Sales Strategy

Tips to Acquire High-Quality Guest Post Backlinks

lemlist team

July 25, 2024

7 min. read

lemlist team

LAST UPDATED

May 21, 2024

READING TIME

7 min.

Guest post backlinks play a pivotal role in enhancing your website's visibility, driving organic traffic, and establishing your brand's digital dominance.

But what exactly are guest post backlinks, and how can they be harnessed effectively?

Guest post backlinks are links that are obtained by contributing content, such as articles or blog posts, to other websites in exchange for a link back to your own website.

Content and quality in guest blogging

The essence of securing valuable guest post backlinks lies in the caliber of the content you share. It's not just about creating content but creating content that resonates, informs, and engages.

Check out this video to get the golden rules in creating viral content ⬇️

Google on guest posting and link building

Google has been vocal about its stance on guest posting and link building.

The search engine giant recognizes the value of guest blogging as a means to contribute thought leadership and share expertise.

However, it also warns against the practice of using guest posts solely as a link-building scheme. Quality should be the priority, and links should come as a natural byproduct of great content.

To stay in Google's good graces, focus on crafting informative and relevant content that serves the reader first. This approach not only aligns with Google's guidelines but also ensures that your guest post backlinks are earned rather than forced.

When does guest posting and content marketing become spam?

There's a thin line between strategic content marketing and spammy practices.

The moment guest posting deviates from providing value to being a mere vessel for backlinks, it treads into unethical territory. To avoid this, it's imperative to create content with substance, addressing real issues and offering genuine insights.

Remember, the goal of guest blogging should be to inform and engage a specific audience, not to manipulate search rankings.

By maintaining this ethical balance, your guest posts will naturally attract quality backlinks and enhance your digital marketing efforts without the risk of being labeled as spam.

Why you shouldn't mmisuse guest post backlinks

Misusing guest post backlinks can lead to severe consequences, including penalties from search engines.

These punitive actions can range from a drop in search rankings to complete deindexing of your website. Such outcomes underscore the importance of using guest blogging as a legitimate marketing tool rather than a shortcut for link acquisition.

Moreover, a tarnished reputation from spammy practices can be hard to recover from. It's essential to maintain a clean and ethical approach to securing backlinks, ensuring the longevity and credibility of your digital presence.

With these insights in mind, it's clear that the link between content and quality is inseparable in the realm of guest blogging.

By prioritizing the creation of high-value content, your guest posting efforts will naturally lead to the acquisition of high-quality guest post backlinks, bolstering your SEO and cementing your authority in the digital space.

Build a guest blogging strategy

Developing a solid guest blogging strategy is a cornerstone of successful SEO.

It's not just about getting any backlinks; it's about securing quality backlinks that will drive your digital marketing efforts forward.

Identify your SEO goals and analyze your competitors

To begin with, it's important to set clear SEO goals.

What do you want to achieve with your guest blogging efforts? Is it to increase domain authority, drive more organic traffic, or improve search engine rankings for specific keywords?

Once your objectives are defined, analyze your competitors' guest post links.

This benchmarking will give you insights into the types of content and sites that are yielding results within your niche, guiding your own guest blogging strategy.

Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs can help you to identify where your competitors are guest posting and the quality of the backlinks they're acquiring. This research will inform your approach and help you target guest post links that can make a real difference to your SEO performance.

Design a content plan to attrract high-quality backlinks and organic traffic

Content is king ofSEO, and this is no different when it comes to guest blogging.

Designing a content plan with topics that are relevant, engaging, and valuable to your target audience is essential. Your content should not only reflect your expertise but also provide actionable insights that readers can apply.

Moreover, your content plan should be tailored to attract organic traffic.

This means focusing on keyword research to identify terms that your audience is actively searching for. High-quality content that ranks for these keywords will naturally attract backlinks as other sites look to reference the best resources available.

Craft the perfect guest posting pitch

Once you have a content plan in place, it's time to reach out to niche blogging sites.

Your outreach email is your first impression, so make it count.

‍Personalize your communication by mentioning specific articles you enjoyed from their site, and explain why your content would be a good fit for their audience.

Be concise and clear about what you're offering and what you're looking for in return.

A well-crafted pitch that demonstrates the value you can provide to the host site is more likely to result in a successful guest post placement.

Remember, the goal is to establish a mutually beneficial relationship that could lead to more guest blogging opportunities in the future.

By setting clear SEO goals, crafting a strategic content plan, and executing thoughtful outreach, your guest blogging efforts will be well-positioned to secure quality backlinks. These backlinks will enhance your SEO and establish your site as a trusted authority in your field.

