Is It Worth an Author’s Time to Guest Post? 

Time is precious. If you’re an author, you know how true this statement is. You work for free for hours, months, and years, until hopefully someone decides your product is worth buying. Before, during, and after this happens, you also need to run a side hustle business, building your brand. Again, for free. 

Is it worth it?

Well, you’ve heard me say it time and again, everyone has a book in them just waiting to come out. So, yes, writing a book is worth it. The same goes for guest posting. This blog, micro book, paragraph, or chapter invites a similar sense of accomplishment as you share your story, thoughts, opinions, solutions, ideas, and inspiration with the world. Besides, writing is good for the body, mind, and spirit.

But going beyond the cathartic elements associated with how writing a book makes you feel, it’s smart business. 

Nowadays, every author needs to treat this journey like a business. Yes, you want and need the joy to work for free, but you also need to think long-term, and that means doing what you can to build your brand, following, and author platform. While publishers and publicists do their thing to get you and your book out into the world, you are still required to do much of your author publicity.

Enter guest posting. 

If you like to write, this is a no-brainer. It’s also an easy and fun way to bring attention to you as an author and build your brand and following.  The more you guest post, the easier it gets and the more benefits you gain from the practice. Learn more about why you should guest post and how to get started by reading “Three Reasons Why You Should Write a Guest Post.”

It’s also flattering to be asked to contribute a guest post. But many authors, especially highly successful ones, have little time in their work schedule to develop content for free. Best-selling authors like Jodi Picoult and Stephen King occasionally make time to share their thoughts or provide mentoring and inspiration through popular blogs or magazines. Still, I’m guessing they are compensated for their time.

To help you decide whether to say “yes” to a guest request or pitch a post, I turned the mic over to a few friends, best-selling authors, and writers at every stage in their journey for their thoughts on why it’s worth an author’s time to write a guest post:

“Short answer is yes, it’s definitely worth your time as an author to write a guest post; that is, if it earns you something in return that you value. As the CEO of a marketing agency that specializes in SEO, I can tell you that backlinks are gold. A guest post on a reputable site can significantly boost your search rankings and visibility, which is especially valuable if you’re promoting a new book. I just think you need to be strategic: make sure the outlet has real readership or SEO authority. You’re either getting paid or getting exposure—ideally both.” ~ Phillip Scott Mandel, author of An MFA For Your MBA and CEO of Mandel Marketing.

“The best reason is that you get to write! While writing a guest post is a different type of writing than a book, you still get to put your creativity on display–and, even better, you often get to write about what you’re most passionate about! As a writer, you’ve undoubtedly learned a lot; writing a guest post gives you the chance to share your hard-won wisdom, experience, and expertise. You’ve most likely benefited yourself from other authors’ advice,so after all your own work and effort, it’s heartening to pay it forward. Writing can also be a lonely profession; by reaching out to other writers through guest posts, you’re adding to an important sense of community. In other words, writing guest blogs offers you the opportunity to be a good “literary citizen.” Writing is hard! You can help remind other writers that they’re not in this crazy world alone.😊” ~ Jen Braaksma, Author and Book Coach.

“When an author provides an authentic guest post, they are able to reach a new audience of readers. When loyal subscribers to a blog or magazine read about a new author or book on the outlet, they are more likely to want to learn more because they trust the blog for their information. A guest post is a cost-effective way for authors to explore.” ~ Kathryn Starke, Author of six books and the Founder/CEO of Creative Minds Publications.

“It’s a way to support one another within the industry; who doesn’t love a collaboration? 
Also, the more your name is out there, the more opportunity you have to create and build your brand. 
Furthermore, if you love writing, then you’ll love seizing the opportunity to “speak” to a new audience and potentially explore new topics. I continually evolve as a writer, and guest posting provides a valuable opportunity for growth.” ~ Risa August, award-winning author, speaker, Gestalt practitioner, and patient advocate,

“I believe that guest author posts are mutually beneficial. You get to contribute to a new community, which in turn, gets introduced to you and to your style of writing. You step into an unknown portal then others might follow you back into yours. Or maybe, it’s more like a cookie swap. You make other people’s tummies smile, and in return, you get new treats and recipes. Best part, no calories gained!” ~ Rachel Leigh Wills, author of the coming-of-age memoir, Soundtrack Of A Misfit: Adventures in ADD & Addiction, and owner of ADDvantage Counseling, L.L.C.

“Making a meaningful impact as an author is all about connecting with your audience.  Doing it through the pages of your book is one way, but there are many other opportunities to inspire and motivate that should not be overlooked.  Writing a guest blog on other platforms is a unique way to establish new connections, showcase thought leadership, and expand your personal brand. This sparks diverse, healthy debate and continuous learning.” ~ ~ Dan Albaum, exceptional strategic marketing leader and author of The Impact Makers.

There you have it. It’s a resounding yes.

Of course, when you’re just starting out, it’s a little intimidating, but people want to hear your story and your voice. You may not be John Grisham or Ann Rice, but if you’re at the beginning or even in the middle of your author’s journey, guest posting is an intriguing option. Especially when invited to contribute to a popular blog, journal, magazine, or notable site. 

I hope this article provided you with a few applicable ideas. I would be honored if you shared this on social media. And speaking of sharing, please share your ideas and experiences below. Together, we can build an uplifting community that supports each other’s happiness, well-being, creativity, and success.