Is Guest Posting Still a Viable SEO Strategy?

To guest post or not? Today many SEO experts are arguing whether using guest blogging for SEO is still an effective strategy. This has been a hot topic for years now. Some were burying this technique alive already in 2014. Yet, since then, the guest blogging strategy has helped hundreds of thousands of pages to grow their rankings and authority. So, is SEO guest posting still a thing, or should you simply forget about it?

Google has been fighting unnatural link-building for years. Yet, guest blogging is claimed to be one of the safest tactics to get high-quality backlinks. That’s why it doesn’t lose its popularity. SEO guest posting doesn’t only give you backlinks but also provides exposure and visibility to your brand. It might be a ‘land of opportunities,’ but it can also harm your SEO. Why? Let’s dive deeper and see how to use guest posting for great results.

What’s Wrong with the Guest Blogging Strategy?

The truth is that if you follow the best practices of guest blogging, there is nothing wrong with it. Then, why do some people say that guest blogging is harmful to your SEO? Let me put it this way: You can use a knife to make a tasty meal or use it to hurt someone. The same happens with SEO guest posting. 

The problems only start when you engage in black-hat practices that can result in penalties. Not all guest posting websites are equal. Some of them were created only to publish paid articles. And, of course, a spammy page like this can only hurt your rankings. Yet, if you take your time and develop a solid guest blogging strategy, the results might surprise you. What are the best practices you can use?

Best Practices for SEO Guest Posting

We could give you a template of a killer email you can send to the website owners to safeguard your spot for a guest blog. But the truth is that there are far more important things you have to do:

• What matters is your content. If your guest blogs are low-quality or too promotional, most well-established pages will never accept a piece like this. You should always share value to make your guest blogging for SEO work well.
• Don’t be spammy. I can’t stress this one enough. Google fights spam as much as it can, and messing around with that isn’t the best idea. It doesn’t only harm your SEO but also your brand image.
• Be consistent, and don’t rush. Trying to achieve your monthly goals in one day will do no good. If you want sustainable results, concentrate on quality rather than quantity. There are no set rules about the number of guest posts published monthly. But your activity should always look natural for your page’s profile.
• Select your guest posting websites carefully. Before publishing anything, do your research. First, check what type of content the page is publishing. If you see that those are low-value articles, you don’t need that. If the content they publish is legit, do the domain analysis.
• Be relevant. Avoid publishing your guest post on pages that have nothing to do with your industry. It is almost useless for SEO, and you won’t find your audience there. If it brings no results, why would you even do that? 

Are you looking to improve your website’s SEO with guest posting?

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Guest Blogging for SEO: Worth a Shot?

SEO enthusiasts often say that guest post links ‘aren’t as powerful as true editorial links’. But search engines can’t differentiate the two unless you publish low-quality guest posts on spammy websites. If you ensure that the webpage isn’t the ‘we-publish-anything’ type, you won’t face any issues. 

So, here we go again. If you don’t want Google to see your guest posts as spammy, don’t be spammy. When you post high-quality content, no one cares much about who the writer is. In fact, according to the research, over 62% of people believe that multiple authors add credibility to the blog. 

A well-planned guest blogging strategy also means new readers and more exposure to potential customers. When you write for a reputable website, you’re tapping into its existing audience and building brand recognition. This creates more opportunities to improve your website’s visibility. And if you’re choosing credible pages for SEO guest posting, your brand becomes more trustworthy.

Guest Posting: Another Side of the Argument

I always like to see both sides of the argument to be as objective as possible. And, of course, some people discard SEO guest posting altogether. Guest blogging and SEO 101: I’ve collected the most popular reasons why people give up guest blogging for SEO:

• Google algorithms get updated regularly. Some say that as algorithms evolve, they can detect guest posts. But they can’t unless you choose low-quality guest posting websites and publish spammy content. Search engines can’t distinguish if this is a guest post or a simple blog. It is hard to notice the difference, even for the readers. Yet, if you provide value in your guest posts, everyone benefits from that, including your SEO strategy. 
• Guest posting has become more competitive. I agree with this argument. More people are getting into SEO guest posting, so the demand is higher. And as a result, publishing content on high-authority websites takes more effort. So, if you hoped to achieve results without investing time, resources, and money, I have some upsetting news for you. 

