Why I Host Guest Bloggers

I have been receiving queries about the chance to guest post on my blog by many authors. On most occasions I say, "yes, of course you can!" However, recently I have been receiving messages from professional bloggers asking to post for a fee. Now then, as soon as money gets involved my answer is an instant "no", no "ifs", "buts", or "maybes". I will never pay my guest bloggers to write posts for this blog. This post will outline exactly why I have a blog, why I host guests, and why I won't pay my guest bloggers.

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Why I Have a Blog

In basic terms, this blog is a form of self-marketing. As an author, I am trying to make myself and my writing known. I want my readers to have an insight into me and my writing. I also hope to answer any questions that my fellow authors may have about the craft (I don't claim to be a writing guru by the way! I write about my own experiences.). A blog is one way of doing this although it does take effort and time. This is the primary reason that I began this blog.

The second reason I keep this blog is something I only discovered through writing weekly posts. I have found that by writing about the craft I have forced myself to think more about how I write rather than merely The Story. It has formalized many techniques of writing for me, and I have learnt more about my writing style.

Why I Host Guests

There are two reasons why I host guest bloggers. Firstly, I have many commitments and can only write one post a week. I want my readers to have two posts a week to read. As well as being unable to write two posts myself, I don't want to smother my readers just with my own ramblings. By hosting guests I can offer information I cannot supply or that differs from my own opinion. It's always good to see another's perspective.

Secondly, guest posts bring traffic to my site. Some of the authors that have guest posted on my blog have been published and already have an established fan base (not all of them). Through these authors sharing links to their post on my blog their fans then provide hits on my website. Those readers may go on to read other blog posts or browse through the rest of my site, which includes information about my books (sneaky right?). For those not so well known authors, by guest posting on my blog they are receiving a self-marketing opportunity. It is another way to get their name known and potentially improve book sales.

Why I Won't Pay My Guest Bloggers

So, I have designed this blog to be a mutually beneficial place for myself and other authors. I receive more readers on my blog and my guest bloggers gain exposure. In the long run, this may help in the quest to sell more books. I currently have a long list of authors that have requested to post and I have no need of paid bloggers.

Please don't ask for payment if you wish to post on this blog. Thanks for reading.

Scarlett Van Dijk

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net