6 Steps How I Prepare My Blog as Guest Blogging Host

As you know, I accept guest blogging in this blogging tips blog. As I told in that accepting announcement of guest blogging, It is needed time to prepare the guest blogging environment. There are many things that should do to be prepared for guest blogging host. It is surely a hard task if there is no guidance for guest blogging process. Therefore, here I am now, share how I prepare my blogging tips blog to be ready as guest blogging host. There are six steps involved in the guest blogging host preparation. I hope these steps able to help you if you look for simple and to the point guidance of how to prepare a blog as guest blogging host.

Here we go!

Step #1. Allow User To Subscribe

It is the basic step that we must do as guest blogging host because – believe me – it is far easier for us and for our guest bloggers to maintain the guest blogging activities if compare with manual E-mail submission. This steps are to allow the guest blogging be automatic. So, I configure this blog to accept user to subscribe:

• Log in into WordPress dashboard
• Go to “Settings” and click it
• Click “General”
• Setting ‘Membership” part so anyone can register
• Setting “New Users Default Role” as Subscriber

Step #2. Allow contributor user level to upload picture

It is an important part for this whole guest blogging environment setup. It is because a picture can make the blog post become the awesome blog and I believe that each guest bloggers will subscriber their best blog post for guest blogging as it is the only way to get optimum guest blogging benefits. Therefore I need to put below code into my function.php:

if ( current_user_can(‘contributor’) && !current_user_can(‘upload_files’) )
add_action(‘admin_init’, ‘allow_contributor_uploads’);
function allow_contributor_uploads() {
$contributor = get_role(‘contributor’);
$contributor->add_cap(‘upload_files’);
}

Code above will allow contributor user to upload the picture for their guest blogging post. It save my time instead I must put the picture manually. I believe that let guest bloggers have guest blogging environment as similar as their own blog will produce the great guest blogging post. And ability to upload the picture is one of feature which allows guest bloggers feel like in home.

Step #3. Install WP Status Notifier WordPress plugin

Notification tool is a must. Therefore I install this WP Status Notifier WordPress plugin. This plugin provides a notification each time I approve or publish the submitted guest posting, the author will be notified automatically right into their E-mail. By notified, they will aware of their guest post so can be ready to optimize it. And here how I install this WordPress plugin:

• Login to WordPress dashboard
• Go to “Plugins” and click it
• Click “Add New”
• Put “WP Status Notifier” in search box and then click “Search Plugins” button
• Click “Install” link at “WP Status Notifier”
• Click “Install Now”
• Click “Activate Plugin”
• Go to “Settings” and click it
• Click “Status Notification”
• Setting it as needed
• Done. Notification tool is ready.

Step #4. Create Author Bio Box

In my opinion, The Author Bio Box is a must if we want our blog ready for guest blogging. It is the place in where our guest poster able to give description about them (including their blog link) so our readers know about them. Since I already write the detail about how to create an author bio box in blog post that I link above, I will not write about it again in here. If you want to know about the steps to create author bio box, just click the link above.

Step #5. Create The Rule

The guest blogging rule is needed as guidance for guest blogging host admin as well as for guest bloggers. In my opinion, this rule (guidance) which will make the blog become a great environment for guest blogging activities. As you know, there are many people who involved in guest blogging activities. It is natural that each people have different needs and interest regarding guest blogging activities. Therefore it is surely a doom if each people who involved allow to do what ever they want. It will ruin the great of guest blogging for sure. That’s why I create the guest blogging rule for this blog.

Step #6. Provide The Whole Information in Single Page

It seems that all already setup. The blog is almost ready to accept guest bloggers. The blog is surely ready after do this finishing touch step. Yes, It is about information of guest blogging. I provide the needed information regarding guest blogging in single page. It will make the potential guest bloggers know that this blog accept guest bloggers, know how to subscribe as guest bloggers, and what to do in guest blogging activity. In short, this single page provide the complete guidance of guest blogging in the blog – it is the guest blogging guidance indeed.

Final Words

Now, my blog have been ready as guest blogging host after do 6 steps of guest blogging host complete preparation. It mean that my blog is ready to give a great experience in guest blogging journey both for guest blogger (author) and me as host admin. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s be blogging tips blog’s guest blogger and enjoy the greatest of guest blogging journey together.
 
 
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