Guest blogging for SEO: Getting high-quality backlinks

But there are actions you can take to increase rankings and give your content a boost.

Enter guest blogging, a clever way to showcase your expertise across the web and earn those coveted backlinks in the process that helps content climb the SEO ladder. The problem is that most people are doing it wrong.

You don’t have to though, because this guide covers the art of guest blogging in a way that actually moves the needle.

What is guest blogging for SEO?

Before we jump into the strategies, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what guest blogging for SEO actually means.

Guest blogging, also known as guest posting, is the practice of a guest blogger writing content for another website or blog in your industry. In return for providing valuable content, you typically get to include a backlink to your own site within the post or author bio.

But why is this important for SEO?:

1. Backlinks: Search engines like Google consider backlinks from reputable sites as “votes of confidence” for your website. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more likely you are to rank well in search results. It's important to look at sites that have previously published guest posts, as this indicates their openness to receiving contributions.
2. Brand awareness: Guest blogging puts your name and expertise in front of a new audience, potentially driving more traffic to your site.
3. Authority building: Regularly contributing valuable content to respected sites in your niche helps establish you as a thought leader.
4. Networking: Guest blogging often leads to relationships with other bloggers and influencers in your industry.

Now that we understand the “why,” let’s dive into the “how.”

Guest blogging strategy for success

Here’s how you can create a strategy designed to win when it comes to guest blogging.

1. Identify suitable target blogs

The first step in your guest blogging approach is finding the right blogs to pitch. Not all blogs are created equal when it comes to SEO value, so it’s important to be selective. There are various ways to find and assess guest blogging opportunities, such as using Google search, niche-specific forums, industry-related subreddits, Twitter search, reverse engineering competitor's backlinks, blogs listed on AllTop.com, engaging on blog comments, and using lists of sites that accept guest posts.

How to find suitable targets:

• Use Google search operators: Try searches like “your industry + write for us” or “your industry + guest post guidelines” to find blogs actively seeking guest contributors.
• Analyse your competitors’ backlinks: Tools like Ahrefs or Moz can show you where your competitors are guest posting.
• Check industry publications: Look for well-known publications or blogs in your niche that accept guest posts.

When evaluating potential target blogs, consider:

• Domain Authority (DA): Higher DA sites generally provide more SEO value.
• Relevance: The blog should be closely related to your industry or niche.
• Engagement: Look for blogs with active comment sections and social media presence.
• Editorial standards: High-quality sites with strict editorial processes often provide more valuable backlinks.

Pro tip*: Create a spreadsheet to track potential target blogs, including their DA, contact information and guest posting guidelines.*

2. Craft compelling pitch ideas

What’s the point in writing a guest post if it’s not going to pop? You want to create engaging content, so once you’ve identified your target blogs it’s time to come up with pitch ideas that will grab the editor’s attention.

Here’s how to brainstorm winning ideas:

• Analyse the blog’s existing content: Look for gaps in their coverage or fresh angles on popular topics.
• Stay current: Pitch ideas related to recent industry developments or trending topics.
• Bring unique insights: Can you offer data from your own research or experiences that others can’t?
• Solve problems: Focus on addressing common pain points in your industry.

Remember that your pitch should benefit the host blog’s audience first and foremost. Yes, you want to promote your business. But you do that by creating something that hits the right notes with the publication’s target audience and offers them value.

3. Nail your pitch email

Your pitch email is your first impression with the blog editor. Make it count.

Here’s a template to get you started:

Subject: Guest Post Idea: [Your Compelling Title]

Hi [Editor’s Name],

I’m [Your Name], a [Your Position] at [Your Company]. I’ve been a long-time reader of [Blog Name] and particularly enjoyed your recent post on [Recent Post Topic].

I’d love to contribute a guest post that I think would resonate with your audience. Here’s my idea:

[Your Proposed Title]

This post will cover:

• [Key Point 1]
• [Key Point 2]
• [Key Point 3]

I believe this topic would be valuable to your readers because [explain why]. I’ve written similar content for [mention any notable publications], and you can see examples of my writing style here: [link to your best work].

Let me know if you’d like me to write up a draft or if you need any additional information.

Thanks for your time, [Your Name]

Key elements of a successful pitch email: guest post guidelines

Personalisation: Show that you’re familiar with the blog. Clear, compelling title: Make your proposed topic stand out. Outline key points: Give the editor a clear idea of what you’ll cover. Establish credibility: Mention relevant experience or previous publications. Keep it concise: Respect the editor’s time by being brief but informative.

Here’s how to brainstorm winning ideas: Emphasize the importance of developing unique and winning guest post ideas by performing keyword research, providing a unique perspective, analyzing the target site for successful topics, and keeping up with industry news and trends.

4. Create High-Quality Content

We’re not saying you should write the email verbatim, but it gives you an outline for the points you want to hit. And if your pitch is accepted, it’s time to deliver on your promise. Creating high-quality content is central not only for getting your post published but also for maximising its SEO value.

Here are some tips for crafting an excellent guest post:

Follow the blog’s guidelines: Pay attention to word count, formatting and style requirements.

• Provide actionable insights: Give readers clear takeaways they can implement.
• Use data and examples: Back up your points with statistics, case studies or real-world examples.
• Include relevant internal links: Link to other posts on the host blog where appropriate.
• Craft a compelling author bio: This is often where you’ll include your backlink, so make it count.
• Proofread meticulously: Make sure your post is free of errors before submitting.

Creating high-quality content is central not only for getting your post published but also for maximising its SEO value. Additionally, sharing the guest article on social media and monitoring its performance can significantly enhance its reach and impact.

The goal is to make the editor’s job as easy as possible. The better your content, the more likely you are to be invited back for future guest posts.

