Why Guest Blogging is The Best SEO Strategy For Bloggers

Guest blogging has become one of the most powerful SEO and content marketing strategies for bloggers in recent years.

Ready to become a guest posting ninja?

Guest blogging is the jam these days for taking your blog game to the next level. And I’ve got the inside scoop on how to crush it. I’m going to hook you up with my best tips for finding prime guest posting opportunities, crafting killer pitches, and writing posts that wow editors and readers alike.

In this post, I’m bringing the real deal – actionable stats based on my own experience. No theoretical fluff or shady tactics. Just the nitty gritty on what works.

Stuff like:

• How do I dig up sweet guest posting opportunities that actually convert readers into followers
• My step-by-step recipe for crafting magnetic pitches that get the green light again and again
• How I shape posts to really resonate with new audiences
• Promo tips to get maximum bang from each guest post

If you want to take your guest blogging game to the next level, you’re in the right place. I’m going to break it down for you so you can start landing awesome placements ASAP. Get ready to become a guest posting expert! Let’s get this guest post bread.

What is Guest Blogging?

Guest blogging is when a writer contributes a blog post to appear on someone else’s website or blog. It’s like being invited to a party where you don’t know anybody, but you bring a dish to share and mingle in hopes of making new friends (or readers!).

Guest posts are the best way for bloggers to reach new audiences. It’s like getting a temporary VIP pass into another blogger’s community. You get exposure to readers you may not have reached before. It’s an opportunity to show off your blogging skills and expertise in hopes the host blogger’s audience will like what they see and want to follow you back home to your own blog.

But it’s not all take – as a guest you have to be on your best behavior! Make sure your post is high quality and relevant to the host site’s niche. You don’t want to be that guest who shows up empty handed and spends the whole party talking about themselves. Give the host blogger’s readers something fun and valuable!

The key is finding the right parties to crash…I mean the right blogs to pitch guest posts to. Look for sites that share a similar audience but don’t directly compete with your own content. Develop relationships with other bloggers and contribute to each other’s sites. Most importantly, don’t spam every blog you can find with copy-pasted pitches – take the time to craft custom posts tailored to each site.

If done right, guest blogging is a win-win. You get new readers, the host gets fresh content, and readers get great info. Just be sure to mind your blogging manners! With so many AI tools trying to game the system these days, real human connections are more valuable than ever.

What Are The Benefits of Guest Posting?

1. Increased Brand Exposure & Traffic

The biggest benefit of guest blogging is that it puts your brand and content in front of an entirely new audience. The host blog will have different readers than your own blog, which gives you the opportunity to showcase your expertise on a popular platform in your industry. This exposes you to new readers, social followers, and traffic.

A single guest post on a popular site can bring thousands of new readers to your site. For example, Backlinko founder Brian Dean generated over 100,000 new visitors within 9 days of publishing a guest post on Copyblogger. That’s the power of leveraging a site with an existing audience.

2. Gain Backlinks & Improved SEO

Guest blogging has historically been a favorite SEO tactic because it can help you earn high quality backlinks from authoritative sites. And as we all know, backlinks remain one of the top ranking factors for SEO in 2023.

When you guest post on sites with a higher domain authority and page authority than your own site, it signals to Google that your content is also high quality. This ‘vote of confidence’ from an authoritative site boosts your own authority and search rankings.

One study by Moz found that pages with just 10 backlinks from high authority sites ranked much higher than pages with hundreds of links from low-quality sites. In other words, guest posting on the right blogs can be much more powerful than other link building tactics.

3. Thought Leadership & Industry Authority

Guest blogging also elevates your reputation and expertise when done right. Writing for respected industry blogs shows you’re an authoritative voice that the top sites want to feature. This lends you instant credibility.

Readers see that other influential blogs trust you to provide value to their audience. So they’re much more likely to trust you as an expert.

And don’t underestimate the power of a simple author bio with a link back to your site! This gives readers a snippet of your credentials and makes them more likely to visit your blog.

4. Build Relationships & Connections

Guest posting often leads to networking opportunities and partnerships if you play your cards right. For example, a blog owner might invite you to be on their podcast or contribute to an online summit after seeing you provide stellar content to their audience.

You could also forge long-term partnerships with blogs you guest post for, leading to future opportunities down the road. At the very least, you’ll build relationships with influential people in your niche.

Improved Writing Skills Writing for high-authority blogs also challenges you to improve your writing skills. Their editors will push you to tighten up your points, cut the fluff, and really bring you on game.

Alright, now that you’re pumped up on why guest blogging needs to be a key part of your strategy, let’s get into how to actually make it work.

Finding Great Guest Posting Opportunities Your first step is identifying blogs that are a good fit for you to guest post for.

