Guest posts are rapidly being used by more and more bloggers to get their names out – yours truly included, of course. Contacting bigger bloggers and actually getting them to agree to allow you to put in a guest post is easy enough, but how do you make sure that your guest post does more harm than good if they let you know that they’d be open to a guest post slot? That’s what we’ll cover here.

Make sure you don’t make any spelling or grammatical errors.

Now that I’ve said that, you guys will probably find at least one error in this post. Seriously though, a couple are alright, as no human is perfect; if your post is littered with spelling errors though, you are going to do more harm than good. Think of it akin to going up to speak on a stage – if you are dressed as an idiot, no one is going to listen to your message, as good as it may be; blogging is no different.

Being totally different is not important; being totally opinioned is.

When writing a guest post, you do not have to think of a new unique topic that no one has ever discussed before; you do have to try and present that topic in a unique, engaging way that will leave people wanting more (and get you a few visits to your own blog).

Remember, that most people read a blog because they’re interested in what the person behind it thinks; if you’re just factual and don’t provide any of your own opinion, I’m not reading your posts. Although not providing your own opinion may work fairly well on news-type blogs, in this niche you need to be personal, and this is no different whether you are writing for your own or someone else’s blog.

Write enough to leave people wanting more, but don’t drone on.

Remember that a lot of people read blogs from work or school; even if they’re at home, it is unlikely they will spend more than a few minutes reading each blog. If you write a novel, especially on someone else’s blog as a guest post – I’m not going to read it as I don’t have the time. Keep your posts to fewer than 1,500 words if possible; remember, short and sweet.

Do not submit a guest post that is only a couple hundred words as it is likely a) it will not be accepted and b) you will not be able to put forward your views in such a short space anyways. Also stick to shorter paragraphs, to make it easier on people eyes – although the standard paragraph is eleven lines, you probably want to stick to half that on average.

Post unique and killer content on your own blog.

A lot of people get sucked into the whole guest posting spree and churn out posts for various blogs in their niche… and then neglect their own website. Remember, people are notoriously fickle – their views about how good a writer you are if they see your guest post on another site may change to views that you’re a lazy person if your last post on your own blog was a week ago or worse, poor quality.

Do not neglect your own blog, and although you do not need to continually post top quality posts, you should at the very least have your first post on your blog that people clicking through to see be one that is interesting, is funny or asks for reader interaction.

Respond to comments on your guest post.

After you have written your killer post, you need to try and respond to every single comment that has been made on it. Remember, the more comments that are made on the post, the more popular it looks and the more people that will view the comments section to see what discussion is going on; there is also the fact that replying to comments left help further show readers your personal side.

Of course, there will be some comments you cannot reply to, however even if it’s just someone letting you know that they like your post… say thanks! Make sure that you put in the effort that those who have left comments have done – if someone leaves you a couple paragraphs debating with your point, debate back – it’s always fun, and it’s likely you’ll gain a new reader.

Do not be perfect – leave your post open.

The average human cannot be perfect; however, in the world of guest posts even if it were possible, you shouldn’t.

Remember that if you leave your post open – you don’t need to have errors, but even just ending with a question asking people what they think – you are encouraging discussion, and discussion is the main reason why millions of blogs exist today (and more are being made as I type this).

You do not want to create a post so perfect that all the replies to it are “Wow”, “Good post” and “Excellent work” – if all blogs were like that, none of them would exist, which is why you should never fully cover a topic or if you do, leave it open to debate for readers.

I will be running a few guest posts on other blogs myself, as I have a truckload of time on my hands and not a lot to do with it – if you’ve got more subscribers than myself and are too lazy to post during one of the next few days, send me an email and I’ll sort you out.

What do you think of the above points, and how much success have you had guest posting on other blogs?

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I’m back.

Exams went well, although I’ll only know how well when the results come out in a couple of weeks; anyways, now I have three months off and although I’m taking the first bit slowly I’ll be trying out all the things that I’ve wanted to but been busy with.

