Guest Post: A Day In Ludlow by Tiffany from The Amateur Anthropologist

Today's post is a guest post all about the village of Ludlow, written by travel blogger Tiffany from The Amateur Anthropologist.

If you haven't visited Tiffany's fab blog before, be sure to check it out (link at the end)! Here is a little about her:

What do you get when you mix anthropology, food, fashion & travel? You get me, the Amateur Anthropologist (hence the name of my blog). Dreamer, globe trekker and beginner baker, my motto is "live life to the fullest before it runs out".

Now onto the post!

A Day In Ludlow by Tiffany

If you asked someone that knows me, be it a friend or family member, how they would describe me, one characteristic that will undoubtedly be mentioned is organized.

There’s a chilling sense of anxiety that arises whenever I feel unprepared. And although, it’s not a positive one, but it does motivate me to plan well ahead.

I’ve had troubles in crafting my timetable way too far in advance. Thankfully with experience, I’ve learnt to tweak this so that I can prepare just in time.
It applies to all areas I’ve touched in life, both in work and play. You can tell that travelling is not an exception.

Although it may seem rather tedious looking up train and bus times, and calculating which one to take to maximize my exploration duration, it does make my voyages far easier to experience.

So, in short, I’m a talking, breathing and walking PDA.

Generally speaking, the plans I create work out the way they’re supposed to. But sometimes they don’t, and on this occasion, they didn't.

Upon reading an article online about the quirks of England, I suddenly changed course and navigated myself to a small market village in Shropshire called Ludlow.

The author had recommended this place due to its history, medieval architecture, and range of independent stores, set upon a delightful hillside environment. There wasn’t a single part of his description that sounded unattractive to me, so I was more than keen to find out.

And I am pleased to report, he was truly spot on with his suggestion.

Ludlow Castle

If you ever visit Ludlow, an obvious place to head to is the Castle. Situated near the mighty River Teme, this medieval fortification offers a wealth of history to enlighten the minds of the young and old. Being one of the first English stone castles ever constructed, its exterior and interior truly deserves an equal amount of admiration. And needless to say, there’s more than enough areas forming the ruined landmark to fill the adventurous side of all visitors (it certainly did for me).
A big tip would be to challenge oneself to head up one of the taller towers, like the North-West one. Although the steps are narrow and steep, I can assure you that you’ll definitely be rewarded with the most spectacular view this late 11^th century landmark can provide.

Boutique paradise

In truth, shopping is a hobby of mine. Be it for clothes, stationary or food, the chance to spend the day purchasing attractive products can be somewhat relaxing to me at times. Although high street shops are appealing, I’d much prefer going to an independent store and browsing through their stock. Why? Simply because of the desire to be unique. I mean, what’s the point in buying an outfit that everyone else has when you can acquire something different that will help you stand out?

Fearlessly independent – that’s my motto for fashion.

So, you can probably guess that I was immensely thrilled to see the vast range and quantity of independent retailers dotted all around Ludlow town center. To me, each boutique had a personal glow or aura which shone brightly in the slightly grayish rainy day. This was further reinforced by the friendly and warm attitudes that every owner and employee which I met bore.

It was as though I had stepped through a portal that led my wandering self into a treasure trove of hand-crafted trinkets, treats and toys. An irreplaceable sight, as you can imagine. My longstanding understanding of Yarm (North East England) as the King/Queen of little boutiques had definitely been surpassed by the brilliance of Ludlow.

And of course, my trip would not be complete without a slice of walnut and coffee cake! I will definitely have to try the Michelin star restaurants in town one day…

Until next time, dearest lovely little Ludlow.

Time to show Tiffany some love! Visit her blog, follow her on Twitter and Google+, like her Facebook page, and of course leave her some lovely comments below!

 

You Are A Blogger When...

 

Bloggers. We are so different, yet so similar to each other. Whatever our niche, topic or the size of our blogs, there are some things we all do. Things that may seem crazy to non bloggers, but to us seem like normal things to do.

