How To Write Guest Posts That Don’t Suck (Complete Guide)

Key Takeaways:

• Research your target audience thoroughly before writing a guest post to ensure your content is relevant and engaging.
• Craft a compelling headline that grabs readers’ attention and entices them to click and read your guest post.
• Provide valuable and actionable insights in your guest post that give readers practical takeaways and make them eager to return for more.
• Adhere to the guidelines and specifications of the host website when submitting your guest post to ensure a seamless publishing process.

Are you tired of writing guest posts that never gain traction? Do you want your content to stand out and captivate readers?

Look no further! In this complete guide, I’ll share my tried-and-true strategies for writing guest posts that don’t suck.

From finding the perfect blog to crafting a compelling pitch, planning and structuring your post, writing high-quality content, optimizing for SEO, and promoting your work, I’ve got you covered. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, captivate your audience, and track your success.

Let’s dive in and level up your guest post game!

What are Guest Posts?

Guest posts refers to articles or blog posts that are written by individuals who are not the regular contributors of a particular website or blog, providing fresh content and a different perspective to the audience.

Definition and Purpose of Guest Posts

Guest posts are articles or blog posts that are written by a guest author and published on someone else’s website or blog.

The purpose of guest posts is to provide valuable content to the target audience of the hosting site, while also allowing the guest author to showcase their expertise, build credibility, and expand their reach to a new audience.

It’s a win-win situation where both parties benefit from the collaboration.

Benefits of Writing Guest Posts

Guest posts offer numerous benefits, including increasing your visibility and credibility within your industry, expanding your network and reaching a wider audience. They also provide opportunities for backlinking to your own website, which can boost your site’s SEO and organic traffic.

Additionally, guest posts allow you to showcase your expertise, establish yourself as an authority, and build relationships with other bloggers and influencers in your niche.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Guest Posts

When writing guest posts, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can undermine your efforts.

Some key things to avoid include:

• Lack of research: Failing to research and understand the target audience and niche can result in irrelevant or poorly-targeted content.
• Ignoring blog guidelines: Not following the blog’s guidelines and requirements can lead to rejection or a poor fit between your post and the blog’s style.
• Weak pitch: Crafting a generic or uninspiring pitch can make it difficult for your guest post to stand out among the competition.
• Poor organization and structure: Neglecting to plan and outline your post can result in a disorganized and confusing piece of content.
• Low-quality writing: Using unclear or convoluted language, lacking proper grammar and spelling, and failing to support your points with evidence can all diminish the quality of your guest post.
• Neglecting SEO optimization: Ignoring SEO best practices, such as incorporating relevant keywords and optimizing meta tags, can make it difficult for your post to be found in search engine results.
• Overlooking formatting and visuals: Failing to break up text with paragraphs and bullet points, not using headings for subsections, and neglecting to include relevant visuals can make your post less visually appealing and harder to read.
• Forgetting to edit and proofread: Neglecting to carefully edit and proofread your post can lead to mistakes and errors that detract from its overall quality.
• Neglecting promotion: Failing to actively promote your guest post through social media and engage with readers and comments can limit the reach and impact of your content.
• Not tracking and analyzing results: Neglecting to monitor and evaluate the performance of your guest post can prevent you from learning and adjusting your strategies for future posts.

Finding the Right Blog for Guest Posting

To find the right blog for guest posting, you need to identify your target audience and niche. Then, research and shortlist relevant blogs that align with your content.

Identifying the Target Audience and Niche

Identifying the target audience and niche are key steps in writing a successful guest post. It’s important to know who you’re writing for and what topics they’re interested in.

Consider the blog’s existing readership and demographics, as well as the specific niche or industry the blog focuses on.

This will help you tailor your content to resonate with the right audience and provide value in your guest post.

Researching and Shortlisting Relevant Blogs

To research and shortlist relevant blogs for guest posting, start by identifying your target audience and niche.

