Guest Bloggers: What you need to include in your blog’s guidelines for guest bloggers

In just the last few weeks, several women asked me how I managed guest bloggers on my other website WomenandBiz.com, and I’ve been recommending them to write guidelines. In case you are thinking of attracting volunteer guest bloggers to increase traffic and enhance your site’s content, here are a few items to think about and include in your guideline:

1-      About the blog and the categories that are available to guest bloggers

2-      Your blog’s target audience

3-      Typical guest bloggers and areas of expertise needed

4-      Topics/subjects that are most relevant to the readers

5-      How to submit articles (contact information, file format accepted, email subject line)

6-      The format to submit article, photo, bio or byline, contact information and site link(s) to be included with the article

7-      Minimum and maximum number of words allowed per blog

8-      Deadline to submit articles (or post a link to your editorial calendar)

9-      If you only accept original content, and/or if you are willing to publish articles that have been posted elsewhere (with written permission).

10-   If you only post original content, can the guest blogger repost it elsewhere? If yes, how long after the article has been posted on your site, can the author republish the same article on their site (and if you require that they include a note saying previously published on yoursiteurl.com)

11-   The fact that there is no plagiarism accepted

12-   Once an article is submitted, the author gives your site permission to post it as you see fit, and to promote it on social media and marketing materials

13-   You reserve the right to choose which articles will be published, and to delete guest blogger’s articles from the site as you see fit

14-   You need to mention that your guest bloggers are volunteers, and will not be compensated for their article, but they will benefit from being on your site when you have the same target audience

15-   The articles need to provide real value to the readers

16-   The articles cannot be self-promoting or a sales letter

17-   You may request that the guest blogger edits the article, and you reserve the right not to publish the revised version, if it doesn’t fit the site.

18-   The fact that you reserve the right to edit the article, and to not publish articles that do not fit the blog standards

19-   The guest blogger agrees not to infringe any copyright and other intellectual property laws

20-   The guest blogger is responsible for their article and its content, and any consequences of publishing them

21-   You encourage guest bloggers to share their articles on their social media and newsletter, and to also encourage readers to leave comments and engage in a conversation.

Once you draft your guidelines, you may include a link to your site’s terms and conditions. Ideally, you will have a lawyer review it to make sure you covered all relevant and key topics when publishing someone else’s material. Can you think of anything else to include? Feel free to share your experience and tips below.