 

They are the signs you are a blogger at heart. What are they?
Check out my guest post here, live now over at Cuddle Fairy to find out!
Don't forget to let me know how many points you check off!

You can find me here: Twitter Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!

Guest Post By Samy - Sex: The Good And The Bad!

Today's post is a guest post by Samy from Diary of an African Gyal (link at the end). If you haven't yet visited Samy's blog, here is a little more about her:

My name is Samy Tshimanga, I am a freelance blogger, columnist and media consultant.

Africa is home so I'm concerned with all her affairs. When I'm not writing, I am traveling and enjoying the different tastes of wine. I'm based in the U.S

Onto Samy's brilliant post about good and bad sex!

Sex: The Good And The Bad! by Samy

 



SEX ! The word that seems to bring us together but also can put us in different categories.  Also the word makes some of us feel uncomfortable for one reason or another. However, it is an activity that we all participate in. Just like activities you can be really good at it or really bad at it.

I hate to say it but we have all been a victim of bad sex! If you haven’t then you are lying or you just got real lucky. For some of the rest of us, we have. Now what constitutes as good sex? Or bad sex? Is there such thing?

This is clearly my opinion based on my experience. Now sex is like dancing you have to have rhythm. There has to be some flow to it. Guys girls don’t like to be rammed until the daylight comes. Girls don’t like when you just lay there and play dead either. Sex is a way to communicate with your partner. Your bodies do the talking. So listen to them. 

Sex is good when 2 things happen.

1)      When you are in love with your partner and your connection runs deep. So the emotional connection makes the sex 10 times better.

2)      I said sex is a way to communicate with your partner. With that being said, you have to tell what you like and what you don’t like. Don’t expect them to know if you don’t tell them.

 

Now what’s bad sex?

Remember the very 1^st time you had sex? Ok it was bad because you were inexperienced and did not know what it is going on. Let’s fast forward.

Bad sex:

1)      When there is no FOREPLAY involved! NO FOREPLAY! It goes all downhill from there. In the winter you just don’t turn your car on and drive. You let it heat up. Well that goes for women, turn us on and you are ensured a good time.

 

2)      3 PUMPS and DONE! (What about me? It takes a woman longer to reach her climax point.  So take your time.  It is not a competition, I promise.  There is nothing more pleasing when you climax simultaneously. *music to my ears*  

 

3)      DRUNK SEX ! No you would think the opposite because you are all hot and bothered. NOPE!  It’s all bad because it is actually your worst performance for many different reasons.  Both are sloppy. The fear someone might pass out (oops that was me).  I just fell asleep because alcohol makes me sleepy. 

 

Now I mentioned what’s good and what’s bad ? However notice I did not mention anything about size. Here is why. Size is not going to be the determinant. My motto “it isn’t the size of the ocean, it’s the motion of the ocean.” Meaning that just because he is huge does not necessary mean you are in for a good time. Just because of the misconception that small is bad, it ain’t all bad and bigger isn’t necessary better.

Overall sex is meant to be fun and relaxing. But here is my good citizen PSA: protect yourself and don’t go screwing everyone because you can. Have smart fun sex !

Happy F**king J

 

 

 

Time to show Samy some love! Visit her blog, follow her on Twitter, check out her magazine Dunia Magazine/Applause Africa, and of course, leave her some lovely comments below :)

 

 

Guest Post: Let's Talk About Sex...After Natural Childbirth by Janet Cooper

Today's post is a guest post from Janet over at Rambles, Rants and Writings about something I personally think people avoid talking about, but should be talked about more often. I think it is a genuine concern for some women, and by talking about it here, I hope to help some of those women.
If you haven't had chance to visit Janet's blog yet, here is a little about her:

Janet Cooper is a graduate of English and Creative Writing BA (Hons) and is currently studying an MA in English Studies.  She currently runs her own business as a freelance and online Tutor/Assessor, but hopes to become an English Lecturer or work in a role that utilises the creative element of her degree.  She is a published writer and has other publications currently on the horizon.  She is a keen blogger and social networker, and was appointed as the Copywriting Team Leader for Spectral Visions Press in January 2015.   

