Why in the hell is Nicki Minaj a hardcore hip hop rapper featured on Willow’s latest hit single – “Fireball”?
It’s confusing because Willow, Will Smith’s daughter, serves up purely cotton-candy, grade school, beats that 10-year olds play on their iPods during sleepovers.
But, if you listen to the song you’ll hear Nicki’s signature style without her signature “edge”.
What’s happening? Isn’t Nicki worried about her hip hop street cred? Won’t other artists criticize her as a crossover sellout?
Nope.
In fact, hip hop artists wish they could have gotten to young Willow first. You see these hustlers know that a featured cameo (aka Guest Post) on another’s artist’s album is great but a featured appearance on an album that appeals to new audiences is worth a sellout concert at Madison Square Garden.
Believe me, I bet Nicki’s managers are pitching Taylor Swift right now.
What You Can Learn From Nicki Minaj
It’s time for you to broaden your audience base. Guest posting is a great way to do it but you should tweak the popular formula. Most experts suggest you find and pitch blogs similar to your own. This is a decent strategy but I want you to do this with a twist.
Go out and find blogs that complement your niche. So if you are a fitness trainer look for blogs on nutrition. If you sell woodworking plans look for interior design blogs. If you offer career coaching then seek out yoga instructors. Sounds weird but stick with me I promise I haven’t lost my mind.
This crossover guest blogging strategy has three benefits:
- Forces you to broaden the appeal of your expertise, product, or service. It’s easy to get caught in a rut writing about the same topics. The problem is that your competition is fighting in the same rut. Training yourself to be flexible and versatile will help you draw from a larger pool of potential readers
- Introduces your blog to a new but complementary audience. If you want to stand out you’ll need to find new eyeballs. Sidestepping to a niche that shares common interests is a great way to diversify your audience and set your blog up for long-term growth.
- Stokes Your Creative Energy. Challenging yourself to imagine new applications for your subject will give your imagination a work out.
How to Make Your Pitch to the Host Blog
This isn’t going to be your typical guest post pitch. Since you won’t be a card-carrying member of the host blog’s tribe, you’ll need to pitch “why” you would be a good guest poster.
Here’s what you should point out:
- Emphasize that you will write a post that complements the host blog’s current topics.
- Write three sample titles for the post that you intend to write. Your goal is to prove that your posts will fit in the blog’s current lineup
- Explain in detail the overlap in interests that will make your guest post appealing
- Write the entire post and send it along with your pitch. The host blog author may need to see what you have before they will believe your pitch.
Be persistent. This is a slightly tougher sale but worth the effort. Approach several different blogs, customize each pitch, and keep pounding away.
What If No One Accepts Your Pitch?
Publish the post on your blog. Promote the blog post to the audience you were targeting. Use relevant Twitter hashtags to alert interested audience members about your article. You may get a mention from one of your target blogs. Not as good as a guest post but better than nothing.
The key here is to force yourself out of your comfort zone and start thinking broadly about your topic and how it can be applied to other readers.
Like Nicki Minaj, you’ll impress your core readers with your versatility while picking up a new group of fans.
Talk to Me…
What complementary blog will you target? Let me know in the comments below.
By the way, I’m looking for guest writers for Pushing Social. Here’s what you need to know.
About Stanford
i’ve said it time and time again…maybe folks will listen to you because ain’t nobody paying me any attention. i have a blogging friend, Nicole Fende, whom i’ve publicly praised for doing the very thing you suggest. she’s a finance whiz, but you’ll find her all over the place reading and commenting on blogs that are totally outside of her niche. thank you so much for reinforcing the benefits of doing so.
@Donna – thanks for the kinds words. However people are listening to you (and your Donna-isms). It just takes time to spread and take hold.
@Stanford – I agree wholeheartedly with your post (and would add Madonna only helped too). Its also a great reminder we can do more.
Stanford – thanks for the sage advice. I have been looking for ways to expand my base and have read two posts in the past week about “complementary” blogs and how to work the crossover. I think someone is trying to tell me something!
Wow! Great post! And after I just sent you an email on the subject… so taking some insightful advice, disregard my email (for the moment) and Ill get back to you!
Expect to hear from me soon
Melissa
Very insightful comment! I also agree on it, and actually have provided more information on the subject in my blog http://diablo-3-secrets.blogspot.com Jah bless!
Great information here, Stanford. Asking someone for an opportunity to post on their blog takes real confidence. I liken it to asking to hold someone’s baby. You want to be loving and ensure you don’t do anything to cause harm.
I particularly like your advice to step out of our comfort zones. If we’re going to get noticed, we have to willing to try different things. Great post, great site.
All the best!
Thanks for stopping by Jason. It’s always great to see a new face!
For some reason, the idea of guest blogging terrifies me. But you make a good point! I already know of some side-niches (general green or eco-friendly blogs, general beauty blogs) that are related to my own (green and natural/organic beauty) that I could pursue.. guess it just comes down to figuring out *what* to pitch to these blogs.
I think it’s the whole “pitching” thing that I dread. And I never thought to just post a rejected pitch on my own blog instead – ha! For some reason, I thought if they rejected it, then it must be no good, period. I think I’ll give this a try.. I want to expand my audience.
Thanks for the great tips!
You’re welcome Jean. I was terrified when I started to but think about how great it will feel once you see your post on someone else’s blog! It’s cool.