Guest posts are great things. They make getting new content up on your blog very easy, and it makes you feel like you’re doing something right when you get someone who wants to write a post on your blog. Having guest posts really means a lot of things for you, but come with their own share of annoyances.
The one thing that’s always on my mind when going through guest posts on my blogs is “does it meet the standard?” The standard I am talking about is not the idea of the guest post, but things like formatting, spelling, and how it’s written. I will not publish a guest post on my blog unless everything is perfectly formatted and well structured.
Again, not judging the post so much on the idea (because anything and everything should be posted as long as it’s relevant) but on the structure.
100% of the time, guest posts you get will need some kind of editing. Take us for example, we use headlines and images in every article here and many of the guest posts we get here do not have these things — so they need to be revised a little bit.
The one problem with editing guest posts is that you may take away from the authors original point. That’s another thing I worry about while editing guest posts, so I break down the process and I take it in steps. I’m going to explain to you now the five things I regularly do while revising guest posts.
1. Quality of Writing
You can’t depend on other people to be good writers. I always assume that there will be a lot of mistakes in guest posts so it will encourage me to look a lot deeper into the writing. Now of course, I don’t find a lot of mistakes at all. But pretending that there is a lot wrong really gets you thinking.
Always check for spelling, grammatical errors, good post structure and content that makes sense. These are the things I make sure to check the most when editing guest posts. I didn’t write the post, so I don’t have a great understanding of what may be wrong until I go through and actually start revising.
Here’s a tip for spell checking: Don’t rely on the standard WordPress function. Use a program like Microsoft Word to do it. It’s much easier in my opinion, and with many people using external editors to write blog posts — more logical.
2. Breaking down paragraphs
The key to great readability is short paragraphs. They say a good paragraph is usually 5 – 6 sentences long, I say a good paragraph is 1 – 6 lines.
You need to keep paragraphs short because most people nowadays want their content quick. If I see paragraphs go on for 10 or so lines, it looks unappealing and hard to read. Of course I will read it since it has information I want, but it may do a number on my eyes.
A good tip I can give you for cutting down paragraphs is to break them down into one idea each. So if you are talking about how to cut a ribeye steak then jump to cutting a sirloin steak in one paragraph, break it down if there is enough information in each section to support two separate paragraphs.
3. Add Headings and other formatting
As I mentioned in the beginning of the post, the guest posts I get here usually aren’t formatted with any kind of HTML like headings or any other paragraph styles. Not that it’s a bad thing, I actually mention it’s okay in the guest post guidelines.
But, now that you have control of the post, you can go ahead and start dividing content up with headlines and making paragraphs look nice by applying italics and bolding text. They key is to make the formatting of this guest post consistent with posts you write yourself.
For more ideas to style your content area, read here
4. Link, Link, Link!
Just like any other post you write on your blog, you should always try and link back to relevant articles. Sometimes when you write certain keywords, you think of a past post you wrote about the topic and you should feel obligated to link somewhere.
Linking back to old posts is a great way to expand on a current topic, bring life back to an old post and help your readers learn even more. Not only that, but it has it’s SEO benefits. You never know when you might find somewhere to link to in a guest post.
Tip: If you use a related posts plugin, check out what posts come up and try to incorporate them into the post. It will save you a lot of time instead of having to search through your archives for posts to link to.
5. Expand as much as possible
It’s always good to expand on a topic if you can. You can make the post longer and more informative, and probably best for your readers. You will have a lot to work off of since you should have proof read the post, so expanding should be easy.
Expanding on the post should make linking back to older posts a lot easier, which will make the post an even bigger hit for sure.
If you’re worries about taking away from the original authors original focus, then don’t do this. It’s up to you really, but I personally think as long as you don’t take away or contradict the original focus, you don’t need to worry about that.
What are your thoughts on guest editing?
