Would you like to guest post on my blog?

[Nonny]

Over the past couple of months I've received several emails from people looking to guest post on one of my niche blogs in return for a backlink . Now I love the idea of getting some free content, at least in principle. The problem is that I'm only interested in quality content - something that would be interesting and/or entertaining to my readers. The people who emailed me all provided a link to a sample of their writing which was on a very generic topic on a site completely unrelated to my niche. And they all request that I "assign" a topic to them.

Why do I think that's a problem?

My blog is in a niche that's both fairly small and technical, and I have knowledgeable readers who are often passionate on the topic. More importantly, it's a subject that I'm passionately interested in myself. The writing samples the emailers linked to don't give me any indication that their authors have any knowledge of my niche, or, more importantly, that they would be willing and able to do a the research required to write a quality post. A guest post that's just a regurgitation of a wikipedia article would not add any value to my blog.

So far I've responded to the requests by asking the potential guest poster to propose their own topic. And so far none have replied to that.

But it has gotten me to thinking about 1) going out and finding my own guest posters and 2) contacting others with blogs related to my niche to see if I can guest post for them.

Can any of you suggest approaches to finding or becoming a guest poster that have worked well for you?

- Peggy

and just FYI: I'm not trying to be cagey about my site's identity (which is not the one in my profile). I just don't want anyone to think I'm posting this for the back links or traffic. Ask and I shall tell you. I might even let you guest post

[Nonny]

Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises

Can you give us an idea of the topic then? If you want someone with true knowledge, we'll need to know that.

Tina G

Well, I was mainly interested in people's strategies for finding guest posters or putting themselves out their as guest posters, which wouldn't be niche specific (I don't think). Anyway, here's my site:

Biology in Science Fiction

It's very geeky.

And ETA: If you are sincerely interested in writing a quality post in my niche, you can send me a proposal by PM.

[ObsidianKnight]

Nonny,

Some of us can be quite technical when we want to be.

I myself have a Bachelor's In IT, I minored in electronics, work as a programmer, manage networks at work and have a Ham radio license, (KB1CXY). There are not too many technical fields that do not interest me in some manner. I often keep up to date with anything computer related, Electonics, Radio Control, and many other technical topics.

Just because your on a forum of marketers, does not preclude some of us from being geeks too. :-)

[ElectricChili]

I used to think I was a geek (MS in Electrical Engineering). Now after reading some of the stuff on your blog, I realize that I'm much closer to normal than I thought. Please tell me you guys don't meet up and where costumes...lol.

Sorry, just busting your chops a bit. In a wierd mood today. Spring is in the air!

Rich Scherlitz

[Nonny]

Originally Posted by ObsidianKnight

Some of us can be quite technical when we want to be.

I myself have a Bachelor's In IT, I minored in electronics, work as a programmer, manage networks at work and have a Ham radio license, (KB1CXY). There are not too many technical fields that do not interest me in some manner. I often keep up to date with anything computer related, Electonics, Radio Control, and many other technical topics.

Just because your on a forum of marketers, does not preclude some of us from being geeks too. :-)

Oh, I don't doubt that at all. It's just that there is no way for me to tell when someone links me to a writing sample about marketing or their favorite breed of dog.

Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises

I am not a techie person but I adore science fiction! I'm going to look around your blog and get a feel for it. If I get any ideas, I'll send you a message.

Feel free to send me a PM. I don't think you have to be a techie person to write about science. And one of the things I'm interested in is how SF affects the public interest in and knowledge of science. So if a novel or TV show inspired you to learn more about ecology or genetics or other bioscience, that could make an interesting post.

Originally Posted by ElectricChili

I used to think I was a geek (MS in Electrical Engineering). Now after reading some of the stuff on your blog, I realize that I'm much closer to normal than I thought. Please tell me you guys don't meet up and where costumes...lol.

Nope, no costumes. And my Klingon is totally rudimentary. The husband and I do have a date to watch the Battlestar Galactica finale tonight, though

[Matt Maiden]

As far as strategies, you could set up a "guest post" exchange.

Have a static note on your blog about your guest exchange project and then you could basically "barter" for posts.

You can get around the backlink dilemma by allowing resource box type of area with the guest's site name and title and could even tell the visitor how to find in a search engine (of course being geeks you can probably figure that out)

I'm sure you have seen those t.v. news programs that say something like "for more information about...just search using these keywords".

I would just use the guest's site name.

You post on my blog I post on yours type of exchange with the little "blog bio".

Matt

[Nonny]

Originally Posted by Matthew Maiden

Have a static note on your blog about your guest exchange project and then you could basically "barter" for posts.

That's a great idea. I could even have a more info page about what kinds of posts I'm looking for.

[Nonny]

Originally Posted by Rully

Totally agree with Matthew :-). And what about extra reward?maybe you can considering that thing?

I would definitely link to the guest poster's site and give a little bio. That's only fair. I don't know what you mean by "extra reward" though. A thank you card, perhaps?

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Nonny

Well, I was mainly interested in people's strategies for finding guest posters or putting themselves out their as guest posters, which wouldn't be niche specific (I don't think). Anyway, here's my site:

Biology in Science Fiction

It's very geeky.

And ETA: If you are sincerely interested in writing a quality post in my niche, you can send me a proposal by PM.

While I am a HUGE sci fi nut, I know beans about biology. Most of the
sci fi I watched, like Star Trek, dealt with a lot of alien biology, such as
Spock's heart being where his liver should be.

But as far as real biology, I doubt you're going to find many people who
are both hip to sci fi and biology all in the same breath.

But I wish you luck finding them.

[John Taylor]

Why not search Ezine Articles for good quality
articles on your topic and contact the writers?

Of course, where the terms permit, you could
also reprint articles on your blog.

John