A tried-and true SEO strategy — guest blogging — took a big hit during the recent Google SEO reboot, mainly because so many blogs include spam-filled, substandard content. Still, it’s a viable SEO tactic when done right, according to Perrin Carrell of Authority Hacker.
“As long as links are an important part of Google’s ranking algorithm (and they are), guest posting on reputable sites will continue to be one of the best ways to earn them,” Carrell explains.
But how can you avoid running afoul of Google’s current SEO algorithm when guest blogging and use it successfully build your brand?
Becoming a Successful Guest Blogger
Guest blogging not only provides informative and engaging content to site visitors, it also helps you build your brand image. Guest blogging drives traffic to your own website through back links contained within your posts, gaining attention for you and your business — as witnessed by this actual screen shot from Carrell’s site:
Image source: Authority Hacker
But becoming a well-known guest blogger requires more than just putting words on the screen. To become a successful guest blogger, “you must write content that is high quality and targeted to your specific area of expertise or industry,” says Susan Gunelius, president and CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc.
Posting content-rich, useful guest posts allows you to position yourself as an authority in your area of expertise. To be a successful guest blogger, while staying in compliance with Google’s SEO algorithm, follow these rules:
- Create high-quality content within your respective niche.
- Make sure the content you create as part of a guest blog is useful and highly relevant.
- When linking other sources in your guest post, use only relevant, organic hyperlinks from trusted sources.
- When looking for blogs to post to, only post to reputable sites.
How to Prepare for a Guest Post on a Blog
Before writing a guest post for a blog, do some research; ask yourself these questions:
- What level is the audience you are writing for — beginner, intermediate or advanced?
- What is the audience type? A guest post for a business to business (B2B) audience will look quite different than a post for non-business sites, such as hobby-related content.
- What type of content does the blog use? Read prior blogs on the site to see if they prefer the use of lists, general concepts or more in-depth information specific to a specific market.
Remember that when approaching a site you’d like to write a guest blog for, get to know the site owner beforehand by engaging them in conversation.
“The other reason why connecting first is a good idea is because it forces you to get to know the blogger that you’ll eventually pitch,” says Adam Connel of Blogging Wizard. “You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the types of topics they publish and how they write. So, you can use all of this understanding that you’ve built up when you eventually send them a pitch.”
The bottom line: You can effectively build your brand through guest blogging. Plus, the back links within your guest posts help drive traffic to your website, leading to even more guest blogging opportunities.