Guest Post Outreach: Building Links Through Content

A growing number of businesses go digital, and the competition to appear on top of the search results becomes wilder. SEO professionals put all their expertise, knowledge, and tools for business pages to have better visibility, get found by potential customers, and gain wider recognition. 

The two proven tactics that support the SEO game and acquire “Google’s credits” are content creation and link building. You create some valuable content and then link it to the existing valuable content. That’s the process of external and internal linking. Link valuable content to your blog or your blog to some valuable content and get “Google’s approval of ranking”. Like successful networking, the mix of the two bears successful collaborative outcomes. 

Content and links: we have got the formula. Now, let’s see how to merge them successfully. 

You may have the best content on a topic, but it may never reach the target consumer. 

Guest writing is at its peak. According to the statistics, 60% of blogs actively publish 1-5 guest posts per month. This data showcases the widespread recognition among content creators and marketers of the efficacy of guest posting as a strategy to expand their reach, build brand authority, and drive traffic to websites organically.

The Dos and Don’ts of Guest Post Outreach

You’ll need a well-defined strategy or a roadmap to succeed in providing a guest post service. Writing articles randomly and sending them to different domains will not work well.

First, we’ll discuss what you should and shouldn’t do when reaching out for a guest post.

Mixing valuable content and link-building is a win-win for the writer and the (partner) company. Let’s first discuss the benefits:

The first benefit is the relationships built through networking. You reach out to a reputable domain, offer to publish an article, and get featured. The upshot is establishing good relationships with other SEO experts, which can benefit you later in different cases, like getting the brand name discovered or finding new collaborations.

Some dos and don’ts of guest posting in SEO are below:

Dos:

• Follow the website guidelines
• Email to the right people
• Also connect on LinkedIn
• Keep it professional but also fun
• Showcase your expertise
• Make sure to be friendly

Don’ts:

• Send mass emails
• Be generic, make emails more personalized
• Ignore any guidelines
• Try to get the desired backlinks only

Knowing the dos and don’ts of guest posting forms the baseline of a successful guest post service. Besides the tips, there are some crucial elements to include in the email when you outreach for guest posts.

Those are:

• any title ideas you have
• past guest posts (if there are any)
• a gif to make it fun
• a reason why you decided to write for them.

The combination of those will result in an effective guest post outreach for link building in authoritative websites.

Guest Post Outreach for Successful Link Building

With the expertise gained throughout the link building and content-creation experience, we’ve gained valuable insights, means, and methods worth sharing.

Here is a guide to follow to get the most out of what you’re trying to accomplish with guest posting in SEO.

Understand the Link Building – Guest Posting Mix

Link building, as an off-site SEO strategy itself, has some strategic approaches. From broken link building to guest posting.

The technique you choose depends on your link-building purpose. First, ask yourself what you want to achieve in link building, then choose the method. When developing this plan, it’s crucial to understand the differences between various techniques, and one important comparison to consider is the effectiveness of link insertion vs guest post strategies, as each offers different advantages in different scenarios. In this post, let’s discuss the mix of links and guest post content.

First, it’s important to differentiate the backlink types. When inserting backlinks in your guest posts, pay attention to the backlink types:

Do-follow: that’s a hyperlink that passes “link juice” from one website to another. Link juice refers to the authority and SEO value of a webpage. When a website with high authority links to another website, some of that authority is transferred through the do-follow backlink; this can positively impact the linked-to website’s search engine rankings and credibility. Meaning that the two are authoritative websites.

No-follow, that’s a hyperlink that doesn’t pass on link juice from one website to another. It includes a special attribute called “rel=nofollow” in the HTML code, instructing search engine bots not to follow the link or consider it for ranking purposes.

To have the links as do-follow means higher chances to rank. Google uses automated programs called “spiders” or “crawlers” to navigate and index the content on the Internet. These spiders are responsible for discovering new web pages, following links, and collecting information to update․

In the eyes of Google spiders, no-follow links are invisible; they don’t click or open those links. So, if the purpose is to rank with the help of links, it’s better to have do-follows, always.

Here’s what a no-follow backlink looks like.

And here’s how a do-follow backlink looks.

SEO specialists actively utilize guest posting as a strategy to build backlinks. By collaborating with websites within their niche or related industries, they craft high-quality, informative content that seamlessly integrates relevant links back to their client’s website. However, creating such content isn’t enough for having a good backlink profile. You have to monitor backlinks, refresh content from time to time, and watch out for any technical SEO issues.

This ongoing maintenance is crucial for optimizing user experience and search engine rankings. Using a design-to-code service can streamline the process of implementing website changes efficiently and help ensure everything stays fresh and relevant.

