One of the simplest ways to gain traffic and therefore building a list is to leverage a big platform filled with readers who are already interested in your niche.
You can do this by finding popular blogs and guest posting on them. You can simply write a guest post, submit it and hope for the best. But if you want to increase the chances that your post will actually be published, follow the tips below…
Pick blogs in your niche. When you first hear about the benefits of guest posting, you may be tempted to start looking for any blog that you can guest post on. But that’s a big mistake that wastes your time and effort.
Instead, you want to focus on finding blogs in your niche. A small blog that can send you a steady stream of relevant traffic is better than a large blog whose readership isn’t interested in your business.
Look for the guidelines. Most blogs that accept guest posts have guidelines somewhere on the site. These guidelines will answer most common questions and tell you how to submit your work.
It’s important that you read these guidelines carefully. Some bloggers don’t want to see a completed blog post. They’d prefer that you submit a short summary instead. They do this because they want to help you create the post and make sure it aligns perfectly for their audience. Be open to receiving this feedback and advice from a more experienced blogger.
Interact with the blogger. Most bloggers get dozens of pitches in a single week. The more popular the blog is, the harder it is to stand out in the blogger’s mind.
You can make it easier for the blogger to remember you by interacting with his or her community. Do this by participating in the blog’s Facebook group, commenting on the blogger’s Instagram posts, and retweeting their latest posts. Activities like these will help the blogger remember who you are and gives you a better chance of making it through their submission pile.
Link to an opt-in page. When you do land a juicy guest spot, don’t squander the opportunity. Inexperienced guest posters will link to their website and hope the new visitors magically join their mailing list.
But smart marketers link to a landing page with an opt-in offer that will appeal to their target audience. This ensures they capture the traffic from their guest post and put it where it counts—in their sales funnel!
Make your opt-in relevant. When you do link to your landing page in your author bio, think carefully about your opt-in gift. You want it to be relevant to the post you just wrote so that visitors can’t wait to sign up for your list.