In the beginning, we may have started just to be heard, right? Problem is, if we can’t get people to the website we can’t be heard. And one of the things we can do to get traffic is to increase the links that come from other websites. So how do you get another website to give you a link? One of the most effective ways is to create a guest blog post.
This means you write a blog or post for another website that is related to your industry. In exchange, you ask that the article contain a link to your website. This works wonderfully well, providing that guest post engages the readers enough so that they click on your link. The key then is to increase your guest post engagement and you can do that by following these 10 tips.
1. Use Short, Attention Grabbing Paragraphs
Writing for the web is not like writing for a magazine or book. We must always consider the time that the reader has available, the brightness of the screen, and the sheer amount of content the reader has available online. This means you have to make your paragraphs hit home fast and hard.
Blogs are supposed to be entertaining, short and sweet, so make them that way. Offer a lot of white space on the screen. As a general rule keep your paragraphs shorter than four or five sentences.
2. Use Sub Headers
Most online readers scan or skim content to find the information they want, or the information that interests them. Use lots of sub headers to make your information more scanable. These are also known as H2, H3, and H4 tags.
Note that the search engines also like these sub headers as it makes it easier to catalog the information correctly under adequate keywords.
You can even use different sized subheaders within a same post to make different sections stand out. Just be consistent in the capitalization of your subtitles. In U.S.A. most bloggers use Title Case, but in Europe and other countries some bloggers use All Caps.
3. Use Numbers
Online readers want easy to follow steps that offer solutions. By offering numbered steps or tips, you make it easier for your readers to get the information they want. Good titles for guest posts might be a numbered article such as:
- 10 Ways to lose weight
- 6 Steps to Better Exercise Routines
- 10 Ways to Increase Your Guest Blog Engagement
These are also known as list posts and they are popular because these type of posts break down the content into manageable steps that make the process simple. Make your guest post into a list post and you´ll get more engagement.
4. Use Bulleted Lists in the Content
By adding bullets to certain areas of your content you make it easy for the readers to find what they want. Bullets can sometimes be a better solution than paragraphs. Remember to think design here. Does a bullet list look better within the content? Does it add more white space and make the content easier to digest? These are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself when you are thinking of using a bullet list within your guest post.
5. Use Bold and Italics
Be careful here, as there is such a thing as too many bolded and italicized words. Even so, bolded or italicized words in strategic places can attract the readers gaze towards specific keywords or important points. They help get your message across faster.
6. Use the Blockquote Button
This is another great way to pull your reader’s attention to a certain area of the content. This blockquote button is in the WordPress editor and looks something like this. Its original use was for literal quotes, but many bloggers use it as a way to emphasize certain points within the content.
7. Use Catchy Fonts
Fonts might not seem like a big deal, but the size and type you use can make your guest blog piece more interesting. The right font will make good content stand out. Don’t choose extravagant or cutesy fonts, but do choose fonts that are elegant, simple and easy to read.
You should also consider the size and color of your font as changing these in certain areas can help you emphasize your point. Just don’t go overboard and use too many fonts or colors. Using too many can make a blog look unprofessional and even dumb.
8. Interlink with Follow Up Posts
Blogs need to be able to stand alone. But readers are pleased when there is a bit of continuity on certain areas, or when a topic is expanded on at a later point. Offer follow up guest posts or link to other articles within the website that refer to your topic.
9. Do Your Keyword Research
Consider the keywords that readers might use to find your information. Include long tail keywords and keyword variations within your post where it sounds appropriate. This can help Google index the post correctly and get more traffic to see it.
10. Use Social Media
Once you’ve created the guest post and added a link to your own website, share the guest post on all of your social media platforms. If your post offers readers real value they will share the article and click on the links the post contains. This will bring you more traffic.
Final Thoughts
You can spend months agonizing over the design and the content of your own website, and while this is certainly important. Attractive design and good content, you just can’t forego these elements when writing a guest post for another website. These same standards apply – and it’s these that get readers to click from that website to your own.
