Guest blogging is not just something I do for fun; it’s also my business. Some of my writing clients hire me to write guest posts for them, so they can connect with other bloggers within and beyond their industry. Sometimes they also want me to find guest posts for their blogs.
When I’m placing guest posts on my own account, I usually reach out to my personal contacts, or they contact me. For clients, I take a different approach for a couple of reasons.
First, because some of the content I write for them isn’t in the niches where I have contacts. Second, because the volume of posts I need to place can be overwhelming.
Luckily, there are two sites set up specifically for placing and sourcing guest posts: BloggerLinkUp and MyBlogGuest. Here’s how they stack up.
Introducing BloggerLinkUp
BloggerLinkUp is a free service operated by writer and blogger Cathy Stucker. As the name suggests, the site links bloggers who want to place guest blog posts with those looking for content.
It’s a simple site: sign up with your name and email address to get emails with guest blogging opportunities and posts three times a week.
The site also has links to one page forms where you can offer and request guest posts (plus a couple more features that I’ll get to later).
Sourcing Posts With BloggerLinkUp
I run a travel blog for a client and recently used BloggerLinkUp with great success to get a series of guest posts to cover my vacation period.
To do this, I used the ‘request guest post’ form and included information about the site, the main theme, the key audience, the desired length and other essentials such as originality, linking out and so on.
I was very specific, which I think is the key to success with this services. I got dozens of emails from people offering me guest posts. Some were blatant link-builders, but there were also some quality posts in the travel niche which I selected and scheduled. I was able to see all posts before deciding whether to approve them.
A nice bonus was that as a result of using BloggerLinkUp, I connected with one travel blogger who has agreed to provide a quality guest post once a month. That’s a win for both of us – and for my client.
Placing Posts With BloggerLinkUp
So how did BloggerLinkUp work for placing posts? While I know that I placed posts from about 14 bloggers during my vacation, which means the system works, I personally didn’t have much luck with it the first time I tried it.
I think the issue here is that describing what you’re offering without giving away the full details of the post makes it difficult for bloggers to see what they are getting. That’s just a feeling, though, and I’d be happy to hear more from someone who’s had more luck with this aspect of the service.
Other Features of Blogger LinkUp
I will add that Blogger LinkUp has a couple more features that bloggers will find useful, though I haven’t used them myself. These are the ability to:
- Request sources for interviews and round-ups (like HARO)
- Offer products to bloggers for review (there are always lots of items in this section of the email)
- Announce a contest or giveaway (a good way for bloggers to promote their offers)
Introducing MyBlogGuest
The other site I’ve been using is MyBlogGuest. Started by Ann Smarty, this site is a guest blogging community that grew out of a simple forum into something much larger. Partly because of that, it’s difficult to list everything that’s available on the site, but it’s a great place to find and submit guest posts through specific forum threads.
MyBlogGuest has a premium version available, but I’ll look first at what’s available in the free version.
Sourcing and Placing Posts With MyBlogGuest
The ‘looking for a blog’ thread has sub-threads for the different article categories on MyBlogGuest, so you can offer your posts in finance, tech, travel, lifestyle, health, business and many more categories. Once someone is interested in your post, all you have to do is arrange email contact for the submission.
Placing posts works pretty much the same way via the ‘looking for a guest author’ thread. You can also find posts in the articles gallery, though you can’t upload them with a free membership.
MyBlogGuest Premium
Since I guest blog for clients as well as myself and since my clients’ interests are in different niches, I splashed out for a $20 a month pro membership so I could get upload access to the MyBlogGuest articles gallery.
This is a great timesaver for me, as I don’t have to go to all the individual threads to post articles. To get the most from this feature, it’s a good idea to spend a couple of minutes on the article summary and description, as this will help people to pick your post. They will also be able to see the first couple of paragraphs of your article and your bio. If you want an in-depth look at MyBlogGuest Premium, check out Allison Boyer’s excellent review.
The Articles Gallery in Action
Whenever I use the Articles Gallery, I generally get several offers to post my articles within the first couple of minutes and many more over the next 24 hours. I can see profiles for all the people who offer, checking out their blogs, their rating and so on, to see if their site is the right place for my post.
If I’m happy, I accept the offer, they get access to the HTML and they can publish or schedule the article. The site generates automatic notifications for each stage of this process.
In using it to source posts for the travel blog, however, I didn’t find as many that I wanted to use.
