Worst Guest Post Pitches : What to Avoid and How to Improve

Guest blogging is a powerful strategy for building your brand, increasing your online presence, and driving traffic to your website. However, the success of your guest blogging efforts largely depends on the quality of your pitch. Editors receive countless guest post pitches daily, and many of them are quickly dismissed due to common mistakes. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the worst guest post pitches you could send an editor, why they fail, and how you can improve your pitches to increase your chances of success.

1. The Generic Template Pitch

One of the most common mistakes aspiring guest bloggers make is using a generic template for their pitches. Editors can easily spot these cookie-cutter emails, and they often end up in the trash folder. A generic pitch typically lacks personalization and fails to demonstrate genuine interest in the target blog.

Example of a Generic Template Pitch:

Hi [Editor],

 

I hope you’re doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I’m a writer interested in contributing a guest post to your blog. I have some great ideas that I think your readers will love. Please let me know if you’re interested.

 

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Why It Fails:

• Lack of Personalization: The pitch doesn’t address the editor by name or mention anything specific about the blog.
• Vague and Unoriginal: The pitch is too generic and doesn’t provide any unique ideas or insights.
• No Value Proposition: It doesn’t explain why the guest post would be valuable to the blog’s audience.

How to Improve:

• Personalize Your Pitch: Address the editor by name and mention specific details about their blog.
• Be Specific: Provide a clear and detailed outline of your guest post idea.
• Show Value: Explain how your guest post will benefit the blog’s readers.

2. The Overly Self-Promotional Pitch

Another common mistake is sending a pitch that is overly self-promotional. Editors are looking for content that provides value to their readers, not content that serves as a blatant advertisement for your products or services.

Example of an Overly Self-Promotional Pitch:

Hi [Editor],

 

I’m [Your Name], the founder of [Your Company]. We offer the best [Product/Service] in the market. I would love to write a guest post about how our product can benefit your readers. This will be a great opportunity for your audience to learn about our amazing offerings.

 

Looking forward to your response.

 

Best,

[Your Name]

Why It Fails:

• Too Promotional: The pitch focuses more on promoting the writer’s product or service rather than providing valuable content.
• Lacks Reader Focus: It doesn’t address the needs or interests of the blog’s audience.
• No Unique Content: The pitch doesn’t offer any unique insights or ideas.

How to Improve:

• Focus on Value: Emphasize how your guest post will provide valuable information or insights to the blog’s readers.
• Avoid Self-Promotion: Keep the focus on the content rather than promoting your products or services.
• Offer Unique Ideas: Provide a unique angle or perspective that will engage the blog’s audience.

3. The Irrelevant Pitch

Sending a pitch that is irrelevant to the blog’s niche or audience is a surefire way to get rejected. Editors are looking for content that aligns with their blog’s theme and interests their readers.

Example of an Irrelevant Pitch:

Hi [Editor],

 

I recently wrote an article about the latest fashion trends, and I think it would be a great fit for your tech blog. Please let me know if you’re interested in publishing it.

 

Best,

[Your Name]

Why It Fails:

• Mismatch with Blog’s Niche: The pitch is completely unrelated to the blog’s focus.
• Lack of Research: It shows that the writer hasn’t taken the time to understand the blog’s content and audience.
• No Relevance: The pitch doesn’t provide any relevant value to the blog’s readers.

How to Improve:

• Research the Blog: Take the time to understand the blog’s niche, audience, and content style.
• Align Your Pitch: Ensure that your guest post idea is relevant to the blog’s theme and interests.
• Show Understanding: Demonstrate that you understand the blog’s audience and how your content will resonate with them.

4. The Poorly Written Pitch

A pitch that is riddled with grammatical errors, typos, and poor formatting is unlikely to impress an editor. A poorly written pitch reflects a lack of professionalism and attention to detail.

Example of a Poorly Written Pitch:

Hi [Editor],

 

I want to write a guest post for your blog. I have some great ideas that I think your readers will love. Please let me know if your interested.

 

Thanks,

[Your Name]

Why It Fails:

• Grammatical Errors: The pitch contains grammatical mistakes and typos.
• Lack of Professionalism: It doesn’t convey a professional tone or attention to detail.
• Unclear Ideas: The pitch is vague and doesn’t provide a clear outline of the guest post idea.

How to Improve:

• Proofread Your Pitch: Carefully proofread your pitch to eliminate any grammatical errors or typos.
• Use a Professional Tone: Write in a professional and respectful tone.
• Be Clear and Concise: Clearly outline your guest post idea and how it will benefit the blog’s readers.

5. The Impersonal Mass Pitch

Sending the same pitch to multiple blogs without any personalization is a common mistake. Editors can easily spot mass pitches, and they often end up being ignored.

Example of an Impersonal Mass Pitch:

Hi [Editor],

 

I hope you’re doing well. I’m interested in writing a guest post for your blog. I have several ideas that I think would be a great fit. Please let me know if you’re interested.

 

Best,

[Your Name]

Why It Fails:

• Lack of Personalization: The pitch doesn’t address the editor by name or mention anything specific about the blog.
• Generic and Vague: It doesn’t provide any specific guest post ideas or details.
• No Effort: It shows that the writer hasn’t put in the effort to tailor the pitch to the blog.

How to Improve:

• Personalize Your Pitch: Address the editor by name and mention specific details about their blog.
• Provide Specific Ideas: Offer clear and detailed guest post ideas that are relevant to the blog’s audience.
• Show Effort: Demonstrate that you have taken the time to understand the blog and its content.

6. The Desperate Follow-Up Pitch

Following up on a pitch is important, but being overly persistent or desperate can backfire. Sending multiple follow-up emails in a short period can annoy editors and reduce your chances of getting a response.

Example of a Desperate Follow-Up Pitch:

Hi [Editor],

 

I sent you an email yesterday about my guest post idea. Did you get a chance to read it? When can I expect a response?

 

Thanks,

[Your Name]

 

—

 

Hi [Editor],

 

Just following up on my previous email. Please let me know if you’re interested in my guest post idea.

 

Best,

[Your Name]

Why It Fails:

• Too Persistent: Sending multiple follow-up emails in a short period can be seen as desperate and annoying.
• Lack of Patience: It shows a lack of patience and respect for the editor’s time.
• No Added Value: The follow-up emails don’t provide any additional value or information.

How to Improve:

• Be Patient: Give the editor enough time to review your pitch before following up.
• Send a Polite Follow-Up: Send a polite and respectful follow-up email if you haven’t received a response after a reasonable period.
• Add Value: Use the follow-up email to provide additional information or insights that may strengthen your pitch.

Sending a successful guest post pitch requires careful planning, research, and attention to detail. By avoiding the common mistakes outlined in this blog and following best practices, you can increase your chances of getting your guest post accepted by editors. Remember to personalize your pitch, provide specific and relevant ideas, focus on value, and maintain a professional tone. With the right approach, you can build strong relationships with editors and secure valuable guest blogging opportunities.