It’s a bit of a controversial subject about editing guest posts, because it always leads up to “the authors original idea.” If you edit it too much, you may take away. But, if you don’t edit it enough — it won’t match the quality of your own posts sometimes.
This post was inspired from a past post here about the alternatives to rejecting guest posts. You may be interested in reading that post as you can see where this debate originated here.
42 Discussions
Awesome post! I’ll be sure to remember this the next time I publish a guest post.
Eric B.´s last blog ..14 Fantastic Wordpress Plugins That I Use
I have never wrote a guest post, but now I feel encouraged and forced to do this adventure. Now just have to come up with something and hopefully soon I will submit a guest post to you. Hope I will keep in mind all the things you mentioned here and on the guest post guidelines.
Hameedullah Khan´s last blog ..5 plugins to convert your blog traffic into regular and loyal readers
Guest posting really is an amazing way to get good traffic to your blog. And if you post on the right blog, you can get some targeted traffic flowing to it.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
BTW, you have a typo. Lol! “A good TOP I can give you…”
Anyway, I think the content here is super useful. I have never written a guest post on another blog before, but I will keep these points in mind when I do my first one. I will even provide the headings HTML on headings to save the blogger’s time.
Thanks for this.
Gordie Rogers´s last blog ..Why I Spit On Those People Who Say That You Don’t Need To Go To College.
Thanks for pointing that out Gordie!
Whatever you can do to make the blogger like you better, I’d say do it!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Personally I think the blog owner should be allowed to edit as much as he want. I often see myself dividing the text into new paragraphs and maybe replacing ” ” with the real function for a quote. Small changes without touching the core text.
Stefan´s last blog ..Get People to Work For Free
I understand what you’re saying, it’s a pretty useful trick. So, do you think that the content should be edited? Like, replacing paragraphs with your own?
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Well, I would probably never add content to a guest post. Probably just redo some of the design by creating new paragraphs from existing text.
Stefan´s last blog ..How to Automatically Back Up Your Computer
You know, I think it’s perfectly fine to comment or add a line or two within a post, either in italics or brackets or set off somehow, and signit ‘Ed.’ or ‘Editor.’. This is a standard in publishing. It’s nice when you don’t have to though.
I never write any guest post before. I think that it would be better if you are just going to write for article directories since they got a huge readers.
Diabetis´s last blog ..Apothecary Diabetic ID Bracelet
I prefer to stick with guest posts, I never really thought article directories were that beneficial. I think if you put a good enough blog post on a big enough blog – you will get more traffic that way.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
well i think i have passed all of them (hopefully). My mistake before is that I used to have really long paragraphs. I think even now if you visit my blog Im still kinda inconsistent with the way I manage the lengths of a paragraph
Melvin´s last blog ..Blog Updates And Announcements
It isn’t always easy to say everything you want to say in a smaller paragraph. I still throw out a couple long ones myself. It’s not the end of the world if you do, I just wouldn’t let your article get full of them.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Great Post. Really enjoyed reading !
Enk.´s last blog ..Creating Static Homepage in Wordpress
Thanks for dropping by Enk!
Great post Alex. I agree having guest posters on your blog is a great thing! & the part that erks me the most is when they KNOW the posting guidelines but don’t abide by them
Yeah, sometimes I get guest posts that are better left off rejected than approved and edited just because of the effort it would take.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
i am about to starting guest post for my blog, what is the level you provide to the guest post, or they have have actually can edit their post in the real wordpress or they pass to your by email or feedback?
thank
Santel´s last blog ..ACODO is under water and call for help
I let people signup for an account here and write their post from the admin panel. Unless they do it on their own blog, or an external editor. I usually don’t mind, as long as they send it to me.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
ok thank Alex, which right access you give to them? contributor?
Santel´s last blog ..angkor wat half marathon 2009
Amazing post that very nicely sums up the guest posting process from the blog owners side. Really enjoyed your easy to read style and layout! Another smashing post!
Seth´s last blog ..How to Properly Prepare a Guest Post in 5 Simple Steps
Thanks my dude.
