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What is Guest Blogging?
Guest blogging has become a common way to build links back to your site. The idea behind guest posting is simple: Write a great article on someone else’s topic, then include a link back to your site in the body of the text.
There are two main types of guest blogging: paid and unpaid. Paid guest blogging involves writing an article for someone else’s site and receiving compensation for it. Unpaid guest blogging means writing an article for free, hoping that the author will share the link back to your site.
1. Paid Guest Blogging
Paid guest blogging can be a great way to get some extra exposure for your blog. However, this type of guest posting requires a lot of research before starting. You need to find out what sites would benefit from having an article written about them. Once you have identified these sites, you should contact the owner and ask if they would like to publish an article on their site. If they agree, then you will need to write the article and submit it to them. After they approve the article, you will receive payment based on how many times the post has been shared. This method is not only time-consuming but it can also be expensive.
2. Unpaid Guest Blogging
Unpaid guest blogging is a much easier way to gain exposure for your blog. All you need to do is create content that is relevant to the niche you want to target. Then, simply copy and paste the content into an email message and send it to different blogs. Some bloggers may choose to use your content without giving you any credit at all. Others may give you full credit and even provide a link back to your website. Either way, this is a great way to build traffic to your blog.
The most important thing about guest blogging is to be genuine. If you write something just because you think it will get more traffic or make money, it won’t work at all. You have to write with passion and love for what you do.
If you want to start guest blogging, here are some tips to help you succeed:
- Do Your Research Before Writing An Article. Make sure you know who you are writing for before you begin. This includes researching their audience and subject matter.
- Choose A Topic That Is Interesting To You And Your Audience. It should also relate to your own business.
- Find Out What They Want From Their Writers. Ask them what they like and don’t like. Then ask if there are any topics they would rather not see covered.
- Be Sure To Include Links Back To Your Site In The Body Of The Text.
- Don’t Forget To Add Some Keywords Into The Title.
- Submit Your Articles Through Sites Like EzineArticles, Squidoo, HubPages, etc.
- Get Feedback On Your Work. Ask people who read your articles how they liked them.
How to Find Guest Blogging Opportunities?
Finding websites that accept guest authors is not so difficult anymore. There are many sites out there where you can submit your articles for free.
You might even consider submitting your articles to other blogs that focus on similar topics as yours. Here is a step-by-step guide to searching and finding guest blog websites
Step 1: Search For “Guest Posting Websites”
Use Google and type in “guest post websites”. This will give you a list of results from which you can choose.
Step 2: Check Out The Top 10 Results
Look through the top ten results and check out each one. Most of these sites allow you to sign up for free. Some require payment when you first join.
Step3: Find Contact Information
Now that you have a list of blogs that accept guest posts, it’s time to find their contact information. The contact information may include email addresses or contact forms on their website.
Step 4: Send Them An Email
Once you’ve found the contact information, send them an email asking if they’ll let you publish your article.
Most bloggers will respond within 24 hours. If they don’t reply right away, try again later. Some websites accept only high-quality guest posts. Others may only take submissions from certain niches. Before signing up for any website, always read its terms and conditions carefully.
Writing an Email Pitch for Guest Blogging
When pitching a guest post idea, remember that you’re trying to convince someone to take a chance on you. Try to keep your pitch short and sweet. Start by telling them why you’d be interested in contributing to their site. Next, tell them what kind of contribution you could offer. Finally, explain why your contribution would benefit their readers.
For example, say you’re a freelance writer looking to contribute to a travel blog. You could pitch a story about traveling to a new destination. Or you could suggest a review of a popular hotel chain. Or maybe you could interview a local expert about his favorite hiking trails. Here is a detailed guide on how to submit a guest blog post to the blog editors.
Whatever you pitch, make sure it’s unique. If you pitch the same idea over and over again, you won’t get anywhere. If you do get accepted, make sure you follow all the guidelines before publishing your work. It’s important to respect the blogger’s copyright. And most importantly, don’t plagiarize! Here is an example of an email pitch.
