ContentBLVD Seeks to Remake Guest Writing

New guest blogging platform has launched.

I must admit that I am ambivalent about guess writers. Some people understand my blogs and websites, contributing unique, interesting and well-written articles that add value to what I do. Unfortunately, there is another side of guest writing that seems even more commonplace: articles written by novices that are poorly researched, uninteresting or irrelevant, and simply are written below standard.

Innovative Platform

In recent months I have experimented with a new platform for guest posts. That platform is called ContentBLVD and it entered “beta” on June 15, and is now making articles available to publishers. I’ve been following the site when it was in “alpha” and can say that this platform, though new and small, has a lot of the attributes I want in a guest blogging platform. Moreover, ContentBLVD will be rolling out new features in coming weeks in its bid to be a “powerful tool for publishers.”

This week I was interviewed by the company’s CEO and co-founder Dan Ripoll. When our interview ended, we turned the table around and I interviewed Dan. The following covers what we talked about including how ContentBLVD was founded, what it represents, and where it plans to be in the future.

Curating Content

Content curation. You either love it or you hate it. Maybe both. Perhaps you are like me and share my ambivalence, but believe that there has to be something better out there than trying to source well-written guest content yourself without wasting your time or money.

ContentBLVD seeks to relieve the pressure of curation, by delivering quality articles to established and eligible blogs and websites, quickly and for free. Like the usual arrangements of guest blogging, writers contribute an article that meets your standards. In the author section at the end of the article or the byline, one maybe two links to a related site are given.

You publish the content at no cost. The article stays on your site permanently, gradually providing link juice to the customer.

Skilled Writers

Ripoll is one of five co-founders of this innovative platform, with three other people helping out. At present, there are are fewer than 100 articles available for publishing, covering a variety of topics including travel, education, business, vehicles, health and fitness, and other popular categories. Word counts are typically over 500 words with quite a few approaching 750 or 800 words or more. Not fluff pieces either, rather meaty works that were developed by skilled writers who did their research, crafted a compelling piece and topped it off with excellent grammar and a flair for style.

I’m both a publisher and contributor to the site, testing the latter to see more how it works, but preferring the former to meet my curation needs for five sites that I manage. Currently, there are 88 writers registered, but Ripoll says that only a handful are contributing. Likely, getting used to the ContentBLVD system is one of those reasons as the articles you write are held to journalistic standards, with the AP Stylebook the de facto style sheet. Not too many bloggers are well versed in all things journalism, which is why what you get from ContentBLVD shines.

Here and There

Ripoll gave no indication that his platform will replace others out there including MyBlogGuest.com. Rather, ContentBLVD is designed to raise the expectations of publishers by providing quality content. My personal take is if ContentBLVD provides a better product, better publishers will flock to its site.

That higher quality also means selecting blogs that have achieved a PR2 or higher PageRank. No unranked or low-rank blogs allowed and those sites chosen have to look good and be updated regularly.

Coming changes for the site include allowing writers to upload their own articles to be picked up by other writers in the system. At present, the articles in the system are ghostwritten and serve the company’s clients and their needs. The new arrangement expands on that by allowing vetted writers to upload their own material for free and approving blogs to pick up these articles.

Next Steps

Ripoll wants to take ContentBLVD even further, by allowing key publishers to receive articles that are especially designed for them. For example, my Auto Trends Magazine website could use more “how to” articles, quality work that gives my readers instructions on how to change a transmission, for example. A writer with a background in automotive repair might be the one to prepare the article and I would receive “first dibs” on publishing it. If it met my needs, I would publish it, if not it would go into the writing pool to be claimed by someone else.

ContentBLVD is privately held, but Ripoll says that they’re looking for private funding. They’ve got a small, but good supply of clients and with its business model taking shape, there is room for growth. Based in Los Angeles, ContentBLVD is a California C Corporation or one owned by its shareholders.

If you’re looking for a different platform for content curation, ContentBLVD is worth checking out, either as a publisher, a writer or both.

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