These guest posts serve as a valuable resource for the hosting website’s audience while simultaneously boosting the authority and credibility of the linked site. SEO specialists carefully select authoritative and reputable websites for guest posting opportunities, ensuring that the links are contextually relevant and contribute to improved search engine rankings.

This approach not only enhances a website’s link profile but also establishes valuable connections within the online community, ultimately driving organic traffic and improving the website’s visibility in search engine results.

Don’t Try to Fool Search Engines With Guest Posts

Naturally, for the guys involved in black hat techniques, guest posts are a secure place to dig links, like keywords. Be aware you want to stay away from these fraudulent activities. “No relevancy, no link insertion” is the golden rule.

Using guest posting in SEO merely for backlinks is a malicious, black-hat trick we want to AVOID.

Your articles should, of course, contain links. However, stuffing links will only harm your reputation as a writer. Imagine this article talks about link building guest post outreach, and you come up with a paragraph randomly discussing some personal branding issue that relates to SEO in no way. As a reader, you will get disappointed and close the web window.

The key is treating each link as a valuable resource contributing substantively to the topic. Moreover, each valuable link adds up a value point to the website’s backlink profile.

Create Content Worth Reading and Linking To

The Internet is so vast that there is information of “all sizes and types” on almost anything you could think of. Why should a reader choose your content over the other? Get the answer before you hit the “publish” button.

Ensure the content is worth giving backlinks to. Good content affects the link building efforts and your reputation as a writer.

When you create content, consider the following tips:

• Conduct in-depth research, interviews, and surveys to provide valuable insights 
• Address and solve the existing problems in your industry 
• Make your content understandable through visuals
• Take the reader on a journey through storytelling 
• Write simple, in a less complex manner

Give your creativity a beat. Write readable, clickable, worthwhile pieces.

Find Authoritative Websites for Blog Publishing

If you deal with SEO even a bit, chances are you will hear the term “authority” on some occasions. Authority is a big concept when it comes to ranking on search engines.

Google trusts the trustworthy. And so should we.

You may get hundreds of requests to write for different websites. However, to fully leverage guest posting benefits, you need to choose authoritative websites for maximum visibility and credibility. It’ll make both your content and you as a writer credible.

First, identify who to reach out to, research on Google, find website lists with the guest post section. Based on your research, another must to emphasize is to find content ideas for the blogs you are reaching out to. Next, make sure those domains are popular. Of course, when you are just starting, chances are not that high to guest post on industry-dominating websites.

With your sources at hand, websites verified, and the request ready it’s time to reach out for your first guest post.

Especially in the case of high authority websites, your content type and quality bears great weight. So, when you look for and find guest posting opportunities, make sure you can provide the website with the appropriate content. In case you get the rejection email, check your request and review what might have gone wrong. To guarantee that no rejection takes place, you can follow these tips:

• follow the websites’ guideline
• examine the website’s content type
• write useful content for the website’s target audience
• don’t fool website admins through AI generated content

Taking measures in advance will reduce your chances of rejection, will improve your reputation and build your industry network.

Build Good Relationships With Website Owners

Your chances of successfully securing opportunities for guest post service on authoritative websites are significantly influenced by the quality of your relationships with website owners. Cultivating these relationships requires a thoughtful and strategic approach.

Before you reach out for collaborations:

• Engage in different types of partnerships with website owners.
• Negotiate through LinkedIn and other networking sites.
• Ask for expertise on industry topics.
• Exchange links.

Finding and talking to the right people, like the company manager or the head of SEO, will nourish your relationships, and when you are ready for guest post outreach, they will trust and accept the request.

Personalize the Guest Post Outreach

Imagine you should earn 10 points to get a response to your outreach emails. Each point is earned when a necessary step is taken on the outreach. Personalizing the guest post outreach email will, in turn, make you half of those points. Its importance can’t be stressed enough.

When you talk to someone face-to-face, you don’t randomly talk and trust the fact that they listen. Instead, you talk politely, addressing the listener by their name and even mentioning some personal information they will appreciate hearing. So, your conversation revolves around personal details on both sides.

In email communications, especially in outreach emails where you make a request, personalizing the message gives you priority. Personalizing infers adding the recipient’s first name to the email and includes something personal in the message. Like complementing their content, telling how it has helped you personally, and showcasing the values you two share.

To do so:

• research the website you’re reaching out to 
• identify their targets and style
• find what’s common with you and address those in the message
• make it appealing by personalization

Here’s an interesting example from our team.

Subject Line: {Name}, Update Your Website With Fresh Content! ✍🏻

Hey {Name},

I’d appreciate the opportunity to provide your blog with a unique guest post! ✍🏻

I specialize in writing about digital marketing and business as these topics are in my sphere of expertise, despite that I’m open to writing about other topics as well.

