• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Social Media Examiner

Your Guide to the Marketing Jungle

  • 🔥 Free Newsletter
  • 🎙️ Podcasts
    • Social Media Marketing Podcast
    • AI Explored Podcast
    • Social Media Marketing Talk Show
    • Our YouTube Channel
  • 🌟 AI Society
  • 🗓️ Marketing Conference
  • 👋 About Us
    • Marketing Events
  • Search
  • Embrace AI & MarketingGet Ongoing Training & SupportBEGIN YOUR JOURNEY NOW

    8 Brands That Benefit From Guest Blogging

    by Ann Smarty / February 8, 2012

    social media viewpointsGuest blogging is one of the most efficient, yet misunderstood, social media marketing tactics.

    It's not new. In fact, it's almost as old as blogging itself.  It started becoming a standout tactic just a few years ago.

    This post answers one of the most frequently asked questions: Is guest blogging good for “big guys?”

    By the way, “guest posting, the time waster” is one of the myths I busted in my previous post for Social Media Examiner. Today's article is one more argument in favor of guest blogging.

    Guest blogging is about placing your content for free outside of your own blog to increase its reach. A guest post thus is a piece of content you write for someone else's blog and include your author information to build exposure and awareness of your brand.

    Here are eight familiar brands that are benefiting from guest blogging.

    #1: Intel: Create and Support a Blogging Celebrity

    Intel has definitely made a good choice.  Ekaterina Walter is a well-known guest blogger contributing to Mashable, The Next Web, Fast Company, Social Media Examiner and many more. She actively collaborates with readers by replying to comments and participating in discussions.

    Intel: Create and Support a Blogging Celebrity
    Caption: Intel's Ekaterina Walter answering comments to her guest post at Mashable.

    So what is Intel doing right?

    The company lets Ekaterina build her own personal brand. She always links to her personal blog while making it obvious that she loves working at Intel.

    Ekaterina has become a social media celebrity and Intel handles that perfectly. It brings the company credibility, which is an invaluable advantage.

    #2: Evernote: Share Your Own Success Case Study

    Evernote is one of the best to illustrate the difference between self-promotion and sharing authentic case studies.

    Evernote's CEO Phil Libin is a guest contributor at TechCrunch, sharing the behind-the-curtain and first-hand experience of promoting an iPhone application. This post was an eye-opener for many people, as it shared some pretty awesome stats.

    Evernote: Share Your Own Success Case Study
    Caption: Evernote's CEO Phil Libin sharing his company stats after the first week on the App Store.

    So what did Evernote do right?

    Being really open and sharing your actual stats and tactics in a guest post on a popular blog may make you vulnerable to competitors who might try to copy your strategy.

    AI Business Society

    Ready to Unlock AI Marketing Breakthroughs?

    If you’re like most of us, you are trying to figure out how to use AI in your marketing. Here's the solution: The AI Business Society—a new AI marketing community from your friends at Social Media Examiner.

    The AI Business Society is the place to discover how to apply AI in your work. When you join, you'll boost your productivity, unlock your creativity, and make connections with other marketers on a similar journey.

    I'M READY TO BECOME AN AI-POWERED MARKETER

    But the loyal community of social media advocates and exposure the guest post brings is well worth the risk.

    #3: Xbox: Dealing with a social media crisis

    Stephen Toulouse, head of Xbox LIVE Policy and Enforcement, found a great place to explain the recent series of “unfair” console suspensions—the personal blog of his fellow Xbox team member.

    The guest article has caused quite a buzz in the gaming community and an active discussion at the post.

    XBox: Dealing with Social Media Crisis
    Caption: Stephen Toulouse of Xbox deals with a social media crisis with the help of a guest post on a popular blog.

    So what did Xbox do right?

    To respond to rumors, the company needs to talk back to the community. A guest post shared on a popular niche blog is a great way to start the conversation.

    #4: Klout: Promote your most powerful users

    Megan Berry, the marketing manager for Klout, hits Huffington Post with a series of guest articles highlighting the most influential Twitter users (as per Klout stats).

    Klout: Promote Your Most Powerful Users
    Caption: Klout's Megan Berry features the most popular Twitter users (according to Klout).

    So what is Klout doing right?

    By sharing Twitter lists on a popular blog, Megan manages to achieve two important goals: (1) she shares Klout's methodology and application example and (2) she attracts attention of those influential Twitter users to Klout (turning them into powerful brand advocates).

    Discover Proven Marketing Strategies and Tips

    Want to go even deeper with your marketing? Check out the Social Media Marketing Podcast! Publishing weekly since 2012, the Social Media Marketing Podcast helps you navigate the constantly changing marketing jungle, with expert interviews from marketing pros.

    But don’t let the name fool you. This show is about a lot more than just social media marketing. With over 600 episodes and millions of downloads each year, this show has been a trusted source for marketers for well over a decade.

    CHECK OUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING PODCAST NOW

    #5: Autodesk: Promote your message

    The Autodesk team has been working hard to promote sustainable design. They are running an active contributing column at Fast Company called “Autodesk Sustainable Blogging Team” as well as guest posting actively around the web on sustainability in design. Here is a recent post on Designing a Sustainable World in 3D (at Forbes).

