Is There Value in Guest Blogging?
I was reading a really great blog post the other day about Lessons I Learned about Blogging from being an Author and Journalist. The gist of the post was about how our offline jobs or careers can vastly influence our blogging styles and the way we go about relating and interacting with our readers etc. Fantastic post filled with great tips and ideas all of which were explained in great detail.
The author even closed the post with words of encouragement and asked that the readers leave in the comment section some ways in which our jobs/careers influence our blogging style.
About 40 of us have commented thus far myself being number five in the line up. Being curious about the responses to our comments I returned to the post to see what follow-up remarks had been made. The answer was none- there are no followups, at all. This blog is in a completely different time zone then the US, like a day ahead and has already published another post.
Normally I don’t return to this professional blog to read follow-up comments as it is a fact that this particular blogger does not reply to comments. (that’s a topic that has already been beaten to death on other blogs, so I’ll refrain). And my point of all this is not whether to reply or not to reply to Comments.
But, I thought for sure a guest blogger would follow-up on comments left on one of their posts. Especially if they asked that a specific question be answered by their readers. Isn’t one of the reasons for Guest Blogging to avail yourself to new readers in hopes of building readership on your own blog? I think in this instance Guest Bloggers are being under served in that regard. In essence their hands are tied when it comes to follow-up interaction.
Here’s my questions:
Is a Guest Bloggers getting the best value from their Guest Post if they are not granted access to reply to comments that are left on their piece of writing?
Does the Guest Blogger assume some of the reputation of the Host Blogger? Good or Bad?
Who should reply to the comments the Guest Blogger or the Host Blogger?
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IMO, if you’re guest blogging, then it’s likely that you’re trying to promote your site. If the guest blogger isn’t responding to any comments, then it doesn’t speak well for him/her does it?
Whether they are given admin access or not, they can still correspond by providing additional comments.
Gabe | freebloghelp.com´s last blog ..I don’t target my Twitter followers and I like it that way
Thanks for adding your thoughts. I just find it odd that so many guest bloggers don’t follow up on their work, and I hope that if and when I do do Guest blog I get it right.
I’m kinda wondering why you didn’t link to the post in question?
That aside, it is essential for guest bloggers to respond to comments; as Gabe pointed out, not responding defeats at least one main reason to guest in the first place.
You don’t need admin rights of any kind, just make sure the admin has installed a subscribe to comments plugin and use it.
Responding to comments is a rule I have for guests, if they don’t, they never guest on my blogs again.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..The Time Has Come. The Deal Is Done. It’s Time To Move!!
The post title can be easily Goggled. The blog in question doesn’t need or appreciate links so I don’t bother and since I didn’t use any of their content I am not required to…:)
Having predetermined Guest rules is great precaution to have….
“The blog in question doesn’t need or appreciate links…” That’s, umm, different.
Yea well, I’m extremely anal regarding comment replies, whether their mine or not.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..The Time Has Come. The Deal Is Done. It’s Time To Move!!
Guest posting is a fantastic way to raise your profile. I have guest posted on aorund 15 different websites this month and had a ton on mine.
In terms of traffic, yes no maybe so. For me it’s about building that recognition about my writing style and what I’m about, the traffic will come
TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..Are All These Products Too Expensive?
But the question is, do you take the time to reply to the comments on your guest posts, either the ones you have written for others, or the ones that are hosted on your blog?
I do, there is too much at stake if i don’t.
Besidess, i get only one chance to make a good impression.
Olusegun´s last blog ..The Challenges of A Nigerian Blogger
That is good to know! Would you like to do a guest post for this blog?
it will be my pleasure ms freeman.
Thanks for the honour.
Yes, I agree with you. I would definitely be doing follow-up in the comments. EVEN IF I didn’t have admin rights, I would be leaving regular comments to enhance the conversation. The nerve, to guest blog on one of the biggest blogs and NOT make a huge impact/difference to me is just plain crazy. I’ll have to send you a DM about my guest post experience, LOL.
Thanks I look forward to the juicy details LOL
Hi,
I have been a guest blogger too mainly to addvalue and promote my blog. At the moment, i have 4 posts to my credit and i just sent out the fifth yesyerday.
I think guestbloggers shoul definitely be allowed to reply to their posts.
i think it’s rude and A-listerish to ignore comments on your blog.
cheers,
olusegun
Wow four guest posts! I am struggling just to write one. Do you follow-up on the comments left on your guest posts?
yes i do.
i open notepad, write a response to all the comments and then post them as replies to the respective commentators.
How do you know what they will be ahead of time?
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Hello & Welcome To The All New – DennisEdell.com/DirectSalesWebMarketing.com Merged – Direct Sales Coaching Blog!
I try to comment back, but sometimes my life is just busy. I do admit though, when I have done guest blogs / posts … there was an emphasis on being expeditious with replies. Years ago I had over extended myself with accepting invitations, and was actually doing posts on 14 blogs. I burned out!
Eric “Speedcat Hollydale”´s last blog ..Roof Golf & the Manhole Frisbee
Wowzers! You were a busy cat!
If I ever contribute a post to someone else’s blog, you can be sure I’ll be there to monitor responses and interact as necessary. I would just be too curious to see what people were thinking.
Anne Moss´s last blog ..Managing the Content on Multiple Blogs
Me too Anne, I would want to respond to their questions and possible debates…:)
I’ve seen some great guest posts and one thing that really stands out is when the guest blogger responds AND the host responds as well. The guest blogger should pay attention and engage or it’s just words that mean little. Yet, if they are guesting on a “popular” blog and they are a “popular” blogger in their own right, they may just be increasing their inbound links or presence with no real regard to the interaction part. I’m not there and wouldn’t want to be that type of blogger so I would pay attention and respond and interact.
Anne´s last blog ..Amazon Groove – 30 Free Songs
Is a Guest Bloggers getting the best value from their Guest Post if they are not granted access to reply to comments that are left on their piece of writing?
I say no – an emphatic No.
Does the Guest Blogger assume some of the reputation of the Host Blogger? Good or Bad?
Hmmm, what do you mean by assume? On that post or on their own blog. I have written a number of guest posts on a popular blog and have not experienced either,
Who should reply to the comments the Guest Blogger or the Host Blogger?
The Guest Blogger by preference but not exclusively
Phill
Phillip Gibb´s last blog ..Violence in Christian Film
Phillip – Guests should absolutely be permitted to reply to comments, and they should absolutely do it.
The host can additionally reply if he/she knows the topic, but it is the guests article first and foremost.
I really don’t understand “not granted permission”; all you have to do is subscribe to comments.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..$100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End…
That’s very true, I guess subscribing to the comments is the only guaranteed way to keep up with the feedback. But if the blogger doesn’t have nested comments with a ‘reply to comment’ feature then one would have to use @ and that can get so messy looking.
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
If you plan to be a regular, tell the blogger of all the benefits of threaded and ask for a change.
Just a thought, either way responding to comments is a must.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED!
I mean if you guest post on a blog that is a possible ‘bad neighborhood’ do you also assume the rep of a bad neighbor and if a blog is known for not answering comments then do you again assume that rep as a blogger that doesn’t value its readers feedback?
Yes, you do not want your article in a “bad neighborhood”.
I wouldn’t be friendly with a blogger known for not valuing his/her readers feedback, therefore I wouldn’t be guest posting for said blogger…
Call it personal opinion if you wish, but many feel the same.
To answer the next question on many minds, no I will not guest post on “big name blogs with thousands of readers” if they have that rep.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED – $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End…