On-page SEO to attract backlink opportunities

On-page SEO is a critical component in the quest for guest post backlinks.

A website optimized for search engines and users alike stands a better chance of attracting high-quality backlinks.

Develop valuable content

Valuable content refers to the core pages on your website that provide comprehensive information on your primary topics.

These pages should be rich in valuable insights, well-researched, and impeccably written to serve as a foundation for your site's content strategy. This will help you increase the likelihood of attracting guest post backlinks as other content creators reference your work in their own articles.

Ensure that your cornerstone content is optimized with relevant keywords without sacrificing readability.

Use headers, bullet points, and images to break up text and make the content more digestible.

By doing so, you not only improve user experience but also make your content more appealing to potential guest bloggers looking for reputable sources to link to.

Use multimedia and social media

Multimedia elements such as images, videos, infographics, and podcasts can significantly enhance the appeal of your content.

These formats cater to different learning styles and preferences, keeping users engaged longer.

The more engaging your content is, the higher the chances it will be shared across social platforms, leading to increased visibility and potential backlink opportunities.

Don't forget to promote your content on social media channels.

Social signals are not direct ranking factors, but the exposure can lead to more organic backlinks as your content reaches a wider audience. Encourage sharing by including social media buttons on your content pages and actively engaging with your followers.

SEO best practices

Adhering to SEO best practices is non-negotiable when it comes to on-page optimization.

This includes optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, and URLs to be descriptive and keyword-rich. Internal linking is also crucial; it helps search engines understand the structure of your site and distributes page authority throughout your pages.

Moreover, site speed and mobile responsiveness are important factors in user experience and SEO.

A fast-loading, mobile-friendly site is more likely to retain visitors and, consequently, attract high quality links. Use tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights and Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your site is up to par.

Finally, remember that acquiring guest post backlinks is an ongoing process that benefits greatly from a website optimized for both users and search engines. By focusing on creating valuable cornerstone content, leveraging multimedia, and following SEO best practices, your site will become a magnet for quality backlinks.

Craft the ideal guest post content blueprint

The quality of your guest post content is pivotal in the success of your link building strategy.

Select resonating topics for articles

The first step in crafting a compelling guest post is selecting a topic that resonates with the host site's audience.

A well-chosen topic not only aligns with the host site's niche but also adds value to its existing content.

Conduct thorough research into the site's audience, their interests, and pain points to identify topics that will captivate and engage them.

Remember, the more your content resonates with the audience, the more likely they are to share it, leading to increased visibility and potential backlinks for your site.

Balance keywords with engaging information

While keyword optimization is essential for SEO, it's equally important to create content that is engaging and informative.

Balancing keyword-optimized text with valuable information is key to successful quality guest posting.

Ensure your content is well-researched and provides unique insights into the chosen topic.

Use keywords strategically, ensuring they flow naturally within the text and do not disrupt the reader's experience.

Remember, your primary goal is to provide value to the readers, not to stuff your content with keywords.

Embed s CTAa and anchor texts

Effective link building requires strategic placement of call-to-actions (CTAs) and anchor texts within your guest post.

CTAs encourage readers to take a specific action, such as visiting your website or subscribing to your newsletter, while anchor texts are the clickable words or phrases that contain the backlink.

Ensure your CTAs are compelling and your anchor texts are relevant to the linked content.

Avoid generic phrases like "click here" and instead use descriptive anchor texts that give readers a clear idea of what to expect when they click on the link. This not only enhances user experience but also helps search engines understand the context of your backlinks, potentially improving your SEO performance.

Maintain a healthy backlink profile

One of the most crucial aspects of effective SEO strategy is maintaining a healthy backlink profile. This involves understanding the importance of dofollow and nofollow links, monitoring backlink performance, and conducting regular guest posting audits. Let's delve into these aspects in more detail.

Dofollow vs. Nofollow

A well-balanced link profile includes a mix of both dofollow and nofollow backlinks.

Dofollow links pass on SEO strength from the linking website to your site, while nofollow links do not contribute to your site's SEO directly.

However, nofollow links are still valuable as they can drive traffic to your site and increase its visibility.

Having a balance of both types of links in your profile can improve your website's credibility in the eyes of search engines. A link profile dominated by dofollow links may appear unnatural and potentially spammy, which can negatively impact your SEO performance.

Monitor backlink performance and address SEO issues

Regular monitoring of your backlink performance is crucial to identify any potential issues that could harm your site's SEO.

