has never been rejected on another blog, yet i don’t guest post often. I’ve never written a guest post for your blog, yet i know when i write one, you will have no choice but approve it.
my favorite is deceiving you thinking the post is from a blogger, when you go to click the self serving link, it goes to a commercial/business website
You know, only one person has ever asked to guest on my blog. (He did a great job.) I’m not sure why, except that maybe it’s not popular enough.
I guess I should start guesting on blogs that are more popular than mine. This one, for instance! I promise I won’t submit “Ten Tips for Terrific Tweeting.”
I guess I shouldn’t send you my How To Winter-Prep Your Boat post….got it 🙂
Probably a good idea, Dino! lol
You mean we gotta work? Gaw!
LOL! I know, Fred. What a concept, huh?
I have SBI sites rather than blogs, but with RSS feeds, which is why you can see my latest site submission.
Anyway, I’ve started soliciting blog owners for guest postings and it’s like a numbers game… rejected by most and accepted by a few.
I have sent a general email to most of these sites, but I’m finding, of course, that I need to tailor each email to each blog owner. The one time I did that I got accepted, my first one!
Then your article has to be superb. Once I was accepted to do a guest blog post, I spent hours on my article, honing my best writing skills. This is your chance to reach a new audience and draw them to your site. You want not only a couple of links to your site but to get new visitors!
Thank you for pointing me to Anne Smarty’s post too. I’ve found her content very valuable and timely for me as I search the web for relevent sites to guest post.
I have not had too much trouble with this, at least from the point of view of guest posts that I have written. As you mentioned, the key was to not write for self promotion. Rather, simply write something that people would be interested in reading.
Of course, I have a received a few submissions that were definitely much as you have described. None about kitchen cabinets, unfortunately – that is a tough one. 🙂
Your point about narrowing your focus and specifically gearing your language towards the needs of the site for which you are writing is a great one, and can be applied to other purposes as well.
For example, writing for a blog about Internet Marketing is different than writing for a blog about General Marketing, and both are different from writing for an article directory.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Have a great day!
Lisa, I really need to established some guest posting guidelines for my blog. I received a post from someone and it was way too short, so I asked for 2 or 3 specific examples that would beef up the post. The blogger came back with “well how long should the post be?”
I thought that was pretty funny but I take the blame because I don’t have a written policy. I’ll probably look at Kiesha’s policy and compare it with yours as a starting point for my own. Because right now I feel pretty bad for not responding to the blogger yet 🙁
Hi Lisa,
I do accept guest posts and for the most part my experience has been good, most people follow my guidelines. However, every now and then, I get irrelevant posts that are blatant disregards to my niche (who to get an MBA online was one example).
I also get random emails from these “agencies” or whatever you want to call them who email me with details about their “guest posting services” – I guess some bloggers are outsourcing their guest posts?
But like I’ve said, my overall experience has been positive. I’m pretty sure it’s your site’s popularity that causes people to start drooling at the thought of guest posting here and so they’re willing to try just about anything 😀
I haven’t submitted a guest post, mainly because I don’t think I can add much incite into someone else’s blog – I am never pleased with my own writing.
While I haven’t accepted many guest posts on my blog, the points you outlined here are exactly the problems that I would look for in a guest post.
It seems everyone is willing to write any type of post, and submit it to a blog just to get their name out there.
Whatever happened to quality instead of quantity?
To be honest there is really nothing to guest post about these days..people will submit stuff they think other people will want to know about… like seo and how to build traffic.
I just tell people submit an story about yourself and your experience..because this is unique in its self..
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
Hey Lisa, just the reminder everyone needed.
I joined Ana’s forum in hope I would find some guest posters and make a list of blogs I would post on, once I start writing something 🙂
I got a few messages from people offering their guest posts and let me tell you, they were all even worse than Wikipedia.
At that time I got an offer for a travel post (cause I had travel posts on my blog) and the person obviously didn’t even visit my blog. My articles are all first hand experience, written in a friendly manner. His post would go like “You want to visit Barcelona? Barcelona is the capital of Spain” Whaaaaat???? Give me a break…
Anyway, I loved the reminder and I do have a question. Before submitting to you, should we send you an e-mail with the name of the post and an idea? Or would you like the whole post straight away?
I wouldn’t mind being rejected by you but I would wanna make sure I give my best!
Hi Brankica,
You could send an e-mail first with your idea and we can discuss it first if you’d like.
Kitchen cabinets? Jesus.
I’ll agree about generic posts, I can’t stand ’em. I’m not sure why so many people blog as if they’re crafting entries to send to Encylopaedia Brittanica. Blogging’s supposed to be fun and informative for both the reader and the writer.
I want to browse a blog for insights that someone else’s opinions might offer. Even if what they’re saying is completely against what I believe, sometimes trying to work out exactly WHY you disagree with someone helps you form your own new ideas.
Great post… hopefully you’ll get a higher calibre of guest posts after this!
Will
Ditto on #1, Lisa. Although once I did accept general post because I respected the author and it turned in to one of my most popular posts of the month.
I would also add duplicate content. I frequently get guest post offers that are warmed over after being served on other blogs.