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Guest Posts - Is there a 'knack' of writing an effective email?

by GoodnightSweetRatRace
17 replies
So, recently I have been spending nearly all of my time, finding websites in my niche, and asking the webmasters if they would like a guest post.

At a guess I've probably contacted 30-50 webmasters over the past couple of days, and I've only recieved 3 responses so far. I think many webmasters are either ignoring my emails, or are just not willing to accept a guest post from me. It seems like one of those things, where you need to be clever with your wording.

Any tips on how to write an effective email for guest posts, that gives you a high response rate? What are the essentials that you must include?

Any insight would be great.
#effective #email #guest #knack #posts #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Originally Posted by GoodnightSweetRatRace View Post

    Any tips on how to write an effective email for guest posts, that gives you a high response rate? What are the essentials that you must include?

    Any insight would be great.
    The first tip I'd give is NOT to make your first e-mail to
    them be about you potentially writing a guest post.

    Think about it...

    Your first e-mail to them is asking them for a favor.

    Not exactly enticing now is it?

    Instead, focus on establishing a line of communication
    and begin to build a relationship before asking for any
    favors.

    For example, you could e-mail them with some tips on
    how to improve their site.

    Or, buy one of their products and give them some
    useful feedback or a testimonial.

    Then leave the topic of writing a guest post for them
    until much later if appropriate.

    Dedicated to mutual success,

    Shaun
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    .

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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

      The first tip I'd give is NOT to make your first e-mail to them be about you potentially writing a guest post.
      This.

      Make it "all about them".

      Their site, their niche, your interest in the way they've done it and why, their readers/subscribers/visitors, the "slant" they give to the subject, and so on.

      It's a relationship-building business.
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    • Profile picture of the author DannyFikes
      Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

      For example, you could e-mail them with some tips on
      how to improve their site.
      This.

      Always provide value in your emails. Lay on the butt-kissing and the praise first, then offer them some tips or some knowledge. Don't be pushy with it, but you could, for example, share some things you've tried on your blog that have worked well for you.

      spicybizz has a good idea too. When it comes time to ask for the guest post. Have it already written. Let them know it's unique and that you were thinking about their subscribers when you wrote it.
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  • Profile picture of the author spicybizz
    I always write emails like this (with the already complete article in the attachments)

    Hello,

    my name is XYZ and I saw you publish guestposts so I wrote a guestpost exclusively for your blog - hope you gonna like it

    Cheers XYZ
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Davis
    Here is a detailed blog post on this subject at Income Diary:

    Google: "income diary guest post" and it's the link at the top.

    Best of luck to you!

    Ebiz Mom
    Marketing with Integrity
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Write for websites in a similar niche, but not "your niche."

      You're kinda asking people to send you their traffic: I know you're not, but you know what I mean.
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  • Profile picture of the author retsced
    Tell them that you have an article that will blow their readers away, then give them the mind blowing article
    Signature
    Strong Men and Women put themselves in harms way
    for the freedoms weak people give away for safety
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  • Profile picture of the author Magazine man
    I will not say that asking bloggers that accepts guest post if they want a guest post is asking for a favour. If you have a great uniqe well written article, I will say your the one giving favours. But you have probably choosen the "top dogs", like most other guest posters. Bloggers with lover PR will probably be more helpfull
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    • Profile picture of the author manicmethods
      Originally Posted by Magazine man View Post

      I will not say that asking bloggers that accepts guest post if they want a guest post is asking for a favour. If you have a great uniqe well written article, I will say your the one giving favours. But you have probably choosen the "top dogs", like most other guest posters. Bloggers with lover PR will probably be more helpfull
      The trick is to make it sound like you are doing them a favor.

      Saying "I see you are looking for guest posters and I am interested in posting articles to your site"

      is you asking for them to do you a favor and publish on their site.

      However, saying "I've been browsing your site for the past few days. I particularly enjoyed reading XXXXXXXX and I liked how you spoke about XXXXXXX etc. I've written an article myself about XXXXXXX which I think the other visitors might enjoy. You're welcome to use it on your website."

      that's you making it sound like you're doing them a favor.

