Lately, I've had an influx of guest posts inquiries emailed to me. Many of them are simply asking: Can I write a guest post for you? Do you accept guest posts? Others propose writing a guest post that really doesn't fit in with the content of The Lovely Side.
Honestly, I am a little picky about what ends up on here. I don't want to "sell my blog soul" for big bucks. So yes, I turn down some sponsorship, ad, and review opportunities for the simple reasons that it might not fit with what I do here on The Lovely Side. And yes, I do turn down guest post inquiries that also don't fit.
I feel that I owe it my readers of The Lovely Side to be consistent with content and only promote things I really like and think they'll like, too.
To be as transparent as possible with readers and potential guest bloggers, here's a rundown of my guest post policy.
If you're interested in guest posting for The Lovely Side, here's how it works:
1. Send me the whole post.
Email the entire, finished post (along with photos) to [email protected]. It's okay if it's a rough draft, but it needs to be a complete post. Please do not email me asking if I'm accepting guest posts or if I'm interested in a guest post about something. These emails pile up. Because of the sheer amount of email in my inbox, I'm unlikely to respond unless you actually sent me the post to read.
2. Make sure your post meets these requirements:
- Guest posts must be original content written by YOU. It can't be published anywhere else. It can't be authored by anyone else. You can use your whole name, first name, a pen name, or even remain anonymous, but the words must be yours.
- Guest posts must complement the style, voice, and content of The Lovely Side. Please familiarize yourself with what I blog about here and what other guest bloggers haven't written. For example, The Lovely Side focuses on decorating dorms and apartments... not children's rooms. This blog focuses on renter solutions rather than homeowner solutions. Stuff like that. If you send me a post that has nothing to do with anything else on the blog, I'll assume you're not that familiar with The Lovely Side.
- Just as the writing must be original, the photos must be original, too. Or, you must have permission to use them. And if you have permission to use them, please be sure to send along the original source so that I can credit them in the post.
- Guest posts should not have any affiliate links. If you're trying to sell a product or service, you'll want to email me about a sponsored post or advertising on The Lovely Side. Guest posts are for sharing original ideas, spaces, projects, and content -- not marketing. I'm happy to link to your personal blog or website, but not the company, product, or other related entity that you represent.
3. If it's not right for The Lovely Side, it's not personal.
The Lovely Side is mainly my outlet for sharing my hobbies and interests revolving around decorating, small spaces, and do-it-yourself projects. I sometimes publish guests posts because a fellow blogger has something to say that fits right into the content here. I'll only publish guest posts that I feel match the voice, style, and content of The Lovely Side. It's part of being honest and transparent with my audience. (Just like I won't publish any product review, sponsored post, or advertisement that I don't truly dig myself or believe my audience will dig, too.)
4. No money exchanged either way.
I will not pay you for your guest post. And I will not charge you if I decide to publish your guest post. Sponsored posts and advertisements are a different story, so email me if you're interested in rates.
5. Please, please be patient.
This blog is my hobby. I try to devote as much time as possible to it, but in real life: I have a full-time job that I need to pay bills and student loans. I wish that I could make a living off of blogging and devote all my time to The Lovely Side, but that's just not how it is. The money I do earn through blogging goes straight to paying for the supplies to do projects and create more content for the blog. So there's a hierarchy of what I can get to and when. When I get the chance, I'll read the full guest post that you send over. Then I'll let you know if I'm going to publish it or not. If I decline, feel free to publish it on your own blog or offer it to someone else. If I accept, I'll send you a link when I publish it.
If you have any questions that aren't answered here, please leave them as a comment below and I'll address it in this post.
Thank you!
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