Jay Leonard
When you are a regular guest blogger, it can be difficult to keep track of magazines, websites, and blogs that you have contacted or reached out to before. When you are regularly trying to find leads, you should be keeping a spreadsheet or other document that lists all the places you have contacted about guest blogging or contributing. Here are some of the options that can help you keep your guest blogging contacts organized so you know the status of each contact and whether or not they have been emailed.
Google Spreadsheet
The Google Spreadsheet is a good option because it is hosted in the cloud so you can access it anywhere. You can also also allow other users (who have a Google Account) to view it, in case you are collaborating on guest posts together. The spreadsheet works similarly to Microsoft Excel and you can highlight cells, rows, or columns with different colors to help organize your contact list. Because it is in the cloud, changes are saved immediately so anyone viewing the spreadsheet knows they have the most recent version.
DivvyHQ
DivvyHQ is a start-up based out of Kansas City that focuses on online content collaboration via calendar. Once you sign up for an account, you can add users (the fee depends on the number of users) and delegate content pieces to different writers. This is a great option for guest blogging initiatives because you can “sandbox” potential guest blogging contacts. Once they agree to post your content, you can move their sandbox entry to one of your calendars on the published or due date.
Excel Spreadsheet
This might be the most “old school” method, but it works for some people, especially those who always use one computer and are working alone. Be sure to back up your work with an automatic backup service like Carbonite (affiliate link) or DropBox.
Contact Management: Plaxo
If you want to use a bare bones approach, try an online contact management platform, like Plaxo. Plaxo will monitor your contact’s social media and digital contact info and change it automatically. You could keep notes on the status of your contact or relationship with each person and let Plaxo make sure you have the most current way to get ahold of them.
These are just some of the ways guest bloggers can keep in touch with their contacts and up-to-date on the status of their articles.
Do you have a different method? Let us know in the comments!
photo credit: Kalexanderson via photopin cc
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Jay Leonard.
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Informative. Well’ for me, I will prefer for any online spreadsheets like Google spreadsheets because one of the point there is you can access anywhere and virus free. But after all, it depends on business choice if where spreadsheets they feel may secure.
Good point! Thanks for reading.
You forgot the best solution available on the planet: FileMaker. Worth every penny. Saves stress, mistakes and prematurely grey hair (a Google spreadsheets specialty).