I hope you are learning a lot this week through our series! Now that you’ve started your blog, know how to watermark your photos, started a newsletter and are using Pinterest to your advantage, let’s talk about adding contributors to your site. As you know, I am a contributor to Sugar Bee Crafts and Mom 4 Real. As a contributor, I get to put my recipes in front of a whole new set of eyes which is awesome. Mandy is here to share how she added contributors her site.
Hi everyone! I’m super excited to be here to talk about blogging – – I really LOVE blogging and I love being about to share that passions with others. I am Mandy and I blog at www.SugarBeeCrafts.com – be sure to head over there for awesome crafts and more. Today I will be covering How to Add Contributors to Your Site:
I have had a few contributors on my site for about a year and a half, and it has been amazing. I love working with them as awesome bloggers. The overall staff changes, but currently I have 9 contributors:
So let’s get right down to it:
How to Add Contributors to Your Blog
1. First you’ll need to evaluate yourself and your blog. Ask yourself:
–Am I ready to let someone else post regularly on my site?
–Can I give up a little piece of my blog?
–Is your blog established enough to support contributors?
–Is my site wide enough to allow for contributors (for example, if it’s all about you and your struggles/triumphs, will a contributor post be out of place?)
–What kind of contributor are you looking for? (specific niche)
–How many contributors would you like?
–How often would you have contributors post?
Contributors are great for me and have been great for my blog, but it may not be an avenue for every blogger to pursue. Evaluate and see if you are ready to take that step.
2. Call For Contributors
–Do you have someone in mind for a specific spot? Email them directly and ask.
–Ask your blog readers – if they read your blog, they are already drawn to your interests and style, so they would be a good fit. Also you can ask on your FB page.
3. Applications – when asking for contributors, you’ll wanted interested people to apply. I had each applicant email me with the following:
–name, blog, and 2-3 sentences of why they would be a great fit
–2 links to specific projects on their blog that would showcase their work
4. Expectations – once you find who you’re looking for, lay out the specific expectations
–what each post should contain
–what each project should contain
–what other things you expect – social boosts, reposting, etc.
5. What Are You Offering – if they are contributing for you, offering you content, what are you offering them in exchange? It needs to be a mutually beneficial arrangement. You can offer payment in a variety of ways
–monetary payment for each post
–social promotion – pin their posts, shout them out on FB, etc.
–Google Authorship – be sure to set them up as an author (and not just copy/paste their html) so that they benefit from authorship
–Blog Mentoring – set up a FB group, meet via google hangouts, really interact and help them learn and grown in blogging (this is my favorite thing that I offer my contributors!)
I have loved having contributors on my site. If you are ready to take that step, go for it!!
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