And now for Janet's post, I hope you all enjoy it!

Let’s Talk About Sex… After (natural) Childbirth

The thought of sex after the birth of your first child can be a very daunting, even scary, prospect.  There are a lot of worries surrounding this delicate topic, for instance you might be concerned that you are not the same down below, or that it will feel different for your partner (not as good for instance), or that it will be uncomfortable.  The fact that this isn’t an ideal topic of conversation also makes it a very isolating issue.  Some are comfortable discussing their concerns or trying to find out what is ‘normal’ – if there is a normal that is, but others are private and don’t feel this is something they can discuss.  I am here to share my own experience after giving birth on three occasions – let’s break the stigma, let’s talk about sex AFTER childbirth. 

The truth is, you don’t need to worry and you are not alone!

I imagine that it is different for everyone and obviously I am only able to discuss this from my own personal experience and view point.  After a natural childbirth bleeding for several weeks is common and for me, one of the main issues was that I didn’t feel fully clean and fresh.  When you choose to have sex for the first time, it should be a personal choice and decisions often relate to the heaviness of the bleed, whether you feel up-to-it, and whether the birth was traumatising too.  I always made sure that I felt ready, that I was prepared, especially after my first child.  Don’t forget that there are other ways of being close to your partner, and your partner will want you to be comfortable – the chances are they will not want to make you uncomfortable. 

My partner and I are really close, we are good friends and it’s simple, we talk about everything.  We have a mutual respect for one another and can talk about anything.  Talking through my worries helped and we agreed to try when I was ready and he said ‘tell me to stop if it’s uncomfortable’.  He completely put my mind at ease by being gentle, and asking if ‘it’ was OK.  Knowing that he took my feelings into account and cared enough to put me in control was reassuring.  After my first child, it was strange using a condom whilst the contraceptive pill kicked in but to be honest, that was the only thing I found strange – there was no pain and I had worried over nothing!

Don’t put pressure on yourself – give yourself a break!

I have heard others say that they lost their sex drive after childbirth, and this can also be perfectly normal.  We are all different and some need more time than others.  You have squeezed a baby out of a tiny hole – I mean jeez, if you don’t feel like sex for a while just give yourself time.  You are also adapting to parenthood and it’s hard work!  Give yourself a break and don’t worry about it.  If you do find it becomes a problem then seek medical advice.  A lower sex drive can happen due to worrying and tiredness so don’t give yourself a hard time.  Make time to resume intimacy – kiss and cuddle with your partner, and relax.  Everything doesn’t have to be about sex and it may just be that you feel distant due to this new addition in your life, so get the closeness back and spend time together and it might just happen – you don’t need to plan it (although you may get disturbed now you have a child lol).

This is all strange for your partner too, so talking can really help.  Remember to consider your partner’s feelings too, and they could be just as nervous as you are!

Just to put the ‘hurting’ theory to rest, my first try at sex after all three of my children – it did not hurt.  I’ve never needed stitches so it may be different for those who have, they might need longer to heal.  I do think that I personally worried with my first child as I tore slightly, not enough to need stitches but after childbirth urinating can sting, and anything else feels like your insides are falling out and I think that these being uncomfortable experiences is the foundation for this worrying ‘if it hurts when I go to the toiler initially, how the hell is sex going to feel?’  If you have had a traumatic time during childbirth, this could also contribute to the angst too but again, move at your own pace. 

If you do find it uncomfortable I would seriously suggest talking to your doctor or nurse.  Obviously, you feel different down there and you must keep up with your pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your bladder but most of us return to almost our previous selves pretty quickly.  Again if you are experiencing issues you should certainly talk to your doctor or nurse. 

Remember contraception can change the way sex feels too, so it may not be down to the effects of giving birth after all – condoms, if you aren’t used to using it as you have been trying for a baby, can make sex seem not as pleasant as it isn’t skin-to-skin contact.  