Look for blogs that cater to your specific audience and are related to your expertise or industry.

Use search engines, blog directories, and social media to find potential blogs.

Evaluate the blog’s metrics and authority, such as domain authority, traffic volume, and engagement.

Make sure the blog has an active and engaged audience that aligns with your goals.

Create a list of potential blogs that meet your criteria, and then further narrow it down based on your specific preferences and requirements.

Evaluating Blog Metrics and Authority

To evaluate blog metrics and authority, look for key indicators like website traffic, domain authority, and social media following. Check the blog’s Alexa rank and MozRank for an idea of its popularity and credibility.

Consider the engagement metrics such as comments, shares, and backlinks.

Keep in mind that a blog with high-quality content and active participation from readers is likely to have more authority in its niche.

Crafting a Compelling Pitch

Crafting a compelling pitch requires you to understand the blog’s guidelines, tailor the pitch to match their tone and style, and highlight your expertise and unique perspective.

Understanding the Blog’s Guidelines and Requirements

Understanding the blog’s guidelines and requirements is essential for successful guest posting. It’s important to thoroughly read and comprehend the blog’s guidelines, which typically include word count, formatting preferences, and any specific topics or themes they prefer.

Pay attention to any unique requirements and tailor your pitch and content accordingly.

Tailoring the Pitch to Match the Blog’s Tone and Style

To tailor your pitch to match the blog’s tone and style, it’s important to do your research. Read several posts on the blog to get a feel for the language, tone, and writing style used.

Pay attention to the topics covered and the level of formality.

Then, when crafting your pitch, mirror the blog’s tone and style to show that you understand and appreciate their audience. Use similar language and adopt a similar level of formality to ensure your pitch aligns with the blog’s overall vibe.

This will increase your chances of getting your guest post accepted.

Highlighting Your Expertise and Unique Perspective

To highlight your expertise and unique perspective in a guest post, focus on demonstrating your knowledge, skills, and experience in the topic. Share personal anecdotes, case studies, or research findings that showcase your expertise and provide a fresh perspective.

Use a confident and engaging tone to capture readers’ attention and establish yourself as a credible and valuable contributor.

Planning and Structuring your Guest Post

Before diving into writing your guest post, it is important to establish a clear objective and message for your article.

Additionally, outlining the structure and flow of the post will help guide your writing and make it more coherent.

Lastly, incorporating engaging headlines and subheadings will captivate your readers and make your post more accessible.

Establishing a Clear Objective and Message

To establish a clear objective and message for your guest post, you need to know what you want to achieve and what key points you want to convey to the readers. Think about the purpose of your post – whether it’s to educate, entertain, or persuade.

Then, outline the main ideas you want to discuss and make sure they align with your objective.

Keep your message focused and concise, ensuring that it resonates with the target audience.

Outlining the Structure and Flow of the Post

To outline the structure and flow of your guest post, start with a clear objective and message. Then, create an outline with headings and subheadings to organize your content.

Use engaging headlines and subheadings to guide the reader through your post.

Incorporate paragraphs, bulleted lists, and headings tags to break up the text. Additionally, include relevant visuals like images or infographics to enhance the readability of your post.

Incorporating Engaging Headlines and Subheadings

Engaging headlines and subheadings are key to grabbing readers’ attention and making your guest post more appealing.

Use catchy, concise headlines that pique curiosity.

Subheadings should be informative and guide readers through the post.

Break up long paragraphs and consider using bullet points for better readability.

Writing High-Quality Content

When writing high-quality content, focus on hooking the reader with an engaging introduction, using clear and concise language, supporting points with evidence and examples, and including actionable takeaways and call-to-actions.

Hooking the Reader with an Engaging Introduction

To hook the reader with an engaging introduction, start with a compelling opening line or a thought-provoking question. You can also share a captivating anecdote or provide a surprising statistic to grab their attention.

Keep it concise, clear, and relevant to the main topic of your guest post.