I think the layout on this post was pretty slick.
Great tips.
I’m almost finished creating post that I will publish as a guest blogger. Always handy to know thses tips.
Keep up good work.
Teen Blogger´s last blog ..Are Make Money Online Ebooks Winners Or Losers
Thanks a lot! Great to see a fellow teenage blogger come over here.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
I think a bit of editing wouldn’t hurt anyone. You’ve got to read the article before publishing on your blog anyway. So, if there are some small bits that needs adjustments then I would say, go ahead and do it. However, if the editing involves spelling, pragraph formating and more, then it is too much.
InternetHowBlog´s last blog ..How a simple taxi ride made me earn £110 per week?
Good logic, and I generally agree with it. But should you always post content on your blog that you don’t agree with? If a guest poster wrote an article that completely contradicted another article YOU wrote, what would you do?
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Nice tips, ”The key to great readability is short paragraphs” yeah short paragraphs makes content more scannable. short paragraphs makes the post looks more inviting to read and quite easier to read.
Webmaster Forum UK´s last blog ..The Ins and Outs of a Cleaning Business
Glad you agree, thanks for dropping by!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Good point for #1, I usually practice this all the time in whatever situation, “expect the worst”, not that I’m pessimistic over things but it keeps me prepared from any unexpected events. I think, you can easily handle things if your expectation is greater than the actual problem. I also apply this in my own work, as this makes me more alert on my own writing flaws.
Alex Lim´s last blog ..Before You Purchase A Domain Name Availability
Glad I’m not the only one! I was afraid that some people who have written for me before will read this post and get a little annoyed that I my have thought of them as illiterate! But, I think it’s a great mental trick.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
What do you feel about a blog consisting majorly of guest posts? Experts in the niche the blog is about, with posts written by me here and there. Imagine all the articles are helpful and the blog is building authority with each guest post while I take care of running and promoting the blog.
Thoughts?
Pete | The Tango Notebook´s last blog ..3 Tips for a Closer Close Embrace in Tango
Well, first you need to figure out how to get the guest posts in the first place! But, there are blogs out there like this network – http://www.fuelbrandnetwork.com/ all of the posts on their blogs have one editor and other guest writers. Is that what you’re talking about kind of?
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Breaking down the paragraphs is the most fun things to do when preparing for guest posting. It seems like you’re crushing something that you’ll be able to rebuild it again.
Reza Winandar´s last blog ..5 Tips to Increase the Number of Subscribers for Beginner
I’m not gonna lie, it actually is probably the most “fun” I have while editing a guest post!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Very nice points Alex… As usual this post rocks
Ashwin´s last blog ..Writing more Blog Posts – the Myth and the Reality!
Really,very nice things provided.Thanks for sharing.
excellent post. just what i was looking for.
i manage the corporate blog of a mid-sized music company. the company has been encouraging employees and musicians (none of whom are experienced writers) to post. it’s fun but also a challenge to edit these pieces without completely re-authoring them. your post suggests very helpful rules of thumb.
thank you!
I am actually writing my first guest post…I am sort of nervous but I am working on it slowly. I am trying to get the format as good as possible.
Do you think they should be a certain length? I think if you can make a great point like Seth Godin normally does in just a few paragraphs I don’t see why would it have to be long.
Wilson Usman-Fun Lifestyle´s last blog ..One Billion Pesos of Wisdom for the Week
I agree with you with on the heading I use to use bold for all my heading then it made my blog look extra boring it was a honest new blogger mistake . Great post
ron´s last blog ..Google vs Facebook !
I had read somewhere that before writing guestpost write related post on your site and link them on guest post.
Great tips indeed, bookmarked it for future when i write one
My last article http://medchrome.com/patient/living-with-disease/john-f-nash-has-schizophrenia/
what is eric learning ?
franz´s last blog ..Moonster Safe
Great Eric, glad you learned something.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
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