Guest posting is one of the most effective link building and content marketing strategies today. By publishing high-quality content on authority sites in your industry, you can gain valuable backlinks, increase brand visibility, and establish yourself as a thought leader.
However, getting your guest post pitch accepted is not always easy. You’re competing with countless other writers for the site owner’s attention.
Follow these proven tips to craft irresistible guest post pitches and get a high acceptance rate:
Do Your Research
The first step is to identify websites that are a good fit for your guest article. Look for sites that:
- Have high domain authority and traffic in your niche
- Regularly publish guest contributions
- Overlap with your target audience and customer base
Study the articles and topics the site currently covers. This gives you an idea of what they accept and aligns with their editorial guidelines.
Thorough research also enables you to customize your pitch. Mention specific posts you enjoyed and why you think your article would resonate with their audience.
Craft a Personalized Pitch
A generic “one size fits all” pitch won’t cut it. The site owner needs to feel you took the time to understand their brand and audience.
Address them directly by name in your opening. Briefly introduce yourself and your credentials.
Explain why you strongly align with their site mission and values. Flatter them by noting specific articles you enjoyed.
This level of personalization demonstrates you did your homework. It also builds an initial connection that makes them more receptive.
Summarize Your Article Idea
After introducing yourself, briefly summarize the guest post topic, angle, and what makes it unique.
For example: “My article will provide small business owners with 17 proven ways to boost website traffic through search engine optimization.”
Give them a clear picture of how your piece will be timely, relevant, and add value for readers. Outline the specific issues, solutions, tips, or tactics you’ll cover.
If applicable, note how it complements or builds on existing content on their site. This shows you’ll fill gaps rather than duplicate what’s already covered.
Highlight Benefits for Their Audience
Put yourself in the site owner’s shoes. Why should they accept your guest post over the countless others they receive?
Emphasize how readers will find it useful, interesting, or entertaining. Is it highly actionable? Will it make their lives easier or more productive? Will they discover something new and exciting?
For example, “My article will help working parents save 15+ hours a week by streamlining repetitive household tasks.” This immediately conveys the post’s value.
Include Your Promotional Tie-In
Be upfront about wanting a short bio with 1-2 relevant links back to your site, products, or services.
Many novice writers fail to ask for the promotional tie-in upfront. This results in lost backlink opportunities if the post gets accepted.
However, don’t make the promotional aspect the focal point. The site owner cares more about how your piece benefits readers.
Provide Specific Statistics and Facts
Including supporting evidence strengthens your pitch. Back up key points with relevant statistics, facts, expert analysis, or case studies.
For example: “Recent research from HubSpot indicates 60% of consumers are more likely to engage with personalized content across devices.”
This data shows it’s a hot topic that will interest readers. Numbers also make your premise more convincing.
Mention Links to Other Samples
Writing samples lend credibility so the site owner can gauge your skills. Include links to 2-3 published articles or guest posts on high authority sites in your niche.
Samples enable them to assess whether your writing style and expertise align with their audience. They also build trust that you have experience creating high-quality content.
Close with a Clear Call to Action
Wrap up your pitch by clearly asking for a response and next steps to submit your article. For example:
“Please let me know if you believe this guest post would be a good fit. If you’re interested, I can send the complete 900-word draft over in the next week.”
Give a specific timeline showing you’re ready to get started promptly. Avoid vagaries like “I hope to hear from you soon.”
Follow Up Politely
Don’t assume silence means they aren’t interested. Follow up within 7-10 days if you don’t receive a response.
Send a polite email re-expressing your enthusiasm and gently asking if they received your initial query. If they’re too busy, ask if it would be better to check back in a few weeks.
Persistence and professional follow-up show you’re serious about contributing. Just avoid pestering them repeatedly.
Address Any Questions or Concerns
The site owner may respond asking for more details on your article or qualifications. They may propose edits to your suggested topic or angle.
Reply professionally addressing their specific queries or concerns. Demonstrate flexibility to modify details if needed to align with their site.
Showing willingness to collaborate increases the odds they’ll accept your pitch. Never get defensive if they propose changes.
Submit Your Draft on Deadline
If you receive the green light, honor the mutually agreed upon deadline for submitting your article draft.
Lateness or excuses can undo all your hard work getting the pitch accepted. Submit as early as possible to allow time for revisions.
Follow all provided guidelines on length, formatting, images, and so on. Adhering to details ensures your piece gets approved and published.
Offer to Promote the Content
As a final good faith gesture, offer to promote the published post across your social media platforms and email lists.
You can write: “Once my guest post goes live, I’d be happy to share it with my 5,000+ social media followers and email subscribers.”
This gives the site owner peace of mind that publishing your article will also expand their reach and traffic.
Guest posting is a marathon, not a sprint. Building relationships with sites takes time and consistently providing value. Using these tips, you’ll be on the road to getting your pitches accepted and published on a regular basis.
