For most writers, marketing is an after-thought. And, with good reason. It’s time consuming, challenging, and doesn’t always provide a great R.O.I. (Return on Investment).

In fact, over the years, I had done my share of pitching, pleading, and pursuing various avenues to broaden my client base and my bottom line. All with minimal success. I found that “cold-calling” left me cold, and social media sucked up countless hours and creative energy.

Then, by accident, I discovered something that worked, that requires very little work. And, you will too.

Want to work “smarter, not harder” this year? Strategic guest posting is the ticket! In fact, Leo Babauta, mega-successful blogger, author, and creator of Zen Habits, (with more than 200,000 subscribers), states in an interview: “Guest posting is by far the best way to grow an audience.”

As someone who has reaped the benefits of being featured at top-tier sites such as Men with Pens, Pro Blogger, Daily Blog Tips, and Tiny Buddha, I would definitely agree. But, it’s also important to recognize that, much like other creative pursuits, it’s not just what you do, but “how” you do it that matters. In other words, there’s a right and a wrong way to guest blog for quality leads, optimal results, and bigger paydays.

Here’s the method I use that most anyone can employ with similar results. And, there’s a bonus here: it saves time, marketing dollars and mental wear and tear.

1. Embrace the mantra of real estate: “Location, location, location.” Choose wisely. Here’s a case in point. A few years ago, I managed to pitch and land a guest post at the Uber-popular Pro Blogger site. Within 72 hours of my guest post, not only had I garnered hundreds of “Tweets” and a slew of comments, I was approached by three business clients seeking my professional services. One signed up with me shortly thereafter, for blog content. Two promised to keep my info on file and keep in touch, based upon their future needs. This would never have happened on a much smaller, less popular site.

2. Align your efforts with your goals.  Are you seeking to increase awareness of an important cause? Cultivate a bigger client base and bottom line? Make friends and influence people? Your goals will govern your game plan. When you’re guest posting for professional reasons, (as opposed to recreationally), it’s important to do your homework.

For this reason, I typically check the Google Page Rank of a site before making guest post submissions. And, you should too.  Anything rated 3 to 8 (on a scale of 10) is considered very reputable and in good standing. Writers Weekly, for example, ranks a 5. (Note: WritersWeekly.com pays for all articles!)

3. Beef up your Bio! For optimal results, make sure that your Bio is brief,  but substantive. It should include: impressive publishing credits, services you provide, a link to your site reflecting your work, and current contact info.
Humor, (when possible) is also an effective strategy for standing out above the competition.

When done properly, “strategic” guest posting can help you to market your business with less effort and greater savvy! No heavy lifting required.

RELATED:

Ghost-Blogging: A Career for the 21st Century

HOW TO MAKE MONEY GUEST BLOGGING

How to Explode Your Freelance Writing Income with Copywriting and Copyblogging

Tips for New Bloggers

Blogging to Sell Books

Jennifer Brown Banks is a veteran freelance writer, award-winning blogger, and content creator. She operates Coffeehouseforwriters.com and blogs at Pen and Prosper. 

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