If you’re a blogger or someone looking to increase their website’s visibility, you’ve likely heard the term “guest posting” thrown around. Guest posting has been a core strategy for building backlinks, improving website authority, and reaching new audiences for years.
But if you’re here, you’re probably wondering, ‘Is guest posting still a thing in 2024?’ and “Is it good or bad for SEO?” Spoiler alert: yes, guest posting is still relevant—and it can be a game changer for your blog or business if you do it right.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to guest post successfully in 2024, from what guest posting actually is to finding the right guest posting websites and executing an effective outreach strategy. So let’s dive in!
1. What Is Guest Posting?
Simply put, guest posting (sometimes called guest blogging) is when you write a blog post for someone else’s website. The idea is that you provide valuable content to another site’s audience, and in return, you often get a backlink to your own site.
Here’s how it works:
- You find a guest posting website in your niche.
- You write a quality post for their blog.
- They publish it on their site, and usually, you’ll get a link back to your website in the bio or content.
This exchange benefits both parties: the website owner gets fresh content, and you get exposure and a valuable backlink that helps improve your SEO. Done correctly, guest posting can be a powerful way to improve ranking and build your blog or website’s authority.
2. Is Guest Posting Good or Bad for SEO?
You might be wondering if guest posting is still a good idea for SEO in 2024. The answer is a resounding YES, but with a caveat: it has to be done right.
Back in the day, people used guest posting to spam low-quality articles across the web, simply for the backlinks. Google caught onto that, and in 2014, its head of web spam, Matt Cutts, said that guest posting for SEO purposes was dead. Since then, the search engine has become stricter about the quality of backlinks.
In 2024, guest posting can still improve your SEO and increase your Google ranking, but you need to be mindful of a few things:
- Quality Over Quantity: Focus on writing for high-quality, authoritative websites in your niche rather than blasting posts across any site that will have you.
- Relevance Matters: Your guest posts should be on relevant websites. If you’re a fitness blogger, posting on a tech site won’t help your SEO much. You want backlinks from related content to boost your authority in your niche.
- Natural Links: Avoid stuffing your guest posts with keywords and links. Google can tell if you’re doing this just for SEO. The key is natural, contextual links that provide value.
Why Guest Posting Is Good for SEO in 2024:
- Builds Authority: Getting featured on high-authority sites can significantly boost your website’s page authority score. Google sees this as a vote of confidence in your content, helping you rank higher in search results.
- Improves Ranking: Backlinks are still one of the most important ranking factors. The more high-quality sites that link to you, the better your chances of climbing the search results.
- Drives Traffic: Aside from the SEO benefits, guest posting is a great way to introduce your content to a new audience. If readers like what they see, they’ll click over to your site.
Helpful Tip: If you’re new to SEO and guest posting, tools like SEMrush can help you research high-authority websites and monitor your backlink profile. It’s a fantastic way to ensure your guest posting strategy is actually boosting your rankings.
3. How to Find Guest Posting Websites
Alright, now that you know guest posting is still a great SEO strategy, let’s talk about how to find guest posting websites that are actually worth your time.
You don’t want to post on just any blog. You’re looking for high-quality, authoritative sites that align with your niche and audience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding them:
Step 1: Google Search
Sometimes the simplest method works best. You can find guest posting opportunities with a quick Google search. Use these search strings:
- “Your niche + guest post”
- “Your niche + write for us”
- “Your niche + guest posting guidelines”
For example, if you run a blog about digital marketing, you could search “digital marketing guest post” or “write for us digital marketing.” This will give you a list of websites that accept guest posts in your field.
Step 2: Use Guest Posting Platforms
Several platforms and databases specialize in helping writers find guest posting opportunities. These platforms often vet the websites they list, so you’re not wasting time on low-quality blogs.
Check out these platforms:
- GuestPost.com: A popular platform where you can browse guest posting opportunities across various industries.
- MyBlogGuest: A community of bloggers who exchange guest posts.
- PostRunner: A marketplace that connects bloggers with websites accepting guest posts.
Step 3: Use SEO Tools to Find Backlinks
Another great method is to reverse engineer your competitors’ backlinks. By using SEO tools, you can look at which sites link to your competitors and then pitch those same sites.
Here’s how:
- Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to look up your competitor’s backlink profile.
- Filter for guest post backlinks.
- Pitch the same sites for a guest post opportunity.
Affiliate Tip: Ahrefs and Moz are fantastic for backlink research. They allow you to see where your competitors are getting their links from and help you find guest posting opportunities that you might have missed.
Step 4: Social Media
Many bloggers and website owners announce when they’re accepting guest posts on social media. Twitter and LinkedIn are particularly good for this. Search hashtags like #GuestPost, #Blogger, or #WriteForUs to find relevant posts.
4. How to Evaluate Guest Posting Websites
Not all guest posting opportunities are created equal. You don’t want to waste time writing a post for a site that’s not going to help your SEO. So how do you know if a site is worth writing for?
Here are some key factors to consider:
Page Authority and Domain Authority
One of the most important things to check before pitching a website is its page authority score and domain authority (PA/DA). These scores, provided by tools like Moz or Ahrefs, measure how strong a website is in terms of SEO.
