guest blogging work for SEO? Adsy’s pros, cons, and best practices.

Many people are confused about what tactics still work and which ones no longer do. It’s not surprising that there are many who doubt the relevance of guest blogging for SEO. The focus on it is intense, and opinions have changed so quickly over the years. Google’s algorithm is unchanged – links from niche-related quality sites are still a positive factor that can boost your search ranking.

There are many other ways to get those valuable backlinks than guest blogging. Even a single blog post on a relevant website can have a significant impact on your site’s ranking in the SERPs. It is difficult to imagine an SEO expert not using this tactic. You probably know what it’s like to carry out monthly outreach in the hope of obtaining a high-quality backlink. So, is it even worth it?

Why do SEO experts still use blogs?

Some people may have argued that guest blogging sites are bad SEO. You might be wondering why SEO experts continue to use guest-blogging sites. This post in Google Search Central may have caused some confusion. It appears to be aimed at large-scale articles campaigns that are done to earn links. We all know that guest blogging sites will do anything to get as many links for you as possible. This can lead to disaster. Is this always the case, though?

Guest blogging is allowed under certain conditions. The posts must be informative and not manipulative. Many SEO techniques aren’t black and white. They are often in the gray area. Google’s policy prohibits the payment of guest posts. Yes. You can try. You can (try) Search engines can tell if the posts were paid for. Hardly. Guest blogging is very popular. It’s effective and can be a Google friendly tactic.

What are some of the disadvantages to guest posting that you should be aware of?

You may still want to think about the downsides of guest posting. It is easy for newbies, even though it’s efficient for those who know what they are doing, to make costly errors and be penalized. You might not have any problems if you follow a plan that is based on best practices. When you employ questionable or spammy tactics, then you are off the road. In the end, you’ll only have to deal with the negative effects of your guest-blogging activities.

What are the “spammy tactics you should avoid”? Some of the most common are:

• Use of too many keywords or anchor text only.
• Ignoring backlinks’ natural dynamics. It is not good for a website to get 50 backlinks from nowhere in a single month. No rule is set in stone regarding the number monthly of backlinks. Most pages with high rankings receive +5%-14.5% backlinks.
• Create low-quality text for guest blogging sites (including AI generated texts).
• Ignoring the importance of a natural, diverse backlink profile. Not all links must be dofollow. Create a mix of organic links that includes at least some web 2.0 backlinks. ).

If you decide to outsource the guest posting, make sure that they are knowledgeable about what they’re doing. This could be a freelancer or an agency. If your only experience with guest blogging has been on spammy, low-quality websites, then you’ll be convinced that it is a tactic that will only cause problems. Low-quality sites are those that:

• Basic SEO indicators such as traffic, its cost, DA/DR etc.
• This indicates that they are publishing almost any type of content.
• There is a dedicated “Write For Us” page with all the details and pricing for guest posts.

Expert SEOs share their best practices for effective guest blogging

What is the best way to create a guest blogging strategy that works? What do the experts say?

First, find valuable prospects

You must now decide which high-quality websites will allow you to submit a guest blog. What you need to look out for is the domain authority of the site, their industry and the history of guest posting. Sites that have a high DA in your niche are the ones who will provide you with quality links, and improve your search ranking. You will receive the opposite result if you do not.

How do you go about finding those valuable and relevant prospects? You can find them in a few different ways:

• DIY. You can do it yourself, just like with everything else. Finding the right pages to accept guest blogs is one of the most difficult things. You can analyze where your competitors are getting their links, search for reputable websites in your niche and find websites that have a “Write for Us” section. You can then contact them.
• Hire a team. Although this is the best option, you will need a large budget to do so. You can stop reading right now and hire your own team of SEO analysts, copywriters, outreach specialists, PR experts or their team leaders. You will be in the clear (in theory) if they have experience and proven results.
• Hire freelancers. This can be a cost-effective alternative for those that don’t have the time to blog themselves or who cannot afford an SEO team. If you’ve ever hired freelancers before, you probably know it isn’t as simple as it appears. It’s not easy to find someone who is able to do what you want. Upwork and Fiverr will be waiting for you. Remember that if it looks too good to true, then it probably is.
• Use directories that have guest blogging sites. Imagine being able to enter all of your search criteria, including niches and DAs and receive a list of pages you can submit a guest blog. It sounds like a great idea for anyone who has ever struggled to find the right prospects. Guest-blogging like this do exist. The beauty of these services is that they connect you with outreach specialists who already have relationships with the sites you choose. Adsy allows you, for instance, to select from a list of people who will contact potential prospects on your behalf.

Remember that you should not use your guest blog to try and get as many links as possible. They should be valuable and relevant to your business.

# 2 Conduct a personalized and tactical pitch

The word “tactical”, when used, conjures up images of warriors dressed in combat gear performing high-stakes maneuvers. You can say the same thing about your pitches when you are contacting guest bloggers (with less dramatism). You have done your research and have narrowed it down to the most likely prospects. You even know the topic ideas. How do you convince these sites to publish your content? Next, you should reach out to potential target pages through email or social media. This email marketing audit checklist can help you to understand how to take over their inbox.

Your pitches should be compelling, unique and irresistible. Share your ideas with them for a blog post in the future, and explain why you believe their readers would benefit from the information. Also, tell them why you’re the right person to do the job. There are many templates available online. However, this may not be the most effective solution. Alexandra Tachalova, for example, thinks that it is better to choose a personalized approach which shows your true interests.

#3 Create impactful, memorable content

It’s not surprising that blogs exploring ways to earn links are often praised for their content quality. You cannot skip this step. The content may be king or queen, but your texts are the king and queen of the castle. You need to spend time and money on research in order to create content that is memorable. You should also try to share as many new things as possible. How? You can invite someone to an interview, do some research with your followers/clients, or speak about a real-life situation.

It is also important to make sure that your readers feel something when they read your text (this can be a challenge). Erica Schneider suggests that your content should evoke an emotional response in your audience. Your brand will become more memorable and relatable if your readers are able to identify or connect with your content. If we’re discussing SEO, emotions will not get you very far. Don’t forget to optimize the content you create and select your headlines carefully, since 85% titles on Google’s first five search results contain keywords.

Take care of your company and personal image

This tip might seem irrelevant to effective guest blogging. If you want to target some of the top guest blogging sites, then you need to understand that website owners (if they have read your pitch) will look up who you are and your company. You might not receive a response if your online profile isn’t appealing or does not show your expertise. What we post on the internet is not a reflection of reality but an impression.

You can also get a great benefit from improving your social media presence. You can be contacted by some websites, YouTube channels or podcasts. Personal brands are so popular today, because they’re real. People love true personalities. The better your image, the more chances you will have. But don’t be too perfect.

#5 Don’t overdo it

Guest posting can either be a great way to boost your SEO or it can backfire and hurt your efforts. Everything is fine when done in moderation, as doctors like to say. You will never spam or violate Google’s policies if you treat your guest posts the same.

Do guest blogs still help SEO? The post Pros, Cons and Best Practices appeared first on Search Engine Land.