An Invitation to Write for My Blog

I am often asked to consider posting an article from someone else on my blog. Until this point, I have always said “no.” However, Daniel Scocco’s practice at DailyBlogTips, convinced me to give it a try. He has produced a nice set of Guest Post Guidelines that inspired me to write my own.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/rzelich, Image #7414051

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/rzelich

So, yes, effective immediately, I will accept guest posts. Currently, I do not plan to publish more than one post per week. These will likely appear on Friday.

Content

Your post must be on one of three topics:

  • Leadership
  • Productivity
  • Social Media

Your post cannot be an advertisement for your product or the equivalent of a sponsored post. (However, I do have an advertising category for that if you are interested.)

Guidelines

  1. Your post must be original and not previously published either on the Web or in print.
  2. You agree not to publish it anywhere else, including your own blog or Web site. You may, however, post a brief “tease” or summary on your site that links to the post.
  3. You may provide up to three byline links: one for your blog or Web site, one for your bio or About page, and one for your Twitter username (optional).
  4. Your post should be at least 500 words long and no more than 800 words.
  5. You should also read:

Editing

  • I will likely copyedit your post for grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. If I make substantive changes (unlikely), I will email the post back to you for your approval before posting.
  • I may provide a short introduction or conclusion to your post to provide context or the rationale as to why I think the post is important. I will make sure that my comments are set off from yours stylistically, so that my readers are clear that these are mine and not yours.

Disclaimer

I understand the work that it takes to write a blog post. However, the fact that you have written a post and submitted it to me does not obligate me to publish it. The only guest posts I will publish are those that in my sole judgment add value to my readers.

Furthermore, if I do not approve your guest post, I will not explain why I did not approve it or provide any detail. Frankly, that would take more time than I can afford.

Submissions

If your post meets the above guidelines:

  • Please email it to me for consideration. I will respond with a “yes” or “no” within one week.
  • Please include the size of your readership: number of blog readers, Facebook friends or fans, and Twitter followers.
  • Please confirm that you are willing to engage with my readers in the comments about your post. This is hugely important and a non-negotiable. My readers have come to expect this.
  • Please include the post in the body of the e-mail. DO NOT include it as an attachment. Also, please do not include HTML coding.

If I reject your post, you are obviously free to do whatever you want with it, including publishing it elsewhere. Also, please put your post in the body of the email rather than as an attachment.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are snarky, offensive, or off-topic. If in doubt, read My Comments Policy.

  • http://www.1429creative.com/ RandyVaughn

    It seems already that you might want to add a restriction to your guidelines that a limited number of submissions from the same author each month (i.e., only one submission per month per author). We're all afraid of you getting swamped!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Thanks for your sensitivity. If that becomes a problem, I will add it!

  • http://www.1429creative.com RandyVaughn

    It seems already that you might want to add a restriction to your guidelines that a limited number of submissions from the same author each month (i.e., only one submission per month per author). We're all afraid of you getting swamped!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Thanks for your sensitivity. If that becomes a problem, I will add it!

  • http://www.lauraclick.com/ Laura Click

    What a great and generous offer! Thank you. If I may, I'd like to offer one suggestion for the guidelines. I completely understand why you want the post to be exclusive to your blog. However, I've seen other policies that allow guest bloggers to post a tease or excerpt on their blog and link to the post. This generates additional traffic for you, but also lets the guest blogger promote the post on his/her own blog. Just thought I'd offer my two cents.

    • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      That's actually a great idea. It fact, I have added it. You can't have too much promotion!

      • http://www.lauraclick.com/ Laura Click

        I'm glad you liked the idea. I hope it pays off! Now, I need to think of a post would benefit your readers! I've learned so much from your blog – I would love to help someone else!

  • http://www.lauraclick.com Laura Click

    What a great and generous offer! Thank you. If I may, I'd like to offer one suggestion for the guidelines. I completely understand why you want the post to be exclusive to your blog. However, I've seen other policies that allow guest bloggers to post a tease or excerpt on their blog and link to the post. This generates additional traffic for you, but also lets the guest blogger promote the post on his/her own blog. Just thought I'd offer my two cents.

    • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      That's actually a great idea. It fact, I have added it. You can't have too much promotion!

      • http://www.lauraclick.com Laura Click

        I'm glad you liked the idea. I hope it pays off! Now, I need to think of a post would benefit your readers! I've learned so much from your blog – I would love to help someone else!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/EricaHami EricaHami

    I would suggest to you that you have people 'pitch' their blog post ideas to you so that you don't have to spend a whole lot of time reading a whole bunch of potential blog posts. If you only read the blogs with good pitches that 'fit' what you are looking for it seems to me you would save a whole lot of time. I tried tweeting this to you but limited characters made it difficult so I wasn't sure you could follow what I was trying to say. Anyways I hope this helps, I envision you being flooded with potential posts & I can't imagine you'll be able to read them all. Have I ever told you I love your blog and learn alot from it? I do! Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/EricaHami EricaHami

    I would suggest to you that you have people 'pitch' their blog post ideas to you so that you don't have to spend a whole lot of time reading a whole bunch of potential blog posts. If you only read the blogs with good pitches that 'fit' what you are looking for it seems to me you would save a whole lot of time. I tried tweeting this to you but limited characters made it difficult so I wasn't sure you could follow what I was trying to say. Anyways I hope this helps, I envision you being flooded with potential posts & I can't imagine you'll be able to read them all. Have I ever told you I love your blog and learn alot from it? I do! Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Peter_P Peter_P

    I love seeing the way different people use their blogs in different ways for different purposes.

