I was invited to #Pitchboxchat hosted by Pitchbox to chat on guest blogging. As always, I am sharing my answers with MyBlogGuest community!

1. What are the top 3 reasons why acquiring links through guest blogging is paying off?

I’ll make it a rule for any link acquisition method: It is only safe when you are doing this NOT for links which makes guest blogging ideal here because it comes with many more benefits.

• Guest blogging builds your niche connections. All those editors you are connecting to will love you (if you do a good job working on that article, of course), so they will likely link to you naturally
• Guest blogging builds your authority and expertise: And people naturally link to experts (so more natural links)
• Guest blogging builds your community which means more people will stick around (sign up to your list, join your site). Community building brings more links!

DON’T guest blog for links only because it will be obvious (to your editors, Google and readers). I blogged about that years ago (way before it became obvious.

2. How to find the blogs that will accept guest posts in your niche?

Start with blogs you read and bloggers you personally know. This is your best chance: Guest blogging relies on personal connections. Simply email them saying you have an idea (and why you think it will work for those blogs)

Watch your peers: See where other bloggers in your niche write. Try @Buzzsumo Author search for that:

Ask around! You are likely to know a few bloggers in your niche. If you are smart, you are also part of some niche blogging groups on Facebook, Skype, etc. So ask and you might even get those email intros to get connected to the editors

3. What’s the perfect pitch structure to guarantee that an editor says “yes”?

I don’t pitch right away: I make sure I get introduced to the editors/site owners. For that I am using Linkedin search v

Linkedin shows how you are connected to any company, so type your target site there and find common connection. Message those common connections and simply ask to get introduced

I also use Twitter “People” search the same way: Search Twitter users by the blog name to see who works there (and if they happen to follow you)

Once I make sure I know the person (or get introduced), I send a simple email saying I’d like a regular column (making sure to link to my existing columns)

4. How to find the perfect guest post topic?

• This is the combination of the blog angle and your own expertise. Never try to please an editor by suggesting a topic that you have no expertise in. Showing your powers in your content is the only way it works!
• For example, my expertise is advanced search and personal branding, so depending on the blog topic I may suggest (a) “Using Google search to improve your productivity” (if it’s a GTD blog) or (b) “How to build your personal brand to advance your career” (if it’s a career building blog)

5. How long does it take on average to publish a guest post once your pitch is approved?

• It depends on the blog. Some blogs publish within a week. Others scheduled as far as 5-6 weeks ahead.
• What I suggest doing is for every blog you write for, is to continue blogging there for on a semi-regular basis
• Regular contributions will build stronger relationships with both the editor and the blog readership and allow you to get a better feel of what they like and how to craft your content better

6. What tools do you recommend to use to speed up the process of building links through guest blogging?

LOVE the tools! Always use keyword research tools to optimize your guest posts just like you’d optimize content for your own site. I use @Serpstat and @Textoptimizer (which help with both content ideas and on-page optimization)

Again, @Buzzsumo is awesome for just about anything content-wise: Following other guest blogging, researching your target blog better, finding topic ideas (+question research), etc.

I also use Tweetdeck to maintain my Twitter list (where I add all my editors) to keep in touch with them and follow the blogs I write for. Tweetdeck allows you to search within the Twitter list.

I was honored to be a guest over at #BizapaloozaChat yesterday to chat about all kinds of collaborative content including guest blogging, expert roundups and many others.

Here’s what we were talking about for you to catch up in case you missed the event.

Q1: How do you feel about content that contains tips, interviews, from experts? Love it or hate it – why?

IF they are done right, expert roundups can be GREAT for both the readers and all the participants (not many people know / care to make them right though!)

The initial idea is beautiful: Every expert brings the best tip, piece of advice, tool, etc. to the table and a reader can find of those on one page

Therefore I generally say that I LOVE interviews, I LOVE personal stories shared by people and I LOVE how readers generally relate to them

Q2: What is content collaboration?

Content collaboration means involving other people in creating your content. At @MyBlogU we treat the term very loosely: Even suggesting a content idea is some sort of content collaboration

We like to say that one head is almost always worse than many (as cliche as it may sound) but that’s the essence of content collaboration: Getting others to help you with content creation

For example, you can ask people to complete the survey and use the survey results in your copy, you can ask fellow group member share their favorite tools and include those tools in your content

Any form of collaboration usually makes your content better, as well as strengthens your relationships with those who help you or who you help, which is the beauty of the concept

I talked about different types of collaborative projects here.

Q3: In what ways is collaborating on content creation easier than doing everything yourself?

