Key Takeaways
- When pitching a guest post it is not about the backlink you’re looking for, it’s about what you can offer the target website.
- Personalization is everything. Any email that’s been copied and pasted elsewhere is automatically sent to the trash folder.
- The best pitches also give a very specific idea to discuss that will fill in a hole in the target site’s content.
- Your subject line is the gatekeeper. Make it short, interesting and related to the recipient’s site.
- The magic happens when you follow up. Many high DR (Domain Rating) links are won on the second or third go round.
Anyone who has ever attempted to create links for their website is familiar with the headache.
You spend hours finding the perfect websites. You scrape their contact info. You send out dozens of emails asking to write a guest post.
And then? Crickets. Nothing but silence.
It’s really easy to believe that guest blogging is a thing of the past or just costs hundreds of dollars for one link. But the truth is usually much simpler: your pitch simply didn’t stand out. Every single day, hundreds of such requests are sent to website owners at high-DR sites. If your email looks like all the others, it will be ignored.
The positive news is that you don’t have to be a beloved author to receive a “yes. All you need is a solid system.
In this guide, we are going to break down exactly how to craft an email that gets opened, read, and accepted. We will explore examples of successful guest post pitches that have landed links on large websites.
By the end of this article, you will know exactly how to write an outreach email that actually works.
The Guest Post Pitch Examples You Can Steal Today
In engaging with high-authority websites, you must come with a special something.
Here’s a set of three super effective guest post pitch templates, based on actual outreach campaigns that have led to links on DR 70+ websites.
1. The “Content Gap” Pitch
This pitch is very effective because it shows you have read their website. You’re not just providing an article; you’re filling in a missing part of their content library.
Subject: A new topic idea for [Their Blog Name]
The Template:
Hi [Name],
I was just reading your excellent guide on [Topic they wrote about], and I really loved the section about [Specific detail].
While reading, I noticed that you haven’t covered much about [Related missing topic]. Since your readers are clearly interested in [Broader topic], I think a deep dive into [Related missing topic] would be incredibly helpful for them.
I’d love to write a guest post for you covering this exact topic. Here are three working titles I have in mind:
- [Idea 1]
- [Idea 2]
- [Idea 3]
To give you an idea of my writing style, here is a recent piece I wrote for [Website Name]: [Link to your work].
Let me know if any of these ideas stand out to you!
Best,
[Your Name]
Why this works in the real world:
This very approach was the one that a digital marketing agency employed when pitching a best in class software company. They noted that they were not happy with seeing only “I want to write about social media”, but they saw no content about TikTok advertising on the blog. They provided them with three TikTok ad subjects and the editor was all about it. It has a quick start-up time.
2. The “Custom Data or Case Study” Pitch
Original data is gold to big websites. If you have experimented, conducted a survey, or have a unique case study, editors will practically say yes. It provides them with fresh material that they won’t find elsewhere.
Subject: Unique data on [Topic] for your readers
The Template:
Hey [Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I run [Your Company].
We recently ran a test to see exactly how [Specific strategy/topic] impacts [Specific result].
The results were actually pretty surprising. We found that [Insert one cool finding here].
Since your audience at [Their Website] is always looking for new ways to improve their [Related skill], I thought they would love a full breakdown of this case study.
I’d love to write an exclusive guest post for your site detailing exactly how we did it and what your readers can learn from it.
I recently published a similar data-driven post here: [Link to your work].
Would you be open to seeing a quick outline?
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Why this works in the real world:
Consumers don’t want to read the same “how to” articles over and over again. When you bring fresh numbers or a real personal success story, you immediately separate yourself from generic spam bots. It proves you are a real human with real experience.
3. The “Update and Upgrade” Pitch
Sometimes, the best way to get a guest post isn’t to write something brand new. It’s to provide to modify an outdated and old article on their site.
Subject: Quick question about your post on [Topic]
The Template:
Hi [Name],
I was doing some research on [Topic] today and landed on your article: [Link to their old article].
It’s a great piece, but I noticed it was published back in [Year], and a few of the strategies are a bit outdated now.
I know how busy managing a blog can be, so I wanted to offer to rewrite and update this post for you for free. I can add a new section on [New trend], update the old screenshots, and make it fresh for this year.
In exchange, I’d just love a quick author bio link at the bottom.
Here is an example of my recent writing: [Link to your work].
