Are you on the lookout for a powerful way to drive traffic to your website and boost your position in search engines? Guest blogging might be the golden ticket you've been seeking! But be warned, it can be a double-edged sword. Done the right way, a single good guest post can attract thousands, or even tens of thousands, of new visitors to your site. But if you don't tread carefully, you could end up penalized by Google. So, let's dive into the right way and the wrong way of guest blogging, with examples and best practices to help you leverage this strategy for your website.
The Wrong Way to Do Guest Blogging
Guest blogging's relationship with Google is as vibrant as it is complex. When this tactic first burst onto the marketing scene, it was like a hidden gem. Webmasters discovered they could amass heaps of backlinks through guest posting, but alas, greed set in, and the tactic became abused.
Webmasters were paying paltry sums like £2 for poorly written articles, having them published on brand new blogs. These naive new blog owners, unaware of the poor quality, would publish these articles, only to have webmasters continue gaming the system. Sometimes, a small fee would be thrown in as an incentive. The common thread? A demand for do-follow links, leading to a web of low-quality content that Google couldn't ignore.
Google retaliated by cracking down on low-quality blogs and the webmasters who exploited them for SEO gains. Sites like MyBlogGuest.com, a significant player at the time, were penalized.
But don't misconstrue this as a sign that guest blogging is a bad strategy or that Google is anti-guest bloggers. Not at all! Google merely frowns upon low-quality guest posts. Just look at Huffington Post, a site powered almost entirely by guest writers and one of the highest-trafficked websites globally.
The best practice here is simple: steer clear of low-quality sites. Avoid brand new blogs (give them time to grow), sites with spammy links, buying space on blogs, or DA0 blogs. But remember, there might be exceptions. Trust your judgment about a site's quality. If a site seems promising and aligns with your values, even if it has a DA0, go for it.
The Right Way to Do Guest Posting
Wondering how to win blog owners' hearts and minds to let you write for them? Here's the secret sauce:
Start with a Quality Website: First impressions count! Spend time (and perhaps some money) in designing a sleek, content-rich website. You want visiting site owners to be impressed.
Reach Out to Bloggers: Identify bloggers in your space, preferably B and C list bloggers, who are likely to be more responsive. Personalize your messages, compliment them, and make them an offer they can't refuse. Suggesting 3-5 topics is often a winning move.
Provide Value: This isn't just about you. Showcase how your content can benefit their readers, align with their blog's theme, and offer a fresh perspective.
By following these steps, you can embark on a thrilling journey of guest blogging that not only gives you fantastic exposure but helps you connect with a wider audience - all without spending a penny!
So why not give guest blogging a try? Embrace the right way, avoid the wrong, and watch as your website grows into a hub that attracts visitors from all corners of the web. It's not just about gaining traffic; it's about building relationships and crafting quality content that resonates with people. It's a win-win, and it's all within your reach!
Pros & Cons of Guest Blogging for Website Traffic
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Conclusion:
Generate a list of 15-20 high-quality websites that you’d like to guest blog on. Make notes of how you found them, why you like them and 3-5 complimentary topics you could write about for their blog. Then contact each website owner to see if they’re interested.
You may only get a few takers the first time, but keep going and you’ll start to see an interest in what you are offering.
