The blogosphere is seeing huge increase in guest blogging these days, and this post seems somewhat odd in such scenario. But, do you really think guest blogging helps you the way you’ve expected? Are you aware of the negative side effects of guest blogging?
My intention in this post, is not to oppose guest blogging, but rather, give it another thought and do it the right way.
3 Reasons to stop guest blogging or learn how to do it right
Why you should not guest blog?
Following, I mention three most obvious disadvantages of guest blogging and would like to hear your feedback. I’d like to learn how you’re solving these problems:
#1. Make best use of your time
Time is money and you must spend it the most efficient way. If you waste time, you waste your money.
Blogging is not do it quick sort of thing. You need substantial time for topic research, keyword research and competition research. Similarly, you need even more time to write posts, edit and promote them. Building up relationship with other bloggers and readers certainly takes time. Nobody gets a day having more than 24 hours!
Will you really get any time to publish your post in other’s blogs? Do you really think you’ll get more by guest blogging than building up your own blog?
#2. Best content for your own blog
Another dilemma most beginning bloggers face is whether to publish your best post in your own blog or offer it as guest post?
You can’t publish second grade posts in your own blog, because, after all, it is your blog – your own blog, that reflects your own self and reputation. You never get success if your blog is inferior in competition.
On the contrary, guest blogging is presenting yourself in new land. You must always try to give best of yourself and create the best possible impact. First impression lasts forever.
What’s the use of guest blogging if you can’t impress and attract the new readers to your own blog?
This is something difficult dilemma. I’ve seen some friends regretting on excessive guest blogging. Why you did not build up your own blog? It was like, you worked hard to build other’s blog!
They have some awesome posts in FamousBloggers.net, BasicBlogTips.com and BlogEngage.com and many others. Now they wish if those posts were in their own blog! Alas!
#3. No pay Yes work!
I can understand it very well – no pay no work. But guest blogging is no pay yes work!
Why will you be interested to work for others when you are not paid for that? Do you get worthy posts and articles for free when you need them? Check odesk.com, freelancer.com to learn how much it costs to get an average quality unique blog.
There’s no room to ask for payment if you are guest blogging. The blog owner will never think that they should pay royalty or share the revenue. Is it not – no pay yes work?
Are you ready to offer some awesome posts for free? Go ahead!
How to overcome these drawbacks?
#1. Build your blog first
The general sequence of blogging is build – promote – profit. You’ll find it harder to manage if you break this sequence.
First build up your own blog. Let it reflect yourself. Let it prove that you are the authority of in niche you are blogging about.
Once you have somehow working blog, you can set out to guest blogging. This way, your readers who land to your blog from guest posts won’t be disappointed. You can make better use of your traffic.
Another method is to guest blog on different niche closely related to your own. You’ll avoid competition and gain added benefits.
#2. Make sure the host blog is worthy enough
You won’t get payment for articles you offer as guest post, but you can make sure that the indirect benefits are worthy enough to the money you’d charge otherwise.
Look at the page rank (PR), Alexa ranking and search engine result page (SERP) rank of the host blog. If it is a high ranked blog with huge traffic, you’ll gain SEO benefits with some free readers. Calculate how much you need to spend to build up SEO and buy that traffic otherwise. If it outweighs, you won by guest blogging.
#3. Teaser Guest Posts
Writing posts with complete information about the problem in hand, is praiseworthy for your blog. But, when you are guest blogging, your main concern is to introduce yourself to the new community of readers; let them realize that you are worthy enough to follow; and make sure they visit your blog to get more information about the topic of your guest post.
If you can write teaser guest posts and get them published in good blogs, you’ll certainly drive huge traffic back to your own blog.
Conclusion
No method is good or bad in itself. It is how you make use of it. Learn some basics and start guest blogging. Make sure, you are not losing more than what you are gaining. If you pay attention to these facts, I believe you’ll reap much from your guest blogging efforts.
This was the pros and cons of guest blogging for guest authors. How about for blog owners? Are there more cons than pros? If you are offering guest posts in your blog, you should read my next post – ‘Guest Blogging for Blog Owners’. Till then, enjoy blogging!
Image courtesy of Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
People Found This Page Relevant for
- disadvantage of guest blogging, guest blogging community,
Twitter: chitraparna
February 10, 2013 10:19 pm
I can identify with this post completely
Six-eight months back, I was lingering in the same doubt. To or not to guest post was the question!
I started with few blogs to experience the response. It was good. Now that more readers have started to come on my blog, I have drawn a 3-month plan to follow, which includes just 10 guest posts for my domain. I am targeting only those that have high readership and it takes time to get published on blogs like SEJ and Hongkiat.
Guest blogging, if done the right way, if VERY effective. Don’t guest blogs to increase back links. You can do it with commenting. Do guest blogging for readership & traffic. When this thought is stuck in your mind, you won’t have these doubts.
~ Chitra
Chitraparna recently posted…Comparing Technology Gadgets Price in India and Abroad
Twitter: bivori
February 11, 2013 6:43 am
Thank you Chitra for the comment and for sharing your experience here. I know you’ve got great achievements through guest blogging and you did it in right way.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Stop Guest Blogging Right Now Or Do It Right
Twitter: wpblogtips
February 10, 2013 11:29 pm
Guest post is great for building backlinks and traffic. But most of the time it can be a time waster.
