
Blog Engage $500 USD Guest Blogging Qualifying Article
Guest blogging, guest posts – These are the words I can see, hear all over the weblogs from a few months. I get lots of email asking for guest post on my blog. And guess what, I reject or deny 2 guest posts on daily average. But why I do so? I love to accept guest posts. But don’t I like to get another article for my blog? Yes, I do. But I have got some rules. And my 10 reasons to not accept a guest post may help you to understand why you were rejected OR how not to get rejected by the host while guest blogging.
10 reasons why I will not accept your guest post?
#1 You are writing the same old stuff:
Why should I publish an article which is on the web, already? Right? Everyone wants to publish new and interesting content on his or her blog. And everyone knows search engines penalize for duplicate or similar content. But still you are sending me an article with a very common topic and almost with the common content. I’d prefer not to publish it. It may give a bad impression to my readers.
#2 You are an article spinner:
I would like to let you know that using synonyms will not make your article different. Even bots know this and they penalize bloggers considering it as duplicate content. No matter how effectively you twist or spin, I can see a clear image of another article in your articles. I would not risk my blog image in front of search engines by publishing your post.
#3 You didn’t read my guest post guidelines:
Did you see I have a page for guests? So, the question is, why have I written a long page for the guest bloggers? The page describes how guest bloggers can proceed for guest blogging on my blog. How, what and when to do. For example; I have stated the article should not be less than 600 words and you have sent me an article which is less than 600 words.
Another example (happens with me most of the times); I have clearly stated that your links should not point to any commercial site or to any site where you are selling something. But still you have that.
Tip: Guest post guidelines page is written just and especially for guest bloggers, of course. That single page helps the host and the guest to co-ordinate. It makes easier for guests to understand the rules for guest blogging on the particular blog. Read all the guidelines before submitting guest posts.
#4 You don’t have a gravatar:
Don’t you know the importance of a gravatar for a site? For a person? It lets us build a brand for ourselves. It also affects the image of the blog. But you don’t have a gravatar even after I have stated in my rules that you need one to write a guest post on my blog. I can’t risk my blog’s reputation for a single free article.
Tip: Getting a gravatar is easier than writing a guest post. Just visit gravatar.com and associate your close up image with the email address you use for commenting. The gravatar shows up whenever we leave a comment on any post out there.
#5 You don’t know what you have to say:
You have written the same thing so many times in different ways. You are moving just around your single thought. I prefer meaty posts. Not those which just revolve around a single tiny topic.
TIP: Better do a proper research on the topic you want to write a guest post and make your thoughts clear in your sentences. Remember what you have said already and what you have to say. For this you can make a simple basic layout of your post with main headings and sub headings and then explain them.
“Your grammar is horrible and your writing is not interesting”
Ok, sorry if I am being rude but your grammar is really BAD. Now, I completely know the importance of good writing. People like our articles because we can share the knowledge in an interesting way, with humor. But you need to work on your writing skills a lot. Bad writing, grammar gives a really bad impression to the readers not only for the guest author but it also affects the blog reputation.
Tip: Understanding some simple basic rules for diagramming sentences can help us to write very good articles. You can have a look to writing tips post from a professional writer (Holly Jahangiri)
#7 Your previous guest blogging record is not good:
I have seen some of your guest posts on other blogs and some on mine even. This is what I observed:
a) You just disappear after writing your posts;
b) You never reply to my email at once;
c) You never reply to comments on your post;
d) You are rude when replying to comments;
Tip: Replying to comments on our guest post is also a part of guest blogging. This is where we meet new readers, get traffic and that’s why we do guest blogging. And as a bonus, we can build back links to our blog when replying to comments.
#8 You guest post just for back links:
I have seen many guest writers looking for blogs where they can publish their posts. And they ask bloggers for guest articles like this – “800 words, very well written post, ONLY for PR5+ blogs”. Ok, what does it mean? Blogs with less PR will never get your guest post. So it means guest blogging is not building relationship with the host or readers. It is just about getting high quality back links. Sorry, but I don’t work that way.
Tip: I have said it before, guest blogging is not JUST link building. It is meeting new readers, making new friends and building relationship with other bloggers and blogs.