This involves tracking the number and quality of backlinks your site is receiving, the sites they're coming from, and the anchor text used.

If you notice a sudden drop in backlinks or a surge in low-quality links, it could indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. Regular monitoring allows you to take quick action to resolve such issues and maintain your site's SEO health.

Conduct regular guest posting audits

Conducting regular audits of your guest posting efforts can help ensure your strategy is effective and your backlink profile remains healthy.

This involves reviewing your guest posts, the sites they're published on, and the backlinks they've generated.

Audits can help you identify any low-quality or irrelevant sites you've posted on, any posts that have not generated backlinks, or any issues with your backlinks, such as broken links or incorrect anchor text.

By addressing these issues, you can improve your guest posting strategy and enhance your SEO performance.

Advance guest blogging

Guest blogging is constantly evolving, and to stay ahead of the curve, it's essential to incorporate innovative digital marketing content types into your strategy.

This can help you attract more high-quality backlinks, engage your audience, and improve your SEO performance. Let's look at some of the ways you can do this.

Create content roundups and expert interviews

Content roundups and expert interviews are two powerful types of content that can attract high-quality backlinks.

These formats provide valuable information from multiple sources or industry experts, making them highly shareable and link-worthy.

Content roundups involve curating the best content on a specific topic from various sources, while expert interviews involve conducting and publishing interviews with industry leaders or influencers. Take our podcast as an example. 👇

Both formats can help you build relationships with other bloggers and influencers, which can lead to more guest post opportunities and backlinks.

Develop comprehensive case studies

Case studies are another type of content that can attract high-quality backlinks.

By providing in-depth analysis and insights into a specific topic or case, you can demonstrate your expertise and provide valuable content for your audience and other bloggers.

When creating case studies for blogging sites, it's important to focus on topics that are relevant to the site's niche and audience. This can increase the likelihood of your case study being accepted for publication and attracting backlinks.

Include shareable content

Interactive and shareable content features, such as infographics, quizzes, and interactive maps, can also be effective for attracting high-quality backlinks.

These types of content are highly engaging and shareable, which can help increase your content's visibility on search engines and social media platforms.

By incorporating these innovative digital marketing content types into your guest blogging strategy, you can increase your chances of attracting high-quality backlinks and improving your SEO performance.

Assess your guest blogging and backlinking performance

After implementing your guest blogging strategy and creating high-quality content, it's crucial to assess your backlinking performance.

This step allows you to measure the effectiveness of your efforts, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions.

Set and track KPIs

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential for measuring the success of your guest post backlinks.

These metrics might include:

the number of backlinks you've acquired
the number of click visits those backlinks generate
the overall impact on your website's traffic and rankings.

Setting clear and measurable KPIs will help you understand how well your guest blogging efforts are performing and whether you're achieving your SEO goals.

Regularly tracking these KPIs will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your backlinking strategy and enable you to make necessary adjustments.

Tools to analyze guest blogging sites

Several tools and techniques can help you analyze the performance of your guest blogging sites.

SEO tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can provide detailed information about your backlinks, including their source, the anchor text used, and the quality of the linking site.

These tools can also help you identify which guest posts are driving the most traffic and engagement, allowing you to focus your efforts on the most effective types of content and sites.

Feedback loops

Feedback loops are a crucial part of refining your site link strategy. This involves regularly reviewing your performance data, identifying trends and areas for improvement, and making necessary adjustments to your strategy.

For example, if you notice that certain types of content or specific guest blogging sites are generating more high-quality backlinks, you might choose to focus more on these areas. Conversely, if some efforts are not yielding the desired results, you may need to reassess and adjust your approach

By continuously monitoring and assessing your guest blogging and backlinking performance, you can ensure that your efforts are effectively driving traffic, improving your SEO, and contributing to your overall digital marketing success.

Compliance in guest blog post SEO

In the world of guest blog post SEO, it's essential to adhere to ethical practices and compliance.

This not only protects your brand's reputation but also ensures the long-term success of your guest posting efforts. Let's explore some key areas of focus in this regard.

Present SEO guidelines

It's crucial to stay updated with these changes and ensure your guest posting sites comply with them. This includes adhering to Google's Webmaster Guidelines, which emphasize the importance of creating high-quality content and avoiding manipulative link schemes.

Non-compliance can result in penalties, including lower search engine rankings or even removal from search results.

Therefore, it's vital to understand and follow current SEO best practices to maintain the integrity of your guest blogging efforts.

