How to Build an Effective Guest Blogging Strategy for Any Business

Guest blogging is nothing new in the digital marketing world. In fact, many marketers can swear that it really works. So, if you own a business and you have ignored this technique so far, then you are definitely missing out. A good business guest blogging strategy can increase your inbound leads by up to 97% and positively influence the rate of your content engagement.

Guest blogging can be an expensive waste of time, but only when you do it wrong. We don’t want that, do we? The good news is that it’s easy to get it right in just a few steps. So, continue reading to learn how you can start to employ the guest blogging technique to get the results you expect.

Dissecting Guest Blog Posting 

Guest blog posting is a hot topic in the digital marketing world. Still, not everyone is sure what exactly it is and why so many marketers invest their time and resources into it. So, let’s break it down.

What Is Guest Posting?

Guest posting (or guest blogging) is a pretty popular link-building tactic that requires you to create a really good article and then publish it on another website. But not just on a random site. The websites you choose should be carefully reviewed for their quality, audience, and other factors (we will get into that later). If done well, guest posting can be one of the most powerful marketing strategies for your brand. 

Does Every Business Need Guest Posting?

Well, about 60% of blogs write 1-5 guest posts a month, and the difference between them and those that don’t stick to this practice is pretty clear. Guest posting is an effective tool for businesses that want to increase their brand awareness and reach. It is also vital for boosting credibility and establishing your brand as a thought leader in your niche.

What Are the Benefits of Guest Blogging?

The benefits of guest blogging actually go beyond making your brand more recognizable and a household name. It also helps you boost your traffic x10 and attract quality backlinks that increase your domain authority. What results do you get? Your business search engine rankings skyrocket, which also translates into more opportunities for leads and conversions. 

But wait, there’s the other side of the coin. In order for guest blogging to work, you have to write high-quality content and look for authoritative sites. Luckily, getting great results is much easier when you have a content writing service to help you. So, don’t be scared to outsource if that’s something that can help you get better guest posting opportunities.

Tips to Find Guest Blogging Opportunities 

• Use Google search. This is where most people start their search, especially when they are still new to guest blogging. If you don’t want to end up on a spammy site or an adult resource, then you need to have savvy Googling skills (or whatever kids call it these days). Use your keywords + “write for us” or “guest post,” “submit an article,” and other similar phrases to filter your results and narrow down your search. For example, if your company sells beauty products, then your search might be “beauty write for us,” and you might get something that looks like this:

Source: Google

• Try social media. The truth is that if you type “guest blogging opportunities” into X (formerly Twitter), you will probably run into lots of offers from unverifiable sources. So, you will need to be more strategic with this option. Try to find the SM accounts of website owners or other popular guest authors and then reach out to them (their emails are usually included in their bios). Chances are that they receive tons of pitches, so you will have to be really unique and interesting to stand out.
• Leverage available tools. There is a tool for nearly everything these days, including guest blogging. You can use a good guest prospecting tool to cut down your search time drastically. Some of them are even AI-driven and allow you to specify the parameters of your search, like domain rating, etc.
• Employ web directories and guest post services. When in doubt or you just want to move things along even quicker, then try credible web directories. They offer a comprehensive list of sites that are open to guest posting opportunities in all niches. Some people also choose white-hat guest posting agencies that do the entire campaign, including outreach, content creation, etc. 
• Perform competitor analysis. This is an old tactic, but don’t write it off. It still works so well that many marketers have made it a regular part of their strategy. Check your competitors’ backlinks profiles to find sites that accept guest posts. You can even sieve the results as you get to pick the one with probably a bigger reach. Then, contact them and pitch your idea for a guest post.

4 Steps to Building an Effective Guest Blogging Strategy

Guest posting can look deceptively simple on the surface but then turn a bit complex once you actually approach it. This is why so many businesses prefer to outsource it or just get an agency that will be responsible for guest post placement. But not everyone has the budget to do so. If you are looking to learn how to make your SEO guest blogging strategy more effective, then here are the tips to keep in mind.

#1. Research the Sites You Want to Collaborate With

Say you now have a list of sites that you think will make a good fit, and now it’s time to make your first move. Before you even write your pitch, you need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into and how to best market yourself. So, take your time to go through the site, read a couple of guest posts there, and familiarize yourself with their style. What kind of audience do they write for? 

Take note of the posts these audiences engage with the most, as they will give valuable clues on how to write your own content. Armed with this knowledge, you can proceed to send your amazing pitch. Be sure to read and follow the rules carefully. Focus more on the value your content will bring to their audience rather than on how you hope to increase your leads with the post.

#2. Avoid Unethical Guest Blogging Practices  

We mean the ones where someone churns out a poor imitation of a really good article, stuffs it with way too many keywords and then tries to publish the same guest post on as many different sites as possible. This approach is hardly going to create a good impression, and they will end up burning bridges instead of forming stronger networks. Instead, you want to build a guest blogging strategy that leverages Google-friendly practices like the ones we have been exploring in this post.

#3. Focus on Content Quality and Make a Name for Your Brand

You’ll have to constantly take care of your content quality, as this matters more than the enormous number of posts you are able to make every month. Take your time to do exhaustive research for the chosen blog topic, digging up the facts and data that really add to your topics. Sounds complicated? Here’s one more tip: do share your personal stories to support your points. Sometimes, this experience leaves more lasting impressions on the readers as they can resonate with what you tell. 

Besides, Google values expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness. Also, it’s important not to relax after you make one post; instead, you should be consistent, especially if you are going for that formidable brand image.

#4. Promote Posts and Track Your Link

You are also going to mention your guest posts on your social media channels. Maybe even get your friends to do the same. The idea is to get as many eyes as possible on that piece, show what you are capable of, and use this to drive more traffic to your website. 

Conclusion

Guest blog posting is a potent way to drive more targeted traffic to any business website. Although it does present some troubles and requires a lot of carefully thought-out moves, you’ll be able to enjoy the results in the long run. The ROI is worth the effort, especially when you are consistent and patient.