- Domain Authority (DA): This is a score (on a 100-point scale) that predicts how well a website will rank on search engines. A DA of 40+ is generally considered good.
- Page Authority (PA): This is similar to DA but focuses on the authority of a specific page, like the blog post you’re writing for.
A site with high PA/DA will provide more SEO juice through a backlink than one with low authority.
Website Traffic
A site might have a high DA, but if no one’s visiting it, it’s not worth your time. Use tools like SimilarWeb or Google Analytics (if they share data) to check how much traffic the site gets. The more traffic, the better exposure for your guest post.
Engagement and Audience
Check out the site’s blog and see if people are engaging with the content. Are there comments? Do the posts get shared on social media? This will tell you whether the site’s audience is active and engaged, which is a good indicator of whether your guest post will reach people.
Helpful Tip: I recommend using Moz’s Link Explorer to check the domain authority of potential guest posting sites. It’s easy to use and offers a free plan to get started.
5. How to Write a Winning Guest Post Pitch
Okay, so you’ve found a great guest posting site—now what? You need to send a pitch that grabs the website owner’s attention.
The reality is, popular blogs get a lot of guest post requests, so your pitch needs to stand out. Here’s a simple framework you can follow to increase your chances of getting accepted:
Step 1: Personalize the Email
Generic pitches that start with “Dear Sir/Madam” are destined for the trash. Take the time to research the blog owner’s name and include it in your email. Mention something specific about their blog to show you’re familiar with their content.
Step 2: Offer Value
Don’t just say, “I want to write a guest post for your blog.” Explain why your guest post will benefit their audience. Provide a couple of specific post ideas, and emphasize how your expertise can add value.
Step 3: Show Your Credentials
If you’ve written for other guest post websites or have some impressive work samples, share them. You don’t need a long list, but including 1-2 relevant links shows that you’re a legit writer.
Step 4: Keep It Short
Blog owners are busy. Keep your email brief and to the point. A few sentences about who you are, why you’re pitching, and some guest post ideas are all you need.
Sample Pitch:
Here’s a simple template you can use:
Subject: Guest Post Pitch: [Your Topic Idea]
Hi [Name],
I’m [Your Name], and I’ve been a reader of [Their Blog Name] for a while now. I really enjoyed your recent post on [Reference a Specific Post], and it inspired me to reach out.
I’d love to contribute a guest post to your blog on a similar topic. Here are a couple of ideas I think would resonate with your audience:
- [Guest Post Idea #1]
- [Guest Post Idea #2]
I’ve written for [Mention Previous Blogs or Relevant Work], and I’d be happy to provide samples. Let me know if you’d be interested!
Best,
[Your Name]
Helful Tip: If you’re having trouble how to look up someone’s email address, tools like Hunter.io can help you find the email address of website owners or editors so you can send your pitch.
6. How to Write a High-Quality Guest Post
Once your pitch is accepted, it’s time to write the guest post itself. This is your chance to shine, so don’t cut corners!
Here are some tips for crafting a high-quality guest post:
Follow the Guidelines
Most guest posting websites have specific guidelines for guest posts. Make sure you follow them to the letter. This includes word count, formatting, and any specific SEO requirements.
Focus on Value
Your post should provide real value to the blog’s audience. Solve a problem, answer a question, or offer actionable tips. The more useful your post, the more likely it is to be shared and linked to—giving you even more SEO benefits.
Include Internal Links
Where appropriate, include links to other posts on the blog you’re writing for. This shows that you’re familiar with their content and helps with their internal linking, which they’ll appreciate.
Avoid Self-Promotion
While it’s okay to link back to your own site (usually in the bio), don’t make the whole post about promoting yourself. Your focus should be on providing value to the blog’s audience.
7. Follow Up and Build Relationships
After your guest post goes live, don’t just disappear! Guest posting is a long-term strategy, and building relationships with other bloggers can open the door to even more opportunities down the road.
Here’s how to keep the relationship going:
- Share the Post: Promote your guest post on social media and tag the blog owner. This shows that you’re helping to promote their content too.
- Engage with the Comments: If the post gets comments, take the time to respond. This will help build your authority with both the blog’s audience and its owner.
- Say Thank You: Send a follow-up email thanking the blog owner for the opportunity. A simple “thanks” can go a long way in building a strong relationship.
8. Tracking Your Guest Post Success
Once your guest post is live, it’s important to track how well it’s performing. This will help you refine your strategy for future posts.
Here’s what to monitor:
Backlinks
Check that the website linked back to your site as agreed. Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can help you track the backlinks generated from your guest post.
Referral Traffic
Use Google Analytics to see how much traffic is coming from the guest post. This will give you an idea of how well the post is performing and whether the site’s audience is engaging with your content.
Page Authority Score
After the post has been live for a few weeks, check if your page authority score has improved. Backlinks from high-authority sites should help boost your own authority and, in turn, your SEO.
Conclusion
And there you have it—a comprehensive guide to how to guest post in 2024. Guest posting is still one of the best ways to improve ranking, build your authority, and reach new audiences.
But like everything in SEO, it’s about quality, not quantity. Focus on finding the right guest posting websites, pitching valuable content, and building relationships that will last long after your guest post is published.
Recommendations Recap: