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Guest Posting
Guest Blogging
Backlink Building
Link Building
SEO Strategy
ARTICLE #40
How to identify high quality guest posting sites in 2024
Guest Posting
Guest Blogging
Backlink Building
Link Building
SEO Strategy
Guest Posting
Guest Blogging
Backlink Building
Link Building
SEO Strategy
Written by:
5 min read
Updated on: July 2nd, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Feeling a bit weary of sorting through endless “write for us” pages and spammy links? Guest posting can do wonders for your site’s search engine visibility, but the real trick is finding worthy places to contribute. Otherwise, you may end up linking back from websites no one reads—or worse, that Google quietly snubs. Here’s how to spot reliable platforms and skip the digital pitfalls.
Feeling a bit weary of sorting through endless “write for us” pages and spammy links? Guest posting can do wonders for your site’s search engine visibility, but the real trick is finding worthy places to contribute. Otherwise, you may end up linking back from websites no one reads—or worse, that Google quietly snubs. Here’s how to spot reliable platforms and skip the digital pitfalls.
What is guest posting?
What is guest posting?
Guest posting—also known as guest blogging—is all about publishing your articles on someone else’s website. In return, you generally pick up a link back to your own site. Consider it as borrowing a stage from another brand, delivering your big talk, and then driving the audience’s applause (and clicks) back home.
These backlinks are a major plus for search engine optimisation (SEO) because links from established sites nudge Google to see your site as trustworthy. The icing on the cake? You also reach readers who might genuinely benefit from your content or services, paving the way for more leads and revenue.
Guest posting—also known as guest blogging—is all about publishing your articles on someone else’s website. In return, you generally pick up a link back to your own site. Consider it as borrowing a stage from another brand, delivering your big talk, and then driving the audience’s applause (and clicks) back home.
These backlinks are a major plus for search engine optimisation (SEO) because links from established sites nudge Google to see your site as trustworthy. The icing on the cake? You also reach readers who might genuinely benefit from your content or services, paving the way for more leads and revenue.
What are the benefits of guest posting?
If you are new to this or trying to explore guest posting as your link-building strategy, here are some benefits you can expect from gaining valuable backlinks from authoritative websites.
1. Extended visibility
Guest posting is like tapping into someone else’s fan base. If the site gets a ton of traffic, it’s a chance to wow an audience you’d never reach on your own.
2. Crediblebrand image
High-calibre placements can boost your brand’s perceived expertise. When readers see your work on well-known platforms, they instinctively trust you more.
3. SEO boost
Let’s be honest: top search rankings can be tough. Quality backlinks can move the needle in your favour. Google sees it as a nod from established websites, which helps your own ranking potential.
4. Lead generation
Guest posting places you in front of potential customers already interested in your niche. Provided you link to a strong landing page, you might find fresh leads rolling in.
However, keep in mind that not all guest posts are created equal. Links from shady, spammy sites can actually harm your credibility, so choose your partner platforms with care.
If you are new to this or trying to explore guest posting as your link-building strategy, here are some benefits you can expect from gaining valuable backlinks from authoritative websites.
1. Extended visibility
Guest posting is like tapping into someone else’s fan base. If the site gets a ton of traffic, it’s a chance to wow an audience you’d never reach on your own.
2. Crediblebrand image
High-calibre placements can boost your brand’s perceived expertise. When readers see your work on well-known platforms, they instinctively trust you more.
3. SEO boost
Let’s be honest: top search rankings can be tough. Quality backlinks can move the needle in your favour. Google sees it as a nod from established websites, which helps your own ranking potential.
4. Lead generation
Guest posting places you in front of potential customers already interested in your niche. Provided you link to a strong landing page, you might find fresh leads rolling in.
However, keep in mind that not all guest posts are created equal. Links from shady, spammy sites can actually harm your credibility, so choose your partner platforms with care.
How to identify high quality guest posting sites?
If your main goal is link-building, you’ll want to be selective about who you write for. It’s not about chasing every “write for us” lead. Instead, focus on finding sites with a strong track record and real readers. Below are your best moves:
1. Check relevance
Does the site even match your niche? If you sell organic skincare, writing for a high-tech software blog might feel a bit random. Google also notices context. Relevant backlinks hold more weight and tend to drive more referral traffic. So, before drafting that pitch, ask yourself whether the site’s audience would care about your topic.
2. Evaluate Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR)
One quick way to guess a website’s standing is to look at DA (Moz) or DR (Ahrefs).
Moz’s Domain Authority: Scores range from 1 to 100, with higher numbers suggesting a stronger website.
Ahrefs’ Domain Rating: Also goes up to 100, giving an idea of the site’s backlink profile quality.
As a general rule, many SEO specialists suggest aiming for a site with a domain score of at least 20, plus a decent amount of organic traffic (perhaps 150 monthly visitors). For domains above 40, expect a bigger audience—500 or more monthly visitors is a good sign.
