What is Guest Posting? Everything You Need to Know

Ever wondered what is guest posting and why so many bloggers and businesses use it? It’s pretty simple — guest posting is when you write an article for someone else’s website. 

In return, you usually get a backlink to your site, which helps with SEO and attracts readers. It’s a win-win for both sides.

Guest posting helps you build authority in your niche and reach a bigger audience. Instead of waiting for people to find your site, you put your content in front of an already engaged crowd. 

If done correctly, it can boost your brand and even drive sales. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with others in your industry. Today, we’ll discuss all the important details about guest posting. So, read on to find out the answer to the question, What is guest posting?

What is Guest Posting?

Also called guest blogging, it refers to publishing articles on other websites as a guest author.

Guest posting aims to build links, improve SEO ranking, and reach new audiences.

Why is guest blogging important?

Guest posting benefits both the host site and the guest author. You get an avenue to reach a new audience and increase brand awareness while the host site gets fresh content.

The Benefits of Guest Posting

Writing guest blogs on other sites offers major advantages. I’ve listed the key ones below.

Generates Traffic

One of the main goals of creating content is to drive traffic to your website. Guest posts are perfect for achieving this.

Writing guest posts gives you access to a new audience. Even more, when you create relevant content on other blogs and it appeals to the readers, they’ll check out your website and maybe engage with your web content.

With guest posts, you can get relevant referral traffic.

You can use Google Analytics to analyze your site’s referral traffic. 

Boosts Brand Authority

Apart from gaining referral traffic, writing guest content can also establish you as an expert in your niche.

The more people come across your content on popular blogs, the more they see you as an authority.

With relevant and consistent content, you can demonstrate your expertise to a new audience and carve a name for your brand.

Improves Brand Awareness

Getting more people to know about your brand can be tough, but with the right guest post, you can do it.

Here’s how.

With a relevant guest post on a popular website, there are more chances of people coming across your brand. This means your audience will not be restricted to people who visit your site directly.

Just write a guest article on a trusted website and see the magic.

Link Building

One of the reasons for and benefits of writing guest posts is link building. By sharing high-quality content on authoritative websites, you can get high-quality backlinks that can help boost your domain authority.

Here’s an example of a guest post with a backlink to the author’s site.

Image via ProBlogger

This can help your Google rankings.

A quick warning, though.

When trying to get backlinks, it’s important to not overdo it. Google’s algorithm can detect attempts to increase backlinks through low-quality content or by spamming your content on multiple sites.

However, when done right, guest blogging is a sure way to build high-quality links to your blog.

Helps Build Industry Relationships

Guest bloggers in a niche can build industry relationships that will be beneficial in the long run. Writing and publishing guest posts on related sites can be the start of a business opportunity.

For example, other blog owners who come across your guest blogs might be interested in working with you. With a new partnership, you and other website owners can build backlinks in a mutually beneficial manner. You can also invite other guest bloggers to post on your website.

Disclaimer: This content contains some affiliate links for which we will earn a commission (at no additional cost to you). This is to ensure that we can keep creating free content for you.

Diversifies Content Marketing Strategy

Guest posting is a great way to diversify your content marketing strategy. Instead of relying on the same platforms, you can publish on different sites and reach fresh audiences.

Writing for different sites forces you to look at topics in new ways. You might even get inspired with fresh ideas for your own website blog. This breaks the monotony of posting similar content repeatedly on your blog. 

It’s Cost-Effective

Guest posting is one of the smartest ways to reach new audiences without spending a fortune. Instead of paying for ads or expensive marketing campaigns, you can write for other websites and gain exposure for free. 

Another significant reason guest posting saves money is that it yields long-term benefits. Ads stop working once you stop paying, but a guest post stays live for years, sending traffic your way. 

A well-placed article on a popular site can attract steady visitors, helping you grow without the need for constant spending on promotions.

Attracts New Customers

You can use guest posting to get new customers who may have never interacted with your business before. This is because guest posting puts your business in front of an entirely new audience.

When you provide helpful, engaging content on a well-known site, you’re positioning yourself as someone worth paying attention to. If someone is already interested in the topic you're writing about, they’re probably interested in what you sell, too.

Benefit from an Outsider’s Perspective

One group of people that also benefits from guest posting is bloggers and writers. It gives them the rare opportunity to receive fresh feedback from outside their usual circles. Writing for different audiences means you’ll hear from people with new opinions, questions, and ideas.

Guest posting also lets you test new ideas before fully committing to them. If you write about a topic and it sparks a lot of interest, that’s a good sign it could work as a blog series, a product idea, or even a service. 

Helps You Break Into New Niches

Guest posting is a great way to step into new niches without starting from scratch. Instead of trying to build an audience from zero, you can introduce yourself to an existing one.

