Guest posting is one of the best ways to grow your online presence, build relationships with other websites, and get more people to visit your site. But writing a guest post is just the first step. To get the most benefit, you need to optimize your guest post.
Optimizing means making sure your article is seen by more people, brings value to readers, and helps your website or brand grow. In this article, we’ll show you simple ways to optimize your guest post—even if you’re just starting out. Don’t worry, this guide is easy to read and great for beginners (even if you’re in 8th grade)!
What Is a Guest Post?
A guest post is an article you write for someone else’s blog or website. Instead of posting it on your own website, you send it to another website owner who agrees to publish it.
You get a benefit in return. This might be:
A backlink to your website
Exposure to a new audience
A chance to build your reputation as an expert
For example, if you are a student who loves science and writes an article for a science blog, that’s a guest post!
Why Guest Posts Are Important
Guest posting can help in many ways, especially for businesses and bloggers. Here are a few key benefits:
More traffic: People reading your post might click and visit your website.
Better SEO: If your guest post includes a link to your site, it can help your site rank better in Google.
More trust: Posting on respected websites makes people trust your content more.
New connections: You build relationships with other writers and website owners.
But to get these benefits, you must make sure your guest post is optimized!
How to Optimize a Guest Post
1. Choose the Right Website
Not all websites are the same. Choose a site that:
Has readers who care about your topic
Has good traffic (visits from people)
Allows guest posting (check their “Write for Us” page)
Has a good reputation (check their social media and Google ranking)
You want your post to reach the right audience. For example, if you’re writing about healthy food, don’t post it on a tech blog!
2. Research the Audience
Before writing, ask yourself:
What do the readers care about?
What problems do they want to solve?
What topics have already been covered?
Read some of their past blog posts to see their style and what topics are popular. This will help you write something that fits their audience.
3. Write a Strong Headline
Your headline is the first thing people see. Make it:
Clear
Catchy
Helpful
A good example:
✅ “5 Easy Ways to Eat Healthy Without Spending a Lot”
Not so good:
❌ “Health Tips”
People will click if the title promises value.
4. Use Simple Language
You don’t need to use big words or sound too fancy. Write like you are talking to a friend. Keep your sentences short. Use simple examples.
Tip: If an 8th-grade student can understand your post, it’s perfect!
5. Add Real Value
Your guest post should not just promote your product or website. Focus on:
Solving a problem
Sharing new tips
Teaching something useful
Giving honest opinions
If readers learn something new, they’ll trust you more.
6. Include a Call to Action (CTA)
A CTA is something you ask the reader to do at the end of the post. For example:
“Try these tips and let us know what worked for you.”
“Visit our site for more ideas.”
“Download our free checklist.”
This keeps readers engaged and helps them remember you.
7. Add a Link to Your Website
This is one of the most important parts. Most websites will allow you to include a link to your own website—usually in the “author bio” section at the end of the post.
Make sure your link:
Goes to a useful page (not just your homepage)
Is related to the topic
Uses proper anchor text (the clickable words)
8. Track and Manage with a Guest Post CRM
A Guest Post CRM (Customer Relationship Management tool for guest posting) helps you keep track of:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Track Pitches | Know who you contacted and what they said |
| Monitor Deadlines | Don’t miss publishing dates |
| Save Contacts | Store names, emails, and site details |
| Track Performance | See which posts bring the most traffic |
This is especially helpful if you're writing guest posts for many websites. A Guest Post CRM keeps you organized and makes sure nothing gets lost.
9. Promote Your Post
Once your post is live:
Share it on social media
Send it to your email list
Ask friends to share it
Mention it on your website
The more people who see it, the better results you’ll get!
10. Build a Relationship with the Host Site
Don’t just write one post and disappear. Say thank you. Share their other content. Stay in touch.
Later, they might ask you to write again, or even recommend you to others!
Quick Tips for Better Guest Posts
Here’s a quick look at things to do and avoid:
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Write for the audience | Talk only about your business |
| Use simple language | Use too much technical jargon |
| Be helpful | Be too salesy |
| Follow the site's rules | Copy other people’s content |
| Include links naturally | Overstuff links |
Final Thoughts
Guest posting is like making a new friend. You share something helpful, and in return, you build trust and connections. But just writing a post isn’t enough—you need to optimize it to get the most out of your effort.
Remember to:
Pick the right site
Understand the readers
Write simply and clearly
Include useful links
Track your posts with a Guest Post CRM
Promote your content
Whether you're a student writing your first blog or a small business owner trying to grow your brand, these steps will help you succeed.
Want to learn more about writing great guest posts, finding emails, and managing your outreach?
? Learn more at Extract Mails