This will benefit you guys because I’m releasing a little report about how I made $480 on Craigslist in less than 24 hours with an initial $1.19 initial investment (can anyone guess what that investment was for? ) - it will cost you nothing as I’m looking to build up a list that I can spam like the gurus do through Aweber or similar - the report is already done, but I’m waiting a bit so that I can sign up for Aweber and maybe to have a killer squeeze page done. At the moment, I’m thinking of using the domain EarnersGuide.com for the whole thing - I think a forum run off it could work well and the domain was suggested by someone that I had worked on it with in the past. At the moment, the only thing setting me back is that it isn’t really brandable (in terms of graphics) - do you guys have any better ideas?

I’ve been thinking a bit about this blog - the Hostican f’up did nothing to help, but it’s been growing a little stagnant. Same people commenting, same average level of traffic (although slightly less than before, due to this dying for ten days - i think people still don’t know it’s up) and it’s getting a little boring… for me, at least.

I was never going to make money off this blog, as to do so I’d have to a) put in a tonne of work or b) promote crap like certain A-List bloggers do. Now, the former would certainly be possible, albeit… involve work, something I’ve never really liked doing - the latter, I can’t. I have only promote things on here that I think will help people that read TUK, and even then they have to be high quality. For example, Peel Away Ads would have helped you guys, and paid a decent commission too - but why promote it when you can get it free with a certain level of tweaking? Similarly with OIO Publisher - I’m still of the opinion that it is an amazing tool for medium sized - large bloggers, however when you are just starting out it is not something you need to buy.

Being a selective git means that I didn’t promote many products on here, but that’s fine isn’t it, as I’d always have reviews and advertising revenue to fall back on. That was until this post at least, which I still point any blogger who has had his blog up for less than one year at… I don’t see why people should waste their money, and even though I do paid reviews to the best of my ability, I still don’t see them as a decent way to get the word out about your website.

So that’s most revenue killed. However, although I started blogging for money, I don’t really care about making money off this much now… as I said earlier, I make a lot more elsewhere than this blog will ever bring in so it is not that much of a loss.

I would however like this to grow - the more people that read TUK, the less people that read certain blogs which do nothing but try and take your money - however, there were two things I was thinking of.

First, let me add in a poll, so you guys can help me out.

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Yes… a sale is one of the options I’m considering. Not really so much for the money, as I do not think it would fetch much - I’d rather it go to someone with ambitions of furthering the website than someone with a load of cash to blow but not much idea of what to do with it (see Cashquests sale). I would start another blog, but more a personal one - with no advertising, at all; I’m looking at a few domains already.

Another thing I’m looking at is keep this one, but get in a brand new spanking custom theme - I like the current one, but the problem is that they made it so good and so affordable that half the bloggers in this niche are using it and it has become a little cookie cutter shall we say. I spoke about this before my exams, but basically drop a few hundred on someone that can make me one of the best themes out there.

Of course, I could change nothing, but start promoting the blog like mad, maybe run a few contests. Nothing huge, as I’m tired out by the last one, but one with a few prizes for you guys (everyone likes free stuff).

This blog wouldn’t exist without its readers, which is why I will ask for you guys’ opinions. Help me out and vote above

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Exams are over, I’m at home but a lil… out of shape, shall we say Less than half the places are left for May 13th, so get in if you haven’t.

This post is by guest blogger Agent 001. He is a student, currently at IIT Kharagpur. He is from India. He wants to share some of his knowledge on Privacy on the Internet. He blogs at Greatest Reviews. Let’s hear what he has to say.

Invariably if your private data are on internet in any form, be it your email account, some membership or purchase of item, you already have broken your privacy. Unbelievable but the above statement is true in its sense, even if you argue that they are safe with certain websites or companies etc.

If you have read the privacy policy of websites, e-mail service providers etc, then you are already acknowledged that they wouldn’t share the private data. But the only reason I say your privacy is broken is that your private data is accessible by many person even without your knowledge. They are the service provider (major part). I haven’t mentioned the minor part; they are crackers, spammers and phishers.

