Guest posts are a popular way of earning backlinks for SEO, but how can you get that all-important first post published?
When you’re a recognized author and an expert in your industry, it’s easy to get yourself published on any publisher that might consider you. But getting started is somewhat trickier. You need to present yourself as an authority when you don’t have much authority to speak of, and convince someone to give you a chance on their blog.
How can you do it?
- Have a Backlog of Good Blogs. You wouldn’t apply for a job without a reasonable resume that showed off your skills. In the world of guest posting, your “resume” will be the blogs you’ve written on your own site. Make sure you have a full and respectable archive of content you’ve already written, so publishers can see what you’re capable of before they bring you on.
- Choose the Right Publisher. Next, you’ll want to choose your publisher carefully. Obviously, you’ll want to choose a publisher in your own niche, and the more specifically aligned with you they are, the better. The higher the authority of the publisher, the more value you’ll get, but the harder it will be to get published, so start with a lower authority publisher and start working your way up.
- Make a Killer Pitch. Finally, make a good pitch for the topic you’re suggesting. Think carefully to find a subject that’s both squarely in your niche and appropriate and interesting for the publisher’s target audience. Remember, this is about pleasing the publisher’s target audience first and foremost.
With these three secrets, you should have no trouble getting your foot in the door with your first guest publishing opportunity. From there, you can scale upward and outward, and gradually build yourself into a more noteworthy figure in your industry.
