- Jun 2, 2025
- 208
- 70
I’ve been doing SEO non-stop since 2008, and guest posting has always been one of the most effective ways to earn strong backlinks. Around 15 years ago, it was called article marketing, but the core idea was the same - you created articles and submitted them to websites in need of fresh content.
In recent years, I’ve heard more and more people say that guest posting doesn’t work anymore - or at least, not as well as it used to. That backlinks from guest posts bring no value. So I figured it’s time to clarify the situation.
Guest posting is still one of the best link building methods - especially for white-hat niches.
Its effectiveness, however, depends on many factors. If you ignore them, guest posting won’t work. But if you keep them in mind, the results can be excellent. Here’s what matters:
1. Avoid “professional” websites that exist solely to sell guest posts and link insertions.
2. Avoid irrelevant sites that have nothing to do with your niche.
3. Avoid websites that publish guest articles on any topic - including adult, casino, CBD, etc. (Unless your site is in one of those niches.)
4. Avoid websites that email you out of the blue offering to sell you a guest post placement on their site.
5. Focus on creating high-quality content that’s original and genuinely interesting to readers. Such content will have a much higher chance of passing moderation and might even be published for free.
In the past few years, Google has become extremely good at detecting unnatural links - and also at identifying websites that systematically sell them, including through paid guest posts. Many of those backlinks end up being ignored by Google (at best), bringing zero SEO benefit. That’s why so many people now say guest posting is a waste of time. It’s not - if you do it right.
If your goal is to quickly grab hundreds of backlinks via guest posts, you’ll probably get them - but most will come from PBNs or from sites already flagged by Google for selling links.
Don’t chase volume. Build links steadily and selectively. Choose relevant websites with care. Write the articles yourself or hire copywriters who can create content that appeals to real people - not just Googlebot. If you use AI to generate content, make sure it’s not obvious and always have a human editor polish the final version.
When doing outreach, write friendly and low-pressure emails. Don’t spam site owners with pushy messages asking for guest post placement. Be polite and respectful. No follow-ups like “Sir, did you see my previous email? Just reply…” - forget that kind of spam.
Respect the people you’re reaching out to. This approach will bring far better results than you expect.
In recent years, I’ve heard more and more people say that guest posting doesn’t work anymore - or at least, not as well as it used to. That backlinks from guest posts bring no value. So I figured it’s time to clarify the situation.
Guest posting is still one of the best link building methods - especially for white-hat niches.
Its effectiveness, however, depends on many factors. If you ignore them, guest posting won’t work. But if you keep them in mind, the results can be excellent. Here’s what matters:
1. Avoid “professional” websites that exist solely to sell guest posts and link insertions.
2. Avoid irrelevant sites that have nothing to do with your niche.
3. Avoid websites that publish guest articles on any topic - including adult, casino, CBD, etc. (Unless your site is in one of those niches.)
4. Avoid websites that email you out of the blue offering to sell you a guest post placement on their site.
5. Focus on creating high-quality content that’s original and genuinely interesting to readers. Such content will have a much higher chance of passing moderation and might even be published for free.
In the past few years, Google has become extremely good at detecting unnatural links - and also at identifying websites that systematically sell them, including through paid guest posts. Many of those backlinks end up being ignored by Google (at best), bringing zero SEO benefit. That’s why so many people now say guest posting is a waste of time. It’s not - if you do it right.
If your goal is to quickly grab hundreds of backlinks via guest posts, you’ll probably get them - but most will come from PBNs or from sites already flagged by Google for selling links.
Don’t chase volume. Build links steadily and selectively. Choose relevant websites with care. Write the articles yourself or hire copywriters who can create content that appeals to real people - not just Googlebot. If you use AI to generate content, make sure it’s not obvious and always have a human editor polish the final version.
When doing outreach, write friendly and low-pressure emails. Don’t spam site owners with pushy messages asking for guest post placement. Be polite and respectful. No follow-ups like “Sir, did you see my previous email? Just reply…” - forget that kind of spam.
Respect the people you’re reaching out to. This approach will bring far better results than you expect.
