Link Building Using Guest Posts and Directories. Link building can be an extremely effective and useful method of increasing SEO, yet can be tricky to execute manually. Guest posting is one of the best methods to build links, as it allows you to reach out to a larger audience and get valuable backlinks.
1. Reach out to industry influencers
Guest blogging is a great way to reach new audiences and build relationships. Before reaching out to influencers, however, be sure to conduct extensive research in order to maximize this process and maximize results.
Create a list of blogs that accept guest postings in your niche and start reaching out to them! Be sure to send a personalized email with an attention-grabbing subject line; perhaps mentioning one of their blog posts as context could add another layer.
Your next tip should include including internal and external links as well as a bio box with your website address, helping with SEO and building authority. Nofollow tags prevent Google from penalizing your bio box for spammy links.
Monitor comments and social Website link shares after your guest post is live. You can also get more opportunities by responding to reader comments. To track traffic from guest posts using OptinMonster Referrer Detection feature within Google Analytics dashboard is also available.
2. Find relevant blogs
Successful blogs and the companies behind them take an interest in what their target audience cares about. They know that audience frustrations, challenges and needs drive traffic. Additionally, they know that their readers do not want to be informed via blog posts. Instead, they want actionable solutions that help solve real-world issues.
So when searching for websites to pitch guest posts on, try finding ones relevant to your target audience. Depending on how established your brand is, tools like Ahrefs' free backlink checker may help you discover high-quality sites with relevant audiences; once found, analyze their content to determine popular topics on those platforms.
By using tools such as Oktopus and Digg, it's possible to gain insight into what types of content have proven successful in the past. Remember that all writing must be grammatically accurate and provide value to readers. Otherwise, it is best to avoid guest posting.
Another consideration is to ensure the website on which you're writing allows you to link out to both internal and external content pieces for more in-depth reader knowledge, but only include them if contextually appropriate.
3. Offer something in return
Submitting guest posts to other websites allows you to gain exposure in front of their audiences while also receiving a backlink that points back to yours. A quality backlink will boost your search engine rankings, and direct targeted traffic to your website. Be careful when selecting websites to submit content to.
Make sure your guest post is engaging and valuable to readers by including links or embedding videos that engage them. Your aim should be for them to share it social media or respond in comments; this will build trust between author and reader and lead to future opportunities. It would also be wise to include links back to contact pages or other relevant pages that provide more details about your company or products/services offered.
If you cannot secure a guest blog on a popular site, you can reach out to friends who have blogs or websites that are in your niche. Offer them something in exchange for a guest blog; for example, free products or services in exchange for their backlink.
4. Reach out to blog's audience
Guest posting is a great way to expand your audience and reach as a writer. However, it's important to research the audience on the blog you're going to post on so that your content will resonate with readers. Be mindful of any posts which appear overly promotional as these may not resonate with readers as effectively.
A blog's acceptance of do-follow or non-follow links is also important. Do-follow links are more beneficial for SEO efforts. Semrush can provide answers if you are unsure.
Be wary of spammy sites when searching for guest blogging opportunities. Such websites will offer to publish your article for a fee, which violates Google's quality guidelines and could potentially harm your search engine ranking. Reputation X does not use such sites in its reputation management services and advises others not to either.
Once you have identified a blog which accepts guest posts reach out to the editor and introduce yourself as an author biographer. Include your name, website URL, and email address. You may also need a headshot.