 

My Top Five Tips for Having Sex after Childbirth for the First Time

1.       Only attempt sex when you are ready – don’t feel pressured into it!

 

2.       Try to relax – take a bath before and after and create a relaxing atmosphere (candles, music, whatever is needed)

 

3.       Talk through your worries with your partner – what’s a relationship without honesty?  Talk to your partner – they love and respect you, and you show trust by confiding in them.  It’s a mutual thing!

 

4.       Start off slow, spend time together snuggling, and then see what happens.  Have plenty of foreplay, and only continue if YOU are comfortable.  Remember to allow yourself plenty of time to ease into it.

 

5.       Don’t be afraid to consult a health professional about any concerns – that’s what they’re there for.

 

 

You may have had totally different experiences to me, and if you are brave enough to share then please comment below.  Tell us, was it painful for you? What did you do? Did you worry? How did you overcome your fears?  Maybe you had a caesarean section – what did that mean for sex after child birth for you?  My three births were all natural, and pretty straight forward so it would be great to have a different perspective, so don’t be shy! 

 

Thank you so much for reading today, and don’t forget to stop by my blog if you get time!

Laters,

Janet

Time to show Janet some love! Visit her blog, and website, and follow her on Twitter and Linkedin. And don't forget to leave her some comments below!

Guest Post: Blogging By The Calendar by Anne Goodwin

Today is a guest post from Anne from Annethologist (link at the end). If you haven't had a chance to visit Anne's blog yet, here is a little more about her!

Anne Goodwin writes fiction, short and long, and blogs about reading and writing, with a peppering of psychology. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was published last month by Inspired Quill.

Anne's post has some great ideas about how to use holidays to promote posts. Read on, and all shall be revealed!

Blogging by the calendar: making use of national and international commemorative days by Anne Goodwin

 

 

If you’re a blogger, and active on Twitter, you’re probably aware of the value of using hashtags to promote your posts. But have you thought about scheduling your posts to coincide with the plethora of commemorative days on the national and international calendar? If you do a special post for Christmas, Valentine’s Day or the annual carnival in your hometown, you’re halfway there. But there are lots of lesser known “international something days” you could blog to, each with their Twitter hashtag to introduce you to other fascinating posts on the theme as well as providing a vehicle to promote your own. With a blog about reading and writing, peppered with psychology, let me show you some that I’ve drawn on, and if these don’t grab you there are plenty more out there that might.

International Women’s Day on 8^th March is probably the easiest for me to blog around: this year I wrote about my five favourite heroines from my recent reading and even included a poll where my followers could vote for their own favourite. I’ve also done World Book Day on 6^th March – although, given the nature of my blog, perhaps not as often as I ought. A more obscure one, although definitely worth publicising, is Moebius Awareness Day on 24^th January to highlight the neurological condition in which children are unable to smile; I’d been so moved by their plight I’d written a short story on the subject, so my Smile Please! was an obvious next step.

You can still join in the commemorations even for posts published on a different day. I try to remember to promote my review of Peter Matthiessen’s novel, In Paradise, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27^th January, and of Eve Makis’ The Spicebox Letters on 24^th April, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. If these don’t fit with your blog, there are over forty other United Nations International Days marking important aspects of humanity to draw on. A potentially jollier one is World Tourism Day on 27^th September although, being me, I’ve managed to put a serious slant on my post on this theme.

September’s a busy month for writerly special days: with National Punctuation Day in the US on 24^th, and International Translation Day on 30^th (the feast day of St Jerome, translator of the Bible). But my focus this year will be on World Suicide Prevention Day on 10^th September, as my recently published debut novel features a suicidal child.

If all this seems a bit heavy, let me introduce you to my favourite: World Toilet Day on 19^th November. Don’t be shy, access to safe and hygienic toilets is one of the most important health and human rights issues of our time. It’s also where you’ll find the most entertaining, moving and uplifting blog posts ever, as supporters and activists mine their creativity to draw attention to the theme. I showcased my favourites in my post last year, prompting another blogger to challenge her followers to compose tales of toilets in exactly 99 words.

If you care about connecting, then don’t overlook these commemorative days. Use the hashtags and you’ll discover more about the subject. If you’re lucky, you’ll commandeer other bloggers to share your enthusiasm for the cause. And for most of these special days you can download a badge to brighten up your post. What’s not to like?

