Guest Blogging Tips

So, you want to write a guest post for us, but you aren't sure what we're looking for.  We're here to help!  Below, we've got some tips that will help you craft the perfect guest blog post.

1. Pick a Topic You Can Get Excited About
   • The great thing about blogging is that you can choose your own topic - so make it a good one!  Your enthusiasm will show through in your writing, and it will rub off onto your readers! 
   • If you're having a hard time deciding on a topic, just Google "blog post ideas" and you will find hundreds of ideas in a flash.  One resource you can start with is "101 Great Posting Ideas that Will Make Your Blog Sizzle."
2. Keep it informal
• If you’re a business person, loosen up!  Write like you talk, and avoid using jargon or specialized language. Remember: it’s okay to use common, everyday expressions.  Our blog reaches a large audience, so we want everyone to be able to understand and join in on the conversation.
3. Make your posts easy to scan
• When people read on the Web, they often scan articles quickly. So readers prefer articles with short sentences, short paragraphs, subheadings, and lists.
4. Make it yours
• People like blogs because they are written by people and not by corporations. Readers want to hear what other people think; and, as crazy as it sounds, they want to know what you think. Remember: never claim someone else’s work as your own, and always give credit where credit is due (this is done easily through hyperlinking).
5. Create an inviting title
• Flex your creative muscles! Make your post titles intriguing, so that when readers see the blog post in their newsfeed, they’ll be excited to read it.  Your post's second audience is the search engine, so try using keywords in your title so that it can be found easily.
6. Include a few links within your post
• It's likely that you'll have much more to say than you have room.  Linking to news articles, journal publications, other blog posts, relevant websites etc. provides greater depth to your post and increases your post's visibility.  Linking also helps your readers gain an even greater perspective on your topic.
7. Edit your post
• While your tone should be informal and friendly, be sure to check your spelling and grammar.  Even though blogs are intended to be casual, grammar and spelling errors are off-putting and will give your readers a bad impression.  You'll also want to ensure that the information in your post is clear, so that your readers can easily understand your ideas.
8. Respond to comments
• By responding to comments on your post, you can help keep the discussion going!  Reader comments give you a fantastic chance to communicate your ideas beyond the blog post.  Plus, commenting fosters a sense of community and connects you to the readers and their fresh ideas.

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Notes: ^ [1] These guidelines have been cobbled together from a handful of websites/blogs that give tips on effective blogging. We have merely collected, edited, appended to, and/or summarized other people's ideas. This is not intended to be viewed as a completely original work.  
Sources:

• http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/01/02/five-tips-for-writing-blog-articles-the-easy-way/
• http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/10/06/top-10-blog-writing-tips/
• http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/12/30/tens-tips-for-writing-a-blog-post/
• http://website101.com/social-media/how-write-blog-writing/
• http://www.bloggingtips.com/2007/11/28/yours-respectfully-establishing-the-tone-of-your-blog/
• http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/need-guest-bloggers-tips-inviting-guest-bloggers/
• http://www.blogher.com/guest-bloggers-5-tips-working-them-successfully
• http://www.howtospoter.com/web-20/blogging-web-20/guest-blogging-invitation-and-guidelines
• http://www.blogchalktalk.com/2008/02/how_to_invite_guest_blogger_fo.html