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 can be an excellent way to expose your content to new audiences while simultaneously building 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! Send a personalized email that has a catchy subject line. You could also mention one of their blog articles as supplementary information.
Next, you should include internal and external links and a bio box containing your website address. This will help with SEO and authority building. Nofollow tags prevent Google from penalizing your bio box for spammy links.
Monitor comments and social shares after your guest post is live. Responding to reader comments shows your readers you care what they have to say; responding may lead to additional opportunities in the future! 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 understand that audience challenges, frustrations and needs drive traffic; additionally they know their readers don't want information delivered via blog posts - rather they want something actionable that helps solve real world issues.
So when searching for websites to pitch guest posts on, try finding ones relevant to your target audience. Tools like Ahrefs’ free backlink checker can help you find high-quality websites with relevant audiences, depending on how established your brand has become. Once found, analyze the content to determine what topics are popular on these 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. Keep in mind that any writing produced must adhere to grammatically correct writing standards while providing value to readers; otherwise it would be best to forgoing guest posting altogether.
It is also important to check that the website you are writing on allows you to link to both internal and outside content for a more in-depth knowledge of your readers. However, you should only do this if it is 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 are unable to secure a guest post on a popular website, reach out to people you know with blogs or websites in your niche and offer something in exchange for guest blogging; such as free products or services 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 careful of posts that appear too promotional, as they may not resonate as well with readers.
Another key factor is whether or not a blog accepts do-follow or no-follow links, with do-follow links being more beneficial to SEO efforts. If unsure, Semrush tools can help provide answers.
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 Extra resources sites in its reputation management services and advises others not to either.
Once you've identified a blog that accepts guest posts, reach out to its editor with your proposal and present yourself as an author bio writer. Be sure to include your name, email address and website URL - any headshot for use may also be needed!