 

Great advice or what! Time to show Anne some love. Visit her blog, follow her on Twitter, and of course, leave her some comments below! And don't forget to check out her book!

Guest Post: Blogger Life by Hannah Drilon

Today's post is a guest post by Hannah from Hannah Drilon blog (link at the end). The post is all about Hannah's life as a blogger. I hope you enjoy it!

 

Blogger Life by Hannah Drilon

 

 

 

Hey, it's Hannah Drilon! And I just want to share with you some of the most epic moments I've had since I started blogging.
As you may know, blogging is not easy. If you got no goals and insincere intentions, you're gonna get nothin' running. As a blogger, I've experienced those times when I didn't know what to write anymore. It even felt like something's pushing me to quit this past time hobby, but after the long run, I learned to love what I do. You see, blogging is not only about writing, it also takes a lot of hard work and dedication. When I entered the blogging world, I also entered a world of opportunities to showcase what I've got and discover others who also pass the same path I am treading in.
This post is dedicated to all who think blogging is an easy job, because in reality, it isn't. Consistency is very much an important aspect in the blogging world.
For the meantime, I want to show you some epic moments I've had as a blogger.

1. Setting Up my Weblog
This is very much the first part I had to endure before I had my blog posts. As a perfectionist  type of person, I often had problems with the layouts and the headers of my blog. One mistake makes me repeat all of the process again, which caused me headaches all the time. After a few months, I got to finalize the theme of my website and the types of posts I want people to see.

2.Writing a blog
This is of course, the heart of what I'm doing, the blog! At first, I really had no idea of what to write and include in my site. I had lots of brainstorming to do just thinking about a certain topic. I'm not a professional blogger but one thing I did, was to read other articles and blogs and get inspiration from it. There, I knew what to write.

3.Messed Up Blog Schedules
When many things are coming to my mind, I often mess up with my schedule. Today, I want to write this, tomorrow this but I never get things done. Then I stumbled into a lot of blogging advices and came across a topic about blog schedules and how it helps. Finally, I learned that having a blog calendar can really help me do things on time.

4.Social Media Feeds
Of course, because I wanted to add traffic to my website, I had to make different social media pages/accounts for my blog, to promote what I write and get people to read it on a regular basis. This is not an easy task because I had to keep tweeting, gramming and posting just to give more updates to my audience. Being a blogger does not only mean being a writer. It takes a blogger to be a social media expert, sales representative, technician, general manager and all. Hard work it is!

5.Guest Blogging
Because I wanted to promote my blog, I had to write  guest blogs for other websites so that I can get more followers. Albeit not being an easy job, I had to meet the deadline and fit in their topics so that everything will work out the best.  And finally, it's my time to look for guest bloggers too!

So here it is, I'm telling you, blogging is not easy job,but giving my time and effort, I learned to love this field that I've joined in. It's not always nice and neat but everything will be worth it when you see your readers appreciating what you write and when you've got traffic in your very own blog.

 

 

Great advice from Hannah! Time to show her some love. Visit her blog, follow her on Instagram and Twitter, and of course, leave her some comments below!

Guest Post: My Experience of the Blogosphere by H

Today, I have a guest post for you by H from The Small Things of Life (link at the end) about her experience of the Blogosphere. If you haven't had change to check out H's blog yet, here's a little more about her:

Hey my name is H and I started my blog The Small Things of Life back in June.  My blog is a lifestyle and photography blog but I do the odd beauty post now and then, because who doesn't love make up and amazing smelly face creams etc?!  I love sharing my experiences and hope that you guys enjoy reading them

Now onto her fab post!

My Experience of the Blogosphere by H

 

When I first took the leap of faith to start my blog I was absolutely terrified.  I have been through a lot with people in my 27 years and putting my writing and thoughts out to the world was so daunting.  At first I didn’t have any idea what to do.  So I sat down and Googled for days and planned the blog attack.  I finally decided that for my brain Blogger was the most sensible place to start so I began my page.  I fiddled around with the page for hours possibly even days to get it to look just right. 