Remember, the introduction sets the tone for the rest of your article, so make it enticing and captivating to make the reader want to continue reading.

Using Clear and Concise Language

Using clear and concise language is crucial in guest posts. It helps readers understand your points quickly and keeps them engaged.

To achieve this, focus on simplicity, avoid jargon or complex terms, and use short sentences.

Bullet points and subheadings can also improve readability. Be direct and get to the point without unnecessary fluff.

Supporting Points with Evidence and Examples

Supporting points with evidence and examples are essential in guest posts to provide credibility and strengthen your arguments.

• Use statistics and research findings to support your claims. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of a certain fitness routine, include data on how it has improved people’s health and fitness levels.
• Include case studies or real-life examples to illustrate your points. These anecdotes help readers relate to the topic and understand its impact. For instance, if you’re discussing the effectiveness of a particular marketing strategy, share a success story from a company that implemented it.
• Draw from authoritative sources and cite them properly. This shows that your assertions are backed by experts in the field. Quoting industry leaders, studies, or reputable publications adds credibility to your content.
• Provide step-by-step instructions or actionable advice to guide readers. Showcasing a clear process or sharing a personal experience of how a particular strategy worked for you can be highly valuable to your audience.

Remember, supporting your arguments with evidence and examples helps establish your expertise and builds trust with your readers, making your guest post more impactful and persuasive.

Including Actionable Takeaways and Call-to-Actions

Including actionable takeaways and call-to-actions are essential for enhancing the effectiveness of your guest post.

Actionable takeaways provide specific actions or steps that readers can apply to their own lives, while call-to-actions prompt readers to engage further with your content.

Here are a few tips for including these elements:

• Provide clear and concise actionable takeaways that offer practical value to readers.
• Use actionable verbs to communicate the desired actions.
• Integrate call-to-actions strategically throughout the post, guiding readers to engage with your content or website.
• Use compelling language and create a sense of urgency to encourage immediate action.
• Make your call-to-actions visually distinct, such as using buttons or highlighting the text.
• Customize call-to-actions based on your goals, whether it’s subscribing to your newsletter, downloading a resource, or sharing the post on social media.

Remember, actionable takeaways and call-to-actions help readers apply your advice and take the next step, ensuring your guest post leaves a lasting impact.

Formatting and Adding Visuals

Formatting and adding visuals is essential for making your guest post engaging and visually appealing.

Let’s dive into some tips for breaking up text, using headings, and incorporating relevant images, infographics, or videos.

Breaking up Text with Paragraphs and Bulleted Lists

To break up text in your guest post, use paragraphs and bulleted lists.

Paragraphs help create visual breaks and make it easier for readers to digest information.

Aim for 3-4 sentences per paragraph.

Bulleted lists are great for summarizing key points or highlighting important information.

Use them when you have a series of related items or steps to convey.

Just make sure to keep your bulleted lists concise and consistent.

These formatting techniques make your post more visually appealing and reader-friendly.

Using Heading Tags for Subsections

Heading tags such as H2 and H3 are important for organizing and structuring your guest post. They help break up the content into sections, making it easier for readers to navigate and understand.

Use H2 for main sections and H3 for subsections.

This improves readability and helps search engines understand the hierarchy of your post. Just make sure to use the tags appropriately and sparingly for the most effective impact.

Inserting Relevant Images, Infographics, or Videos

To enhance the visual appeal and engagement of your guest post, it’s important to include relevant images, infographics, or videos.

These visual elements can help break up the text, provide additional context, and make your content more memorable.

When inserting visuals, make sure they are directly related to the topic and provide value to the reader.

Use high-quality images and well-designed infographics that are easy to understand.

Videos should be engaging and informative, adding depth to your written content.

Editing and Proofreading

Make sure to thoroughly edit and proofread your guest post to catch any spelling and grammar errors.

Additionally, seek feedback from peers or consider using editing services for a fresh perspective.