Transparency in guest posts

Transparency is key when it comes to guest posts.

This means properly disclosing sponsored content, affiliate links, and any other form of paid promotion. This builds trust with your audience, and ensures compliance with regulations such as the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines in the U.S.

Proper disclosures also help maintain the credibility of your guest posts and the host site.

Readers appreciate honesty and are more likely to engage with content when they understand the nature of the relationship between the guest blogger and the host site.

Respect intellectual property rights

When writing guest articles, it's crucial to respect intellectual property rights.

This includes properly attributing sources, obtaining permission to use copyrighted materials, and avoiding plagiarism.

Disregarding intellectual property rights can lead to legal issues, damage your reputation, and negatively affect your SEO efforts. Therefore, it's essential to understand and adhere to copyright laws and ethical standards in your guest blogging practices.

By following ethical practices and compliance in guest blog post SEO, you can establish a strong foundation for your guest blogging strategy. This not only helps protect your brand's reputation but also contributes to the long-term success of your SEO efforts.

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	G2 Rating	Price	Best for	Standout feature	Con
SmartWinnr	4.9 star star star star star	$30/mo $75/mo $2,999/mo	Large, distributed sales teams	AI evaluation precision, gamified KPIs	Lack of tracking system
Performio	4.6 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Sales operations and finance teams	Powerful configurability	Limited training resources and complex to navigate
Varicent	4.4 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Mid-market and enterprise businesses	Comprehensive incentive management	Potentially high cost and steep learning curve
QuotaPath	4.7 star star star star star-half	$15/user/mo $40/user/mo Enterprise: custom price	Complex sales structures and businesses of all sizes	Complex sales structures and businesses of all sizes	Steep learning curve
Anaplan	4.6 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Collaborative teams	Connected planning	Complexity and steep learning curve
Xactly	4.6 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Companies with complex sales structures	Complex incentive compensation management (ICM) with high efficiency and accuracy	Complexity for smaller teams and potentially high costs
Qobra	4.7 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Companies who want to automate commission calculations and payouts	Simplicity and ease of use	Lack of features like redirection
ElevateHQ	4.7 star star star star star-half	$30/user/mo $35/user/mo Custom: upon request	Businesses that need a comprehensive and user-friendly sales compensation management software	Ease of use and adoption	Lack of ability to configure the product based on user needs
Everstage	4.8 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Companies with modern sales culture and businesses who want real-time insights	A built-in dispute management and real-time visibility	Users say it works slowly, customer support is slow
Sales Cookie	4.9 star star star star star	$30/user/mo $50/user/mo	Smaller sales teams	Powerful automation	Lesser user base and average user interface
Spiff	4.7 star star star star star-half	Not publicly available	Companies with scalable needs	Automated Commission Calculations	Lack of filtering by date, no mobile app

ERP vs. CRM

ERP

CRM

Summary

Backbone of a business's internal operations.

Backbone of customer-centric interactions and operations.

Goal

To centralize and streamline core business processes in a company.

To increase customer experience, satisfaction and loyalty, and boost sales.

Focus

Internal operations and processes across departments (finance, accounting, inventory, supply chain, HR, and sales).

All interactions with leads and customers.

Manages

Internal business data like financial data, inventory levels, production details, supply chain, HR info.

All customer data like contact info, purchase history, communication history, customer preferences and more.

Users

Finance, accounting, operations, supply chain, and HR departments.

Customer-facing teams like sales, marketing, and customer service.

Benefits

Streamlines operations, improves data accuracy, enhances decision-making, boosts collaboration, increases productivity.

Improves customer relationships, increases sales, strengthens customer service, personalizes marketing campaigns, provides insights.

Price

$150 per user per year on average.

$10 to $30 per user per month on average.