Hi [Name],
I’m a long-time reader. You may have noticed my comment on your post on [Article] (awesome article by the way).
I’m writing to you because I’d love to contribute a guest post on [Website].
I’ve been brainstorming some topics that I think your readers would get a ton of value from:
[Idea #1]
[Idea #2]
[Idea #3]
I’ll make sure the piece overflows with information that can’t be found anywhere else.
To give you an idea of the quality I’ll bring to your site, here’s a link to a guest post that I recently published on [Other Website].
Cheers,
[Your First Name]
This email pitch was found on backlink.com
How to Write a Good Guest Post
Writing a good guest post is very easy. All you need to do is follow these guidelines:
- Focus On One Main Point – Try to cover one point per paragraph.
- Provide Useful Information – Offer information that readers will benefit from.
- Give Them Something to Think About – End your article with a question or thought-provoking statement.
- Proofread & Edit – Once you are finished writing, proofread and edit your article.
- Include Links – Always include links to relevant resources and websites.
- Include Images – Including images makes your content look more professional.
- Include Headings – Use headings to organize your text into sections.
- Include Titles – Use titles to describe your topic.
- Include Subheadings – Use subheadings to break down long paragraphs into smaller ones.
- Include Bullet Points – Use bullet points to highlight key ideas.
- Include Quotes – Quote others to add credibility to your content.
- Include Lists – Create lists to keep things organized.
- Include Videos – Include videos to provide additional information.
- Be Original – Make sure you write original content.
- Submit Your Work – After you have written an excellent piece of content, send it off to the site that accepts guest posts.
- Follow Up – Send them a thank you note after they publish your work.
List of blogs that accept guest posts
Here are some websites/blogs that accept guest posts. You can pitch them with your guest post article idea and wait for their response. The following list of guest blog websites accepts guest posts from all niches.
Hubspot is a popular and high-authority blog related to digital marketing. They accept only well-researched and quality guest blogs.
Moz is a leading SEO company in the world. They accept guest posts on their blog about topics like SEO, PPC, mobile, and web design.
Kissmetrics is a great resource for marketers who want to learn how to use Google Analytics effectively. Their blog accepts guest posts on various topics including conversion rate optimization, eCommerce, and analytics.
Search Engine Land is another top SEO blog. They accept guest posts related to SEO, SEM, and paid search.
Webmaster World is another great resource for those looking to improve their SEO skills. They accept guest posts about topics like keyword research, link building, and SEO best practices.
MarketingProfs is a highly regarded online magazine covering everything from marketing strategy to customer service. They accept guest posts from all kinds of businesses.
7. Content Marketing Institute
Content Marketing Institute is a leading provider of training courses for professionals interested in learning about content marketing. They accept guest posts that cover a wide range of topics.
CopyBlogger is a very popular blogging platform where bloggers get paid for sharing their knowledge. They accept guest posts covering a variety of topics.
ProBlogger is another popular blogging website where people get paid to write about topics they love. They accept guest posts ranging from product reviews to business tips.
Small Business Trends is a leading website dedicated to helping small businesses grow. They accept guest posts focused on topics like social media, email marketing, and sales.
Social Media Examiner is a leading authority in social media management and marketing. They accept guest posts from all types of businesses.
Brafton is a leading software development firm based out of San Francisco. They accept guest posts for their blog covering topics like agile project management and lean startup methodology.
The Muse is a leading creative agency known for its innovative approach to brand storytelling. They accept guest posts focusing on topics like copywriting, branding, and marketing.
Entrepreneur Magazine is an international publication covering entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and finance. They accept guest posts written by entrepreneurs and authors.
Forbes is one of the most respected publications in the world. They have numerous categories for guest posts, such as technology, health, politics, and more.
Huffington Post is a news site that covers politics, entertainment, tech, culture, and other subjects. They accept guest posts relating to any topic.