3. Analyse traffic trends
A site’s traffic patterns can reveal whether it’s on the upswing or losing steam. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SimilarWeb can give you an estimate of monthly visits. If you see a drastic drop in traffic for no obvious reason, the site might be penalised by Google. Always check for consistent or growing traffic curves.
4. Check incoming vs outgoing links
A quick look at a site’s inbound (referring domains) and outbound (linked domains) profile can tell you if the site is a real authority or just a “link farm.” If it’s dishing out way more links than it receives, that’s suspect. Google loves link diversity—so a platform getting quality backlinks from many different sites is typically more valuable to you.
5. Look at indexing speed
No one wants to post a stellar piece and then wait ages for Google to notice. A top-tier site typically gets its content indexed quickly. To test this, pick a few of their newest articles, copy their titles, and paste them into Google with the “site:” operator. If you can’t find the articles, or if they only show up weeks later, you might want to pass.
6. Audience engagement
If the site’s social media buttons lead to ghost-town pages or the comment sections look empty (aside from the occasional generic “Great post!”), that’s not great. True engagement suggests an actual community, which means more eyes—and potential leads—on your content.
7. Fees for guest posts
Some high-quality sites charge a fee to cover editorial reviews or admin overhead. Think of it as a submission fee, not a bribe. However, if a platform demands absurdly high charges yet fails the quality checks above (low domain rating, zero engagement, questionable content), keep your wallet closed.
8. Content quality
No matter how many followers a site claims to have, if its content is sloppy, repetitive, or clearly keyword-stuffed, stay away. Think of your own brand reputation. Google’s algorithm also cares about article depth, grammar, and originality. If the site’s poorly written, that’s a warning sign.
9. Look for E-E-A-T signals
Google famously weighs Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Are their authors well-credentialed? Do they cite reputable sources? If the content looks credible, that’s one more green light for you.
If your main goal is link-building, you’ll want to be selective about who you write for. It’s not about chasing every “write for us” lead. Instead, focus on finding sites with a strong track record and real readers. Below are your best moves:
1. Check relevance
Does the site even match your niche? If you sell organic skincare, writing for a high-tech software blog might feel a bit random. Google also notices context. Relevant backlinks hold more weight and tend to drive more referral traffic. So, before drafting that pitch, ask yourself whether the site’s audience would care about your topic.
2. Evaluate Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR)
One quick way to guess a website’s standing is to look at DA (Moz) or DR (Ahrefs).
Moz’s Domain Authority: Scores range from 1 to 100, with higher numbers suggesting a stronger website.
Ahrefs’ Domain Rating: Also goes up to 100, giving an idea of the site’s backlink profile quality.
As a general rule, many SEO specialists suggest aiming for a site with a domain score of at least 20, plus a decent amount of organic traffic (perhaps 150 monthly visitors). For domains above 40, expect a bigger audience—500 or more monthly visitors is a good sign.
3. Analyse traffic trends
A site’s traffic patterns can reveal whether it’s on the upswing or losing steam. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SimilarWeb can give you an estimate of monthly visits. If you see a drastic drop in traffic for no obvious reason, the site might be penalised by Google. Always check for consistent or growing traffic curves.
4. Check incoming vs outgoing links
A quick look at a site’s inbound (referring domains) and outbound (linked domains) profile can tell you if the site is a real authority or just a “link farm.” If it’s dishing out way more links than it receives, that’s suspect. Google loves link diversity—so a platform getting quality backlinks from many different sites is typically more valuable to you.
5. Look at indexing speed
No one wants to post a stellar piece and then wait ages for Google to notice. A top-tier site typically gets its content indexed quickly. To test this, pick a few of their newest articles, copy their titles, and paste them into Google with the “site:” operator. If you can’t find the articles, or if they only show up weeks later, you might want to pass.
6. Audience engagement
If the site’s social media buttons lead to ghost-town pages or the comment sections look empty (aside from the occasional generic “Great post!”), that’s not great. True engagement suggests an actual community, which means more eyes—and potential leads—on your content.
7. Fees for guest posts
Some high-quality sites charge a fee to cover editorial reviews or admin overhead. Think of it as a submission fee, not a bribe. However, if a platform demands absurdly high charges yet fails the quality checks above (low domain rating, zero engagement, questionable content), keep your wallet closed.
8. Content quality
No matter how many followers a site claims to have, if its content is sloppy, repetitive, or clearly keyword-stuffed, stay away. Think of your own brand reputation. Google’s algorithm also cares about article depth, grammar, and originality. If the site’s poorly written, that’s a warning sign.
9. Look for E-E-A-T signals
Google famously weighs Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Are their authors well-credentialed? Do they cite reputable sources? If the content looks credible, that’s one more green light for you.
How to find guest blogging opportunities?
Now that you are aware of what to look for and what to avoid, it's time to find guest blogging opportunities. Here are 6 most effective ways to find such opportunities to get your list started.
1. Google Searches
Use queries like:
"Your niche" + "write for us"
"Your niche" + "submit a guest post"
"Your niche" + "guest posting guidelines"
Make sure you use quotes to find exact matches. Yes, it’s old-school, but it often unearths straightforward leads.