In so many ways: It’s like doing anything yourself… Almost always it’s easier when you get help

First of well, no matter how long you’ve been in a niche you are likely to be missing some angles, ideas or perspectives: Other people will open your eyes on so much in your industry

Therefore I like inviting people from outside the niche: To get some fresh insight into something I am involved with daily. Stepping away from what you are doing and looking from outside is the best way to brainstorm

Also it’s always great to feel you are not alone: It’s a great way to motivate yourself to keep moving forward.

Q4: What are the benefits of content collaboration?

Like I said, the biggest part is the feeling of community which keeps you inspired and motivated. when I know someone else was helping with content, I feel much more motivated to make it a success

Of course there are more tangible benefits: Participating influencers bring their followers when they share the content they helped create and are credited in

Participating experts bring more depth and quality into content as well as a better variety of insights

All of that makes your blog much higher-quality and builds community which brings returning traffic, subscribers, etc.

Q5:  What are different types of collaborative content – what kinds of content is ideal for collaboration?

There are LOTS of types: Really your imagination is your only limit! I’ve seen text interviews, Twitter chat interviews, podcasts, video interviews, animated GIF group roundups, etc.

You can put together books and whitepapers, Slidehshare slideshows, graphics, and so much more

I guess look at your and neighboring niche and do something NO ONE else does and you can most definitely involve others into creating that too!

Q6:  Where can you find people to feature in your collaborative content?

Obviously, they should start looking around their already built contacts (people they interact on Twitter, bloggers they read regularly, people who comment often on their blogs…)

Collaborating on content is a great way to strengthen already built connections because nothing makes people closer than creating something together

To extend your circles, look at @MyBlogU: It’s very easy and straightforward. You can basically ask for any help there, from contributing to your blog roundup to connecting you to more experts in any niche

Also, look who tend to contribute to other blogs in your niche and reach out to them to (if you like what they do)…

Q7:  How often SHOULD you do collaborative content – is there such a thing as too much collaborative content?

Depends on what type of collaboration we are talking about here… If it’s generally about helping and get help (brainstorming, proofreading, finding new angles), collaborate daily!

If we are talking about actually CO-CREATING content, I’d say one project a month is the most one can actually handle. Co-creating takes lots of time (especially if you do it right and you should!): Reaching out, following-up, formatting, research, etc.

Plus, if you invite too many contributors, your blog may lose its style, and your readers may get tired of seeing too many faces… So target quality rather than quantity!

Q8: What are some typical mistakes folks make when they are trying to collaborate on content?

Trying to do too many of roundup-type articles: They see one work well and they try to do them again and again. Experts will just get tired of answering and readers will get tired of seeing the same types of articles again and again

Not doing enough to nurture those connections that result from those collaborative articles. It’s not really about the content you create, it’s about the connections! Bloggers publish the piece and move on, never doing anything to build those connections further

Not putting enough effort in trying to stand out, coming up with original topics, new formats, good questions. Funny, how many people actually miss the point here! People don;t write content for you: It’s still your article you are going to publish on your blog!

Q9: What tools or processes are great for keeping everyone on task when working on collaborative content?

• My favorite collaborative tool is actually Google Docs: So fast, reliable, nothing to install, you can comment and respond to comments – LOVE IT!
• I do use @MyBlogU for any collaborative project I am doing: It manages follow-ups, reminders and auto-notices whenever anything is late or scheduled. Very good for productivity.
• I have listed a few more tools here including @MindMeister @Cyfe @CoSchedule and more

Q10: If you’re asked to contribute, what should you do to get the most visibility?

Firstly, of course try and contribute an actually valuable thing: Something that once helped you, your WOW moment, your actual memory. Don’t try to fake being authentic!

I always try to contribute something actionable, something readers can go and try right away. I usually list some useful tools and give clear steps what to do there: Getting people act means catching their attention

Don’t be too shy to provide screenshots, images, even cool visual quotes: Visuals always stand out and help!

Do engage: Comment and share when the article goes live and connect to fellow featured experts! Again, it’s all about connections so use every collaborative piece as a priceless opportunity to connect!

I was invited to host #BW_Chat by @Brandwatch to chat about influencer marketing and I thought I’d share my answers here as well!

What can brands achieve through a successful influencer marketing strategy?

Trust building is the most important result of a good influencer marketing campaign. With trust come all the other benefits one can only wish for: Leads, conversions, traffic, etc.

Another important one: Connections. You want those influencers to stick around after the campaign…. You want to turn those influencers into brand ambassadors!

A4. Tools to consider (for #InfluencerMarketing): @SimplyMeasured @eCairn @NinjaOutreach @Pollen8er & definitely @MyBlogGuest #BW_Chat

— Geno Prussakov (@ePrussakov) February 25, 2016

What influencer marketing campaigns stand out in your mind?