Inc.com is a leading source of entrepreneurial information. They accept guest posts discussing issues relevant to startups.
TechCrunch is a leading technology news outlet that has been around since 1999. They accept guest posts on a wide range of topics including web design, mobile apps, and e-commerce.
Mashable is a leading digital media company with over 2 million monthly unique visitors. They accept guest posts pertaining to a variety of topics, including marketing, advertising, and technology.
Business2Community is a leading community site for small businesses. They accept guest posts regarding topics like social media marketing, email marketing, and lead generation.
CIO is a leading IT industry publication covering enterprise IT. They accept guest posts addressing a variety of topics, such as cloud computing, security, and big data.
Marketing Land is a leading online resource for best practices in digital marketing. They accept guest posts related to search engine optimization, social media, email, and many other areas.
Search Engine Journal is a leading SEO (search engine optimization) resource site. They accept guest posts about various topics, including link building, content creation, and keyword research.
Small Biz Trends is a leading resource for small business owners. They accept guest posts focused on topics like social media marketing and customer service.
Web Designer Depot is a leading resource for web designers. They accept guest posts featuring useful resources, tools, tutorials, and techniques.
WordStream is a leading provider of paid search management software. They accept guest posts focusing on technical aspects of search engine optimization.
The Next Web is a leading resource for entrepreneurs and startup founders. They accept guest posts centered on the latest trends in entrepreneurship.
Social Fresh is an award-winning social media agency based out of New York City. They accept guest posts describing their work, sharing insights into the social media landscape, and discussing trending topics.
Smashing Magazine is a leading resource for front-end developers. They accept guest posts that focus on JavaScript, CSS, HTML5, and more.
Business 2 Community is a leading resource for startups and small business owners. They welcome guest posts with helpful information on topics like social media, branding, and marketing.
Buffer is a popular tool used by professional bloggers to schedule tweets, Facebook updates, and more. They accept guest posts explaining how they use Buffer and what it can do for your blog or website.
Inbound Marketer is a leading resource for inbound marketing professionals. They accept articles focused on the latest trends in inbound marketing.
ConversionXL is a leading resource for conversion rate optimization (CRO). They accept guest posts on everything from email design and testing to A/B testing and retargeting.
SitePoint is a leading resource for online businesses. They accept guest posts from experts who share advice on building profitable websites and maximizing conversions.
Optimizely is a leading provider of user experience and conversion tracking technology. They accept guest posts outlining the latest trends in UX and conversion optimization.
The Content Strategist is a leading resource for digital marketers looking to create engaging content. They accept guest posts covering a variety of topics, including writing tips, SEO best practices, and more.
Web Design Ledger is a leading resource for web designers and development companies. They accept guest posts featuring useful resources, tools, and techniques.
CoSchedule is a leading resource for scheduling and managing content across multiple channels. They accept guest posts discussing their top features and how they can help you manage your workflow.
Business Insider is a leading business news site. They accept guest posts about the most interesting stories happening today.
CopyPress is a leading resource for copywriting and content creation. They accept guest posts related to writing and editing.
Benefits of Guest Blogging
1. Builds Backlinks
Guest blogging is one of the most powerful ways to build links back to your website. If you’re not familiar with link building, it involves submitting quality content to authoritative sites so that other people will want to link back to them. This way, when someone searches Google or another search engine, those pages are listed as an option. When someone clicks through to your page, that person might be directed to your website because of the link you have provided.
2. Grows Your Audience
If you write great content, chances are good that readers will come back to see what else you have to say. By regularly publishing high-quality blog posts, you’ll grow your audience over time. You may even start getting comments from visitors who enjoy reading your work.
3. Improves Search Rankings
When you publish articles on other websites, you’re essentially giving them free advertising. The better your content, the higher up Google ranks your article, which means more traffic. Not only does this improve your rankings, but it also helps drive organic traffic to your own site.
