You’re Not “Shadowbanned,” You’re Just Lazy
Guest posting still works. It works really well, in fact—just not for you, because your current strategy is a mix of wishful Googling and sad cold emails that read like they were written by ChatGPT’s blander cousin.
If you’ve ever screamed into a spreadsheet titled “blogs_to_pitch_finalFINAL.xlsx” while Googling “guest blogging sites 2020,” congratulations: you’ve already lost. But don’t panic. I’m here. And I’ll show you how to actually find high-quality guest post opportunities without melting into a puddle of digital shame.
1. Stop Googling Like It’s Your First Time on the Internet
If your idea of research is typing “blogs that accept guest posts” and clicking the first result with 37 popups and a cartoon panda mascot… it’s time for an intervention.
Use actual Google Search Operators like a functioning adult:
- "marketing" + "write for us"
- intitle:"guest post guidelines" + fitness
- inurl:"submit-guest-post" + parenting
- site:blogthatsnobodysheardof.com "guest post"
And yes, use the minus sign to exclude garbage:
"content marketing" + "write for us" -casino -poker -CBD
Search like someone who knows their niche. Not like someone looking for the “cheapest guest post site on the web lol.”
You’ll get better results by learning first backlinks.
2. Steal From Your Competitors (They’re Not That Smart Anyway)
Why reinvent the content wheel when Chad from your competitor’s team already did the work?
Fire up Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even Moz if you’re feeling nostalgic, and find out where your competitors are getting their backlinks.
- Filter by “guest post” in anchor text or URLs
- Stalk their referring domains
- Judge silently
- Then pitch the same sites, but better
If Chad got accepted, trust me, you can too. Just… don’t write like Chad.
3. Use Marketplaces (But Don’t Marry a Link Farm)
Marketplaces are like Tinder for guest blogging: some solid matches, lots of scammers, and a handful of profiles that say “Looking for serious backlink relationships” while offering zero value.
Here are some that won’t give you digital rabies:
- Accessily
- FatJoe
- Serpzilla
- PostJoint
- Adsy
Look for filters by niche, authority, and real traffic. Avoid anything that looks like it was built in 2009 or lists “Best for SEO” next to a site called techtrendingz.biz with 8 followers and a DA of “lol.”
Avoid the junk and focus on guest posts that actually work.
4. Stalk Guest Blogging Influencers (Responsibly)
Some people are everywhere. They guest post like it’s their full-time job. You know what that means? They’ve done your homework for you.
Here’s what you do:
- Google their name + “guest post”
- Ahrefs their site and check referring domains
- Check their LinkedIn for “As Seen On” humblebrags
- Browse their personal blog (if they even have one that isn’t just a landing page for their Gumroad eBook)
They’ve already blazed the trail. You just have to walk it like you own it—and maybe wear nicer shoes.
5. Use Social Media Like You’re Not a Lurker
Social media is where the opportunities are posted in plain sight… and where you’re too busy doomscrolling memes to notice.
On Twitter/X:
Search hashtags like #guestpost, #writeforus, #bloggerwanted. Follow people who post “Looking for contributors!” before they change their mind.
On LinkedIn:
Get in niche groups. Comment on posts. Be a person. Then slide into DMs like, “Hey, I actually read your content, not just skimmed for your DA.”
On Facebook:
Join blogger groups. Not the ones with 8 members and zero posts since 2020. The real ones. Where site owners post “Guest bloggers wanted!” and half the replies are “I sent you a DM :)” from people with broken English and backlink dreams.
6. Directories: AKA Guest Posting’s Junk Drawer
Using guest post directories is like sifting through a flea market. There’s treasure… but mostly expired cheese.
Still, if you’re into spreadsheets:
- AllTop (for top blogs in categories)
- GuestPostTracker (decent if updated)
- BuzzStream’s lists
- Collaborator.pro
Treat directories like tip jars, not gospel. Use them to find leads, not to trust blindly. Some of those “high-authority” sites are just glorified link farms in a trench coat.
