Adding voices to your blog is a huge step, one not to be easily rushed into.
Ways to determine entertaining the idea:
Inconsistent blog post count on a monthly basis for your blog
Work/lifestyle changes that affect the time available to give your best
Falling readership numbers
You want to grow your blog to the next level
When is a good time to consider it?
Two things that make it a good time: are when you know and are confident in the voice of your blog and your blog is up to 1k-2.5k readers daily. This is your baby and you will know it well by then.
Pros to Consider:
More voices create more content
More content can (but not always) create more readership
Diversification of topics and content
Increased promotional clout
Cons to Consider:
Is it the same ‘voice’ as what you started your blog to be?
Requires supervision such as editing and coordination of posts
Potential for diminished quality
Payment
Know The Difference Between Voices
There are three different roles a voice can take on when added to your blog. Below is an outline of how to differentiate what type of voice you are adding and what it can mean to your blog and the BoardingArea network.
Guest Contributor:
Submits posts directly to the blogger or has author access to WordPress
Occasionally contributes posts
Your suggested role: provide feedback, possible editing, and schedule posts
Associate Writer:
Writes regularly for the blog
Has author or editor access to WordPress
Has author bio on your blog
Has access to BoardingArea educational avenues: Learns, Blogger Live Q&A, and BAcon
Your suggested role: possible editing, in the beginning, scheduling and content conversations, cheerleading, providing updates, and funneling information received from HOM that you deem valuable to them
Blog Partner:
Writes regularly for the blog
Has admin access to WordPress
Has author bio on your blog and the BoardingArea network
Has access to BoardingArea educational avenues: Learns, Blogger Live Q&A, BoardingArea Network Facebook Group, BAcon, Mini BAcon’s
Can make technical, branding, and design decisions on behalf of the blog
Will be included in all BoardingArea communication including ad revenue reports, notes, and news
Your suggested role: Communicate regularly, create the best working relationship, and ensure the overall blog is what you have envisioned
How To Compensate Voices
While your blog is your business and your additional voices are your employees, we can’t tell you how to compensate them but we can offer this guide below.
Pay Per Post:
Flat fees and often a good way to get started. $10 a post is not a bad place to start until you can measure their talent at attracting new readers.
Suggested for guest contributors.
Ad Share:
While a bit more tricky, it can be done and HOM can help. Pay the voice a portion or all of the revenue that a voice blog posts earn. You might adopt a rev share so that you are accounting for your time supervising and helping them grow their skill set in writing or you might give them all the revue because your overall goal is building readership which can assist in growing external affiliate revenue.
Suggested for associate writers and blog partners.
Page View:
This is typically monetary and adopts a similar approach as advertising where you are paying on the PPM (pay per mile) in which the onus is on the writer to contribute content that is well read. You might say I’ll pay an $8 PPM in which the voice is paid $8 for every 1,000 pageviews their posts are viewed.
Suggested for associate writers.
Incentive:
This is based upon goals rather than start compensation. You might start with a goal for a voice to contribute 10 posts a month aid that goal is reached then you can reward them with a specific prize. The purpose here is to manage your blog and figure out what you are trying to cover additional content rather than a typical approach in these where compensation is on a post-by-post basis.
Suggested for associate writers.
Will Work for Miles/Points:
This one is common when you have a writer who just loves to write and contribute. Reimbursing writers with redemptions from your own pool of miles/points can work wonders.
Suggested for guest contributors.
How To Set Up Voices On Your Blog
You have decided you want to add a voice to your blog and what their role will be. To set them up, HOM is here to help. Please send an email to help@boardingarea.com with the following information:
Voice first and last name:
Voice email address:
Voice username preference, if any:
Voice role: (guest contributor, associate writer, or blog partner)
From there we will be able to set them up in WordPress and gather additional information based on their role.