Updated: 2/23/2015
Writing your first guest post can be quite the intimidating task! Guest Posting can be extremely beneficial to you as a new blogger trying to get your name out there and grow a new audience. That’s why I’ve put together this article on how to write a guest post. It’ll take some of the fear out of guest posting because you’ll know some of the expectations and you can write a guest post that will WOW!
How to Write a Guest Post
Have you been following along with the How to Build a Successful Blog series?
I’m at a point now where I feel like Serendipity and Spice officially qualifies as a successful blog. I started this cute little blog about 3 years ago as an outlet for becoming a new stay at home mom. Although I LOVED being able to stay at home and spending all of my time with Little Man I was beginning to go a bit stir crazy not having anything else to focus on….so Serendipity and Spice was born. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning….I just started writing and clicking publish. In 2012 I went from having about 100 page views a month (probably all spam bots) to averaging ONE MILLION PAGE VIEWS A MONTH by the end of 2014. I also went from making nothing to averaging about $2000 a month in blog income and steadily increasing.
Over the past few months I’ve been asked over and over again from friends, family, and readers “how do I start a blog?”. Well, over the next few weeks I’m going to show you how to build a successful blog.
What you’ll learn-
- How to start a successful blog.
- How to design a successful blog.*
- How to set up your social media.*
- How to Write a Guest Post.
- How to make graphics for your blog.*
- How to improve your blog photos.
- How to monetize your blog.*
- Recommended WordPress Plugins and Widgets.*
- And so much more…..
*coming soon
Alright, on with the original post…..
How to Write a Guest Post
1. Make sure the content is original.
2. Make sure your post is relevant to the readers of the blog you’re posting on.
3. Ask your host before reposting content on your own site.
4. Write a Teaser Post
5. Thank Your Host
6. Introduce Yourself
Always double check with your host about how they would prefer you to link to yourself. Most sites will let you link in the beginning and again at the end…but always be respectful and ask first. Once you get the okay from your host it’s time for some self promotion!

7. Write the BEST Post EVER!
8. Thank Your Host AGAIN!
9. Make it EASY to Follow You!
10. Send the Host Your Post in HTML Format
Check out these other Blogger Tips:
One final note though….I highly suggest getting the iBlog magazine…it’s full of great information about blogging and your first issue is free!!
Him visiting you via the SITS girls. Thanks for posting. I had been asked to guest post for a while and never really wanted to, but a specific blogger I had been acquainted with invited me to guest post on her blog and I decided to accept. She made it so easy and so pleasant that it was a natural choice for me. I guess that’s the one lesson I gleaned from the experience. If I would ever accept guest posting on my blog I would try to make the experience a very pleasant. easy and memorable one. The word of mouth of a happy guest blogger is priceless!
Great ideas. I think my problem has been that I haven’t been great at linking back to my own site. This is very helpful. Thank you!
I am just about to do my first guest blog post, how perfect that I cam across your post. Thank you for sharing! I must read it again
Perfect timing!! I’m so glad you found it useful! I’ve been working on a lot of new posts for blogging tips and tricks that I hope everyone will really enjoy over the next few weeks. 🙂
Hi Melissa, this was a great read – thanks! Now I’m off to read this series from the beginning and follow your blog.
I’m so glad you found it useful! I’ve been going through updating all of these posts and started working on new ones….so if the post looks all messed up just ignore it because that means I haven’t gotten to it yet. 😉 I just wrote a new post about starting a successful blog but it’s also beneficial in getting your self hosting set up. I have so many new ideas that I’m sharing over the next few weeks! Let me know if there’s something specific you’re looking to learn more about and I might be able to add it in. 🙂