My Top 100+ Free Guest Posting Sites For 2025

Want free high-authority guest posts that actually move rankings? This post shares 100+ legit platforms, shows how to vet them, and walks you through outreach tactics and content structuring that editors will approve. Free doesn’t mean garbage. Use it right and stack real links.
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Since guest posting became the #1 link building technique in the SEO industry well over a decade ago now, the number of sites that accept free submissions has shrank substantially and the amount of bloggers asking to get paid (I mean, you can’t blame ’em) for a guest post on their site has gone through the roof.

As with anything we touch, SEOs have to ruin the game by over abusing, scaling outreach systems so much that every blog on the block gets paid guest post offers for casino, crypto or CBD…

So what’s left for the link builder who doesn’t want to remortgage their house just to get a guest post on a DR 70 tech blog?

Simple: free guest posting sites – and not the garbage PBNs or scraper-fed auto-approvers either. I’m talking about legitimate platforms that actually get traffic, have editorial teams (or at least pretend to), and won’t slap a “sponsored” tag on your article like it’s a walk of shame.

10 Best Free Web 2.0 Guest Posting Sites

Let’s kick this off with the OGs of free content hosting. These are pure Web 2.0 plays — user-generated, zero gatekeepers, instant publish.

You’re not begging an editor.
You’re not talking budgets.
You’re not waiting 14 days for “We’ll review your pitch.”

You create an account, drop a well-structured article, and deploy a contextual link exactly where you want it.
Simple. Effective. Still massively underused when sculpted right.

1. Medium.com

The king of Web 2.0.
Still relevant. Still gets indexed fast. Still one of the easiest places to push a clean contextual link without jumping through hoops.

But here’s the part most SEOs overlook:

Medium isn’t just another “free posting site.”
It’s a DR 95+ authority engine with a built-in distribution network. If your post hits a relevant topic cluster or gets picked up by a Medium publication, you’re suddenly riding on someone else’s authority — classic parasite SEO, minus the usual friction.

Why it still works:

  • Google crawls Medium aggressively.

  • Posts pick up impressions even with zero followers.

  • Internal linking from established Medium publications can give your article instant trust.

  • Perfect for anchor text diversification when you need a safer, branded, or partial-match link.

How operators use it:

  • Launch fresh URLs with a handful of high-trust references.

  • Index stubborn pages by pointing a Medium link at them.

  • Test content angles before deploying them on money sites.

Bottom line: Medium is the easiest “set and ship” Web 2.0 that still passes real equity — if you treat it like a strategic asset, not a dumping ground.

Pro Tip: Syndicate your blog content to Medium with a canonical tag to your original URL. You’ll get reach without splitting SEO signals, and give a small boost to crawl rate on fresh domains.

2. LinkedIn Pulse

LinkedIn Pulse is the quiet powerhouse of free publishing. Most SEOs ignore it because it feels “too corporate.”
Perfect. Let them keep swapping polite emojis in Slack while you use one of the most trusted domains on the internet to strengthen your footprint.

This isn’t a traffic play.
It’s an authority association tactic.

DA: 97
Link style: No-follow — but don’t get distracted.

Here’s why it still belongs in your Web 2.0 stack:

  • Google crawls LinkedIn with the same urgency it gives major news outlets.

  • Every post inherits the platform’s baked-in credibility.

  • CTR is higher than almost any other UGC platform because the audience is in “research mode.”

  • Your brand looks instantly more legitimate when your insights live on LinkedIn, not just your blog.

And if you’re in B2B?
Skipping LinkedIn Pulse is like skipping hydration in the Sahara.

You publish, you link, you anchor your expertise where decision-makers actually read — and you do it on a domain your competitors are too timid to touch for SEO.

It’s not about do-follow.
It’s about being seen where authority lives.

3. Substack

Technically it’s a newsletter platform — but Google doesn’t care. Public Substack posts index like standard blog content, and the domain carries enough inherent trust to give your topical clusters a meaningful lift.

DA: 86

This is where you build topical authority at speed.
Pick a niche, carve out a series of tight, expert-level posts, and thread contextual CTAs back to your money pages. It reads natural, it ranks clean, and it reinforces your positioning without looking like you’re hustling for links.

Why Substack deserves a slot in your Web 2.0 rotation:

  • Search engines treat it like a content-first publishing ecosystem.

  • Posts can rank on their own — especially in emerging or fast-moving niches.

  • Zero friction: write, publish, link, done.

  • Ideal for long-form insights that might not fit your main site’s conversion architecture.

Growth tip:
Don’t just drop links.
Embed forms or gated lead magnets inside your posts and convert organic readers into email subscribers. You’re effectively turning free Web 2.0 content into a list-building engine — a rare combo in SEO.