Finally I wrote my first post and hit publish and prayed that it was ok.  I decided which social media sites I wanted to use (Twitter, Instagram etc.) and put myself out there just a little bit more.  I met a few lovely ladies through Twitter and got chatting.  At first I wasn’t sure what I should say or do but they helped me along the way.  I then got told by one of my Twitter ladies that there was such a thing as Twitter chats!! I decided which one and nervously sat in front of my laptop and said hey!  I was overwhelmed but the love and support that there is in the Blogosphere and I never imagined that I would meet such honest, lovely and welcoming people.

I have met so many lovely people through my blog life so far and I hope that over time we will become online friends if not real life friends.  I am not very good at meeting people because of previous experiences but I have managed to persuade myself to go to Blogstock in a couple of weeks’ time and I will be honest I am absolutely terrified but I am certain that everyone will be welcoming and I will meet some of the amazing people I have met online finally in person.  Anyone who is thinking of starting a blog or putting their writing out there I would definitely recommend giving it a go and just seeing where it takes you.

If you ever want any advice or support, email me at thesmallthingsoflife@gmail.com or add me on Twitter @TSToflife and I am more than happy to be there and support you as best I can.

H

Time to show H some love! Visit her blog, or follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. And of course, leave her some comments below :)

 

 

10 Reasons You Should Start A Blog

As you all know, I love blogging! I thought I would write a post detailing 10 reasons you should start a blog. You won't regret it! To read the post, pop on over to Rambles, Rants and Writings - here. Check out some of the other great posts too!

Let me know what you all think!

You can find me here: Twitter Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!

Guest Post: My Life Being Self Employed By Sarah

Today's post is a guest post from Sarah from A Positive Beginning. If you haven't had chance to check it out yet, here is a little more about her:

Sarah is the owner of the blog, A Positive Beginning, where she enjoys helping others discover their true potential with the Law of Attraction. She believes that by removing negative habits from one’s lifestyle one can have the life they truly want. When she is not blogging, she enjoys reading, traveling, and engaging in art activities.

Sarah's post is all about taking the plunge and going it alone as a self employed blogger. Enough from me, over to Sarah!

My Life Being Self-Employed by Sarah

 

About 6 months ago, I left my corporate job to start a life being self-employed. It has been quite a journey too! With many setbacks along the way, I’m very surprised of my accomplishments to this day and can say that for anyone who has a goal, to stick with it, no matter what! Even when there were times for me where I wanted to go back into the corporate working life and taste the regular income, I knew that deep down I wouldn’t like it. It had no value to me and I felt that there was a better way for me to help people.

For a few months, I decided I would do reselling on eBay. It was a very lucrative business, but unfortunately it was a very competitive one too. In the beginning it was hard to get noticed, but after a while with more experience, it became easier. I even started to make enough to pay for my bills but it wasn’t enough to save up anything. Just when I thought all was going well though, sales all over eBay started to decline and it became so bad that I had no choice but to stop reselling and it left me stuck since I didn’t have a backup plan.

So for about a month I made time to figure out what my passions were and discovered my interest in self-development and blogging. It was an intimidating area because I knew nothing about coding or getting a blog started for that matter, but once the idea settled in, like really settled in, I became determined to learn! It took several months of nothing but writing for my blog to look official and once I had more than a dozen articles up and running, I was finally able to relax a bit and engage in my favorite activities such as:

·         Drawing/painting

·         Watching movies

·         Fishing

·         Exercising

·         Traveling

·         Spend time with family

Of course, to this day, times still get stressful like they do for everyone, but with hope and persistence, I know everything will work out! Even though my bills are on edge, I have what no corporate job could offer me, which is happiness and control. I can now help people in an area that truly matters to not only them, but to me as well. Although it took me a while to find this happiness, it was completely, and totally worth it!  I just had to follow my intuition.

Show Sarah some love! Visit her blog, and like her Facebook page! And of course, leave some comments below!

You can find me here: Twitter Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!

