Guest Posting Sites

Guest posting has been part of digital marketing and SEO for more than a decade. Over time, it has been praised, abused, criticized, and misunderstood. Many people believe guest posting is “dead,” while others still rely on it as their main growth strategy.

The truth is simple: guest posting is not dead—bad guest posting is.

In 2026, guest posting still works when it is done with the right mindset, ethical practices, and a strong focus on value rather than links. This guide explains guest posting from the ground up, shows how to do it safely, and shares 10+ real guest posting sites with examples and Domain Authority (DA) to help you get started.

This article is written for:

  • SEO beginners who want real backlinks without penalties

  • Bloggers who want traffic and brand exposure

  • Freelancers and agencies building authority

Website owners tired of spammy link-building tactics

What Is Guest Posting?

Guest posting (also called guest blogging) is the practice of writing and publishing an article on another website or blog that is relevant to your niche.

Instead of publishing content only on your own site, you contribute valuable content to someone else’s platform. In return, you usually get:

  • Author credit

     

  • Brand exposure

     

  • Referral traffic

     

  • A backlink (often in the author bio, sometimes inside the content)

     

At its core, guest posting is content collaboration, not link trading.

Why Guest Posting Still Works in 2026

Guest posting works today for the same reason it worked years ago: people trust recommendations from sources they already follow.

When done properly, guest posting helps in four major ways:

1. Authority and Credibility

When your content appears on reputable websites, readers begin to see you as an expert. Over time, this builds brand authority far more effectively than self-promotion.

2. Referral Traffic

A well-placed guest post can send consistent, high-quality traffic for months or even years, especially if the article ranks well or stays popular.

3. Relationship Building

Guest posting opens doors to long-term relationships with editors, bloggers, founders, and marketers. These relationships often lead to repeated contributions, partnerships, or referrals.

4. SEO Support (Indirect but Real)

While backlinks alone do not guarantee rankings, contextual mentions from relevant sites strengthen your overall SEO profile when combined with good content and technical SEO.

Guest Posting vs Spam Link Building

Understanding the difference between ethical guest posting and spam link building is critical.

Ethical Guest Posting Looks Like:

  • Writing original, in-depth content

     

  • Publishing on relevant, niche-focused sites

     

  • Adding links naturally where they help readers

     

  • Focusing on audience value first

     

Spam Guest Posting Looks Like:

  • Paying for links on low-quality sites

     

  • Publishing the same article on multiple sites

     

  • Stuffing exact-match keywords in anchors

     

  • Posting on unrelated or link-farm websites

     

Search engines are very good at identifying manipulation. If your guest posting strategy is focused only on links, it will eventually fail.

How to Choose the Right Guest Posting Sites

Not all guest posting sites are worth your time. Instead of chasing hundreds of links, focus on quality and relevance.

Here are the most important factors to consider:

1. Niche Relevance

A guest post on a smaller but highly relevant website is often more valuable than a post on a large, unrelated platform.

For example:

  • SEO content → SEO, marketing, web development blogs

     

  • Web design content → design, UX, WordPress blogs

     

2. Content Quality

Review recent articles on the site:

  • Are they detailed and well written?

     

  • Do they solve real problems?

     

  • Are authors real people with profiles?

     

If the site publishes everything without review, avoid it.

3. Organic Activity

A good guest posting site usually has:

  • Regularly published content

     

  • Active social media presence

     

  • Comments or engagement on posts

     

4. Clear Editorial Guidelines

Legitimate websites often have:

  • “Write for us” or “Contribute” pages

     

  • Clear submission rules

     

  • Topic requirements

     

This shows the site values content quality.

How to Find Guest Posting Sites (Step-by-Step)

You do not need paid tools to find guest posting opportunities. Google alone is enough.

Google Search Operators

Use these searches with your niche keywords:

  • your niche + “write for us”

     

  • your niche + “guest post”

     

  • your niche + “contribute”

     

  • your niche + “submit an article”

     

  • site:.com “write for us”

     

Example:

  • “SEO write for us”

     

  • “digital marketing guest post”

     

  • “WordPress contribute”

     

Create a simple spreadsheet to track:

  • Website name

     

  • URL

     

  • Contact email

     

  • DA

     

  • Topics they accept

     

  • Pitch status

     

How to Pitch a Guest Post (That Editors Actually Read)

Most guest post pitches fail because they are generic and copied.

A good pitch is:

  • Short

     

  • Personalized

     

  • Relevant to the site’s audience

     

What Editors Want to See:

  1. You understand their content

     

  2. Your topic fits their audience

     

  3. You can deliver quality

     

Pitch Best Practices:

  • Mention a recent article you liked

     

  • Suggest 2–3 topic ideas

     

  • Do not attach full drafts unless requested

     

  • Be respectful and professional

     

A strong pitch increases acceptance rates dramatically.