    I love the way you are handling this and I think it's a very bold, but good step forward.

    I handle guest posts quite differently on my blog but then, my blog is written with a very different purpose in mind.

    I can't think of any guidelines that you should add… I think you've pretty much covered all the bases – except maybe for images.

    Do you want images to be submitted with the post or would you prefer to source your own image to use?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Peter_P Peter_P

    I love seeing the way different people use their blogs in different ways for different purposes.

    I love the way you are handling this and I think it's a very bold, but good step forward.

    I handle guest posts quite differently on my blog but then, my blog is written with a very different purpose in mind.

    I can't think of any guidelines that you should add… I think you've pretty much covered all the bases – except maybe for images.

    Do you want images to be submitted with the post or would you prefer to source your own image to use?

  • http://twitter.com/DanielTardy @DanielTardy

    Question: If a post is submitted and doesn't make the cut then is it OK to post on our own blog? If so…How do we know if it didn't make it? Are they all cleared back to zero each week or will you hold certain submissions over for another week?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Yes, if I don't use it, you are free to do with it as you will (see the last sentence of my post above). I will respond to your submission within 48 hours.I will schedule posts out in advance for as many good posts as I get. Regardless, I will notify you. Thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/DanielTardy @DanielTardy

    Question: If a post is submitted and doesn't make the cut then is it OK to post on our own blog? If so…How do we know if it didn't make it? Are they all cleared back to zero each week or will you hold certain submissions over for another week?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Yes, if I don't use it, you are free to do with it as you will (see the last sentence of my post above). I will respond to your submission within 48 hours.I will schedule posts out in advance for as many good posts as I get. Regardless, I will notify you. Thanks.

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  • http://slashdot.org/~Londonescorts/ Steave

    Interesting post you got here. It would be great to read something more about that matter.

  • http://slashdot.org/~Londonescorts/ Steave

    Interesting post you got here. It would be great to read something more about that matter.

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  • http://mikevillamor.wordpress.com/ Mike Villamor

    Wow! I've already been tremendously impacted by your writing; now I can look forward to a variety of wisdom from others you've found valuable and/or interesting. This is particularly helpful since finding good sources of information and inspiration can be difficult.

    By the way, congrats again on your Guy Kawasaki mention!

  • http://mikevillamor.wordpress.com Mike Villamor

    Wow! I've already been tremendously impacted by your writing; now I can look forward to a variety of wisdom from others you've found valuable and/or interesting. This is particularly helpful since finding good sources of information and inspiration can be difficult.

    By the way, congrats again on your Guy Kawasaki mention!

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  • PatrickJoy

    BTW, buy Wifi jammer to disable all secret instruments in your room or office.

  • PatrickJoy

    BTW, buy Wifi jammer to disable all secret instruments in your room or office.

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  • Geoff

    Michael,
    It appears (at least on a pc) that the RBF zip. file is corrupt on your blog entry from a few years ago on how to get your boss's approval when you need it? I repeatedly get an error telling me that it does not appear to be a valid archive. Is it possible to have this zip uploaded again? Thanks very much.

    http://michaelhyatt.com/2007/01/how-to-get-your-b…

  • Geoff

    Michael,
    It appears (at least on a pc) that the RBF zip. file is corrupt on your blog entry from a few years ago on how to get your boss's approval when you need it? I repeatedly get an error telling me that it does not appear to be a valid archive. Is it possible to have this zip uploaded again? Thanks very much.

    http://michaelhyatt.com/2007/01/how-to-get-your-b…

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  • http://www.sowingseedsministries.com/ James Castellano

    Thank you for opening a door for us. Looking forward to seeing these posts.
    My recent post Finding the JOY in Servant Leadership

  • http://www.sowingseedsministries.com James Castellano

    Thank you for opening a door for us. Looking forward to seeing these posts.
    My recent post Finding the JOY in Servant Leadership

  • Becky Warkentin

    I'm quite new to the blog business. I had several mental hurdles to overcome but when your boss asks twice then you jump. Thanks for the many deposits of extremely helpful information re blogging for business on your site, including the link to Chris Brogan. I work for House of James, a bookstore up in western Canada. The template is still under construction, but I wonder if you would you ever be willing to be a "guest blogger" on our site once we get it up and running. Perhaps I am being presumptuous, but I can't think of anyone more qualified, or capable to write about the interplay of books, ideas and social media. You could even choose your own topic! Thank you for considering my request. (Gary Wall would probably vouch for me.) Becky Warkentin

  • Becky Warkentin

    I'm quite new to the blog business. I had several mental hurdles to overcome but when your boss asks twice then you jump. Thanks for the many deposits of extremely helpful information re blogging for business on your site, including the link to Chris Brogan. I work for House of James, a bookstore up in western Canada. The template is still under construction, but I wonder if you would you ever be willing to be a "guest blogger" on our site once we get it up and running. Perhaps I am being presumptuous, but I can't think of anyone more qualified, or capable to write about the interplay of books, ideas and social media. You could even choose your own topic! Thank you for considering my request. (Gary Wall would probably vouch for me.) Becky Warkentin

  • nick

    heres my email

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    I found this post to be very . I have already gone through and read many of your posts. They are fantastic!

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