• Other digital marketing strategies can be more effective. Yes and no. Let’s be honest. In theory, anything can be efficient, but there is no universal answer. And any initiative requires your dedication. So, for many businesses, SEO guest posting is one of the best solutions out there. But remember that an effective SEO strategy consists of multiple components. That’s why you have to find your perfect combination of different techniques.
• Some argue that guest posting has lost its effectiveness. If you’ve been in SEO long enough, you know every single tactic has become more complicated. If we go back to times before the Google Penguin appeared in 2012, sure, life was much easier. Yet, it doesn’t mean we have to stop all our efforts. We just have to learn how to play by the new rules. 
• SEO guest posting can hurt your website. I don’t know why people keep pushing this message. You can’t harm anything if you don’t publish poorly written content on random pages. Again. Don’t be spammy, and you won’t hurt your website’s reputation or SEO.

Start reaching out to potential guest post opportunities today!

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Is Guest Posting Enough for a Successful SEO Strategy?

If only everything were that simple. SEO strategy is a complex plan, and guest blogging alone can’t account for the whole set of tactics. Keyword research, on-site and off-site optimization, backlinks management, Google algorithm, page speed, and mobile friendliness are only some aspects you must include in your SEO strategy. This blog analyzes 200 ranking factors, but even this is not everything you have to consider.

For example, did you know that internal linking can also increase your rankings and boost your traffic? There are two main approaches to building links quickly – using link assistants and adding popular products. Yet, internal linking is only one of many components of a successful SEO strategy. Same as backlinks aren’t the only answer to high rankings. 

Besides, you should remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to SEO. Your strategy will depend a lot on your niche, budget, location, timeframe, goals, and many other factors. And even if you make a professional strategy, you will still have to adjust it. SEO is a very fast-paced industry. So, during your journey, many new tactics will appear while others will become obsolete.

What is the Optimal Way to Do SEO Guest Posting?

By now, we have seen guest blogging for SEO from different angles. And you realize that it is far from being dead. Yet, to make your guest blogging strategy effective, you have to remember some crucial aspects, such as:

• Provide unique and authentic content. Give a fresh perspective on an old subject, share your experience, give some exclusive information, and be original. 
• Always check Google’s guidelines and the latest SEO best practices. SEO is changing fast. And who knows, the guest posting strategy might get obsolete tomorrow, in a year, or ten. 
• Avoid using AI-generated content. This might seem like a quick fix for your guest posting strategy. But it could hurt your SEO ranking. Invest in high-quality content.

• Only choose reputable pages. We’ve talked a lot about that by now. So, just opt for relevant websites with good domain metrics. 
• Use multiple SEO strategies to achieve better results. No matter how efficient some tactics are, use a mixture of different techniques to get significant changes in your search rankings. 
• Track the performance of your SEO guest posting. Always monitor your blogs to see what websites are the most suitable for you. To go further, you can use UTM parameters.

Closing Thoughts on Whether Guest Blogging is Still a Viable SEO Strategy

So, SEO guest posting is still an effective link-building method if you follow the best practices and stay away from black-hat tactics. But it is only one of the components of the SEO strategy. Remember to pay attention to the quality of the content you publish and be consistent. This approach will benefit your search engine rankings in the long run.

Growth Hackers is one of the leading SaaS SEO agencies helping businesses from all over the world grow. There is no fluff with Growth Hackers. We help entrepreneurs and business owners grow their online audience with guest posting, increase their productivity, generate qualified leads, optimize their conversion rate, gather and analyze data analytics, acquire and retain users and increase sales. We go further than brand awareness and exposure. We make sure that the strategies we implement move the needle so your business grow, strive and succeed. If you too want your business to reach new heights, contact Growth Hackers today so we can discuss about your brand and create a custom growth plan for you. You’re just one click away to skyrocket your business.

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