mytropicalescape.com

Most of us have to handle rejection on a daily basis, and some of us more than others. If you are going to try and develop your brand, your blog, and your writing style, sooner or later you ARE going to face rejection.

In my continuing efforts to develop MyTropicalEscape.com, and to help gain some additional exposure, in the past I have guest posted on numerous sites including ProBlogger, ZenHabits, and NorthxEast.

image source: kurt wagner

However, you must remember that for every guest article that gets posted, I have also had a few posts that I have submitted that were turned down (including by both Darren and Leo).

For whatever reason that the article is turned down, when this occurs and the post does not make the cut, I truly do not feel rejected. Initially, for a fleeting moment I get a little bummed out because the articles that I am able to post on larger sites get read by more people than I could ever hope to reach on MyTropicalEscape. However, I quickly move on and try to determine what the issue was, and how I can improve my efforts for future submissions.

Should you find that one of your posts that you submitted as a guest article being rejected, here are my seven rules for handling blogging rejection gracefully and with dignity:

*Rule 1: Always, without fail, send a thank you email to the person who rejected you. Most people are very busy and you should thank them for (at least) taking the time to read the guest post that you submitted.

*Rule 2: Analyze the post that got rejected and ask yourself if it was the absolute BEST that you could have submitted.

*Rule 3: Don’t be afraid to blog about your experience but do not slander the person who turned you down.

*Rule 4: Let the rejection motivate you to do better in the future.

*Rule 5: Email the person that turned down your post and seek constructive criticism, it’s the only way to improve.

*Rule 6: Just because an article got rejected (by one blogger) don’t be afraid to make a few tweaks and submit it to another site. You never know, maybe the post would be a perfect fit elsewhere…

*Rule 7: If you find yourself continually being turned down then get more INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE, AND REMARKABLE.

Remember, rejection is not failure, rather it is the sustenance that you can use to drive your motivation. DON’T GIVE UP!

Editor’s note: please check back here on Tuesday morning when I will be posting my recent interview with Leo Babauta, of Zen Habits. Or, if you like, sign up for my RSS feed.