In exchange, you can get backlinks from websites such as [mention your partner domains]․

Let me know if my offer sounds good to you, so we can get started.

Best,

Your Name

What we can spot in this template is the conciseness of the message, a nice personalization, short value description that hooks the receiver into accepting the partnership offer.

Follow Google’s Guidelines

As in any strategy application, following Google’s guidelines is crucial for improved SEO results. This action point should be considered when it comes to the actual writing. Value is the most integral aspect of content creation of any type. Your potential partner will visit your website, read your previous works, and make a judgment based on that.

Prioritizing value and following the search engines’ guidelines come hand-in-hand. E-E-A-T, formerly E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness), has been introduced after a recent Google update. The E in the updated version stands for Experience. This signals that web readers and search engines will prioritize content reflecting experience and expert insights.

If a content piece meets the E-E-A-T standard, it signals the search engine (Google) that the content has good quality, is trustworthy, and consequently worth ranking. When blogging, incorporate it into your blogging strategy.

On the next page of the story, when your guest post outreach succeeds, and you get to writing the blog article, following Google’s best practices and guidelines must be on top of your mind. As a writer, your reputation depends on how you structure and optimize your content.

Measure the Outreach Results

Last but not least, measuring the metrics lies the ground for future success.

You start a project; that’s great. You should work on improvements. Your stress must also be on tracking email deliverability and trying to avoid the threat of the spam folder. To refine it over and over and become a thought leader in the field, you should acknowledge what’s going right and what’s going wrong.

To make guest post outreach a regular activity, combine it with the metrics to track. For guest posting, several key performance indicators (KPIs) must be considered, including:

• Response Rate – A high response rate indicates that your outreach emails are grabbing the attention of potential collaborators.
• Acceptance Rate – A higher acceptance rate suggests that your pitch and content ideas appeal to website owners.
• Final Collaboration Rate (and its quality) – The more collaborations you attract, the more engaging is your outreach message. Guest posting on authoritative sites (aka the quality) can significantly impact your SEO and brand visibility.
• Backlink Acquisition – If backlinks are your focus when guest posting, track how many you gain as a guest writer. 

Having metrics at your sleeves, you will be more empowered as a writer and know what to improve for the desired results.

The Role of Guest Posting in SEO

SEO is an individual game that businesses play, and the techniques each applies for winning vary from business to business. So whether guest posting is your best technique or not depends on various factors: your niche, goals, and overall SEO strategy.

However, for link building, guest posts serve as powerful contributors.

From the SEO perspective, guest posting can benefit the writer (with their links) and the blog where the content gets published.

Firstly, when you write a guest post for another blog or website within your niche, you can include backlinks to your website. When strategically placed within the content, these backlinks can significantly boost your website’s authority and visibility.

Guest posting enables you to showcase your expertise and establish yourself as an authority in your field. In case you have a robust blogging strategy, of course. When your articles provide valuable insights, solutions, or unique perspectives, readers are more likely to trust your brand and consider you a reliable source of information. This trust can encourage them to explore your website further, engage with your content, and become long-term.

Use Guest Posting As a Link Building Contributor

Link building strategies range wide. If you have a content team or generate content yourself, suggesting guest posting to prospective collaborators will nourish your link building process.

Another bonus adds up with each guest post.

There is fierce competition for online visibility. There is a connection between valuable content and linking it to authoritative sources.

Guest posting is a powerful tool for achieving these objectives. It involves publishing articles on other websites, either as an individual or on behalf of a company, to build backlinks, personal and company brand recognition, and foster collaborations. Those all form your blogging strategy.

A successful guest post outreach will be your ticket to building good relationships with clients and collaborators. We discussed a set of dos and don’ts for outreach, emphasizing the need to follow website guidelines, write to the right audience, and maintain professionalism while infusing a personal touch.

What is left for you to do is sketch the best roadmap and hit the success line in online visibility through link building.

It’s Time to Wrap Up

Here’s a quick overview:

• Guest posting is a valuable strategy for expanding reach, building brand authority, and driving organic traffic to websites.
• It’s essential to understand the mix of link building and guest posting, differentiate backlink types, and prioritize do-follow links for better rankings.
• It’s better to avoid black hat tactics like stuffing guest posts with links and prioritize valuable, relevant content instead.
• Create content by conducting research, addressing industry problems, using visuals, storytelling, and writing in a simple manner.
• Choose authoritative websites for guest posting to increase credibility and visibility; follow website guidelines.
• Successful guest post outreach relies on a well-defined strategy, sticking to guidelines, professionalism, and personalization.

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your guest posting efforts!

FAQ for a better guest post outreach