Let me know if this sounds like a win-win to you!
Cheers,
[Your Name]
Why this works in the real world:
An editor’s dream come true! It’s a lot of work for the SEO team to update old content. You’re providing them with a big help by taking the time to do what needs doing. You get your link and they get a new optimized article.
How to Write a Good Guest Post Pitch from Scratch
Even with great templates, you need to know why they work.
Creating a successful guest post pitch is akin to building a house. If all pieces are not in the correct location, it’s a mess.
First, hone in on your subject line. This is your first impression. Avoid ALL CAPITALS or excessive “salesy” terms. Be brief and to the point. A subject line like “Content idea for your blog” works much better than “GUEST POST REQUEST FOR HIGH QUALITY LINK.”
Then you have to have a solid hook. The first line of your e-mail should establish that you are a real person and do visit their site. Remind them of a particular article they’ve written. Let them know the things you enjoyed about it. This builds immediate trust.
Once hooked, proceed directly to the value. Avoid writing an entire paragraph about you and your life story. The Editor doesn’t care yet. They’re interested in what you can do for them. Communicate ideas for the topic in a clear way. Provide them with two or three particular titles they can pick from.
Next, give your evidence. You have to convince them that you’re a good writer. Include links to at least one and two of your previously published articles. If you haven’t been published on guest blogs, connect to a well-developed article you’ve authored on your website.
Lastly, have a gentle call to action. Avoid using the question, “When can I send the draft? Rather, present a low-pressure question such as, “Which of these ideas might be a good match for your audience?” This makes it very easy for them to just reply with a simple “Yes.”
Top Tips to Make Your Outreach Stand Out
If you want to take your outreach to the next level, you need to do the little things right. Here are a few essential tips to keep in mind before you hit send.
- Find the right contact person: Do not send your pitch to a generic “info@” or “support@” email address. Use tools like LinkedIn or Hunter.io to find the name of the Content Manager, Blog Editor, or SEO Manager. Addressing them by their real name makes a huge difference.
- Keep it brief: Website managers are incredibly busy. Your pitch should never be longer than 150 to 200 words. Get straight to the point, offer your value, and get out.
- Check the guidelines first: Many high-DR sites have a page dedicated to “Write for Us” or “Guest Post Guidelines.” If they ask you to use a specific word in your subject line to prove you read the rules, make sure you do it. Ignoring their rules guarantees a rejection.
- Always send a follow-up: People miss emails all the time. If you do not hear back after four or five days, send a very short, polite follow-up. Just reply to your original email and say, “Hi [Name], just floating this to the top of your inbox in case you missed it. Let me know what you think!”
Conclusion
Getting guest posts on high DR websites is possible but requires proper preparation and customization.
With the correct examples of guest posts, by catering to the needs of the site and demonstrating your value before you contact them, you’ll find that you are accepted with a much greater percentage. Keep in mind that editors desire excellent content just as much as you want an excellent backlink. It’s a matter of letting them know you are the right person for the job.
Of course, manual outreach is very time-consuming. Finding the sites, scraping the emails, writing the pitches, and writing the content can easily eat up your entire week.
If you don’t want to do all the work and you’re looking to see the results, that’s not a problem either because SirLinksAlot has those all covered as well. We do the work for you; we are able to build strong, relevant links that will move the needle on your rankings so you can focus on what matters most for your business: running your business.
FAQs
Should I attach the written article in my first email?
Not at all, there is no reason to send the finished product or a file with the first email outreach. Emails containing attachments from unknown senders will be considered spam by many email servers. Make sure to pitch the idea first. Wait for them to say yes before you write the content.
Do I have to pay to get a guest post published?
This is subject to the site. If the content is genuinely high quality and useful to the readers of the site you are guest posting, many quality sites will allow you to write a guest post for free. But in the digital world there are numerous webmasters who expect to be paid an editorial fee or an admin fee to check your content and publish it.
How many topic ideas should I include in my pitch?
Try to stick to two or three topic ideas. It is not safe to have only one idea as they may have already done that. More than 5 ideas is too much to offer. Three is the sweet spot.
How long should my guest post be once they accept it?
You should always ask the editor for their specific word count requirements. When they don’t have a preference, then go for a thorough and detailed article with a length of 1,000 to 1,500 words or more so that it can give value to their website.
