My 3-Step System for Finding Guest Post Opportunities

This guest post is by Jocelyn Ann.

Tired of haphazardly, randomly struggling to find guest blogging opportunities? Or finding yourself stressed to the max because you’re unable to locate your next guest-post goal for the month?

You’re not alone. Most bloggers don’t know where or how to search properly, and if they’re trying to search at all, generally end up with dead-end leads.

Developing a systematic method that you can implement to ensure a never-ending supply of opportunities is your best option. The three techniques I’ve listed below will help eliminate your random searches, cut down on wasted time, and leave you with a renewable contact list for finding the right guest blogging opportunity every time.

Image used with permission

Google can provide you with the best of results … or the worst of results. It’s only as good as the search terms you feed it. What you get, and what that means, is all tied up in your combination of search terms. Knowing what words with what words provide the results you want is a unique formula you’ll have to figure out for yourself.

Let’s say your blog is about baking, and that’s your keyword to target for a link. Here are some search queries you could start off with:

baking AND guest post (will provide you with sites where other people were able to get a guest post who were also promoting baking; you know the site allows guest writers)baker AND guest post (will provide you with posts attributed to authors who are most likely bakers themselves)baking AND guest author (same)baking | bake | dessert | pastry | pie | etc. AND guest author (try every form of dessert and every variation of bake)baking AND write for us (will provide you with cooking sites actively seeking out guest writers; it should be very easy to get these)baking AND submit (should return more baking sites who want guest writers; again, should be easy to land these spots).

Every time a blogger turns up who’s doing the same thing you are, enter them into a spreadsheet. Enter in their name (Lucille Ball), the keyword anchor text they used (comedy tv) and who they listed as their employer, if any (TBN).

As your list grows, you can start to group the bloggers into various categories that might help you later, depending on what you want to write:

related-content writersunrelated-content writerswriters on high-PR siteswriters on low-PR sites but lots of themwriters who are representing a product for sale (these are harder to get; fewer
sites want to link out to commercial products or sites)writers who are representing their own blog (you can likely find these by the dozen)writers writing about everything (a sure sign they’re marketing for a company; it’s good to follow them, as they’ll lead you to a variety of blogs guaranteed to post pitch bylines)

When you have a list, all you have to do is run a search query for any one of the following keyword combination types:

Lucille Ball AND guest postLucille Ball AND guest authorLucille Ball AND comedy TVLucille Ball AND TBN (in case she has other anchor text, like “romantic TV” or “red
hair dye” that you don’t already know about)Lucille Ball AND comedy TV AND TBN.

When you’re just starting out, it may not matter all that much whether you can get guest spots on baking-specific sites. It will probably just matter that you can start writing for someone, anyone, in order to build up a portfolio.

If that’s you, you can get by with generic writings and searches.

Run a Google search on “write for us” and “submit content” and “contribute.” You’ll get a list of generic sites willing to accept your writing. Who knows what the content will be? You’ll just have to do a little research and make it work for you.

Check out myblogguest.com. Once you create a profile, you can browse the forum boards to find all kinds of people who want content. From here, you just have to email them and submit your posts.

Use Twitter hashtags like #contentavailable, #guestauthor, and so on. Let people know you’re willing to write anything and, chances are, they’ll take you up on it.

As you go along, you’ll likely discover new searches and new ways of finding guest blogging opportunities. Pick and choose those that work best for you to really make this idea work for your blog.

You may detest writing content about topics you know nothing about, or you may love getting to learn and write about that which you previously knew nothing about. Have some fun with it, and enjoy watching that portfolio grow!

How do you find guest post opportunities? Share your ideas and tips in the comments.

Freelancer Jocelyn is dedicated to helping families live healthier, happier lives. At the moment you’ll find her writing alongside Air & Water, a company that loves to help families find the best heater for the elderly in their lives.

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The Fail-Proof system Score National Magazine publicity for your Blog

This guest post is www.casseracommunications.comby Melissa Cassera of.

You write a blog post. You post it. You tweet, Facebook, Digg, Stumble, and any other type of online promotion to Super size your presence.

What you're missing?

Promotion of "offline" using a big influencer such as a national magazine a snow storm can bring traffic to your blog. Not only is it great for exposure to your name inked on the glossy pages of a national magazine, it lends the credibility and the adoption of a national magazine claims that you have the best blog on the block.

Read on to learn how to sing your praises national magazines of the roof can get.

Picture used with permissionMagazines have millions of readers. Literally millions.

National magazines are also recognised at national level brands. They have grown a reputation for excellence and a considerable amount of power for those who are fortunate enough to grace their pages.

Bloggers have leveraged national magazine publicity in six and seven-figure book deals, high-paying speaking engagements, corporate sponsors, and scored attracted fancy commanded top-dollar for coaching and consulting services.

Magazine publicity is like winning an Emmy, Grammy, Tony or Academy Award. It offers instant credibility and high profile status.

Some magazines Highlight bloggers individually. Other magazines as expert sources for their story will interview bloggers. (Example: Melissa Cassera of droves of Casseracommunications.com said that national magazine publicity brings new readers to your blog).

For example: the Glamour Magazine August 2011 part contained seven fashion bloggers in their article "Dress Like a do every day." Different bloggers throughout the issue INC. magazine's July/August 2011 topic also featured as expert sources.

Understand turnaround times. Magazines work anywhere from three to six months of the issue. That means that you should be pitching for the december issue in August. So, get crackin'!Finding the right contact. Check the mast at the front of the magazine to note the appropriate section editor (beauty, fashion, technology, food, etc.). Always work from the bottom up (please contact the associate or assistant editor in place of the Executive or senior editor).You can also look at the name rules for individual articles. Magazines hire freelance writers to produce content, and these people are always interested in good sources and stories. Google their names and get in touch.So much effort into your pitch as you write your blog posts. Read the magazine and highlight the sections that would have on your blog and/or using you as an expert source.  Know of the magazine Show and readership inside and out. (Quick tip: Search the magazine's online media kit that includes demographic info and other readers, as well as an editorial calendar marking specific topics they will pick up in the future).Building a relationship. Your goal is to gain publicity for running your blog in this offline channels. Your first contact with an editor should be a warm introduction to you and your blog and a newsworthy angle that would pique their interest to write about you. (Example: I am a blogger career and would like to discuss the latest trend of unemployed told not to apply for employment. My take on this is. ...).Offer to cover of the magazine on your blog. Ask the editor if they would participate to an interview for your blog. This is a great way to build a budding relationship and to offer them a bit of promotion. (Example: a fashion blogger would interview a Vogue editor, click the three hottest trends for fall).

Promote away! First things first — you want to blog about your national magazine covers.  Not automatically assume that all your readers will see. Let them know how super fantastic you are to be in [insert favorite magazine name].

A "fame cluster" add to your homepage. If you have no idea what that is my homepage , check out and look at the small cluster of media logos. You can also press page with all your media start shout-outs.

Last, your new readers welcome. If you know that your position in the Entrepreneur Magazine comes out in November (which means it will probably hit newsstands in mid-October), add a little line to your home page near your RSS feed or opt-in offer that says, "Welcome Entrepreneur Magazine readers! Sign up here to stay in touch. "

Action: the # 1 magazine you want to have your blog in the comments below post. Enter the above advice to make it happen.

Melissa Cassera is a publicity expert that bloggers and other small business owners score millions of dollars in free advertising using the power of publicity. You can her free eBook on how to download the Media like a Pro http://casseracommunications.com/newsletter/ Pitch here:

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