You’ve got an idea for a guest post, but you need to convince someone to publish it. You could write something clever and funny or even talk about a personal experience. But those might not get you very far with certain editors. Instead, try a straightforward pitch that demonstrates your expertise and willingness to follow rules. That way, your editor will know that he or she can trust you as much as his or her readers will trust you!
Find a topic that’s relevant to your audience.
Finding a topic that’s relevant to your audience is the first step in creating the perfect guest post pitch. You don’t have to be an expert in the topic you write about–you can use your own experience as a starting point, or do some research on the subject matter. If you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself:
- What are people asking me about? (If there are frequently asked questions on your blog or website.)
- What am I interested in learning more about? (If there are things you’re curious about but don’t know much about.)
Don’t try to be clever.
While you may be tempted to try and be clever or funny, this isn’t the time for it. Your pitch should be clear and concise, with no fluff or filler. You don’t have time for jokes or sarcasm right now–the only thing that matters is getting your guest post published on their blog!
Don’t try too hard to sound formal when writing your pitch either; if a blogger has invited you into their space as a guest author, then they probably want something that sounds authentic from someone who knows them well enough (or at least knows their audience). Keep your tone casual yet professional so that the blogger won’t feel like they need to edit down what comes next after reading through what could potentially be an overly long email full of unnecessary words like “I’m sure” or “wouldn’t it be great if…”
Start with a few paragraphs explaining why you’re interested in their site and why you’d make a good guest contributor.
As a writer, you want to make it clear that you’re interested in the site and what they do.
You also want to show that you understand their audience. You don’t need to go into great detail here, but if there are any specific points of connection between yourself and their readership, now’s the time for them!
Finally (and most importantly), let them know why YOU would be an ideal guest contributor for the site. This is where we get into the nitty-gritty details about what makes our pitch unique and why we’d make such a great addition to their team of writers–or at least why they should take us seriously enough as applicants worth considering further down the line when they have openings available on staff!
Include one or two personal details.
- Don’t overshare.
- Don’t lie about your age, marital status and number of children (unless you actually have them).
- Be careful with how much information you share about yourself and your family; it’s always best to leave some things private!
Keep it simple and straightforward.
- Don’t try to be funny.
- Don’t try to be clever.
- Don’t try to be creative and original; just write something that’s interesting and engaging for your reader, who is probably not you (though he or she may think that he or she is).
If they have guidelines, follow them!
Follow the rules. If your prospective host has guidelines, follow them! This will help you get your pitch accepted. If they don’t have any guidelines, ask!
Conclusion
It’s not easy to write a guest post pitch that will get you on the radar of editors and bloggers, but it can be done. If you follow the steps above and keep things simple, you’ll have a much better chance at getting published.
About The Author
Jim Pullman
Jim Pulman has extensive knowledge and experience in Home Building, Construction, and Design. He writes articles in his free time and partners with content creators to share his expertise with the online community. He is also passionate about automobiles.