4. Generates Leads
If you’ve ever been asked to submit a guest post by a company that sells something online, you know that it’s usually a lead magnet. A lead magnet is any type of offer that entices potential buyers. For example, if you were selling a product on Amazon, you could offer a discount code for signing up to receive emails about future sales.
5. Boosts Credibility
You can use guest blogging to establish credibility and authority in your industry. It shows that you’re willing to share your expertise with others. Plus, you’re providing valuable information to your target market. That makes you look like a thought leader.
6. Increases Search Traffic
By creating unique content on other websites, you get exposure to a wider audience than you would otherwise reach. And since you’re reaching out to a different group of people, they’re likely to find your site more useful.
7. Promotes Brand Awareness
One of the biggest benefits of guest blogging is that it allows you to promote your brand. If you’ve written a book, you can use guest blogging to talk about the topic in depth. Or if you’re a business owner, you can provide tips on how to run a successful operation.
Some companies pay their writers per post, while others don’t. But either way, you should always ask before accepting a guest post assignment. Some companies won’t pay at all. Others will give you a flat fee instead of paying based on performance.
9. Helps Grow Your Network
As you continue to write guest posts, you’re going to meet new people and make connections. These relationships can help you land bigger projects down the road. Plus, if you become well known in your niche, you can potentially attract clients yourself.
10. Builds Trust
A lot of businesses struggle to gain trust from customers. That’s why many turn to social media marketing. However, if you’re seen as untrustworthy, you’ll never be able to build a strong community. By sharing your knowledge and experience on other websites, you show that you’re trustworthy.
Guest Blogging FAQs
What is guest posting SEO?
The term “guest posting” refers to the practice of publishing content on other websites for the purpose of building traffic back to your website. Guest posting is one of the most effective ways to increase traffic because it gives search engines something new to index. When you publish a post on someone else’s blog, that person will often link back to your website, which helps Google find your posts and rank them higher. This means more people will see your content and hopefully click through to your site.
What is a guest posting site?
A guest posting site is where you submit articles to be published on other sites. The idea here is to provide value-added content to help drive traffic back to your website from these other sites. Some sites will pay you for each article you submit, while others might just offer exposure. Either way, this is a great way to generate additional leads and sales without having to spend money on advertising.
Is guest posting free?
Yes! There are many different types of guest posting opportunities available, but the majority of them don’t cost anything at all. Many times, you’ll simply need to contact the owner of the blog and ask if they’re willing to share a link to your site. Other times, you’re able to use a tool such as Buffer to schedule your posts in advance. In either case, you’ll only need to invest time into creating high-quality content, not any upfront costs.
How do you become a guest blogger?
You can apply to become a guest blogger on a variety of blogs. These range from industry-specific blogs to general-interest blogs. The best part is that you can apply to multiple blogs, so you never run out of options. To start, head over to our list of top 100 blogs to learn more about the kinds of blogs that accept guest bloggers.
Conclusion
Guest blogging isn’t just for beginners anymore. In fact, experienced bloggers often do it because it provides additional opportunities for earning money. Guest blogging or content marketing is a strategy to grow your audience and increase traffic to your website. You can build credibility, and brand awareness, and earn extra income.
This article shows the best practices to find/pitch and submit your guest post articles to various sites. I have listed some of my favorite sites where you can pitch your articles and get paid for writing.
About The Author
Shahzad Ahmad Mirza
Shahzad Ahmad Mirza is a web developer, entrepreneur, and trainer based in Lahore, Pakistan. He started his career in 2000 and founded his web development agency, Designs Valley, in 2012. Mirza also runs a YouTube channel, “Learn With Shahzad Ahmad Mirza,” where he shares his web programming and internet marketing expertise. He has trained over 50,000 students, many of whom have become successful digital marketers, programmers, and freelancers. He also created the GBOB (Guest Blog Posting Business) course, which teaches individuals how to make money online.