#9 You send articles which are not written by YOU:
I did see your author bio at the end. Every time you send an article you have different author names and none of them is YOU. And the links even don’t points to your blog. So, it means you are just building back links via guest blogging. And maybe, you don’t have the rights from the original author of the article. Publishing someone else’s articles is by someone else is not in my rulebook.
#10 Most important:
I don’t accept guest articles just to get another article to publish on my blog and increase my total published articles count. I don’t take guest blogging as a business. And I really hate those who do so.
There can be more reasons for me, for you or someone else to reject a guest post. But I think, these are the most basic but important think we need to keep an eye on, while guest blogging. I think, instead of JUST getting 2 silly do-follow back links, we should do guest blogging more to build healthier relationship with other bloggers and readers.
And yes, I do accept guest posts on my blog. You just have to visit my guest blogging guidelines page to get started.
Have you ever rejected any guest post? Or Have someone rejected your post? What were the reasons?
I would be happy if you can add value to this post.
About Abhi Balani
Hi there, I am +Abhi balani , I am a future Computer Engineer and a part time blogger as well. I am the founder and editor of OddBlogger.com. Make me your friend on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, add on Blog Engage.
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Tags: Guest Blogging, guest post


Jakes
June 3rd, 2012
10 awesome tips. Lemme try writing a post accordingly and submitting in your blog
. I will also make sure that i make a good guidline when I start guest blogging in my blog.
BTW, this post is a contest entry, rit? All the best wishes
Jakes recently posted..Top 5 Android Screencast tools (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 3rd, 2012
Hey Jakes,
Glad you liked it. Yeah, of course you can submit a guest post for my blog. Just follow my guidelines and you will make it. Everyone wants this only, to follow guidelines.
And yes, make strict guidelines for your blog when you start it. I think, you should start it right now. Why you haven’t?
abhibalani recently posted..5 Techniques for Successful On-Page SEO (dofollow)
Raaj Trambadia
June 4th, 2012
Hey Abhi! Amazing and full-of-fact reasons. Surprised to see you getting more than 2 new requests of guest posting everyday! Cheers to that!
Raaj Trambadia recently posted..Giveaway – Free Ad for 1 Month! (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 5th, 2012
Hey Raaj,
Thank you for visiting my entry, buddy! Why are you surprised by that? Don’t you think my blog is that good to get 2 request everyday?
abhibalani recently posted..5 Techniques for Successful On-Page SEO (dofollow)
Erik Emanuelli
June 5th, 2012
Hi Abhi,
great post and great points.
I have some experience in accepting guest posts in my blog and I can say that if we consider blogging niche,
a nice suggestion could be “write something personal”, as blogging has been digged and discussed already lot.
So it’s not so easy to find new stuff to say about blogging, but it is easy to say something personal about it.
Another thing is that I hate when I publish a new guest post, and the writer do not reply to comments on its article.
So welcome to my black list, I could say!
Erik Emanuelli recently posted..SEO Borderline: 28 Ways to be Penalized by Google (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 5th, 2012
Hey Erik,
Glad you liked my post. And I completely agree with the point you have mentioned. It can be a great idea for niche blogs. I guess, that can refresh the host as well his/her readers.
And the thing you hate is most common today. A simple solution to that is, remove the links if the author doesn’t reply withing 48 hours. 48 hours are enough, I guess, for bloggers at least. They will come back begging and will agree to do whatever you’d say.
Do you reject guest post? What are the reasons for that?
Erik Emanuelli
June 6th, 2012
You gave me a great suggestion, Abhi.
I will modify my guest posts request page,
indicating that duty of guest blogger will be visit/comment/answer to comments in the page of his article.
Otherwise I will remove links within one week.
I think one week is more than enough, right?
Answering to you :
I reject guest posts if they are not “really quality content”,
or if there are clearly a review of their service/company.
Once I removed the guest post because I found out it was posted elsewhere before submitting it to me.
Now I check the originality over the web of all the guest posts, before publish them in my blog.
Are you strictly in accepting guest posts in your blog, Abhi?
Erik Emanuelli recently posted..20 SEO Tips for Beginner Bloggers (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 6th, 2012
Hey Erik,
I guess, a week is a lot of time. You know, before removing the links I send them an email as a reminder to reply to their comments. And if they don’t respond even after that. Then that is the time to remove the link.