Most companies (Google, Yahoo, MSN etc) keep your data safe and encrypted thus you might not (remember it’s only might not) have to worry much. That’s about online data’s which you cannot do anything about except choose only safe services. But what about your offline data, they could harness by crackers, phishers etc. So you need to be alert. Keep your data’s as safe as possible. How to do that should be your main concern.

Here are some possible and advisable steps to be taken.

1) While browsing phishing filters must be enabled and you should report any case of phishing if you feel that you have come across so.

2) Enable spam filters in your e-mail services. Most e-mail service providers, provide this feature but it might not be enabled by default.

3) While shopping for something on internet pay either offline methods or by indirect methods (like PayPal services). You must also ensure that your data is safe with the indirect way.

4) After browsing and downloading delete all private data (cookies, URLs browsed, forms filled etc).

5) Last but not the least you must use a good, lengthy and hard to guess password, I mean a unique one. Read here how to make strong unique passwords.

There’s one more, it is called encryption. It only adds more security to your files. There are many encryption softwares available on the internet.

I hope the above tips might be helpful to you.

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37/50 slots taken.

I had Friday off (and did jack all studying, but hey) - anyways, my exams will be over by approximately 11:00 AM my time on Sunday morning. After that, I’ll have a good three months or so to really work this internet marketing game - see what limits can be pushed and see what I can really accomplish - apart from (hopefully) a trip or two abroad, I’ll have no distractions at all.

On May 13th, I will personally dedicate time to helping you reach your goals online.

It would have been a day earlier, but I plan to celebrate quite a bit on May 11th… and if I do, I will be in no position to talk to anyone on May 12th

I am tried of seeing people waste their time online with crap that doesn’t work… in fact, today I had three different people ask me whether I thought that Bux.to was a good way to make money online. Just three, but that’s already three people too many. And there are more of them.

There are too many people wasting their time with rubbish that just doesn’t work, and then getting disheartened. Now the first, I can cope with - I’ve wasted my time (I started out this whole online thing with the biggest load of shit online that you’ll ever come across, that is AW Surveys) but the second, I can’t.

I’m going to stop treating this as a way to make some decent pocket change and start treating it as what millions of others are doing today - a business. Now you should too.

Anyways, enough of the fluff - I’ve promised myself I will start “working” (if you could consider it that) on the 14th, and create all the things I’ve wanted to - a chain of proxies, some niche sites, getting into affiliate marketing, building a list - you get the idea. I’ve gotten myself hooked up with a credit card (finally!) and can now properly get into PPC.

I’m a firm believer in helping other people online - I wouldn’t have the huge head start I have today without a chunk of help from others, and I want to help others. So on May 13th, whatever questions you have - I’ll answer them.

I normally charge $1167.83 an hour* for this kind of coaching, but for the day of May 13th I will dedicate at least thirty minutes of my day only to you and your questions. Now, some things I just can’t help you with - if you want to know how to create a killer design or code a custom Wordpress theme, I’d be no more helpful than the average toddler (I could point you to people that would get you sorted) but for other things… I can help you make money. A lot? A little? Well… that’s up to you. You’re going to have to do the work, but I’ll answer any questions you have that will save you some time.

Note, I do have a single rule to this - be polite, and don’t be a pain in the ass. I have told off a couple people this week for being annoying, and although I think they took it in the spirit it was intended, I do not have the patience to deal with annoying twits that expect you to answer you within 0.0035 seconds.

If you are an experienced internet marketer - I probably can’t help. I know my limits, and I know there are far more experienced people than me in all fields . However, feel free to ask about anything and I will do what I can.

I had this idea when I was talking with someone that railed against how blogging was moving away from what it was before - bloggers were no longer personal with their readers and could usually not be contacted. I find that incredibly well… crap, as without readers no blogger would exist today.