Checking for Spelling and Grammar Errors

To check for spelling and grammar errors, it’s important to proofread your guest post carefully.

Start by reading it out loud, as this can help you catch any mistakes or awkward phrasing.

Then, use a spell-check tool like Grammarly or Microsoft Word to identify any spelling or grammar issues.

Finally, have someone else read your post to get a fresh perspective and catch any errors you might have missed.

Taking these steps will ensure your guest post is polished and error-free.

Optimizing for SEO

To optimize your guest posts for SEO, focus on keyword research and incorporating targeted keywords. Additionally, make sure to optimize meta tags and descriptions, and include relevant internal and external links.

Doing Keyword Research and Incorporating Targeted Keywords

When doing keyword research for guest posts, it’s important to identify relevant keywords that align with the blog’s topic and the target audience’s interests. Use keyword research tools to find popular and highly-searched keywords in your niche.

Incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your post, including in the title, headings, and body.

This helps improve the visibility of your post in search engines and attract more organic traffic. However, be sure not to overstuff keywords, as it can negatively impact the readability and credibility of your content.

Optimizing Meta Tags and Descriptions

Optimizing meta tags and descriptions is key to improving your website’s visibility in search engine results. Here’s how you can do it:

• Use relevant keywords: Research and include targeted keywords in your meta tags and descriptions to help search engines understand what your page is about.
• Write compelling descriptions: Craft descriptive and enticing meta descriptions that accurately summarize the content of your page and encourage users to click through.
• Keep it concise: Meta tags should be around 50-60 characters, and meta descriptions should be around 150-160 characters to ensure they display properly in search results.
• Avoid duplicate content: Each page on your website should have unique meta tags and descriptions to avoid confusion and improve search engine rankings.
• Include a call-to-action: Use your meta description to prompt users to take action, such as “Learn more,” “Get started,” or “Download now.”
• Stay relevant: Make sure your meta tags and descriptions accurately represent the content of your page to provide a seamless user experience.
• Review and update regularly: Keep track of your website’s performance and make adjustments to your meta tags and descriptions based on user engagement and search engine analytics.

Remember, optimizing meta tags and descriptions can significantly impact your website’s visibility, so it’s worth investing time and effort into getting them right.

Linking to Relevant Internal and External Content

Linking to relevant internal and external content is essential for enhancing the value and credibility of your guest post.

It provides readers with additional resources and helps search engines understand the context of your content.

When linking internally, choose relevant articles or pages on the host blog that expand on your points.

When linking externally, use reputable sources that support or validate your arguments.

Remember to use descriptive anchor text for both types of links to provide clarity and improve SEO.

Crafting an Author Bio

Now let’s dive into crafting an engaging author bio that captures your essence as a writer.

Including Relevant Social Media Links

Including relevant social media links is essential in your guest post as it allows readers to connect with you and further explore your expertise. Make sure to include links to your active social media profiles, such as LinkedIn or Twitter.

This helps build credibility and encourages engagement with your audience.

Showcasing Previous Guest Posts or Achievements

Showcasing previous guest posts or achievements is a great way to demonstrate your expertise and credibility as a guest author.

You can mention previous guest posts you’ve written on other blogs, highlighting the topics and any positive results they generated.

Additionally, you can showcase any achievements related to your niche, such as awards, certifications, or notable collaborations.

This helps establish your authority and gives readers a glimpse of your past successes.

Just be sure to provide relevant links or references to back up your claims.

Promoting Your Guest Post

After publishing your guest post, make sure to share it on various social media platforms to increase its visibility and reach a wider audience.

Engaging with readers and responding to comments on the post can also help promote it and build relationships with the blog’s audience.

Sharing the Post on Social Media Platforms

To share your guest post effectively on social media platforms, start by crafting compelling headlines and teasers that pique interest. Utilize visually appealing graphics or videos to grab attention.

