If you’d like to attract guest bloggers to write for your site, here are a few strategies you can pursue.

Mine Your Blog’s Readership

In every blog audience, there are select readers that engage with content at a much higher rate than the norm. You’ll see them commenting frequently, getting involved in discussions, and generally pollinating their opinions across your blog.

You’ll find that some of these people are simply superfans while others are bloggers in your subject area, looking to increase awareness of themselves. Both groups make excellent guest bloggers. In most cases, all you’ll need to do is ask.

Superfans will often welcome the opportunity to graduate from the ranks of your commenters and create real content for your site. These are people fully engaged with your subject, likely fairly knowledgeable, and already known by your readers.

Bloggers that comment are an even bigger catch. They too will be happy to supply original content, given that they already engage with you regularly, and their posts will bring your blog to the attention of a larger audience.

Add a “Write For Us” Page

Not only is this useful for letting regular readers and passing visitors know that you’re looking for guest bloggers, but it also acts as a perfect landing page to send people to when you advertise for bloggers on social media. And you should absolutely use your social presence to trawl your community for guests.

Here’s a couple of things to consider. Some blogs pay for guest bloggers, some do not. Additionally, some sites charge to have a guest blog placed on their site. We’re not going to deal with the latter scenario here.

Do make it clear what your requirements are for guest bloggers on your application page. This way you won’t be sorting through a boatload of emails to weed out those that don’t meet your criteria.

Also, let them know what they’ll get out of it. Everyone wants the “what’s in it for me” or “WIFM” answer.

Let them know how much exposure their blogs will get by contributing material. Sell the size of your audience, the ways in which you promote your content, and the fact that they’ll get quality backlinks to their blog if you allow that. Or it may just be a link in their bio.

Show that you’re serious by publishing editorial guidelines on this page, too. This lets you control the sort of content that gets submitted. Share the types of articles you accept, desired word lengths, and any relevant style and voice requirements. This is where you can spell out the sort of byline you provide as well as your site’s ground rules.

Just Ask

Most bloggers are in the same position you are, working to gain exposure and audience share. You really don’t need to convince them of the benefits of guest blogging. They already know. As long as you have what they’re looking for — a decent audience that consumes the sort of content they produce, they’ll likely be happy to create content for you. You need only share your stats, and then ask.

Ask bloggers in your subject sphere that you like. Search for blogs you weren’t already aware of and engage those writers as well. You can also approach niche experts in your community that aren’t themselves bloggers. They won’t have a blog to promote, but the publicity you offer can benefit their careers in other ways.

Never be afraid to expand your pool of potential guests. The worst thing that can happen is that they’ll say no. They may also explode in a bright fireball of rejection, but that’s extremely unlikely.

Need Help Finding Guest Bloggers?

If you’re too busy to find guest bloggers, consider hiring a freelancer to do that for you.

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