Recruiting Writers for your Neighborhood Blog

I'm often asked, "how can you write for 4 blogs?"   For one, I don't post on each of them every day.  I probably write almost one article a day, so it could be a few days before a new one is posted on one of my blogs.   Every once in while, I have several ideas and so I'll write a couple of post and stagger out the dates they will be published.   Another real fun thing to do is to invite neighbors and local experts to write posts on your blog.   

The other night I was sitting with my neighbors on their deck and one of them started talking about a recent post I did which I thought was goofy and more of a "rant" at the time...this post has received more hits than any I have done so far!  We started chatting about the neighborhood blog and he began offering ideas, "you should write about....".   That's a huge opening for me.   I turned it around and said, "YOU should write about...."   He wants to write reviews on different lunch spots in West Seattle.

The next morning, I sent him an invite to be a junior author.  In Typepad, this is very easy to do.   You simply go to the Configure tab and select Authors.  From there you just enter in the future authors name and email address and decide if you want them to be a "junior author" (where you approve posts--this is what I have for my neighborhood blog) or "guest author" (they can write and publish without your review or approval).

My neighbor, Steve, was so excited!  He provided me with his first post the next day and all ready has another one ready to be published next week.   Check out Steve's Lunchbox!  He had to email me the photos and I added them (because he is a junior author).

Here's what happens when you have a neighbor contributing to your blog:

1. Increased exposure for you.  They tell EVERYBODY.  The neighbor is so excited, they tell their Mom, friends, family...Dentist...you name it!  They want everyone to see their article and to know that they are contributing to a blog.  (Mom tells Aunt Suzy, etc.)
2. Someone else is writing for you.   This saves some of your time...someone else is doing the work and keeping your blog alive by adding fresh new content.
3. Adds depth to your content of the blog.   Different people have different writing styles and different topics they will want to express on the neighborhood blog.
4. Gives the neighbors a feeling of "ownership" in the blog.  They'll be proud of it and more apt to promote and revisit the blog to see what's new.
5. Encourages other neighbors to contribute.   As other readers who are sitting on the sidelines see more and more participate, it makes it easier for them to jump in. 
6. Creates a relationship between you and your contributors.  Steve called me 3 times yesterday!  We ususally just see each other when he's visiting my next door neighbor on their deck...I'm his new best friend!

Steve contacted me sounding like a giddy little kid after he saw his contribution was posted.   He even asked if he could have his own category!  I answered, "of course!".   Actually, that's a brilliant idea.   Now when he writes a post, he saves it under "Steves Lunchbox".   I add a couple of other categories (food and drink; reviews) since they're appropriate.   

When you read Steve's post, you'll see he has a definite style.  He is an artist...I thought about editing for punctuation and decided not to.  This is his work and if you've met Steve, you would know that this is how he talks.   The post reads like Steve is talking to you about his favorite lunch hangouts.  If I were to edit or make changes, it would sound less like Steve and more like me.  (I write like I talk, too).    I did add links to the restaurants.   Other than that, it's all neighbor Steve and it's all good!

So the next time you're visiting with neighbors or other people who live in your "neighborhood and/or farm area" blog and they express a concern or passion...recruit them!