    Autodesk: Promote Your Message
    Caption: The Autodesk sustainable blogging team's guest column at the Fast Company blog.

    So what is Autodesk doing right?

    Guest blogging is a great way to increase brand awareness, but you don't need to directly self-promote in your guest posts. Instead, focus on an idea, message or concept neighboring your brand. This will grow your (personal) brand influence and position you as a niche expert. For example, see how many times the Autodesk Sustainable Blogging Team is quoted online:

    Autodesk: Promote Your Message
    Caption: Screenshot of multiple quotes from the Autodesk Sustainable Blogging Team.

    #6: O'Reilly Media: Increase your reach

    One of the best-known media companies is hardly in need of more exposure, right? Wrong! O'Reilly Media started O'Reilly's Radar, an online blog featuring emerging web technologies.

    To increase its reach, correspondents for O'Reilly Media maintain regular guest accounts at top online publications; for example, Alexander Howard, government correspondent for O'Reilly Media, is a guest author for ReadWriteWeb, Huffington Post, etc.

    O'Reilly Media: Increase Your Reach
    Caption: Alexander Howard's guest post at Huffington Post results in a very active discussion.

    So what is O'Reilly Media doing right?

    Even huge brands with lots of online exposure understand that it is not wise to keep all of the content on their own sites. Yes, the constant stream of news might make other “outside” publications much stronger, but the exposure you get from regular guest posts on high-profile blogs is well worth it.

    #7: Salesforce: Get the whole team involved

    Salesforce is one of those huge brands that takes guest blogging really seriously. For example, their CEO Marc Benioff guest posts at TechCrunch on the future of cloud computing; their coders guest post at the official Google Code blog, sharing how to build a Google Earth app for Salesforce.com Foundation grantees and how to visualize your cloud's data; and their MVPs guest post on file management.

    Salesforce's CEO Marc Benioff guest posts at TechCrunch on the future of cloud computing.

    So what is Salesforce doing right?

    Incorporating your whole team in guest blogging means creating multiple voices around your business. Guest blogging should be a team effort. Salesforce gives its employees the freedom to talk about what they are good at and what they enjoy. The result: plenty of first-hand tutorials on using Salesforce and a lot of well-established contacts with bloggers.

    #8: Forrester Research: Share the expertise

    The leading business research company successfully uses guest blogging at powerful blogs to share their team members' expertise.  For example, Forrester‘s vice president and research director J. P. Gownder writes on brand loyalty; their principal analyst guest posts on ICANN's new domain registry options; and their consumer product strategy professional leader guest blogs on the future of digital music.

    Forrester Research: Share the Expertise
    Caption: Forrester's vice president J. P. Gownder writes on brand loyalty.

    So what is Forrester Research doing right?

    Forrester Research makes great use of expert blogging. All of their leaders are blogging and most of them have powerful guest columns outside Forrester's domain. All of the team members' posts are highly professional—they all work to the benefit of the company's image.

    So are you guest blogging yet? Maybe you need to start!

    What do you think?  Do you know of any other big guys who are using the power of guest blogging? What else can we learn from them?  Leave your questions and comments in the box below.

    AI EXPLORED

    Curious About How to Use AI?

    Our newest show, AI Explored, might be just what you're looking for. It's for marketers, creators, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how to use AI in their business.

    It's hosted by Michael Stelzner and explores this exciting new frontier in easy-to-understand terms.

    Pull up your favorite podcast app and search for AI Explored. Or click the button below for more information.

    I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AI

    Tags: Blogging, Social Media Research, Social Media Strategy

    About the authorAnn Smarty

    Ann Smarty is an experienced blogger, manager at Social Media Promotion platform and author of Social Media Promotion Guide, and owner of MyBlogGuest.com—the ethical community of guest bloggers. If you are serious about guest posting, join us! Follow Ann on Twitter; @seosmarty and @myblogguest.
    Other posts by Ann Smarty »

    Get Social Media Examiner’s Future Articles in Your Inbox!

    Get our latest articles delivered to your email inbox and get the FREE Social Media Marketing Industry Report (43 pages, 50+ charts)!

    Industry Report Cover

    Worth Exploring:

    Facebook

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Instagram

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    YouTube

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Linkedin

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    AI

    Next Frontier Explore More →

    Social Media Marketing Industry Report

    Get Free Report →

    Social Marketing Trends

    The data you've been missing!

    Need a new plan? Discover how marketers plan to change their social activities in the 17th annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report. It reveals what marketers have planned for their social activities, content marketing, and more! Get this free report now and never miss another great article from us. Join more than 385,000 marketers!

    Simply click the button below to get the free report:

    Footer

    Your Guide to the Marketing Jungle
    Copyright © 2025 Social Media Examiner®
    All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy.

    Helpful Links

    • About us
    • Our content via email
    • Our podcasts
    • Our YouTube channel
    • Our live show
    • Our social media marketing industry report
    • Our generative AI marketing industry report
    • Sponsorship opportunities
    • RSS