Customer service is an essential part of marketing. When you are a blogger, customer service comes into play when you respond to comments on your blog, thank followers for following, and the way you treat your guest bloggers.It may seem obvious what steps a blogger should take to be a good host, but I have personally found this isn't always true.
Before I share my good host tips, I apologize to anyone who I haven't given these courtesies to when they have been on my blog. I am only human, after all. And these are merely suggestions for everyone to think about when hosting guests - they may or may not always be practical or appropriate to implement.
- Give your guest plenty of time to complete their post/interview.
- Invite them to be as long or as short as they like.
- Invite them to respond to comments if they choose.
- Tell them exactly when the post will be up and send them a link.
- Send them a reminder the day before the post goes up - especially if it's been awhile since you communicated.
- Build your guest up and validate them in your introduction. Let your readers know why you respect this guest and why they should read on.
- Thank them in public and privately.
- Tweet and Facebook their visit to your blog.
- After all comments are in, usually a week later, thank the guest again by email.
Think of a guest on your blog like a guest in your house. Treat them as such and you'll be a perfect host.
Are there any other courtesies you like from your host that I've forgotten to mention?
19 comments:
Oh, I am really encouraged, I have more or less been doing all these recommendations instinctively, Laura, with all my Wednesday interviews!
I really enjoy the bloggers who reply to my comments, but I sadly can't spare the time to do it myself. : (
I do most of that, but I do set limits on length because I know what my followers expect and I want my host to get the best response possible.
Thank you for your insights. These are things I need to be reminded of often as they do not come naturally as the do to some people.
Good advice! I've just jumped into the "hosting" and "guest post" world this year on my blog. Thanks.
You are naturally a great host, it seems. Good job, Joanna!
I need the reminders too. I think I'm going to bookmark my own post, ha ha ha!
You're welcome!
I hope I've done all that in the past. A checklist for all of this is a great idea :)
I definitely do all these things for my guests, but would add that it's also essential to be a good guest yourself -- which for me means, among other things, making an effort to answer comments on your host blog. I don't see this happening all the time, and it bugs me a bit.
Thanks Laura - just about to have some guest blogs on my blog so no need to use my very small brain - I'm just going to print out this post. Yay!
I've had a few guests on my blog. I need to keep this checklist somewhere. I believe I've been open and thankful, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
I'm pleased to say I do all these except the FB thing because I'm not there:-)
I knew you'd be a perfect host. :)
Thanks!
So true. That was actually my post for G. :)
Ha ha! Thanks. :)
I hope it's helpful for you!
I think you've got it covered :) I've not has many guests on my blog, but I'm hoping to change that during my absence :)
Jamie
Fellow A-Z Bloggy Buddy
Mithril Wisdom
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