How to Write a High-Quality Guest Post

Once your pitch is accepted, your real work begins.

Structure Matters

Editors prefer clean, readable content:

  • Short paragraphs

     

  • Clear headings

     

  • Logical flow

     

Focus on Value

Ask yourself:

  • Does this help the reader?

     

  • Is this actionable?

     

  • Is this better than existing content?

     

Keep Links Natural

Do not force links. A link should:

  • Support a point

     

  • Add extra information

     

  • Feel natural in context

     

10+ Guest Posting Sites With DA and Examples

Note: DA changes over time. Always verify before pitching.

1. Smashing Magazine (DA 90)

Niche: Web design, UX, performance
Example Topics:

  • Improving Core Web Vitals Without Redesigning Your Site

     

  • UX Mistakes That Increase Bounce Rate

     

Link Style: Very strict. Usually bio links only.

2. SitePoint (DA 86)

Niche: Web development, WordPress, design
Example Topics:

  • WordPress Performance Optimization for Beginners

     

  • Internal Linking Strategies for Blogs

     

3. Hongkiat (DA 86)

Niche: Design, development, productivity
Example Topics:

  • Image Optimization Techniques for Faster Websites

     

  • Typography Mistakes Designers Still Make

     

4. Webdesigner Depot (DA 85)

Niche: Web design, UX/UI
Example Topics:

  • Landing Page Design Principles That Increase Conversions

     

  • Color Psychology in Modern Web Design

     

5. GetResponse Blog (DA 85)

Niche: Email marketing, digital marketing
Example Topics:

  • How to Build an Email Funnel for Service Businesses

     

  • Welcome Email Sequences That Convert

     

6. Creative Bloq (DA 86)

Niche: Creative design, branding
Example Topics:

  • How to Present Design Case Studies to Clients

     

  • Portfolio UX Tips for Freelancers

     

7. Outbrain Blog (DA 85)

Niche: Content marketing, content distribution
Example Topics:

  • Content Promotion Strategies After Publishing

     

  • Repurposing Content for Maximum Reach

     

8. ReadWrite (DA 87)

Niche: Technology, business
Example Topics:

  • AI Tools for Small Business Content Teams

     

  • Website Speed and Business Growth

     

9. A List Apart (DA 83)

Niche: Web standards, UX, accessibility
Example Topics:

  • Designing Accessible Websites for Everyone

     

  • Practical Design Systems for Small Teams

     

10. Mindbodygreen (DA 86)

Niche: Wellness, lifestyle
Example Topics:

  • Managing Screen Time in a Digital World

     

  • Productivity and Mental Health

     

11. Tech-Focused Medium Publications (DA varies)

Niche: SEO, tech, marketing
Example Topics:

  • SEO Mistakes Beginners Still Make

     

  • Content Writing Workflows for Teams

     

How to Place Links Safely in Guest Posts

Safe link placement is critical.

Best Practice:

  • 1 branded or natural anchor link in author bio

     

  • 1 contextual link only if relevant

     

Anchor Text Examples:

  • “this detailed guide”

     

  • “technical SEO checklist”

     

  • “internal linking strategy”

     

Avoid aggressive keyword anchors repeatedly.

Common Guest Posting Mistakes to Avoid

  • Writing only for backlinks

     

  • Ignoring site guidelines

     

  • Over-optimizing anchor text

     

  • Submitting spun or AI-only content

     

  • Publishing on irrelevant websites

     

Guest posting is a reputation game. Every bad post hurts long-term trust.

How Many Guest Posts Should You Do?

Quality matters more than quantity.

A safe approach:

  • 2–4 high-quality guest posts per month

     

  • Focus on relevance, not volume

     

  • Mix guest posts with your own content

     

Consistency beats mass submissions.

Measuring Guest Posting Success

Do not measure success only by backlinks.

Track:

  • Referral traffic

     

  • Brand searches

     

  • New leads or inquiries

     

  • Engagement from new audiences

     

A single strong guest post can outperform 50 weak links.

Guest Posting for Freelancers and SEO Professionals

If you are a freelancer or SEO expert, guest posting can:

  • Build personal brand

     

  • Attract international clients

     

  • Increase trust before sales calls

     

Clients trust experts who are visible on reputable platforms.

conclusion: The Right Way to Do Guest Posting

Guest posting is not about shortcuts. It is about earning attention through value.

If you:

  • Respect editors

     

  • Write genuinely helpful content

     

  • Choose sites carefully

     

  • Keep links natural

     

Guest posting will remain one of the safest and most powerful long-term strategies for SEO, branding, and growth.

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