If you are an expert in your field looking to gain more exposure and to cultivate a broader audience, consider utilizing guest pieces as your next form of publication. Writing guest pieces is a quick and valuable tool used by those seeking to enhance their brand and to strengthen their online authority.
What is a Guest Piece?
Guest pieces are written articles that you contribute to a publication, usually without compensation. They’re a great way to quickly establish yourself as a source of specialized knowledge and to bolster your platform. Writing a guest piece allows you access to the outlet’s readers who may do their research on you after reading your piece. Typically, a guest piece will always include your bio, social media, and a link to your website at the bottom of the article, which is a fantastic way to drive web traffic to your brand and to gain potential customers.
Guest piece articles can be utilized by a wide range of professionals. For example, a psychotherapist might write an article about the psychological impact of a recent Supreme Court decision; an HR leader might write about what benefits the newest generation of workers cares about; or an SEO specialist might write about SEO trends for the upcoming year. Writing guest pieces can help you build your reputation and ensure that your brand is backed with credibility.
Writing your first guest piece can be challenging which is why we have created this simple guide of dos and don’ts to aid you in the process.
- DO write what you know.
Always stick to topics you can provide meaningful insight on. Guest pieces are a great way to build your profile as a thought leader and ultimately allow you to legitimize your expertise. A publication provides a third-party validation to your writing, so you’ll want to ensure you’re providing them with top-notch, informative content.
- DON’T fail to do your research.
Not only do you want to have a well-rounded and researched guest piece, but it’s also important to make sure that your guest piece assimilates well with the publication outlet. Always make sure to investigate whether they’re open to guest pieces and consider which publications are appropriate for your topic. Lastly, remember to research the type of pieces that they typically post and their intended audience that they write for. Aim to find publications which align with your field of expertise and who write for your intended audience or customer.
- DO pitch to editors.
Once you’ve found the outlet that you’d like your guest piece to be published in, it’s time to pitch it to the editors. When you pitch to the editor, you are asking them if they would be interested in posting your article on their site. Editors may have different requirements for word count, tone, style, and format, so it is crucial to pitch your ideas to the editor before going further into the writing process. Ensure you’re on the same page with the editor and publication before you invest too much time crafting your article. It’s a simple but significant rule: the pitch should come before the piece!
- DON’T be promotional.
Remember, you are not writing an advertisement. You are writing a piece that will educate the audience of the outlet on a topic you are an expert in. As a general rule, do not mention your business in the piece. There are occasional exceptions, but not many. Your bio is where you get to mention your business.
- DON’T forget to integrate your credentials.
Guest pieces encourage the outlet’s readers to connect with you and serve as a spotlight for your platform. Make this process effortless by providing them with all your contact information in your bio below the article. Furthermore, as you amass writing credentials, keep your website, bio, social media, and any other promotional materials up to date. Remember to provide links to your previous writing pieces so potential clients or customers can see the breadth of your experience. Doing this will ensure that you stand out amongst other professionals in your field.
Guest pieces are a strategic way to supplement your brand. Follow our simple guide, and you should have your first guest piece placed in no time!
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