Share the post across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Engage with your audience by responding to comments and questions. Encourage others to share your post by including share buttons and asking for social media shares in your call-to-action.

Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags and tag influential individuals or brands for increased visibility.

Engaging with Readers and Responding to Comments

Engaging with readers and responding to comments is vital for building relationships and fostering a sense of community. Start by acknowledging and appreciating their input, whether positive or negative.

Be prompt in your responses and strive for clarity and helpfulness.

Encourage further discussion, ask open-ended questions, and address any concerns or questions raised. By actively engaging with readers, you can build trust, gain valuable insights, and create a loyal audience.

Building Relationships with the Blog’s Audience

Building relationships with the blog’s audience is essential for guest posting success.

Engage with readers by responding to comments and questions.

Share the post on social media, and encourage discussion.

Offer valuable content, establish yourself as an authority, and be authentic.

Building trust takes time, so be patient and consistent.

Tracking and Analyzing the Results

One essential step is to track and analyze the results of your guest posts.

Monitoring Traffic and Engagement Metrics

To monitor traffic and engagement metrics for your guest post, you can use various tools and platforms such as Google Analytics.

These tools provide insights into the number of visitors, page views, bounce rate, and average time spent on your post.

You can also track engagement metrics like social shares, comments, and backlinks to gauge the success and impact of your post.

Tracking these metrics helps you understand your audience’s response and make data-driven decisions to optimize future guest posts.

Evaluating Conversion Rates and Lead Generation

To evaluate conversion rates and lead generation, you need to track and analyze relevant metrics. Start by monitoring the number of visitors to your website and the percentage that converts into leads or customers.

Look at conversion rates for different channels and campaigns to see what’s working.

Additionally, evaluate the quality of leads generated by assessing factors like lead source, demographics, and buying behavior. Use this data to identify trends, make informed decisions, and adjust your strategies for better results.

Adjusting Strategies Based on Performance Data

To adjust your strategies based on performance data, closely monitor traffic, engagement, and conversion metrics. Look for patterns or areas where improvements can be made.

For example, if a particular topic or format receives more traffic and engagement, consider focusing on that in future guest posts.

Additionally, evaluate the effectiveness of your call-to-actions and adjust them if necessary. Keep experimenting, analyzing, and refining to continuously improve your guest posting strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a guest post be?

A guest post should typically be around 800 to 1500 words in length.

This allows you to provide valuable and in-depth content without overwhelming the readers.

Remember to focus on quality rather than quantity, making sure every word counts and adds value to the post.

How many guest posts should I write?

There is no fixed number of guest posts you should write, as it depends on your goals, time, and resources. However, it’s recommended to start with a few high-quality posts to establish your expertise and build relationships.

Focus on consistency and providing value to the audience and blog you’re guest posting on.

How long does it take for a guest post to be published?

The time it takes for a guest post to be published can vary depending on the blog and the editorial process.

On average, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Some blogs may have a backlog of posts, while others may prioritize certain topics or formats.

It’s important to be patient and follow up politely if you haven’t heard back after a reasonable amount of time.

Final Verdict

Writing high-quality guest posts is a valuable strategy for establishing your expertise, increasing your online visibility, and driving traffic to your own website. By finding the right blogs, crafting compelling pitches, planning and structuring your posts effectively, and optimizing for SEO, you can create guest posts that resonate with the target audience and offer actionable insights.

Additionally, proper formatting, editing, and promotion are crucial for maximizing the impact of your guest posts.

By tracking and analyzing the results, you can continuously refine your strategy and achieve even greater success with your guest posting efforts. Happy writing!

Shane Galvin

Shane Galvin is the founder of Blue Ocean Web Care, a WordPress maintenance and optimization company based in Rochester, NY. With 15+ years of experience in WordPress site security, speed optimization, and SEO, Shane utilizes his expertise to help clients build effective websites. His ultimate goal is to build fast, user-friendly websites that instill confidence and trust for clients.