7. Evaluate Sites Like a Bouncer at a VIP Club
Before you pitch a site, ask:
- Is this relevant to my niche?
- Does it have traffic, or just a pretty DA score?
- Is the audience real or mostly bots and interns?
- Does the blog post anything newer than 2021?
- Is the comment section alive or a ghost town full of Viagra spam?
Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, Semrush, and common sense. If the site has 100 “Write for Us” articles and no editorial standards… run.
8. SEO Footprints = Digital Breadcrumbs
Copy these into your search bar and enjoy:
- "travel tips" + "submit a guest post"
- "digital marketing" + "contributor guidelines"
- "productivity hacks" + "write for me"
- "inurl:guest-post" + "SEO tools"
This is what actual link builders use. Not those “200+ guest blogging sites” PDFs that haven’t been updated since Tumblr was relevant.
9. Talk to People Like You’re Not a Spreadsheet With Feelings
Real guest posting is relationship-building disguised as outreach.
Want to not get ignored?
- Actually read the blog
- Compliment something specific
- Suggest a topic that makes sense for their audience
- Don’t pitch like this: “Hi Sir, can I have backlink on you blog?”
- Include writing samples that aren’t from Medium or your cat’s website
Be normal. Be useful. Be someone the editor would actually want to hear from.
Here are outreach lines that don’t make you sound like a bot.
Don’t Take My Word For It, Ask the Nerds
If you need permission from the algorithm gods before taking advice, here’s a stack of expert-backed sources that prove I’m not just yelling into the internet void. Yes, real SEO professionals agree with me.
So here’s what the experts have to say:
- Neil Patel swears by competitor backlink analysis as one of the most effective ways to uncover guest post opportunities. Read it and weep
- Moz reminds you to vet your sites before pitching like a desperate intern. Use Domain Authority and relevance or risk wasting your time. Their guide is here
- Ahrefs shows you how to stalk your competitors’ backlinks with surgical precision. Yes, it’s legal
- Delve AI outlines advanced search queries and Google operators for finding actual guest post leads, not link graveyards. Study it like homework
- Semrush talks about the power of relevance and authority when guest blogging—because backlinking on a knitting blog won’t help your crypto startup. Check it out
- Accessily, Adsy, and Serpzilla are legit guest post marketplaces if you’re willing to spend money and still want real ROI. Start here
- Backlinko (from the sacred SEO scrolls) confirms that smart outreach and strategic targeting still trump mass email nonsense. Amen
You Can Be Better Than This
Look, guest posting is a grind—but it’s not rocket science. You’re just not doing it right (yet). Stop sending desperate cold emails. Stop pitching irrelevant sites. Stop Googling “free backlinks now.”
Do the work. Use the tools. Build connections. And write like someone who knows what they’re doing.
Or don’t—and stay stuck in “no reply” hell while someone else gets published, ranked, and followed.
Want Me to Do It For You Instead?
Sick of this already? Good. I’m not.
Hire me, and I’ll find the best sites, craft the pitches, and make you look smart and strategic while you pretend it was your idea all along.
Tasty Digital Snacks for the Guest Posting Starved
Before you pitch, grab these free resources. They’re built for people who want to look smart without actually doing all the work.
1. Guest Post Pitch Kit
Stop sending cold emails that belong in the trash folder. This kit includes real pitch templates, subject lines that don’t reek of desperation, and tips that might save your dignity.
2. Search Strings
A copy-paste buffet of Google search operators to actually find guest post opportunities—instead of aimlessly yelling “write for us” into the void.
3. Guest Post Vetting Checklist
Before you pitch that blog with 12 popups and zero traffic, run it through this brutally honest checklist. Save yourself time, shame, and backlinks from sites Google forgot.
4. Outreach Tracker Spreadsheet
A dead-simple tracking sheet that helps you stay organized while pretending your outreach process isn’t total chaos. Yes, it’s color-coded. Yes, you’re welcome.
5. Competitor Backlink Swipe File
Stalk your competitors’ backlinks, copy their best placements, and pretend you discovered them yourself. Comes with tool tips and filter tricks for SEO crimes of opportunity.