Finding the right blogs to guest post on can be tricky, but it’s an effective way to build links, drive traffic, and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.
Begin by defining your mission for guest posting. Then, thoroughly research the blogs in your niche and pick only the best fits. Start pitching relevant content to those blogs while adhering to their guidelines. Now all you have to do is monitor the results and stay away from black-hat SEO!
Read more in this step-by-step guide to strategically research, evaluate, and approach blogs for successful guest posting opportunities.
Contents
What is Guest Posting?
Guest posting allows you to tap into an existing audience and get your content and links in front of new readers. But not all blogs are created equal regarding a guest post opportunity. You need to find blogs that match topics and authority well.
The key is to take a strategic approach to identifying and vetting potential blogs. With the right process, you can consistently find quality sites that approve and publish your guest posts. It builds your brand, expands your reach, and gives you the backlinks you need to rank higher in search engines.
Step-By-Step Process
If you want to know how to start guest posting, refer to this step-by-step process –
Begin by Defining Your Goals for Guest Posting
The key here is thoroughly researching blogs in your industry or niche before you find guest post opportunities. Why are you doing it, and what do you hope to achieve? It focuses your efforts.
Thoroughly Research Blogs in Your Niche
To find guest post opportunities:
- Learn how to submit guest blog posts by thoroughly researching blogs in your industry or niche.
- Look for sites that get decent traffic and engagement.
- Be very clear on what you want to get out of guest posting.
Pick out the Best Fits
Vet these blogs based on domain authority, page authority, and trust. Narrow your list down to the best fit. It focuses your efforts and helps assess what blogs are worth pitching and publishing. Knowing how to find guest post opportunities is all about finding blogs that align with your goals and have a good reputation.
Pitch Relevant Content To Them
Once you have a broad list of blogs, start evaluating them to narrow it down. Look at the topics they cover and the types of content they publish so you can pitch relevant ideas. Focus on mid-tier blogs with decent authority and engagement. Avoid spammy sites just to get links. Knowing how to be a guest blogger involves understanding the blog’s audience and offering something unique and interesting. Remember that you want reputable blogs aligned with your niche and goals.
Additional Guidelines to Help you Pitch
- Look at the topics they actively cover and the gaps you can fill. Offer something unique and interesting.
- Align topics with your guest posting goals. For example, link-building posts can focus on keywords you want to rank for.
- Review their contributor guidelines for details on the types of posts they accept and recommended topics.
- Pitch 3-5 topic ideas in your outreach email to give options.
Adhere to Their Guidelines
Be natural. Most blogs want natural integration, not overt optimization. Discuss how anchor text and links will be incorporated. Work with them to ensure your links align with their guest posting guidelines, so you provide value, not just link spam.
Monitor the Results
A key part of any marketing effort is tracking results so you can determine what is successful and optimize from there. Track results from your outreach and finished posts using UTMs for data. Based on your goals, look at metrics like backlinks gained, referral traffic, conversions, and search ranking improvements to see ROI.
Stay Away From Black-Hat SEO And Too Much Optimization
Avoid common mistakes like shady link-building tactics or over-optimization.
Factors To Look For In A Blog
Here is a quick checklist to help you find great blogs for guest posting:
- Domain Authority and Page Authority – aim for at least 30+.
- Traffic and engagement metrics – unique visitors, social media shares, comments.
- Site trust and reputation – check reviews and social proof signals.
- Types of content and contributors – guest posts? Quality writers?
- Relevance to your niche and audience.
And here is a quick checklist of some factors to look at:
- Domain Authority and Page Authority – aim for at least 30+.
- Traffic and engagement metrics – unique visitors, social media shares, comments.
- Site trust and reputation – check reviews and social proof signals.
- Types of content and contributors – guest posts? Quality writers?
- Relevance to your niche and audience.
Mistakes People Make When Guest Posting
It’s important to avoid common mistakes that can get your guest posts rejected or banned. Avoid doing the following –
- Use overtly promotional anchor text like your brand name and naked URLs. It raises red flags.
- Including too many links. Follow their guideline, usually 1-2 natural links max.
- Over-optimizing with keywords to manipulate search rankings. Write for readers.
- Mass outreach without personalization. Target sites selectively.
- Offering poor-quality content that doesn’t align with their audience. Take time to craft posts.
- Not promoting your guest posts via social media, email, etc. Always remember to amplify reach.
FAQs
How do I find guest post opportunities?
Use keyword searches, blog directories, competitor research, social media hashtags, and advanced searches to identify niche blogs accepting guest contributors. Focus on quality over quantity.
What should I include in my guest post pitch email?
Briefly introduce yourself, customize why you are reaching out to their site specifically, include 3-5 topic ideas you could write an article on, and link to 2-3 writing samples so they can assess your skills. Close by suggesting the next steps to discuss further.
Summing Up
Basically, just avoid tactics that look like link spam. Following all the above ensures that you realistically build your brand over time. It will also help build relationships with blogs as credible contributors and connect with new audiences. Knowing how to find guest bloggers is all about building relationships with other bloggers and exploring opportunities for collaboration.