2. Copy competitors’ backlinks
Find top competitors in your niche, toss their domains into a backlink checker, and note all the websites that link to them. If your competitor wrote a guest article on a certain platform, you might have a shot there too.
3. Social media sweeps
Many bloggers share their guest posts on Twitter. Head to Twitter’s search bar and type “guest post,” along with your niche keywords, to find recent placements and see if the hosting site is relevant.
4. Look for “guest contributor” giants
Some prolific guest bloggers repeatedly appear on well-established sites. If you can name a few in your field, search their bylines online. This method often leads you to a goldmine of reputable platforms.
5. Target sites that advertise guest contributions
Some websites openly invite guest articles, offering guidelines on their submissions page. Provided they meet your quality criteria, it can be a fast track to a potential opportunity.
6. Outreach and follow-up
No matter how good your pitch is, editors often juggle endless emails. If they don’t reply straight away, a friendly follow-up might do the trick. Personalise your note—address them by name, reference an article they wrote, or highlight why your content idea stands out.
Now that you are aware of what to look for and what to avoid, it's time to find guest blogging opportunities. Here are 6 most effective ways to find such opportunities to get your list started.
1. Google Searches
Use queries like:
"Your niche" + "write for us"
"Your niche" + "submit a guest post"
"Your niche" + "guest posting guidelines"
Make sure you use quotes to find exact matches. Yes, it’s old-school, but it often unearths straightforward leads.
2. Copy competitors’ backlinks
Find top competitors in your niche, toss their domains into a backlink checker, and note all the websites that link to them. If your competitor wrote a guest article on a certain platform, you might have a shot there too.
3. Social media sweeps
Many bloggers share their guest posts on Twitter. Head to Twitter’s search bar and type “guest post,” along with your niche keywords, to find recent placements and see if the hosting site is relevant.
4. Look for “guest contributor” giants
Some prolific guest bloggers repeatedly appear on well-established sites. If you can name a few in your field, search their bylines online. This method often leads you to a goldmine of reputable platforms.
5. Target sites that advertise guest contributions
Some websites openly invite guest articles, offering guidelines on their submissions page. Provided they meet your quality criteria, it can be a fast track to a potential opportunity.
6. Outreach and follow-up
No matter how good your pitch is, editors often juggle endless emails. If they don’t reply straight away, a friendly follow-up might do the trick. Personalise your note—address them by name, reference an article they wrote, or highlight why your content idea stands out.
Ready to reach out?
Securing a guest spot has two big parts: finding a site that meets your standards and crafting a pitch that grabs their attention. Here are some tips:
Demonstrate value: Make it clear how your proposed topic benefits their readers.
Stick to guidelines: Many websites have editorial preferences on tone, structure, or topic angles. Read those thoroughly before sending your pitch.
Highlight expertise: If you’ve published on similar platforms or hold qualifications in the niche, mention it. Editors like to know they’re working with reliable voices.
Proofread: A careless pitch riddled with typos screams “amateur,” so double-check your email.
Securing a guest spot has two big parts: finding a site that meets your standards and crafting a pitch that grabs their attention. Here are some tips:
Demonstrate value: Make it clear how your proposed topic benefits their readers.
Stick to guidelines: Many websites have editorial preferences on tone, structure, or topic angles. Read those thoroughly before sending your pitch.
Highlight expertise: If you’ve published on similar platforms or hold qualifications in the niche, mention it. Editors like to know they’re working with reliable voices.
Proofread: A careless pitch riddled with typos screams “amateur,” so double-check your email.
Final thoughts
Guest posting can be a game-changer for link building and brand recognition—provided you choose the right sites. Remember to evaluate domain metrics, traffic trends, engagement levels, and content quality. Then, send a well-crafted pitch that demonstrates genuine interest and an authentic angle. Over time, you’ll refine your approach, expand your network, and build backlinks that actually help your site’s growth.
Keep in mind, that it’s not only about the link juice. Quality guest posts can connect you with new audiences, build your name in the industry, and open doors for other collaborations. In short, it’s a sweet mix of SEO and real community engagement—if you pick your partners wisely.
Guest posting can be a game-changer for link building and brand recognition—provided you choose the right sites. Remember to evaluate domain metrics, traffic trends, engagement levels, and content quality. Then, send a well-crafted pitch that demonstrates genuine interest and an authentic angle. Over time, you’ll refine your approach, expand your network, and build backlinks that actually help your site’s growth.
Keep in mind, that it’s not only about the link juice. Quality guest posts can connect you with new audiences, build your name in the industry, and open doors for other collaborations. In short, it’s a sweet mix of SEO and real community engagement—if you pick your partners wisely.
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We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
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Click to copy
New York, NY
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Click to copy
Miami, FL
mia@for.co
Click to copy
Dubai, UAE
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Click to copy
Kyiv, UA
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Click to copy
Lagos, NG
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®