One week is too long. I would not like to wait for one week to get my answer from author. That’s why I have at max 2 days.
I am not too strict, I just hate it when people try to USE us and our blog. I hate commercial links. Currently, I am accepting guest posts because I am not writing myself on my blog. You can have a look at it.
abhibalani recently posted..3 Internet Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Weight Loss Giant Medifast (dofollow)
Erik Emanuelli
June 6th, 2012
I like and share your point of view, Abhi.
When a writer ask me in a very “kind” way to publish his article in my blog
and then, once is live, I request him to asnwer to comments, and he did not show up,
then yes, I feel that they are trying to USE me, and my blog.
Thanks Abhi. I am modifying my Guest Post Page NOW.
Erik Emanuelli recently posted..3 Tips to Writing Killer Headlines (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 7th, 2012
Yeah, it happens many time. Happened with me also. That why I showed all my anger in this post. LOL! Hope you liked it.
Yes, every blogger who wants to take care of his/her blog reputation should have strict guidelines.
abhibalani recently posted..3 Internet Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Weight Loss Giant Medifast (dofollow)
Erik Emanuelli
June 7th, 2012
Thanks for the reply, Abhi.
I have modified my Guest Post Page, see here :
http://www.freemakemoneyadvice.com/submit-a-guest-post/
I have included “the Duties of Guest Blogger”.
Do you think it can be suitable?
Any other tips?
Thanks !
Erik Emanuelli recently posted..Social Blogging- A Means of Business Expansion and Growth (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 7th, 2012
Hello Erik,
Yep, I saw that. It looks great. And you know, which line I liked the most – “If you do not want to accomplish this, please do not bother submitting your articles.” Haha… that was cool.
Now it’s all good. Just remember to Google the article title of any guest post you get. And look all the similar articles even if the guest says it’s Copyscape pass. I have met many who just change few words and keep the title and heading same and what stupid reason they give – “It’s not COPIED it’s re-written”. What nonsense is this? I am just about to accept guest posts on my blog now. I will accept only from authority bloggers.
abhibalani recently posted..3 Internet Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Weight Loss Giant Medifast (dofollow)
Erik Emanuelli
June 8th, 2012
Abhi,
I am glad you liked how I changed my Guest Post page.
Thanks for your suggestion, I actually pick the first paragraph of every guest post I receive and I simply Google it, so I’ll find eventually if it is already in the net.
I look forward to submit my first guest post to you, then!
And best luck for the contest!
Erik Emanuelli recently posted..Tag Clouds: A Thing of The Past? (dofollow)
DiTesco
June 6th, 2012
You are so right Abhi. There might be more reasons why “someone” would not accept guests posts :9 Nonetheless, these 10 reasons are indeed a buzz kill for any guest blogger who does not apply the rules. Actually, I will immediately ignore anyone who does not even bother reading my guidelines. That’s an indication that they are in it only for link building.. Thumbs up!
DiTesco recently posted..Brandify: Small Business Owners Gets Help To Manage Online Reputation (dofollow)
abhibalani
June 7th, 2012
Hey DiTesco,
Glad to see you here. And yeah, I am annoyed if someone send me a guest post without reading my guidelines.
Thank you for your comment.
abhibalani recently posted..3 Internet Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Weight Loss Giant Medifast (dofollow)
Do you want to win $1000 USD Cash for Guest Blogging?
June 14th, 2012
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Penny
September 11th, 2012
Thank goodness these things didn’t happen to me
I’m a guest blogger for almost a year now and I always see to it that I read the guidelines before submitting or writing a post. Very useful tips for those who have experienced declines on their guest post requests.
Nisha Advani
October 16th, 2012
hey abhi article spinner is something which many bloggers ain’t aware of . The spinner just switches the words here and there in order not to be seen as copied but the actual truth it the grammar of the article gets messed up which further would hit the website, great insights given out here in this post!! I am looking forward to catch you on oddblogger!!
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abhibalani
October 21st, 2012
Hello Nisha,
Thanks for stopping by. Before leaving from here I would like you to see on my latest guest post here on blog engage, also my contest entry… and join the conversation there….
It would be great if you join the conversation, here’s the link: http://www.blogengage.com/blogger/10-things-that-make-you-look-like-a-spammer/
Thanks.
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