My contact details are below, and I will be online from around 10 AM - 10 PM on May 13th. I may be away some time for lunch or to go out, however leave me an offline message and I’ll get back to you. All of these will be left on the full day

MSN: JPereira.Owns[at]gmail.com
Yahoo: jasonpereira34
Gmail: JPereira.Owns

The above is in order of preference. Please do not email me, as email is a pain and you can be a lot less formal on instant messenger (so things take a lesser amount of time

This is also something that could benefit you - I need testimonials for a project I’ll be launching and one in every ten people will be hit with a killer method that I have not seen discussed on any blog out there at the moment. That person will also get a multi-domain licensed copy of a special, unique Wordpress theme I have paid to be created specifically for my niche websites.

The first slot is taken, and I’ll take fifty people max. Contact me today (through the above or email) to book yourself a slot.

* May be made up.

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Note - this is Jason, thanks to Ben for the decent guest post. I will be ending my exams on Sunday, and will be working on a project - a social network of sorts for young internet marketers, an idea that I had before but didn’t have the funding or the knowledge to bring about. The funding is there now, but the knowledge is not (sadly ) so if you have any experience in running a social network and are not a pain to work with, add me through instant messenger

Hello Tuk readers! I have volunteered to relieve our UniKid of posting responsibilities for a day. He will be able to focus on knocking out those exams. Good Luck Jason!

Normally I am the primary content writer over at Big Ben Patton’s Place. I like to think that I can live up to the very large shoes which Jason has left empty for me today, so if you like what you read please stop by and say hello. I will also take this time to plug Big Ben Patton’s Contest Extravaganza. My sponsor’s have offered up over $2000.00 worth of wonderful prizes. Stop by today and check it out. You have nothing to lose and some pretty nice prizes to win!

So often I find myself reading someone else’s blog and I feel like they just are not getting the point across in a manner suitable for the content. Many bloggers have utilized many different methods in the past years to put their stamp on the blogosphere. Today I am going to elaborate on a few mistakes many bloggers are still making in hopes of helping you drive that coveted content bus to the bank.

The Thesaurus and Dictionary. Yea who would of thought I know, but you can find them respectively through Google on the world wide web. Use them. Please learn the use of a synonym. And if you don’t have Firefox and just can not spell, hit the dictionary up. These two wonderful resources will help to spice up your content while making it easier to read. To many posts in the blogosphere are just chock full of random spelling variations of the same word, or worse yet using the same adjective to describe nearly everything they have ever written. These two alone will add immense depth.

Its already been hashed to death, but for the sake of academia I will say it one more time. Research your topic and have a clue before posting. You can see so many posts that appear to be written from a sketchy point of knowledge. All it takes is the reader to realize that your wasting their time just for stats points or money. This would be considered a cardinal sin in blogging and once you set this ship to sail your pretty much doomed to a decline in popularity with your readers. Passion is great but make sure you are armed with the sword of knowledge. Passion alone will not keep people coming back.

Whatever you do please avoid making a blog just to share your journey to riches with the world. It has been done, and more than likely it will be just as disenfranchising as all the others before you. Instead you could be blogging about what is hot in the blogosphere and capitalizing on it with a personal twist. Anything is going to be a bigger hit than another hobbit on his journey.

I find that if I do not already have a draft post ready from a previous brainstorm session that Google news usually can provide me with some sort of idea as to something people will appreciate reading about. The biggest tip for any blogger new or old that I could give is to just not publish everything you write. I try to save at least 25% of what I think would be my greatest posts. Thats right keep some in the bank. You may need to skip a day or just not have a suitable topic come to mind at a later date.

Another option is to use a trackback to another blog to offer up more insight on the same topic. Something I have not really seen done lately is this same method but then basically tearing apart the post from another point of view. Read that as your controversy post. They are very good to gather new readers and keep old ones riveted. Keep in mind that if you bite off more than you can chew that you may lose the bet and your readers. Make sure to proceed cautiously.

I am going to cut this post a little shorter than I usually do to leave open a part two. I am interested in hearing your opinions on some of these ideas; as well as, hearing new ideas from you.

If your interested in learning more about effective blogging stop by and check out Big Ben Patton’s Place

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