How To Write A Killer Guest Post

There are many reasons why you might find yourself writing a guest post:
- Perhaps a blogging friend asked you to
- Perhaps you want a little extra exposure
- Perhaps you want to write something about a topic outside of the your blog niche
I'm sure there are a lot more reasons, those are just the ones that came to mind.
The main advantages to it are:
- It's a chance to get your posts in front of new people, hopefully leading to them visiting your blog
- It helps build relationships within the blogging community
If you've never considered writing a guest post before, give it a go - you've got nothing to lose! There are always bloggers looking for guest posters - have a look through Twitter, you're sure to find one that takes your fancy, or be brave and pitch your idea to a blogger whose blog you would love to feature on. If you would like to feature on this blog, take a look here for all the details.

So, you've found a blog to post on, and have a chance to get your post in front of a new audience - how do you make sure it ticks all the boxes? Read on for my top tips!

1. Read the blog you are submitting to

Have a look through some of the blog's posts. What are they writing about? Have you spotted a gap you could fill? A point they have touched on that you want to expand on? A new perspective on something they post about? For example, you are going to have very little success approaching a beauty blog with a post idea about potty training, however, a parenting blog would be much  more open to the idea.

Now you have the general feel for the blog, and an idea for a post, have a search through their archives - make sure you aren't just re-hashing a post they have already written.

 

2. Write something original

If the blogger is advertising for guest posters, check their guidelines, some will accept previously published posts, although most won't. Even if they do, I would strongly recommend writing something original, even if it covers an area you have already posted about. If you are pitching to a blogger who isn't actively advertising for guest posters, then you definitely need something previously unpublished. 

3. Write as yourself

Don't change your writing style to mirror the blogger you are writing for. Not only will this be glaringly obvious, but presumably the blogger wants something fresh and different or they would just write the post themselves! If the blog you are writing for has a set style of posting, for example, if all their posts are lists, there is nothing wrong with sticking to the format, in fact I think it would be a good idea, but don't lose your voice. If you write humorous posts, keep them funny. If you use swear words in your general posts, check with the blogger that this is ok. Don't be afraid to put a little personality/passion into it!

 

4. Write something worth reading!

If you wouldn't publish it on your own blog (in terms of quality, not subject matter) then don't expect anyone else to! It is very insulting to a blogger to write something sub par and expect them to fawn over it! Check spelling and grammar - the odd typo happens to the best of us, but if it is a mess, then you probably won't find much joy.

 

5. Add some images

Unless you are specifically requested not to, or after researching the blog, you find they don't use images on any posts, then add some. It saves the blogger having to find images to use with your post, and also gives a visual that represents your post.

 

6. Make it fit

Make sure your post fits the blog you are submitting it too (if you have followed the steps above, your subject and format will already fit). Now you need to tweak all the little things to make it fit their blog's style.

Don't write your posts in bright green, fussy font if all of theirs are in Arial and in black! The opposite is also true. If they use fancy fonts and lots of colour, do the same!

Check if they have a word count limit. If they do, stick to it! If it's not specified, look through their posts. If they are all 1500+ words, they will have more interest in a longer post. If they write 300 word posts, they might not want a long post.

Check how many images they use. If they use a lot of images, make sure you attach more than one. If they limit it, then don't add too many (or add the extras, letting them know they are free to use them all or choose their favourites).

 

7. Communicate

If you are going for something a bit different, it might be worth sending a brief outline to see if they are interested before you invest a lot of time in writing the post, especially if it's on a topic that you wouldn't be able to use on your own blog. Also, if you are unsure of something, ask. Bloggers don't bite, and asking the question early on usually avoids confusion and extra work later on!

 

8. After the post is live

Once you have secured your guest post, and it goes live, promote it! Remember, you want their readers to see your post, it can't hurt to return the favour and potentially send some of your readers their way. Promote it on your social media. You are also more likely to be invited to do more posts for them if you actively promote the post, especially if they see you sending them extra traffic.

 

I hope you find these tips useful. Let me know how you get on! Do you have any tips to add? If so, share them in the comments!

 

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