How to Write Guest Posts That Actually Get Accepted (Step-by-Step Guide)

Guesting post: some marketers love it. Others? They loath it.

Why such a divide?

For those who have landed on a solid process, guest posting kills it.

For others, it’s been a road of wasted resources and time.

So, who’s right?

The truth lies somewhere in between: sure, guest posting can be a waste of time, but if done right, backlinks and lots of them.

Guest blogging can be a tough nut to crack, but I’m here to show you how to succeed 👇

How to Write Guest Posts That Get Accepted

Successful guest posting in four steps—lesssgo!

1. Finding Guest Post Opportunities

So, how should you start your search for guest posting opportunities? Start here:

• Use advanced search operators to find relevant websites that are actively seeking guest posts. For example, try searches like “write for us” + “your niche” or “guest post guidelines” + “your keyword”.

• Take a peek at where your competitors are guest posting. You can do this by using an SEO tool like Ahrefs to look at their backlink portfolio. Just don’t blindly follow your competitors. Look for websites that they might have missed or opportunities to offer something unique.
• Follow industry leaders and influencers on social media and see where they’re publishing their guest posts. It will help you identify websites that are open to contributions.

Quality Assessment

Guest posting is all about earning backlinks. Backlinks from spammy sites aren’t the win some think it is.

So, how can you gauge a site’s quality?

The obvious metric to use here is domain authority (DA or DR). The higher, generally the better. DA and DR are weighted heavily on backlinks, so the higher these two units of measurement are, the more likely Google is to respect them.

A quick look at a site’s social media presence is another easy way to gauge a site’s overall authority. If they take their social media seriously, they likely take their blog content seriously. This is a good thing. Good content attracts the type of audience you want to be exposed to.

Relevance Checking

I’d also recommend that you take some time to make sure host websites are a good fit for your content and goals. Think about their audience. Who is the website’s target audience? Is your content relevant to their interests and needs? The more you appeal to their audience, the more likely your guest post is to be accepted and published.

And take a peek at their existing content. What kind of topics do they typically cover? Does your content fit in with their overall editorial style and tone? The better your content aligns with their existing content, the more likely it is to be a good fit, and the higher the likelihood your pitches will be accepted.

Red Flags to Avoid

If a website asks for a fee to publish your guest post, run for the hills! These are often low-quality websites that are just looking to make a quick buck. They’re unlikely to have a strong audience or provide much value to your guest post.

Also, be wary of websites with a high number of irrelevant or low-quality backlinks. This could be a sign that the website is engaging in spammy link-building practices, which could harm your website’s reputation if you’re associated with them.

And if the website owner or editor is pressuring you to publish quickly or making unreasonable demands, it’s a sign that they’re not a good partner to work with. You want to collaborate with websites that respect your time, your expertise, and your creative vision.

2. Crafting Your Pitch

Editors can spot a generic pitch a mile away, and it’s a surefire way to get your email ignored. You know your niche best, so it’s hard for me to say exactly how a pitch should be written. But to give you a starting point, here’s some advice:

Be Personal

Editors are busy people. They don’t have time to wade through generic pitches that could have been sent to anyone. To make your pitch stand out, show them that you’ve done your homework and that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their publication.

Here’s an email that landed in my inbox. Don’t send generic, faceless guest post outreach like this:

Make It Easy to Say Yes

Don’t make the editor work to understand your pitch. Provide a clear and concise overview of your guest post idea, highlighting its key takeaways and why it would be a good fit for their audience. Make it easy for them to see the value in your contribution and how it will benefit their website.

Be Sure They’re Guest Post-Friendly

Here’s another little tip: don’t email out unsolicited pitches. You’re not just wasting your time, but you’re likely getting up someone’s nose, which won’t reflect well on your brand.

To repeat the point I made earlier: make sure the website you’re pitching is open to guest posts. Then, make sure you’re emailing the right person. It’s no good emailing a site’s website developer or social media manager. They’ll likely just ignore you.

Common Pitch Mistakes

A lot of website owners and marketers are hesitant to accept guest posts. They’re likely thinking, “What’s in it for me? Why should I give this person a platform and a backlink to their site?” And honestly, I can’t blame them.

So, let’s address those concerns head-on and show those website owners why accepting your guest post is a win-win situation:

• Generic content won’t cut it. Create case studies or conduct some analysis on a trending topic. Something that’s unique and likely to add true value to a host site’s audience.
• Cold pitches are HARD, and they often fall flat. If you want to increase your chances of success, establish a relationship with whoever is receiving your pitch. A good strategy is to build a relationship first through social media comments and DMs.