Let’s say you run a fitness brand but want to reach the wellness crowd. Writing for a popular wellness blog helps you see if their readers connect with your content. If they do, it might mean that expanding your brand in that direction makes sense.

If the response is weak, then you’ve learned something without wasting time and money on a full campaign. Either way, guest posting gives you real feedback on whether a new niche is worth pursuing.

Builds Your Writing Portfolio

Lastly, guest posting improves writing skills and can help you stack up an impressive writing portfolio.

The more guest posts you write, the better your portfolio looks. It’s one thing to say you’re a great writer, but having published work on respected sites proves it. 

Whether you're a freelancer looking for clients or someone trying to grow a personal brand, a solid portfolio makes a huge difference.

7 Guest Blogging Tips

Here are seven expert tips to help you make the most of your guest posting efforts.

1. Determine Your Objectives

First things first, for your guest blogging strategy to be effective, you need to set clear objectives.

What does this mean for you?

This means you should set clear outcomes you are gunning for. Choose objectives that align with your overall marketing goals.

There are many possible objectives. You can adapt guest posting to improve your brand awareness. The objective can also be to establish yourself as an industry expert.

There’s more.

Guest blogging objectives can also include improving your social media presence or obtaining quality backlinks.

Defining your objectives will help you choose the best guest posting sites and the most suitable content. You can then proceed to the next step.

2. Look for Guest Post Opportunities

Once you’re clear on what goals you want to achieve and what kind of content you want to create, look for the most suitable sites to publish your content.

You can get guest blogging opportunities through various means.

First, a simple Google search can help you find guest posting sites in your niche.

For example, after keyword research, you can insert a keyword and add “Write for us” or “Accept guest post” to your search query. You can also add queries such as:

• Your niche + “guest post guidelines”
• “Write on our site” + high-authority websites
• “Guest blogging opportunities” + intitle:”blog”
• Competitor URL + “write for us”
• “Guest post contributor” + relevant keywords

Check out an example below.

Image via Google

There’s another way.

You can also contact popular bloggers in your niche or check their websites to see if they allow guest posting. If they are, then you can pitch your ideas and collaborate with them.

You can take your search further by analyzing the top competitors in your niche. Find out where they get backlinks from.

To do this, you need to identify your main keywords first. With Google Keyword Planner, for example, you can view the top results for the keywords.

You can then view the domain-level and page-level competitors using a backlink analysis tool. This will show the link profiles of your top competitors.

Pro Tip: Use SEO tools like Semrush or Ahrefs to find high-authority websites in your niche when looking for guest posting opportunities.

3. Choose the Right Websites

This step is highly crucial for guest posting as it can make or break your strategy.

You can’t just choose any random blog. You’ll need a blog that suits your objectives and meets the mark.

When choosing websites for guest posting, ensure they fit your niche and have an audience similar to your target audience. A website that caters to an entirely different niche and audience from yours will offer little to no benefit.

Why?

Since the audience is different, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be interested in your content.

Another factor to consider when choosing a guest posting website is domain authority. Choose websites with a higher domain authority than yours.

The domain authority (DA) score plays a huge role in how sites rank on Google search results, so it’s best to opt for sites with high DA.

Also, ensure the site is known for top-notch content in a niche and gets enough monthly traffic. You’d want a site with good editorial control and excellent content practices.

Social media following is also an important factor to consider since many blogs rely on social media traffic. With these tips, you can select a website that will make your guest posting strategy worthwhile.

4. Come Up with Content Ideas

After you’ve selected the guest posting websites you’re interested in, the next step is to come up with content ideas.

Before sending a pitch, it’s best to be prepared. This will ensure you don’t come off as a novice and that you can offer solid benefits with your guest post.

Go through the website to get a feel of their content as well as their writing style. Also, you can look through their top posts to see what makes them unique.

For the best guest posting results, look for content gaps, such as a topic that has not been well explained or areas with little information. After getting a feel of their style and voice, and their requirements, you’d have what you need to create a pitch.

Use a tool like Semrush to find topic ideas and keyword gaps. It has various tools that help with keyword research and can help you find the best topics to pitch to a partner website.

Get an idea of the style and voice of a site to create a pitch that has a high likelihood of getting accepted.

5. Reach Out with a Pitch

Next, come up with a brilliant pitch. Mention the topic in your guest posting pitch, with an explanation of how you plan to add value to the target site.

Your pitch should be professional, concise, captivating, and explanatory.

You can offer various relevant ideas the website owner might be interested in. If you’ve published posts on other blogs successfully, adding the proof can help.

You can send in your pitch through different methods. For instance, locate the contact page on your target blog and check if there’s a contact email address.

After locating their email address, also check if there are guidelines for sending guest blog pitches. Your message should be personalized and should have a catchy subject line.

Many blogs include a form on their website that you can fill out to send your guest posting proposal. If you have a relationship with the blogger or you’ve interacted with them frequently, a direct message won’t hurt.

