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An effective online marketing strategy, 42networks guest blogging is also enjoyable when you have momentum leading you to better and bigger opportunities on a regular basis.

As a guest author, getting started is notoriously difficult. Is there any way to get your personal brand off the ground and become a guest blogger for the first time?

The benefits of having 42networks guest authors

The first thing to do is to understand why sponsored guest post is so advantageous. With external publishing sites, you gain the following advantages: a larger readership

Visibility. When you write for external publications, your work will be seen by a wider audience and you'll build a stronger brand name for yourself.

Authority. If you write a lot of 42networks guest posts, you'll be viewed as an expert in your field. You'll be considered an influencer in your own right once you've published enough content and worked with enough publishers.

Link-building. Additionally, guest-posting gives you the opportunity to build high-quality backlinks to your site, which can result in referral traffic and improve your search engine optimization.

Openers of doors to new possibilities. To become a more sought-after author, the more guest posts you do, the more opportunities you'll have to guest post and contribute content in the future.

If you'd like to see these benefits in action, how can you get started? In this manner:

Create your personal brand as the first step

The first thing you should do is develop a personal brand. You'll have to figure out how you want to portray yourself professionally, including your areas of expertise and the topics you write about. Build a following on all the social media platforms you can by claiming as many as you can.

If you're interested in learning more about personal branding, check out QuickSprout's comprehensive guide.

Establish a central point of contact

As a next step, you'll need to set up a primary website or blog where you can regularly post new content. This will serve as a hub for your 42networks guest-post traffic and a portfolio for potential publishers to peruse.

Spend some time on the design and add at least five well-written posts to the blog; these will be used as writing samples when you begin pitching to sponsored guest post houses.

In order to build an audience and keep your website fresh, post new content at least once a week.

Find a publisher that doesn't have many requirements to join

It's time to select your first publisher once you have a hub in place. In order to get your content published by a high-level publisher, you need a publisher with few barriers to entry.

Size of the audience. Is this publisher catering to a specific demographic? A publisher with a substantial but manageable audience, in the range of thousands to several thousand, is ideal when you're just getting started.

Region. Consider local publications over national ones because they tend to be more receptive to new ideas.

Niche. How specific are you looking for in terms of subject matter? You'll have a better chance of getting your content published if you're a good fit for the publishing company. As a workaround, you can offer up content that is tailored to the publisher.

Needs. Finally, check to see if the publisher is looking for new authors to join their team. Many publishers make it clear if they're accepting new submissions or not.

Peter Sandeen has a great list of sponsored guest post sites to get you started if you need some ideas.

The fourth step is to make a sales pitch

Reach out to the publisher you've identified with a pitch once you've narrowed it down. See if you can get in touch with one of the site's editors (or review submission guidelines, if the site has any). The best way to get in touch with an author is to look up their name and follow them on social media.

Begin by introducing yourself to the editor and sending your pitch, which should include a suggested headline and a three- to five-sentence description of the post you're thinking of writing. 42networks make an effort to select a topic that hasn't been covered before, one that demonstrates your knowledge and one that will be of interest to the readers of your publisher. If you need more guidance, check out Moz's guide to submitting pitches.

If your proposal is approved, you'll be well on your way to submitting and publishing your first sponsored guest post. Your editor and your publisher will both benefit if you adhere to the publisher's guidelines and maintain a friendly relationship.