• I like what @SumoMe is doing with their high-profile affiliate program. They got some of the most influential bloggers on board promoting them including @PatFlynn.
• @SEMrush is another great example of influencer marketing done right. They are always on top of niche articles reaching out with updates, free offers, etc.
• @paper_li is doing a great job engaging influencers with their #bizheroes Twitter chats.
• Ivana @DIYMarketers is doing a great job engaging influencing with her yearly events @Bizapalooza.

All of them stood out thanks to a very *personal authentic* relationship building ethics.

I personally dealt with those campaigns: Community managers are always very approachable, personal. You feel like home!

What industries are best suited for influencer marketing?

I can’t think of an industry that wouldn’t be suited for influencer marketing… I think every industry has influencers. The key is to use different tools and methods of connecting to them.

Even boring niches have bloggers and events you can utilize for influencer marketing.

The best suited industry though are those that are best represented on social media: Like technology, health, food, parenting, etc.

These are the easiest in terms of finding influencers and using social media to connect to them.

How can you find influencers? What tools do you find useful?

I’ve done a few articles on that, so excuse my self-linking here but they all list very helpful & mostly free tools.

• HOW TO: Use Social Networking to Effectively Build Media & PR Contacts (Tools and Tips) via @NinjasMarketing.
• 7 Free Tools to Find Twitter Influencers Who Interact with You via @smallbiztrends.
• 7 Tools for Finding & Connecting With Influential Bloggers via @hubspot.

What criteria should be used when selecting an influencer?

This is a tough one! I usually don’t pay attention to number of followers or Klout score.

I do need to see that there are real interactions in the feed: The user’s tweets are liked and retweeted, their comments on FB & Instagram, etc.

I usually don’t use tools to measure influence: I just browse their blogs and social media feeds for a while.

One of the most important criteria to me is if those people interact BACK. I wouldn’t try to connect to someone who only broadcasts on social media without interacting.

What matters more, popularity or audience loyalty?

It may depend on your goals and probably niche and even the platform….

I’d imagine popularity matters a lot on Youtube when it comes to fashion and beauty.

However I believe loyalty is more important in most cases. When I plan an influencer marketing campaign, I always think long-term & loyalty building is one of the long-term goals which is always on my agenda.

How can the ROI of influencer marketing be measured?

This is the toughest one! It’s hard (if not impossible) to translate loyalty, brand awareness & trust into numbers.

You can of course measure immediate results: Clicks, engagements, conversions, mentions, etc….

But these are never my primary goals, & the hugest benefits always remain out of the picture.

The growing list of engaged influencers is the best result after a few months of several campaigns.

What are the biggest mistakes brands can make when utilizing influencer marketing?

• Mistake #1 Focusing on numbers (# of followers, # of clicks, etc).
• Mistake #2 Not developing relationships with influencers after the campaign is over.
• Mistake #3 Not growing your own “in-house” influencers & only relying on outside influencers.

This Monday I was invited to host #AtomicChat again! We’ve been talking on collaborating with bloggers, effective brainstorming and proper guest blogging.

In case you missed it, here’s our q&a (Note: These are only my answers: Other chatters shared lots of gems!)

Q1: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a professional blogger and community manager at @NinjasMarketing

I am pretty well-known thanks to my guest blogging columns at sites like @entrepreneur @smallbiztrends & others

I am not really confident speaking about myself but you can read more here (+How I started story #funny)

Q2 : What is MyBlogU?

@MyBlogU is the free platform that lets you collaborate on content to create more indepth articles & get cited

You start with brainstorm asking members to help you find an original angle #myblogu

You can also open an expert interview project collecting some quotes on a topic #myblogu

You can upload your draft and ask members to provide feedback to make it better #myblogu

Here’s how @MyBlogU has made me more productive.

If you contribute to other users’ projects, you get links from that content when it’s up and build connections w/ authors #myblogu

Here are some examples of articles that get created through @MyBlogU collaboration.

Q3: How do you get inspired to write blog posts?

I listed most of my tricks in this article.

Basically I take lots of detailed notes whenever I suddenly come across a good idea

I try to write an article as soon as I feel inspired (Once I lose inspiration, it’s harder to write!)

I play with related tools: Tools give me lots of ideas in my industry

I Use @MyBlogU which is my best source of inspiration nowadays

Q4: What are some brainstorming tips you can provide?

Coffee, lots of it

Also, I like the introvert-friendly brainstorming which is on paper, rather than real-time…

… e.g. Brainstorming via email exchange or @MyBlogU works better for me than in a meeting, ’cause I can step back and actually THINK

.@patweber put it very well here

Q5: What are some effective ways to find guest bloggers?