Ask if they work with guest bloggers first, and then offer your pitch.

After reaching out with your pitch, wait a few days for a reply. If there’s none, you can send a follow-up email. However, make sure you’re not pushy.

Pro Tip: Tailor your guest post idea to suit the target site’s editorial style and audience. Ensure you go through their blogs first before sending a pitch.

6. Write the Guest Post

Your guest posting pitch has been accepted. Great news!

The next step is to create an excellent guest post. Ask the website owner for their writing guidelines and read them thoroughly.

Also, you’ll need to research the topic. A good first impression is important.

Again, remember to stick to the rules.

While writing guest blogs, your focus should be on providing value to the reader instead of being overly promotional.

Here are some quick tips:

• Choose a naturally fitting topic, don’t try to force your content on the target site.

• Add relevant images to make your article engaging and easy to read.

• Include relevant internal links and backlinks to your guest post.

• Write original content and run it through a free AI detector tool for quick approval

• Proofread and proofread again. Make sure the post is rich with information while following the target site’s guidelines.

• Always add an author bio. It offers readers brief information about you and your areas of expertise. It should be in the third person, brief, and professional. Here’s an example.

Image via Copyblogger

7. Optimize Guest Posts for SEO

While guest blogging gives you quick access to new audiences and boosts your website traffic, that isn’t an excuse to ignore guest blogging SEO. You stand to achieve more if you optimize your guest posts for SEO because it makes ranking much easier.

Some helpful tips you can use include the following:

• Use keywords naturally: Before writing, research keywords related to your topic. These should be words people type into search engines. Add them throughout your post, especially in the title, headings, and first few sentences. Don’t overdo it.

• Use catchy headlines: The post headline should grab attention while including a keyword. Keep it clear and simple. Something like “What is Guest Posting: How to Write Posts That Rank” works better than a vague title like “Things to Consider When Writing”.

• Make it easy to read: No one likes a giant wall of text. Break up paragraphs, use bullet points, add bucket brigades, and add subheadings. The easier your post is to skim, the longer people will stay on the page.

• Optimize your images: If you’re adding images (which you should), ensure they’re not large files that slow down the page. Also, name them with keywords instead of random numbers.

8. Promote the Guest Post

Once again, just because your quest post is appearing on a big website with massive traffic doesn’t mean you simply sit back. You need to vigorously promote the post because the more eyes it gets, the better your prospects will be.

So, how do you spread the word and get the best results for your guest blogging efforts? Here are some easy ways to do it.

• Share on social media: Post about your guest article on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, or anywhere else your audience hangs out. Don’t just drop the link — write a short post explaining why people on social media should read it.

• Use your email list: If you have a newsletter, share the link with your subscribers. Ensure you use catchy subject lines that will make people open the link and read the blog.

• Ask the site owner to share it too: Many website owners are happy to share guest posts on their social media or newsletter. Just ask! They benefit from more traffic, so it’s a win for both of you.

• Mention it in your other posts: If your guest post is related to something you’ve written before, update your own blog posts with a link to it. This keeps your content fresh and drives more traffic to your guest post.

• Engage readers in the comments: If people leave comments on your guest post, reply to them. This keeps the conversation going and encourages more engagement, which can increase the visibility of your guest blog post.

9. Follow-Up

After you submit guest posts, ask for feedback. You should also send a thank-you message after your post goes live.

The next step is to promote the post on various platforms. Also, monitor the comments and respond to them promptly.

Lastly, you can use data analytics to see how your guest posting strategy has performed. Google Analytics is a good tool for tracking your referral traffic.

FAQ

Q1. What is guest posting?

A. Guest posting refers to publishing content on other websites to gain backlinks, build awareness, and generate referral traffic.

Q2. What are the benefits of guest posting?

A. Guest posting boosts web traffic, increases brand awareness, boosts brand authority, helps generate high-quality backlinks, and more.

Q3. Is guest posting worth it?

A. If done properly, guest posting can help boost your site rankings, build high-quality, backlinks, and drive referral traffic to your website. So, yes, it’s worth it.

Q4. Does guest posting affect SEO?

A. High-quality backlinks can boost domain authority, which in turn affects SEO rankings.

Q5. How do I get guest posting opportunities?

A. Look out for relevant websites in your niche that accept guest posts. You can also conduct a keyword search or analyze your competitors to locate high-ranking blogs.

Ready to Get Started?

Guest posts are highly effective in generating traffic, building backlinks, boosting brand awareness, building brand authority, and creating business relationships.

Remember, the first step is to have clear objectives before looking for guest blogging opportunities. Offer valuable content on the right blogs, choose the right website, and follow up, and you’ll see the results quickly. Good luck!

Disclaimer: This content contains some affiliate links for which we will earn a commission (at no additional cost to you). This is to ensure that we can keep creating free content for you.