5. Enhance your anchor text

When it comes to the backlink in your guest post, the anchor text (the clickable words that contain the link) plays a super important role in SEO.

Check out these some best-practice tips for anchor text optimisation:

• Use natural language: The anchor text should fit seamlessly into the sentence.
• Vary your anchor text: Don’t always use the same keywords for every backlink.
• Include relevant keywords: When appropriate, use anchor text that includes keywords you’re targeting.
• Avoid over-optimisation: Too many exact-match keyword anchors can look spammy to search engines.

For example, instead of always using “SEO services” as your anchor text, you might use variations like “digital marketing solutions,” “search engine optimisation strategies,” or even your brand name.

6. Promote your guest post

Your job isn’t done once your guest post is published. Promoting your post can increase its visibility, which helps spread the word and give it more engagement. All of this contributes to its SEO value.

Here’s how to give your guest post a boost:

• Share on social media: Post about it on all your social channels.
• Email your list: Let your subscribers know about your new content.
• Respond to comments: Engage with readers who comment on your post.
• Link to it from your own site: When relevant, link to your guest post from your own blog.
• Consider paid promotion: If the post is particularly valuable, consider putting some ad spend behind it.

The more engagement your post gets, the more valuable that backlink becomes in the eyes of search engines.

7. Build relationships for long-term success

Guest blogging is so much more than getting one-off backlinks. Building relationships with editors and other bloggers will help lead to ongoing opportunities.

Nurture these relationships:

• Follow up: Thank the editor after your post is published.
• Share other content: Regularly share and engage with the blog’s content, not just your own posts.
• Offer value: Provide insights or data for other authors’ posts when you can.
• Be reliable: If you’re invited to contribute again, deliver high-quality content on time.

These relationships can lead to regular contributing opportunities, which can be goldmines for consistent, high-quality backlinks.

8. Track your results

To refine your guest blogging strategy over time, track your results and see where tweaks and improvements may come in handy.

Key metrics to monitor include:

• Referral traffic from your guest posts
• Changes in your search rankings for targeted keywords
• Growth in your domain authority
• Engagement metrics on your guest posts (comments, shares, etc.)
• Conversion rates from guest post traffic

Tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush and Ahrefs can help you track these metrics. Use the data to identify which types of posts and which host blogs provide the most value, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Common guest blogging mistakes to avoid

While guest blogging can be incredibly effective for SEO, that’s only if you do it right. It’s easy to fall into traps, so look out for certain pitfalls so that your guest blogging efforts have the right results.

1. Focusing on quantity over quality: A few high-quality guest posts on reputable sites are worth more than dozens of posts on low-quality blogs.
2. Don’t neglect your own blog: Don’t let your guest blogging efforts come at the expense of your own site’s content.
3. Avoid using the same content across multiple sites: This can lead to duplicate content issues, which can harm your SEO.
4. Over-optimised anchor text is bad: As mentioned earlier, this can look spammy to search engines.
5. Never ignore the host blog’s audience: Your post should always provide value to the readers, not just serve your SEO goals.
6. Promote, promote, promote: Don’t miss out on the full potential of your efforts by neglecting promotion.

Use these tips as a good starting point to craft a solid guest blogging strategy. And check out our guide on how long a blog post should be.

Advanced guest blogging techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, consider these advanced techniques to take your guest blogging strategy to the next level:

1. Broken link building: Find broken links on your target blog and offer your content as a replacement.
2. Skyscraper technique: There are some arguments as to whether the skyscraper technique still holds the same weight, but at the end of the day, identifying popular posts in your niche and creating even better content is never a bad thing.
3. Co-authored posts: Team up with other experts in your field for high-impact guest posts.
4. Multimedia guest content: Offer infographics, videos, or podcasts instead of (or in addition to) written content.
5. Guest blogging on non-traditional platforms: Look beyond blogs to platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, or industry-specific forums.

Finding the guest post submission page on target blogs is crucial for identifying opportunities and understanding the guidelines for guest posting.

Measuring the SEO impact of your guest blogging efforts

To really understand the value of your guest blogging strategy, you need to measure its impact on your SEO. 

1. Backlink profile growth: Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to monitor the quantity and quality of backlinks you're gaining.
2. Domain authority: Track changes in your site's overall domain authority over time.
3. Organic search traffic: Monitor increases in organic traffic, especially for keywords targeted in your guest posts.
4. Keyword rankings: Track improvements in your search engine rankings for target keywords.
5. Referral traffic: Measure the amount and quality of traffic coming directly from your guest posts.

SEO is a long-term game. It may take several months to see significant results from your guest blogging efforts in most cases, so be patient and consistent and don’t forget to keep creating content for your own website while you’re doing guest blogging.

The future of guest blogging for SEO

As search engines continue to evolve, so too will the practice of guest blogging for SEO. However, the fundamental principle remains the same: creating valuable content for relevant audiences will always be beneficial for both SEO and overall digital marketing success.

Looking ahead, we can expect:

• Increased emphasis on expert authorship
• Greater importance of engagement metrics
• More integration with other content formats (video, podcasts, etc.)
• Stricter guidelines from both search engines and host blogs

Staying informed about these trends and consistently applying the strategies discussed means you can see to it that guest blogging remains a handy part of your SEO arsenal for years to come.

Summary: Guests welcome

Successful guest blogging is not just about immediate results. It's a long-term strategy that builds relationships, provides value, and strategically grows your online presence. The significant rewards it offers make it a worthwhile investment.

Whether you're looking to write a guest blog or blog posts for your own website, Conturae, with our unique blend of human expertise and AI precision, can help you create high-quality, SEO-friendly content that ranks for keywords that reach your target audience.

If you're ready to take your content game to the next level, don't hesitate to contact Conturae today!