Become a guest blogger

Llandaff News is no longer publishing. However, the site remains as an archive of the project.

Have something to say? Why not become a guest blogger.

What is a “guest blogger”?
If you can write a letter to the editor, you can write a guest blog post. While a letter to the editor of your local paper is printed, your guest blog post is published online. And this brings many more benefits to you as someone with a story or opinion to share.

What are the benefits of guest blogging?
Your writing isn’t cut to fit a newspaper. A guest blog post is the bread and butter of local news sites like Llandaff News. Which means when your story or opinion is published, it isn’t on page 14 and cut down to two paragraphs. We put it on the front page of the website and always try to include a photograph or illustration. Then we promote your guest blog, telling our Facebook fans and Twitter followers that you’ve written something worth reading.
Your post is permanently online for anyone in the world to read. A guest blog post lives online, which is permanent – not material for the recycle bin. So in a month’s time when a related story makes headlines and people Google the same key words mentioned in your blog post, your blog post becomes relevant again. And more people will read it.
More people will read what you have to say. Enough said.

What should I write about?
Guest blogging should be about a topic or issue that interests you and relates to the local area. Here are a few examples:
Your hobbies and interests You have a penchant for gardening, which means most of your weekends are spent down at your local allotment. So perhaps you know exactly what’s sort of vegetation grows best in the local soil. Write about it. Or maybe you’re involved in a community garden scheme. Write about it. Or you even have an issue with the allotment – pests, anti-social behaviour, careless tenants next to your plot, etc. Write about it.
Your community issues A vacant shop is about to transform into a Tesco Express if the Council grants planning permission. Maybe you’re excited for lower prices in your neighbourhood. Or maybe you think these low prices will drive local shops out of business. Write about it.
Your personal stories and issues Your daughter has won a spot on Britain’s Next Top Model. Write about it. Your rubbish hasn’t been picked up in a week. Write about it. You’ve recently taken up cycling to save time and money on your commute. Write about it.

But I’m not a writer or a journalist. Can I still submit a guest blog post?
Your writing doesn’t need to be perfect. We read all the guest blog posts before they are published, checking them for spelling, grammar, factual correctness, libel and defamation. If you want us to help you craft your prose, tell us. If you don’t want us to take a scapel to it, tell us. At the end of the day, the guest post has your name on it.