Other Features of MyBlogGuest
One of the best features of MyBlogGuest is that it is strictly moderated to reduce the likelihood of spammers and it focuses on quality. There’s also a nice community feel through the forum.
The forum also includes threads where you can ask for social media help, find blogging jobs or just chat with other bloggers about issues of interest. The forum is active, and there’s something new almost every day. Every so often, you get an email from the moderator with an article suggestion.
I also like the monthly article report which alerts you to possible changes in your articles and gives you a nice easy way to keep clients updated on the progress of their guest posts. And finally, there’s the chance to be featured in a monthly guest posting roundup on the popular MyBlogGuest blog.
MyBlogGuest vs BloggerLinkUp – Which is Better?
In testing both sites, I found BloggerLinkUp worked better for me for sourcing guest posts for my travel blog, while MyBlogGuest worked better for placing posts in a variety of niches. Luckily, I don’t have to choose, so I plan to continue to use both sites when blogging for clients.
Your Turn
Have you ever used either of these sites? What was your experience?
Sharon Hurley Hall has almost 25 years of experience writing professionally – as a journalist, an academic writer, a blogger, a ghost writer and an online copy writer. She is the author of a Kindle ebook titled Getting Started in Blogging and has been running Get Paid To Write Online since 2005 to help other writers improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers. Check out Sharon’s Google+ profile to find links to all her social media hangouts.
I have a free account at MyBlogGuestt but I haven’t really utilized it. I think I’m going to have to check into it a bit more. Same with the other one. I’d never heard of it but it looks like a worthy source. Thanks Sharon!
It’s certainly worked very well for me, Danielle, and I think there’s a lot more value in it I’ve only just begun to explore.
Hi Sharon,
Both the links on guest posts look interesting, though to be very honest (as you already know!)- I do need to get down to simple guest blogging first and then going onto those. Nothing can be better than making a business of what you like, as you mentioned that guest blogging is fun as well as a business for you. Wow! I wish I could be more consistent with my blog posts for starters!
Thanks for sharing Sharon, and Brankica!
Consistency is hard to achieve, Harleena. I often put posts for my blog aside in favor of posts for others, which is a mistake. I’m trying to get back to my weekly posting schedule now.
I agree to that Sharon, though your blog is never without any post, thanks to guest blogging!
Hoping to see your posts on it too
Sharon,
Some great info here. Doing more guest posts is perennially on my “todo” list. It may be a while before I am looking for places to post…but I have taken note of both of these sites for when i do!
Thanks!
-Steve
It was on mine for a long time, too, Steve, till I decided to really work on it more. Now that I’ve got into a rhythm, it’s enjoyable!
I didn’t realize this was a guest post until I got to the bottom. I thought, my goodness, Brankica is one busy lady.
I’ve heard of MyBlogGuest Sharon but have never really used it. I don’t do a lot of guest posting at the moment nor do I have it on my blog. But I have recommended it to others who are searching for blogs to write guest posts on.
I appreciate the information you have provided on both of these sites and your post is so thorough. Now I have a couple sites to recommend thanks to you.
Appreciate it Sharon.
Most welcome, Adrienne. I think you can’t beat guest blogging for raising your visibility, which for me is a nice side effect of doing something I’d be happy to do anyway.
very nice review, the 1st from it’s kind
i’ve been using BloggerLinkUp for 1 year and i got tired of it cause it needs alot of work and reading to reach your target.
i found myblogguest more simpler and organized specially the mail alerts for different specific categories.
the best one i’ve been using for 3 months as it’s new to the market is guest-blogging.org it’s very well structured and simply a guest blogging directory contains blog owners and guest bloggers no need for registration to use it and listing your self in 5 minutes for free.
That’s a fair assessment, Gehad. I’ll check out that site.
I came to read your review. I didn’t know both were the same kind of service. I have stopped using guest posts. All (except a few I actually asked for myself) were just a waste of space. I’d rather sell the odd text link than accept any guest posts now. It is interesting how you have made a business out of selling guest posts.
I’ve certainly had the problem of being offered guest posts that were thinly disguised ads, Laura. One of the things I like about MyBlogGuest is that you can see the bio that goes with the post up front, so you can decide if that’s a site or resource you’re happy to link to. The three paragraph preview also gives you enough information to decide on the quality of a post, and you get a final chance to reject the post if you don’t like the whole thing when you see it. I think with this site the hosting blogger stays in the driving seat.
