Guest posting is a powerful way to build backlinks, drive quality traffic, and get more exposure for your business. However, finding the right guest post opportunities is a challenging task, even for experienced SEO specialists.
In this blog post, we’ll tell you 4 smart ways to build backlinks with guest posting and build authority in your niche.
Let’s dive in.
4 Effective Ways to Find Guest Post Opportunities
Google Search Operators
Google is your best friend when it comes to finding high-quality, relevant guest posting opportunities in any industry. You can narrow your search down by using specific search operators and find relevant websites that accept guest posts. Here’s a list of Google search operators you can use to find the right guest posting sites:
- “Keyword” + “guest post guidelines”
- “Keyword” + “become a contributor”
- “Keyword” + “write for us”
- “Keyword” + “submit a guest post”
Let’s say you’re looking for guest posts in the “Fitness” niche. You can type “Fitness + writer for us” into the Google search bar.
Competitor Backlinks
Another powerful way to find guest post opportunities is by researching your top competitors. Start by finding the sites and blogs that are linking to your competitor. These are the sites that are most likely interested in publishing your content.
However, of course, in order for this strategy to work, your content needs to be highly valuable to its target audience.
But, how do you find these sites? Thankfully, tools like Semrush and Moz help you reverse-engineer your competitors’ backlinks. All you need to do is plug in their URL and you’ll get a list of virtually every site linking to that domain.
Here’s what you get by entering Forbes.com into the Moz SEO tool:
Social Media
When it comes to guest posting, social media is a relatively underutilized tool. Start by using your existing social connections to find people who might be interested in posting your content on their blog.
Reaching out to people via email can be intimidating, but a direct message on Twitter or Facebook won’t make you look opportunistic. If you’re like most people, you’ll only use social media to find guest post opportunities within your network. But, using the search bar can be even more effective.
For instance, you can use the Twitter search bar to find prospects by entering certain keywords. Bloggers these days share almost every small win on Twitter. Search for terms like “Guest post”, “Guest blogger”, “Blog for us”, and “Writers needed” to find relevant Tweets. This is a sure-shot way of discovering blog owners on Twitter who are accepting guest posts.
In addition, when it comes to networking, there’s no better platform than LinkedIn. This is especially true for finding guest post opportunities. Therefore, the chances of landing a guest posting deal on LinkedIn are quite bright.
Communities
There are online communities that connect established bloggers with guest post writers. If you’re getting started with guest blogging, joining these networks would be an effective way to get your feet wet.
Forums are another place to connect with bloggers in your niche and attract guest post opportunities. However, avoid asking for guest posts right after creating an account on a forum. Start by adding value with your knowledge on the topic, network with active members, and then make your move.
Moreover, guest posting directories have lists of high-authority blogs in specific industries that accept guest posts. A guest post on a website that’s getting a lot of relevant traffic can also help you grow your brand and/or subscribers.
However, note that these lists may not be updated regularly. So, it’s important to make sure the websites on these directories haven’t changed their policies over time.
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How to Find Guest Posting Opportunities: FAQs
Is Guest Posting Still Worth It?
The short answer is, yes, guest posting is still worth it, but only if done right. It can help you drive traffic, build up authority, and increase brand visibility. However, don’t just rely on a single link-building strategy and diversify your off-site SEO efforts.
Are Guest Posts Good for SEO?
Guest posts are good for SEO. When you publish guest posts on relevant, high-authority websites in your niche, you get backlinks. Link juice from these backlinks can help you rank higher on Google and other search engines.
How to Guest Post for SEO?
To guest post for SEO, start by finding websites and blogs in your industry. Before asking for a guest post opportunity, let them know how they can benefit from the deal. Don’t forget to follow up a couple of times if you don’t get a reply the first time.
What are the Cons of Guest Posting?
Guest posting is a highly rewarding off-page SEO strategy, but it has a few potential drawbacks. First, it can be hard to get someone to link to your site, especially if you’re trying to do it for free. Another challenge is to ensure quality backlinks and avoid over-optimization.
Conclusion: Finding Guest Post Opportunities
Guest posting is one of the safest, most effective ways to build backlinks and build authority. However, in order to make it work, you need to tick quite a few boxes, including:
- Reaching out to the right people
- Pitching your offer in the right way
- Offer valuable content
- Avoid over-optimization
Here’s a quick recap of the four smart ways to find guest posting opportunities:
- Use Google search operators
- Analyze competitors’ backlinks
- Use social media
- Be an active part of niche online communities
Note that, according to research, 71% of editors consider editing to be the most time-consuming task. So, make sure to proofread your content before sending them. This will make the job easier for the editor, improving your chances of winning a backlink and getting featured.
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