The Limited Value of Guest Posts

I’m in the middle of a series of guest posts. You can read it HERE.

And I’ve had people asking me how my blog traffic is changing because of these guest posts from big-name players in the small groups world.

You’d think that it would drive traffic up. These guys I’m getting to guest-post are well-known in the small groups, social media, and church conference world. You’d think I would get a significant hit the day that these posts go live, and a residual effect moving forward.

Because not only are these guys well-known in these spheres, they’re putting great posts together! So I’ve got consistent, high-quality guest posts…the numbers should go up, no?

Nope. The numbers have stayed relatively the same. There have been no positive gains.

But that’s not why I solicit guest posts. I’m not looking at my blog asking, “What’s in it for me?”

Benefits of the guest post:

Helping someone else get their name out. When you allow a guest to post, you open up their content to your readers. Their “name” can then extend to the people who visit your site regularly, and thus their message is broadcast to a wider audience.

Using your platform to benefit someone else. You’ve spent time and energy building your platform. Through consistent, quality content, you’ve crafted an image of who you are. Allowing someone to guest post gives them the chance to build on your success. Especially when the guest poster is new to the blogging scene.

Continuing to reinforce your brand. As long as the guest post fits within the normal range of your topics, you can reinforce your personal (or corporate) brand by adding another voice to the conversation.

But you know what the best part of guest posts are?

Being generous. And this generosity goes both ways. It’s extended to the blog, because this guest author is sharing his or her valuable insights and wisdom. And it’s extended to the author, because that author is given a platform that he or she didn’t work to attain.

Social media is at its best when people are being generous.

How have you seen the generosity of social media in action?

Have you guest-posted on a blog before?

Brett Vaden

Ben, I’m really been seeing the great tool that blogging can be in a way a never did before. Your point here about guest blogging and generosity is right, I think. I have seen a number of interesting guest blogs here, and I’m thankful for the series you’ve offered.

I am still curious, why do you think the numbers of visitors are not higher?
- Ben Reed
  
  I think that, in my case, the number of visitors isn’t higher because I’ve really just reached into the same bucket that the readers here typically connect with. The small group guest posts I’ve run have been so niche-oriented that they haven’t reached into a whole new audience, drawing different readers in.
  
  I asked Jeremy Chandler to guest post on the “new” social media, and since that’s a bit different than my normal posts, that gained a bit more traction.
  
  You have any thoughts on why numbers wouldn’t be higher?
  - Brett Vaden
    
    Nope, I think your blog is really good. Just needs more time.
Jason Vana

Great points, Ben.

I actually just recently had someone guest post on my blog – a young man I know from the Czech Republic with a huge heart to seek God and impact his generation for Christ. I’ll be doing my first guest post next week. I’m pretty stoked for it.
Modern Reject

Ben,
When do you think is the best time to allow guest posts on your own blog? I have guest posted for others, but have not had any on my blog as of yet. I figured I should spend time building my own community and voice first.

My blog will turn 1 next month.
- Ben Reed
  
  Nicole,
  Great question! I don’t know that there’s necessarily a “right” or “wrong” answer here. But before you have a guest post, your platform and your voice must be clearly understood. Your community needs to know and trust you before they would know or trust someone else. Otherwise, 1 of 2 things will happen:
  
  1. A potential guest-poster won’t really know how to add their voice to the community, because yours isn’t strong enough.
  2. Your voice will be overshadowed by your guest-poster’s.
  
  Neither of those is a good thing.

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The limited value of guest-posts