The BEST way is to approach active &/or quality commenters on your own blog & invite them to write for you

These people are already spending time on your site & they obviously have a lot to say!

Plus this way you are building closer relationships with them & they may become your blog ambassadors!

I also like approaching active bloggers in my niche, those that blog & guest blog a lot, especially rising stars!

Q6: What are some tools you use to help you through the blogging process?

I am definitely using @Trello to collect ideas and turn them in my to-do list

@MyBlogU helps me maintain my editorial calendar too. Here’s how its to-do functionality works.

I use Google Docs for collaboration

I use bulk Google Suggest for keyword research and brainstorming

Q7: What are some ways to collaborate with bloggers to produce epic content?

Group expert interviews especially around some trendy topic work great! They always turn out to be long content with lots of insight

Here’s an example I did w/ help of @MyBlogU when there was lots of rumor about #GooglePlus closing.

Featuring expert quotes makes content more diverse and indepth, thus “epic”

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This Monday I was busy hosting #AtomicChat: I thought I’d share my answers with my beloved community! Enjoy!

Q1: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am Ann Smarty, brand & community manager at @NinjasMarketing, founder of MyBlogU, co-founder of @VCBuzz

I also host two Twitter chats weekly: #VCBuzz Tuesdays 12 pm est, #myblogu Thursdays 11 am est

I am an active blogger and guest blogger all over the place too (sites like @DevSEOchat, @smallbiztrends, @entrepreneur, etc). I blog A LOT for about 8 years now…

Q2 : Why is reading so important to you?

Reading is VERY essential self-growth: It inspires, makes you think, improves your memory, etc

Reading is also the most essential for keeping up-to-date with the industry news

Finally reading is important for me as a writer because it enriches my vocabulary

Sadly, I can’t read a lot (for the lack of time), but I’ve learned to read fast to be able to still keep track of niche content

I also use tools like @Cyfe and @Trello to organize my reading list

Q3: How do you get inspired to write blog posts?

First things first: Coffee. I drink it even at night if I know I need to write an article

Like I said, reading helps a lot to refresh your mind and get inspired

Especially reading comments: they are gold for inspiration!

I also have a very effective note-taking method. If I have an idea, I take brief notes using anything I have at hand: A piece of paper, iPhone, or a laptop

My notes are impossible to understand to anyone except for me (lots of arrows, signs, abbreviations)

I also try to write an article as soon as I feel inspired: Don’t wait until the inspiration is gone!

Q4: What are some brainstorming tips you can provide?

I use @MyBlogU to let the community send me ideas. Collaborative brainstorming works wonders!

@MyBlogU made me a very productive writer. Here’s more on that. Using @MyBlogU collective brainstorm, I can use one project to write 3-4 huge articles within a couple of hours because the ideas are usually very different (people just send whatever is one their minds), I can get inspired to write a lot!

Quora is another great source of inspiration to me. I used to use HARO too but recently got less active there…

Q5: What other content formats could we incorporate into blogging?

I’ve always used lots of visuals in my content

Because I do many tool reviews and lists, I love using annotated screenshots (using tools like @Snagit)

I found that annotated screenshots tell their own story, so they can be easily used in Slideshare decks…

I create decks using @HaikuDeck (Here’s a recent example)

Screenshots can also be turned into the instructional video (I use @Animoto for that)

Here’s an example of a video instruction using screenshots and visual testimonials.

The more types of visuals you create, the more channels you can market to

Plus, this way you give your readers lots of interactive and visual aids to encourage them to stay and share!

Q6: What are some tools you use to help you through the blogging process?

I have mentioned some of them already. I use @Cyfe and @Trello to collect & organize ideas

I use @MyBlogU to help me come up with new ideas + partially write my article (using MBU users’ blurbs)

I use @Quora for inspiration too (questions always inspire!)

I use Google Plus /explore to research related hashtags and concepts, more on this here.

I use @Snagit, @Animoto and @HaikuDeck to create visuals for my content (and lots of them)

I use Google Docs for collaboration (they have great features to collaborate with editors)

I use @BuzzSumo to find recent popular articles on the topic to reference

Q7: What are the benefits of writing for other blog sites and how do you team up with them?

The benefits are obvious: If you write good articles, you get those blog readers check your site (=traffic & subscribers)

I am usually invited to contribute: That is how I come across them

Sometimes I approach editors I know will be interested in my blog posts to expand my influence a bit

I try to contribute regularly to some blogs (like @smallbiztrends and @entrepreneur) because they drive traffic and exposure each time!

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