Here are some factors to look for:

1. Relevant to Your Niche:  The blog should be tightly focused on your niche, industry, or area of expertise. This ensures your post will appeal to readers. A parenting blogger would be a poor fit to post on a woodworking site.
2. Higher Domain/Page Authority:  Prioritize blogs that have a higher domain authority and page authority than your own site. For example, if your site has a domain authority of 45, look for sites with a DA of 50-70. You can check metrics like DA using Moz or Ahrefs.
3. High Traffic:  Look at the blog’s monthly visits and social media followers. Blogs with over 100,000 visits per month or 50,000+ social followers tell you there’s an established audience.
4. Engaged Readers: Do readers actively comment on and share posts? Lots of comments and social shares indicate an engaged audience.
5. Trust & Authority:  Is the blog well-known and respected in your industry? Do they have contributor guidelines and a review process? These signs indicate authority.
6. Active Posting:  Post recency and frequency shows a blog is still actively posting content. Blogs with new posts daily or weekly are ideal.
7. Dofollow Links:  Verify they allow dofollow links in guest posts so you can get SEO value. You can use a link checker tool to test.

Next, make a list of target blogs that meet as many of these criteria as possible. Aim for 10-20 blogs to pitch to start.

Use these tactics to build your list:

• Google for “[your keyword] + guest post” to find blogs accepting contributors.
• Check out your competitors’ sites to see where they’ve guest posted.
•  Use advanced searches on social media to find popular blogs in your niche.
• Search resources like AllTop, Blogarama, and Technorati.
• Ask colleagues for blog recommendations.

Once you have your target list, it’s time to start pitching.

How to Pitch Guest Posts that Get Accepted

Crafting effective guest post pitches is an art form. Follow these tips to get your pitch accepted:

1. Personalize Each Pitch:  A generic “one size fits all” pitch won’t cut it. Take time to personalize each pitch to the specific blog, their content style, and their audience. This shows you respect their brand.
2. Keep It Short & Scannable: Blog editors are busy,  Keep your pitch short, scannable, and straight to the point. Include key details upfront like your credentials, topic, and proposed title.
3. Focus on Their Audience:  Explain how your post will provide value to their audience – not just promote yourself. Show you can bring a unique perspective to their readers.
4. Proofread Extensively: Typos or grammar issues give a bad first impression. Spend time proofreading your pitch to avoid easily avoidable mistakes.
5. Follow Their Guidelines: If they have contributor guidelines on what to include, follow them exactly. This shows you can take direction.
6. Include Writing Samples: Share 1-2 links to samples of your published work so they can vet your writing skills.
7. Follow Up Politely: If you don’t hear back within 1-2 weeks, send a polite follow up. But don’t harass them.

How to Write Compelling Guest Posts

Once your pitch is accepted, it’s go time. You’ll need to write a stellar post that wows the blog editor and readers. Here are pro tips for writing compelling guest blog content:

1. Write to Help, Not Promote: Focus on providing tangible value and takeaways for readers. Don’t make it an obvious self-promo piece.
2. Align With Their Content Style: Study several of their top posts. Get a feel for their content style, voice, and structure – then emulate it.
3. Include Multimedia: Images, videos, gifs, and graphics make your post more engaging. Include relevant visuals to break up text.
4. Share Unique Insights: Offer fresh perspectives and insights you don’t typically cover on your own blog. Give them content exclusivity.
5. Get Feedback: Ask colleagues or your email list to review your draft. Incorporate feedback to improve it before submitting.
6. Polish Your Title & Hook: Nail your title and intro hook to draw readers in. If your intro is dull, no one will stick around. If you don’t know how to do that you can read How to Write Catchy Headlines That Boost Blog Traffic and Engagement
7. Include a Strong Call to Action: End your post with a CTA to comment, share, or visit your site. This converts readers into leads.

Once your post goes live, promote it on your social channels and email list.

Guest Posting Tips & Tricks

Here are some additional pro tips for guest posting success:

• Stick to topics where you can share expertise, not just opinions.
• Use keyword research to identify high-search topics to pitch.
• Always include CTAs to your website in your author bio.
• Repurpose old blog posts into fresh guest post ideas.
• Follow up with the editor to request feedback for future improvements.
• Ask to reuse your guest posts on your own site 3-6 months later.
• Build relationships with your guest posting partners for future opportunities.
• Develop a consistent guest posting process you can replicate.

Guest Posting Tools & Resources

Here are some handy tools and resources to make managing your guest posting easier:

• BuzzStream helps track outreach and manage responses
• Pitchbox provides templates to scale your pitching
• Trello can organize your list of target blogs
• Google Docs to store pitches and track status
• ClickUp for project management
• BuzzSumo explores trending content topics
• Google Trends identifies rising search terms
• SEMrush provides keyword research for titles
• Hemingway Editor polishes your writing
• Upfluence connects you with influencers

 

My Final Words: Though it requires effort to craft custom content, the payoff in new readers and authority makes it well worth your time. Rather than spamming low-quality guest posts across the web, be selective.

Research sites related to your niche that align with your brand voice and ideals. Pitch thoughtful ideas tailored to each blog’s unique audience.
Focus on providing truly useful insights versus a sales pitch. When your guest post goes live, promote it across your own platforms.

Guest posting takes effort, but the benefits are massive. By tapping into new audiences and building partnerships with authoritative sites, you can take your blog to the next level.