BOOTSTRAPPER’S GUIDE �TO GUEST BLOGGING �

By @DavidSmooke �SmartRecruiters’ Director, Content & Social Media�

Startup… like, Right Now!�

“We’re Already Doing It.” �

#LeanContent �

Free(-ish) Impressions Are a Startup’s Best Friend.�

Why Me? Why, You. �•  1st Marketing Hire,

@SmartRecruiters (no budget) �•  Moved Publications from

monthly to daily�•  SmartRecruiters Blog: 225+

authors, 150,000+ monthly pageviews, & I’ve written on 50+ Quality Blogs �

•  I challenged myself, “Can I publish someone else everyday on our blog, and guest post once a week on another blog?” Ultimately, not the long-term solution,* but useful mindset for early stage startup�

*voice: your blog needs your voice, and its volume is measured by link backs. �

What Content Do Publishers Want? �

1.  Remarkable & Relevant Content (Writing, Experience, Circumstances, Innovative, i.e. Why Your Message is Extraordinary Today) �

2.  Existing Relationship (Partner, Customer, Friend, etc.) �

3.  Your Audience (…when the tables have turned…) �

��

Obligatory White Board Content Explanation! �

Smooke Original: Iteration #2�

Guest Posting: The 5 Principle Benefits �

1.  Headline: the What �–  the Details, Social Sharing & SEO �

2.  Content Creation: the How �–  the Details, outline & timeframe �

3.  Audience: the Who �–  the Details, hosting, link backs & new friends �

4.  Distribution: the Where �–  the Details, collaborative marketing & re-engage-

able audience �5.  Awareness: the Why�–  the Details, growing brand & traffic ���

Headlines�

•  Social: Would X,Y, or Z tweet that? �•  SEO: Can we win this search term?�•  How does growing relation to headline benefit �

both author and publisher? �

Content Creation�

•  Timeframe: You miss it, opportunity may go extinct.�•  Outline: 1 sentence & 3 bullet point pitch & it serves

as clear agreement on what’s to come.�•  How can your content benefit their reader and serve

as a native ad for your startup? �

Audience �

•  Hosting: 1. PageRank 2. Relevant Keywords �•  Link Backs & New Friends: Long-term value for

you and your startup.�•  Re-engage with everyone who gains benefit �

from your guest posts.�

Distribution�

•  Collaborative Marketing: Social channels, email count, comments, subscribers. Know who is sharing to where before publication.�

•  Re-engage-able Audience: My term (please spread) for audience members that you can market to again.�

•  How does distribution benefit each party?�

Awareness �

•  Branding: Is this aligned to my brand? Uncover your brand’s flexibility/rigidness. �

•  Traffic: Monitor initial traffic bumps, but also long-term growth rankings of keywords. �

•  And how will this benefit our ability to take the next step?�

TIME TO CREATE �

Group up:�Why Guest Post? What Hidden Values Do

You See? ��

“From the Feet Up.” �

TWEET, @DavidSmooke �CONNECT, Linkedin/in/ClarkKent �

�http://www.smartrecruiters.com�

http://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog ��