Matt Cutts is often misquoted as saying guest posting is dead, but the title was catchy enough that it stuck. Guest posting isn’t dead, but spam posting is. The Google Panda Update made sure of that. Genuine guest posting is still a valuable tool that can be used for exposure, backlinking and traffic. The key to building valuable backlinks through guest posting is to first find a successful blog in your niche to post on.

Search First

The first step in building valuable backlinks through guest posting is to find a decent site to submit a guest post. This is easier said than done because there are many sites out there that have been blacklisted by other guest bloggers so be sure to check it out. That being said, you’ll want to do a Google search for “Guest Post [your keyword]” to find possible sites that foot the bill. You will likely get plenty of leads, so take a few minutes to narrow down the list or you’ll be searching for days.

Check Parameters

Once you’ve got the list down to a manageable size, it is time to rank them. You’ll want to use some type of ranking tool or service to get all the metrics. This may seem silly, but you need to see what the parameters are, so you’ll know if the site has quality traffic. As you do this, build a list of first, second, third and so on. The first site is the one that you think you would really like to post on thus far and go on down the list.

Browse The Blogs

Once this is done, you will still want to browse the blogs to ensure that you want to be affiliated with them. Sometimes they may not fit specifically in the niche that you think they do or they may not relate to your niche at all. As you browse and see the content, the order of the list may change a bit. This is absolutely fine as long as you complete this step and you have a narrowed down list. Once you have completed this process and you are ready to make the pitch, there are still a few things to keep in mind.

Be Authentic

Its okay to guest post for backlinks but that can’t be the only reason. You need to establish that you have some sort of valuable insight to share with the audience. Only guest post in your niche and be sure that you have some personal experience to share. This is the only way it really works, and you will get any traffic. Definitely, don’t outsource the work to bargain-basement writers who won’t do it justice.

Comments

Another important thing to keep in mind about building backlinks with guest posting is to check the published work regularly for comments and questions. If you write a good engaging piece that drives traffic, there will be comments and posts so go ahead and answer them. It is important to respond to comments and posts about your written piece because communication helps drive traffic.

If you follow these five steps, you will build valuable backlinks through guest posting. Anyone in the market for targeted traffic and backlinks has guest blogging in the forefront of their thoughts. The Google Panda Update put a fast stop to most mass spam posting. Being authentic and genuine in your motives for guest blogging will steer you in the right direction. Then these important tips will take you the rest of the way. It is still possible to build valuable backlinks through guest posting, just avoid stuffing them with keyword heavy anchor links.