Guest posting: how to get links that help, not hurt
A link from a relevant, respected website tells Google your site can be trusted. A link from a poor or unrelated one can do more harm than good.
What to look for in a website
- It covers your industry or a closely related topic
- It has real articles and real readers, not just paid posts
- It gets organic traffic from search
- Its other outgoing links look natural
What makes a good guest article
Write something the site's readers would value even without your link: a guide, a checklist or a clear answer to a common question. Place your link where it naturally helps the reader, pointing to the most relevant page on your site.
Anchor text
Use natural wording for links, such as your brand name or a short description of the page. Repeating the exact same keyword in every link looks unnatural.
What to avoid
- Sites that publish anything for a fee
- Pages full of unrelated ads and links
- Private blog networks
- Large bundles of cheap links
Quality over quantity
A few good links beat many weak ones. Combine guest posting with strong content on your own site, because links work best when they point to pages worth ranking.