In one of my blogs I used to accept low quality articles and publish it. Within months I lost SE traffic as result.
Waiting for you next post in the series.
Shahzad recently posted…Why I Use GetResponse not Aweber to Build Email List
Twitter: bivori
February 11, 2013 6:45 am
We need to be really careful while accepting guest post. What harms more is the links we allow. If they are not related to the content in your blog and if they are low quality sites, sales pages, its really going to harm you more.
Thank you Shahzad for the visit.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Stop Guest Blogging Right Now Or Do It Right
Twitter: droidbond
February 11, 2013 7:03 pm
Although I am blogging from last 3-4 years till date I am continuously opposing the idea of allowing guest posts.. although it have its own set of advantages it do carry a lot of disadvantages like getting skimmed content from spammers, repeated content, spam web links and many more..
Twitter: bivori
February 12, 2013 7:22 am
That’s very true Raj! Guest post is not for lazy bloggers get free content. If you fail to inspect it properly, it may bring more harm than any benefits. Thanks for your input.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Stop Guest Blogging Right Now Or Do It Right
Twitter: bihar
February 12, 2013 6:19 pm
Guest posting has its goods and bads. Goods is that you get some content but to be honest, there are some who are sending you articles only for backlinks and send you poor quality articles.
But to be honest, I have done a few guest posts and have worked nicely. But guest posting is not essential for back links. If you have quality content, other people will want to link to you.
Shalu Sharma recently posted…Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya
Twitter: bivori
February 13, 2013 10:39 am
That’s true Shalu. SEO experts abused the concept and we are facing troubles while accepting guest posts.
I always welcome the quality and genuine guest posting efforts.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Important Features to Look for Before Buying Web Hosts « How to Blog Series: Post #10
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections.Stop guest blogging or do it right.In order to start guest blogging you have to know firstly the steps you should follow in order to succeed in your guest blogging.
Twitter: bivori
March 3, 2013 6:47 am
Hahaa…. Robert!
Did you really intend to speak something out? Thanks for the visit man!
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Sapna And Her Blog H4Hitech : The Top Commenter, February 2013
Twitter: blogdips
February 15, 2013 11:32 am
That’s very true! Without proper plan and having much moderation if we continue guest post that may hurt instead benefits! But also I believe if this strategics goes on right way then guest blogging is very effective for webmasters and guest authors both.
Twitter: bivori
February 15, 2013 11:42 am
Very true. I agree with your Dipankar. Thank you for steping in.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…How a Blogger Can Earn Readers Trust and Increase Conversion Rate
Twitter: Akos_Fintor
February 19, 2013 3:09 am
Hey Suresh,
Honestly, I have never done any guest blogging even though I was asked many times) but if I decided to do so I will surely implement the key tips you’ve outlined in your post.
thanks very much for the share!
Akos Fintor
Twitter: bivori
February 19, 2013 7:09 am
Hi Akos,
Thank you for commenting and I’m glad that you find the tips useful. Enjoy blogging!
Suresh Khanal recently posted…How a Blogger Can Earn Readers Trust and Increase Conversion Rate
I think guest blogging is really a very difficult task to do, at least for me, I really find it hard.Thank you so much for this wonderful blog.
Twitter: bivori
February 21, 2013 5:59 pm
After we blog for a while, we’ll have a lot to speak out. Hope it will be a good time to start guest blogging then. You’ve already have a good blog.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Best WordPress Hosting for Your Blog « How to Blog Series: Post #11
Twitter: Servando_Silva
March 1, 2013 8:33 am
If you have no content, it might be a bad idea to do a guest post. Make sure at least you have a few posts and everything prepared and don’t do it just for the links.
Twitter: bivori
March 1, 2013 7:43 pm
That’s the best suggestion, Servando. Guest blogging just for the links is the worst of the creed.
Thank you for the visit and commenting here.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Best WordPress Hosting for Your Blog « How to Blog Series: Post #11
Definitely these are good points, Suresh. I personally don’t spend much time on guest blogging. Links are coming naturally in other ways, but I also have different SEO strategy. I don’t say that I am not submitting guest posts, but I do it rarely, but spending more time on my own blogs.
Carl recently posted…Sofiya created new blog post A guide to enhance the performance of WordPress Site in WordPress Tips
Twitter: bivori
March 8, 2013 7:08 am
Thank you Carl for the visit and your comment here. Guest blogging is obviously good for many reasons but there are always some points to consider. People often follow the trend too quick without a proper plan and strategy.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…WordPress Vs. Blogger – A Never Ending Debate And Matt Cutts Makes You More Confused!
Twitter: ajnabiicom
March 12, 2013 8:09 am
To be honest Suresh – SEO experts abused the concept of “Guest Blogging” and now we’re facing the problems!
Now we should accept only high quality articles from well known bloggers who have, facebook profile, twitter profile, Google+ profile.
Thanks for sharing post!
Bashir Ahmed recently posted…Why You Should Start Guest Posting Now
Twitter: bivori
March 12, 2013 9:04 am
They are going to harm us, forcing Google to look for ways to tackle them. If we do not act now we may face penalties. Why should bloggers be suffered for their benefits?
Thanks Bashir for the visit and your comment.
Suresh Khanal recently posted…Should You Accept Guest Posts in Your Blog? Why and why not?