Making Business Matter

1. FAQS:

• *Blog focus? First of all, we are a personal development blog for Managers!
• *What is our budget? Our budget or price is ZERO DOLLARS! Meaning, there is NO editorial Fee or Price/We do not pay or charge for the guest post.
• *Who are our readers? Our target readers are Managers (HR manager/training officer/learning & development manager/category manager).
• *Regarding do-follow external links? We use Ahrefs to check DA or DR:
  • a) DA or DR of 0 to 24: Will not be linked in the final publication, unless (1) it adds value (no-follow) (2) it is insisted by the guest author hence it can go in their author bio only (no-follow).
  • b) DA or DR 25 to 74: is a no-follow only.
  • c) DA or DR 75 to 100: is do-follow.
• *Types of links and guest posts we DO NOT ACCEPT are:
  • Casino,
  • CBD,
  • Lottery,
  • Gambling,
  • Forex,
  • Crypto and the like!
• *TAT? Turnaround time for articles to be published is 1-14 days.
• *Note that we reject roughly 70% of guest posts due to their poor quality and failure to meet all our writing criteria.
• *Also, guest post articles will not have a ‘sponsored‘ tag when published.
• *Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that poorly performing articles will be permanent/remain on site for over two years.

2. The Guest Blogging Process

1. 1- Firstly, the keyword you base your guest post on must be agreed with us first. So after reading this page, please use the form below to begin the process.
2. 2- Then, if you pass the screening, you will be given an article brief containing a deadline, sub-topics to include and other such vital information based on your keyword.
3. 3- After submitting your first draft via email (Word document or Google doc etc.), the web editor will review and follow up regarding revisions. This can be a back-and-forth process, so taking note of the writing criteria/guidelines is crucial. Also, we allow a maximum of two deadline extensions.
4. 4- Now once your draft is finally approved, you the author will need an author image and bio before it can be published on our website.
   • *Your author image will be through Gravatar. You can check for yours, or sign-up, which is free.
   • *Your article must be accompanied by a bio of a maximum of 50 words and the bio can include one permanent do-follow link to a reputable site such as LinkedIn. Remember our FAQs above for external links.

3. Writing Criteria or Guidelines for Our Guest Blogging:

General Content Guidelines

1. 1- Again, our guest blogging articles are about Self Development/Personal Development and the UK Grocery Industry. These will be read by HR Managers, Account Managers, L&D Managers, and Category Managers, who largely work in corporate companies.
2. 2- Focus on original concepts, compelling arguments, and high-quality writing.
3. 3- Take note to write for Google’s EEAT.
4. 4- Note that the word count is 1,000 minimum. If you really want people to find your article, then over 2,450 words are needed.

Formatting Tips

1. 1- Use H1, H2, H3 and H4 appropriately throughout your article.
2. 2- Articles must accompany a meta description (maximum 150 characters), an introduction and a conclusion.
3. 3- Include a minimum of 3 internal links. Furthermore, you can browse our blog for our articles.
4. 4- Remember to include external links that add real value for our readers. Additionally, we only allow one link back to the author’s site in the body of the article. Remember the FAQs above regarding ‘do-follow external links.’
5. 5- Test your guest posts draft with Yoast’s real-time content analysis:
   • a) It must achieve a Yoast ‘SEO’ score of ‘Good’.
   • b) It must achieve a Yoast ‘Readability’ score of ‘Easily Understood’.
6. 6- We prefer images that help to explain the concept (functional), rather than decorative images. If you must include images, use images that are free and have the appropriate credits included. Note that for diagrams and charts, we may remake these and add our branding to avoid copyright, but referencing these images in your draft is a must.
7. 7- Finally, do a spell check using Grammarly or Microsoft Word. Furthermore, use Hemingway Editor to check for run-on sentences and difficult sentence structure.

Important Metrics for Our Guest Blogging

All in all, we want articles that are unique in their perspective. Not the same old generic guest posts you see on so many websites. Plus, we are aiming to write for humans first and SEO second, so please read this update from Google.

Hence, articles must meet at least 3 of the below metrics which should be evident in multiple sections of your guest post:

#1- Real-life examples:

Use real events to illustrate your points. Avoid fictional scenarios. For instance, if discussing effective time management, share how Elon Musk organises his day or how a well-known CEO structures their workweek.

#2- Personal experience:

Incorporate your own stories and experiences to add authenticity. So if you’re writing about overcoming procrastination, talk about your own struggles and the strategies that worked for you.

#3- Humour:

Where appropriate, lighten the mood with some humour. This makes your writing more engaging. A funny anecdote related to your topic can help readers connect with you.

#4- Your personality:

Write in a conversational and relatable tone. Avoid academic or overly formal writing. For example, instead of saying, “It is essential to engage in regular physical activity,” you might say, “Getting off the couch and moving around is crucial – your body will thank you later!”

#5- Controversy:

Don’t shy away from discussing controversial topics if relevant, but handle them with care. Present multiple perspectives and back up your points with solid evidence.

#6- Stories:

Use real stories that add depth to your guest blogging article. Now these can be personal anecdotes or well-documented events. For instance, if writing about innovation, you might recount the story of how the Post-it Note was invented by accident.

#7- Application:

Here, show readers how they can apply the knowledge you’re sharing. So if your article is about improving sleep, provide actionable tips like setting a consistent bedtime or avoiding screens before bed. (We welcome images, diagrams and videos that add value, so please include these as well).

#8- Addressing the reader’s problem:

Remember to identify a problem your readers face and offer a clear, data-backed solution. For example, if discussing productivity tools, explain how a particular app can help streamline their workflow, supported by statistics or case studies.

Apply here for free: https://www.makingbusinessmatter.co.uk/contact/guest-blogging/