I receive many requests to host guest posts on my blog, I have noticed recently that many of the guest posts are not coming from other bloggers or even authors for that matter but from PR companies acting on 
behlaf of their client.
While the content is in relation to parenting lets say the links or author Bio clearly links back to most noticeable a well known brand name or business.
A guest post on baby and sleep arrives, well written and informative, great for the blog but the Bio is indeed advertising an Insurance company who deals with accident claims, no relation to parenting at all? The link they wish to use is one that goes straight to their own Insurance website.
I like to believe by offering guest post opportunities I am helping other bloggers and authors broaden their online presence but are the PR and companies being fair?
Is providing a blog post in return for a advertising link acceptable and am I shot changing my blog and readers?
I want to provide information that my I feel my readers will benefit from, but am I shoving business links under their noses? Do I even recommend the business in the link? By placing the business link in the Bio am I saying to my readers Yes I think they are great so click this link.
Please note I have exchanged no money or goods or service on any guest posts, maybe I should if they wish their business to be displayed?
Is it only fair that in return for an informative post that they are allowed their company to be advertised, is that the deal with guest posts these days?
Would an author Bio advertising link be classed as a paid link? Does Google believe it must be a paid link and should it be strictly a no-follow link, indeed should these links be paid for? Am I jepodising my own blog for the sake of a link?
I would love to hear your own views on this…
About The Real Supermum
I think your doing the right thing, but i would be asking for something in return if i was you. even just a link to the blog on their website. I myself have clicked a few links on here and they have been helpful. its not shoving anything under anyones noses, your not forcing any one to click the link if they do now want to. do what you think is best, the way i see it, its not harming anyone
Personally I definitely would NOT put anything on that suggests I endorse it if I didn’t. Secondly I am luckily enough to have spoken to an experienced blogger and there’s no way you should be doing things like that for free – especially on such a good blog with such a high number of hits.
really? I NEVER charge for guest posts even when they do have links that go back to a business page as I thought guest blogs are just that
TBH she never spoke to my in terms of guest posts but I should imagine if it is promoting a business, or making them money in any way then they are taking advantage of you. I guess it’s up to you but I don’t think you should do anything you’re not happy with.
I seem to help so many businesses and such by offering them free links to all my readers yet none even bother to so much as tweet them too etc
Stop with the free. Your blog is doing great. You will run out of room if you keep giving them from free anyway. There’s plenty of posts about this sort of thing. Don’t let them take advantage. And remember it’s your blog.
ps that doesn’t mean no guest posts just from othe bloggers etc (haha not just because that means me lol).
My own experience is that I work with companies/ individuals who I either know (cos they’re reputable) or we have been tweeting for some time and I know they tweet responsibly. I also control the content by asking specific questions, related to eczema and in-depth of how their product helps.
Maybe for a start, if the post is on insurance, then the bio can be linked to insurance site. If the insurance agent is writing a parenting post, then the link be to his/her parenting blog. Of course, he/she can mention she’s an insurance agent in his/her own blog!
I know that’s not your style
My 2 cents, but then again, I’m way below your popularity, so you must know better than me in that sense? Am still trying to keep afloat with the time demands of it all..