One more thing: keep in mind that relevance goes both ways. The host site wants to see relevance, too. This Redditor’s take sums it up best. Notice that they are also against generic content:

3. Writing the Guest Post

You’ve got the hardest part out of the way: outreach. Now, let’s write this thing, starting with style guidelines:

Style Guidelines

Every website has its own unique style and tone. Some are formal and professional, while others are casual and conversational. Some are serious and informative, while others are playful and humorous.

The key is to match your writing style to the website’s style.

Here’s how to find your style groove:

• Before you start writing, take some time to read the website’s existing content. Pay attention to their tone, their writing style, content format, and the overall vibe of their website.
• Many websites have style guidelines for guest contributors. These guidelines might include things like word count, formatting, and tone of voice. Make sure you read them carefully and follow them to a T.
• If you’re unsure about anything, don’t be afraid to ask the editor for clarification. It’s better to ask questions upfront than to submit a guest post that doesn’t fit their style and gets rejected.

Here’s an example of a guest post guideline that I found on a website accepting pitches:

Link Placement

Now, down to the whole reason you’re here: backlinks. Here are some tips on link placement:

• Don’t just link to any random page on your website. Make sure your links are relevant to the topic of your guest post and the surrounding content.
• Don’t just drop links in the middle of a sentence for no reason. Make sure your links are placed within a context that makes sense for the reader.
• Make sure your anchor text is relevant to the linked page and provides context for the reader. Don’t just use generic anchor text like “click here” or “read more.” Instead, use keywords or phrases that accurately describe the content of the linked page.
• Again, refer to the host site’s guidelines. Some sites might limit the number of links you can include, while others might have restrictions on where those links can be placed (e.g., no links in the introduction). Make sure you read and follow those guidelines carefully to avoid having your guest post rejected.

Quality Standards

Your guest post should be your best work. It’s a reflection of you, your brand, and your expertise. You want to put your best foot forward and show the host website (and their audience) why you’re worth their time and attention.

Here’s how:

• Accuracy: Don’t just make stuff up. Back up your claims with data, research, and credible sources.
• Clarity: Write in a clear, concise, and engaging style. Use short sentences, simple words, and avoid jargon that will make readers’ eyes glaze over.
• Grammar and Spelling: Proofread your work carefully for any typos or grammatical errors. Use tools like Grammarly to help you catch those pesky mistakes.
• Originality: Don’t just rehash content that’s already been published elsewhere. Offer a unique perspective, share original insights, or provide a fresh take on a familiar topic.
• Value: Make sure your guest post provides real value to the reader. Answer their questions, solve their problems, or entertain them. Don’t just write for the sake of writing; write with a purpose.

4. Submission and Follow-up

The submission process matters. It’s your final opportunity to make a good impression.

Here’s what your submission email should include:

• Address the editor by name and thank them for considering your submission.
• Remind them of the topic you pitched and its relevance to their audience.
• Highlight the main points and valuable insights that your guest post offers.
• Reiterate that you’ve followed their guest posting guidelines.
• Politely ask for their feedback or next steps.

After submitting, be patient and avoid overwhelming the editor with constant follow-up emails. Wait a reasonable amount of time (usually a week) before politely following up if you haven’t heard back.

Tracking Results

And how about the results? How do you know if all your hard work was worth it?

Here are some success metrics that you can track:

• Traffic Time: Is your guest post actually driving traffic to your website? Use Google Analytics to track referral traffic from the host website. See how many visitors are clicking on your links, which pages they’re landing on, and how long they’re sticking around. This will give you valuable insights into the quality and relevance of your guest post (and maybe even highlight some areas for improvement).
• Backlink Check-Up: Did the website actually link to your site as promised? Don’t just assume they did; check! Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to monitor your backlinks and make sure those links are live, relevant, and pointing to the right pages on your website. And if they’re not, don’t be afraid to send a friendly reminder email. Sometimes, even the best editors make mistakes.

  
  

• Social Buzz: Is your guest post generating any social media buzz? Track social shares and mentions to see how your content is resonating with the audience. Are people sharing it on X, Threads, or LinkedIn? Are they leaving comments and engaging with your ideas? The more social buzz your guest post generates, the wider its reach and the greater its potential impact.
• Brand Awareness Boost: Has your guest post increased your brand visibility or generated any new leads or inquiries? Keep an eye on your website traffic, your social media mentions, and your inbox to see if there’s any uptick in activity after your guest post goes live. This can be a valuable indicator of how your guest post is contributing to your overall brand awareness and marketing goals.

Conclusion and Next Steps

You’re now equipped with everything you need to find guest posting success.

If you feel you could a helping hand, don’t be afraid to reach out.

Our team of expert writers and SEO strategists will help you craft a winning guest blogging strategy, find the best opportunities, and create content that gets accepted (and generates results).

👉 Head over to your guest post services page, and let’s start building some backlinks. 👈