PRM Tool	Rating	Feature	Pro	Con	Mobile App	Integrations	Free Plan	Pricing
Airtable	4.65 star star star star star-half	Org-wide alignment	User-friendly layout and database	Suboptimal as a personal CRM	square-check	Lack of tracking system	square-check	Team: $20/month Business: $45/month
Dex	4.7 star star star star star-half	Social Media Integration	Easy contact data collection	No marketing/sales features	square-check	Lack of tracking system	square-xmark 7-day trial	$12/month
Notion	4.75 star star star star star-half	Block Functions	High customization capability	Not a dedicated CRM	square-check	Limited	square-check	Plus: €7.50/month Business: €14/month
Monica	N/A	Open-source	Open-source flexibility	Requires extensive manual input	square-xmark	Limited	square-check Self-hosted	$9/month or $90/year
Hippo App	3.1 star star star	Simple iOS app	Ideal for non-tech-savvy users	iPhone only	square-check iOS only	Limited	square-xmark 1-month trial	$1.49/month or $14.99/month
Contacts+	3.6 star star star star-half	Smart Contact Management	Feature-rich and flexible	Reported bugs	square-check	Rich	square-xmark 7-day trial	Premium: $13.99/month Teams: $17.99/month
Folk	4.4 star star star star star-half	Customizable Interface	Customizable for teamwork	Pricey for personal use	square-check	Rich	square-xmark	Standard: $24/member Premium: $39/member
Close	4.7 star star star star star-half	Integrated Calling	Integrated Calling	Too sales-oriented & pricey	square-check	Rich	square-xmark 14-day trial	Startup: $59/user/month Professional: $329/user/month
Covve App	4.8 star star star star star	Business Card Scanning	Business Card Scanning	Mobile only	square-check	Limited	square-check	$9.99/month
Nimble	4.45 star star star star star-half	160+ app integrations	Comprehensive integrations	No free app version	square-check	Rich	square-xmark 14-day trial	$29.90/month or $24.90/month (billed annually)

	Capterra Rating	Free Trial	Free Plan	Starting Price (excluding the free plan)	Maximum Price (for the most expensive plan)	Best for
HubSpot CRM	4.5 star star star star star-half	square-check 14-day	square-check	€15/month/seat billed annually	€792/month/3 seats billed annually + €45/month for each extra seat	Versatility and free plan
Salesforce CRM	4.2 star star star star	square-check 30-day	square-xmark But it offers reduced price to authorised nonprofit organisations	€25/user/month	€500/user/month billed annually (includes Einstein AI)	Best overall operational CRM
Zoho CRM	4.3 star star star star star-half	square-xmark	square-check Limited to 3 users	Comprehensive incentive management	€52/user/month billed annually	Small-medium businesses and automation
Pipedrive	4.5 star star star star star-half	square-check 14-day	square-xmark	€14/seat/month billed annually	€99/seat/month billed annually	Sales teams and ease of use
Agile CRM	4.1 star star star star	square-xmark	square-check Limited 10 users	$9.99/user/month billed annually	$64.99/user/month billed annually	Free plan for very small teams up to 10

CRM goal	Increase the sales conversion rate for qualified leads from marketing automation campaigns by 10% in the next 6 months.
SMART Breakdown	1. Specific: It targets a specific area (conversion rate) for a defined segment (qualified leads from marketing automation).	2. Measurable: The desired increase (10%) is a clear metric, and the timeframe (6 months) allows for progress tracking.	3. Achievable: A 10% increase is possible based on historical data and potential improvements.	4. Relevant: Boosting sales from marketing efforts aligns with overall business objectives.	5. Time-bound: The 6-month timeframe creates urgency and a clear target date.
Actions	Step 1: Refine lead qualification criteria to ensure high-quality leads are nurtured through marketing automation.	Step 2: Personalize marketing automation campaigns based on lead demographics, interests, and behavior.	Step 3: Develop targeted landing pages with clear calls to action for qualified leads.	Step 4: Implement lead scoring to prioritize high-potential leads for sales follow-up.	Step 5: Track and analyze campaign performance to identify areas for optimization.
Outcomes	Increased sales and revenue	Improved marketing automation ROI	Marketing and sales alignment	Data-driven marketing optimization

Table

CDP Software

CRM Software

Approach

Data-centric

Customer-centric

Focus

Interactions across various channels and touchpoints, both online and offline.

Sales, marketing, and customer service interactions.

Functionality

Automatically collects, organizes, tags, and makes data available in real-time.

Helps businesses track customer interactions, sales pipelines, prospects, and service requests.

Goals

Personalized customer experiences across all channels.

Better customer relationships, streamlined processes, and improved profitability.

Benefits

Data integration, management, and accessibility, allowing for detailed analysis and segmentation.

Better communication within teams and with customers by organizing information about customer interactions and history.

Data Handling

Handles both identified and anonymous data, stitches together various data points.

Deals primarily with identified customer data.

Use Cases

Personalized marketing campaigns, targeted advertising, content customization across multiple channels.

Managing campaigns and leads, enhancing customer service, providing better customer support, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Examples

Insider, Bloomreach, Salesforce Marketing Cloud CDP

HubSpot, Salesforce Sales Cloud Lightning Professional, and Zoho CRM