I’ve checked out Myblogguest but haven’t tried the 1st one you mentioned. I personally find it hard to navigate through the forum and don’t use the guest posting there.
It looks confusing at first, Dominique, but the two threads I mention above make it simple. I generally just check on the new posts link and see the latest opportunities by date. Of course, you still need to sift the offers carefully.
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for sharing the in’s and out’s of these 2 sites. I will definitely check them both out. As I was reading, it occured to me if one was mostly going after the exposure and building their brand rather than link-building, guest posting is a better way to go than posting articles on EzineArticles.
Thanks,
Peggy
I used EzineArticles extensively a couple of years back, Peggy, and those old articles are still bringing traffic to my writing blog. However, for reputation building, I don’t think you can beat guest blogging (apart from creating your own fabulous resources, of course!)
Thanks for sharing this. There was a time I would have passed right through this because I really have no burning desire to be a guest poster anywhere. However, as I try to establish my blog and find some direction, what a great way to compliment your site and showcase some talent at the same time.
I will definitely check them out and good to see you at Ms B’s today.
Getting some guest posts can be a good way to fill the gaps if you have a daily posting schedule, Bill, and it’s a great way to make connections. I’ve already had the offer of a regular slot from one of the people who accepted an article from me via MyBlogGuest.
Thanks for your great and honest review, Sharon! we surely welcome new members at MyBlogGuest and if anyone finds it hard to figure (because of plentiful features), never hesitate to use “Contact us”" page to find help!
I’m enjoying MyBlogGuest and was happy to review it, Ann. You’re right about the number of features – there are tweaks and improvements almost every week, it seems!
Good to know it is easy to notice
We have stopped the updates for a week while I am on vacation in Europe but we’ll start working on MyBlogGuest again once I am back!
Thanks again!
Iam already using MyBlogGuest. But I don’t had the idea about Blogger
link up. Will give it a try
Thanks Sharon,
That’s a very compelling blog post. Before I read it I had never heard about MyBlogGuest nor BloggerLinkUp.I’m going to take few days to digg into them.
Glad you’ve found the info useful, Naser, Alexis. Hope the sites work as well for you as they have for me.
I’ve used both – BLU is very simple to use and kinda minimalist. While MBG is bit of a forum kind where you can interact directly with people, choose from gallery. They have advanced features like the ability to get guest posts directly submitted to host blogger’s dash.
I couldn’t choose between the two. I like them both for what they are.
Minimalist is a good way to describe, BLU, Jane. I think each offers something different. I haven’t used the direct submission tool; what’s your experience with it been? I’ve seen mixed reviews of that particular function.
I love MyBlogGuest, have been using it for months. I find articles for my Wife’s food and culinary blog in their food category, or my personal blog, or even my technology and entertainment blog. I find everything from movie reviews, game articles to blogging tips.
The good thing about MyBlogGuest is they prevent author from including content links in body of article and require it only be in the author byline, they also give the owner of article full creative control as long as the byline “links” remain intact, so you don’t have to worry about doing a little editing here and there if you need to.
I agree that mostly link buyers are dominant in the marketplace though, as seldom do the links go back to an actual blogger’s blog, but often a product sales page or advertisers site.
I used to have a paid plan but with only writing about 1 article per month to giveaway as a guest post it wasn’t cost effective, since it is free to receive articles and you have to write probably at least 10 guest articles per month to be worth the cost of using the marketplace and the forum. The free promotion in the MyBlogGuest Facebook group is a nice plus too.
I have not used the other service, but will check it out.
The direct publish feature of MyBlogGuest is also nice, and sometimes good guest articles show up for review, other times I have to reject them due to content mismatch but it sometimes rewards with surprisingly decent guest posts that show up as drafts without you having to dig around and request them.
Thanks for your kind words, Justin, and a awesome insight!
Both are great but I might be leaning towards MyBlogGuest a little bit though. But you can’t go wrong with either one of them. They really both have amazing uses for different users, I just happen to like them both.
That’s good to know, Justin. Maybe I should give it a whirl.
I have used both but I find the direct mails from Blogger Link Up much easier to stay connected with. Maybe there is a way to do that with MyBlogGuest as well, although I’m not sure about it.
I have been wanting to do some guest posting for a while. A few writers have guest posted for me, but I would love to have more. These resources are what I was looking for. Thanks for the information on MyBlogGuest and BloggerLinkUp. Much appreciated!
I was looking for a site similar to MyBlogGuest. Thank you for recommending BloggerLinkup.