Just a blog: How NOT To Pitch a Guest Post

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

How NOT To Pitch a Guest Post - DailyBlogTips

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:28 PM PDT

I often get amused by the emails I receive pitching guest posts, so I figured it would be fun and partially useful to share some of them.

The first curious thing I see in those emails is the subject line. Many (if not most) come with this subject: “Request for Guest Post”. A request for a guest post means that you want the other person to write a guest post for you. When you want to guest post on their blog, on the other hand, you are offering a guest post. So your subject line should be “Guest Post Offer” or “Guest Post Submission”.

I know it’s just the subject of the email, but under this context it’s quite important. That is, if you mix such basic terms the blog owner might decide to reject your guest post without even reading it, because he’s doubtful of the quality that will follow.

Anyway here’s an email I received recently.

Hi!

My name is Web Designer Sydney. I am interested in posting guest post for your insightful and interesting blog which can offers some sort of benefit to the readers. It will be simple, unique, informative and useful. I love writing guest posts because it challenges me to find just the right angle for a slightly different audience of readers. So as I have spend time in writing content for your blog, I want to know it will be worth my time, right?

Waiting for your positive reply,
Web Designer Sydney

I mean, I understand when people want to get an SEO boost by using a targeted anchor text in their byline links, but going as far as saying that your keyword is actually your name? Talk about trying too hard!

Then there is this sentence: “So as I have spend time in writing content for your blog, I want to know it will be worth my time, right?”

The answer that came to my mind: “I guess.”

I am still on the fence about accepting this one, as it can offers some sort of benefit to my readers…!

Original Post: How NOT To Pitch a Guest Post