      In essence, they're the same thing, it's just down to your wording.
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      • Profile picture of the author Keith Everett
        The trouble is, most of the guest posts people offer are "garbage".. I have a blog and I get 1 or 2 requests a week for a guest post, when I agree and see the end result, often I'm "shocked"... sometimes the articles make no sense or are written so badly, you just couldn't put them on your blog..

        My advice to you would be to "study" the blog you wish to write a guest post for and come up with an article of equal value or BETTER... then send the owner a "teaser", i.e if you have 500 word article, send them the first few paragraphs...

        Probably you got a bad response because the blog owners are used to getting let down by people who don't check out the blog properly first and see what standard they should equal or exceed..
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        • Profile picture of the author JOSourcing
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Keith Everett View Post

          The trouble is, most of the guest posts people offer are "garbage".. I have a blog and I get 1 or 2 requests a week for a guest post, when I agree and see the end result, often I'm "shocked"... sometimes the articles make no sense or are written so badly, you just couldn't put them on your blog..

          My advice to you would be to "study" the blog you wish to write a guest post for and come up with an article of equal value or BETTER... then send the owner a "teaser", i.e if you have 500 word article, send them the first few paragraphs...

          Probably you got a bad response because the blog owners are used to getting let down by people who don't check out the blog properly first and see what standard they should equal or exceed..
          I couldn't have said this more perfectly. I also recommend avoiding the "form a relationship" approach. A blog that's worth guest posting for (i.e. popular and well trafficked) is busy as hell, and its owner will not appreciate (nor pay any attention to) messages that fail to immediately get to the point.
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          • Profile picture of the author onSubie
            Originally Posted by JOSourcing View Post

            I couldn't have said this more perfectly. I also recommend avoiding the "form a relationship" approach. A blog that's worth guest posting for (i.e. popular and well trafficked) is busy as hell, and it's owner will not appreciate (nor pay any attention to) messages that fail to immediately get to the point.

            I would say those are the kinds of places that would need regular high quality free content or a column from a quality writer on a regular basis.

            Exactly the kind of site whose submission department you should build a professional relationship with.

            Edit: Has anyone posted this resource?

            http://myblogguest.com/

            Mahlon
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  • Profile picture of the author martinricky
    Yes guest post really valuable for getting high ranking
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    "affordable seo packages".
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  • Profile picture of the author drmani
    Originally Posted by GoodnightSweetRatRace View Post

    Is there a 'knack' of writing an effective email?
    Judging by the discussion on this thread, I guess there is.

    I've got a (relatively) simple form letter I use for the first approach -
    and overall, across niches, it has got a 'strike rate' of 30% or more
    for getting guest blog posts published.

    Guess there's value enough in that to sell the form letter as a WSO

    All success
    Dr.Mani
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  • Profile picture of the author Tenzho
    You don't have to email them, just find blogs that accept guest blog.

    google search: "(NICHE TOPIC)" "Write for us"

    One simple search can find many results.
    Of course you can use other search term like, submit a guest post, post contributor, etc.

    -Tenzho
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by spicybizz View Post

      I always write emails like this (with the already complete article in the attachments)
      Hello,

      my name is XYZ and I saw you publish guestposts so I wrote a guestpost exclusively for your blog - hope you gonna like it

      Cheers XYZ
      Spicy, this might get you in the door with me. It's probably going to get your post read, at least. Humility, especially in the beginning, is a good thing.

      Originally Posted by retsced View Post

      Tell them that you have an article that will blow their readers away, then give them the mind blowing article
      Good way to test their delete button. You have to remember, especially with personality-driven blogs, that there is a lot of ego involved. Besides, from what I've seen come through anyway, the person who comes at me claiming they have the best thing since Hemingway ate the 12 gauge usually wouldn't know quality writing if it bit them on the arse.
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