Substack isn’t just “another place to post.”
It’s a hybrid: authority builder + indexable blog + passive audience funnel. Perfect for operators who know how to squeeze two wins out of one asset.

4. Tealfeed

Tealfeed sits in that sweet spot between “big enough to matter” and “small enough to let you get away with more than you should.”

DA: 59 

You’re not playing on Medium’s battlefield here — you’re playing on a platform that’s hungry for content and far more relaxed about outbound links.

That’s your leverage.

Why Tealfeed works in an operator’s Web 2.0 stack:

  • Backlink leniency: They don’t police anchor text the way Medium publications do.

  • Relevance-rich audience: Tech, startups, marketing, product — the user base aligns with niches that actually benefit from authority stacking.

  • Fast indexing: Not instant, but reliable enough to use for supporting content or tiered structures.

Niche fit:
Tech → perfect.
Marketing → even better.
Startups → tailor-made.
Anything else → still viable if you anchor the topic angle properly.

Underrated play:
Drop unique listicles — not AI fluff, but angles that haven’t already been beaten to death — and weave in subtle, context-safe anchors.
Tealfeed editors rarely intervene unless you’re blatantly spamming, which means you can shape the link exactly how you need it.

Think of it as Medium’s less uptight cousin — the one who still passes link equity and doesn’t ask to “review your draft first.”

5. Vocal.Media

Vocal is one of those platforms that looks like it was built for creators, but quietly functions as a freemium SEO playground if you know how to use it.

DA: 76
That’s enough authority to make Google sit up, crawl fast, and pass a respectable amount of trust — especially when the content is structured with intent.

Moderation?
Shockingly relaxed.
As long as you’re not stuffing anchors like a BHW rookie, your links slide through without a raised eyebrow.

Why Vocal.Media earns a seat at the table:

  • UGC + authority combo — rare mix and perfect for diversification.

  • Contextual links allowed in a way most platforms would flag.

  • No editorial bottlenecks, meaning fast deployment for secondary link assets.

Monetization:
Yes, they pay per read.
No, that’s not why any SEO is here.
The real value is being able to publish at scale without editors nuking your links.

SEO Play:
This is where operators separate themselves from tourists:

  • Target low-competition keywords that Vocal can easily rank for.

  • Publish multiple supporting posts under the same account.

  • Interlink them into your own micro topical cluster.

  • Funnel that authority downstream to the URL you actually care about.

You’re not gaming Vocal.
You’re using Vocal as a self-contained authority ecosystem — and most SEOs are too busy chasing DR metrics to notice how effective that is.

6. Tumblr

Yes, it still exists.
Yes, people still post on it.
And yes — Google still indexes it like it’s 2014.

DA: 94
That alone makes it a useful piece of your off-site architecture, even if the platform itself isn’t sending you meaningful traffic.

Real talk:
Tumblr is not here to win you readers.
It’s here to diversify your backlink graph and give you clean, aged-domain anchoring without risking your primary assets.

What it’s actually good for:

  • Safe, branded, or partial-match anchors

  • Building tiered link structures without looking spammy

  • Adding a trust-weighted Web 2.0 reference to your overall profile

  • Supporting content that helps your other Web 2.0s index faster

This is not a “publish and pray” platform.
It’s a link-sculpting tool — nothing more, nothing less.

Pro tip:
Slot Tumblr into Tier 2, pointing at your Medium or Substack posts.
Those platforms carry the authority; Tumblr provides the variation and historical trust signals that make the whole structure look natural.

7. Wix Blog

Wix lets you spin up a blog in minutes — and if you structure it the right way, Google will index it without a fight.

DA: 93

You’re essentially riding on Wix’s domain authority while running a fully controlled, zero-cost microsite. No editors. No moderation. No third-party rules. Just you, a blank page, and a very forgiving publishing environment.

Why it works:
Domain authority inheritance.
Even with a free subdomain, Google treats Wix properties far better than most “build-a-site” platforms because the infrastructure is clean, fast, and inherently trusted.

It’s also perfect for keyword silo testing.
You can prototype clusters, drop internal links, and see how Google responds — before you commit them to your main site.

This is where operators get an edge.

Sneaky trick:
Clone your article across 3–5 free site builders — Wix, Strikingly, Jimdo, Webnode, SITE123 — and you’ve got a micro PBN without spending a cent.
Not the spammy kind.
The tactical kind that supports:

  • Tier 1 Web 2.0s

  • Indexation

  • Anchor text diversification

  • Early SERP signals on new topics

Wix isn’t glamorous.
But in the right hands, it’s a free authority sandbox that plugs directly into your tiered link architecture.

8. Ghost.org (Self-Hosted or Hosted)

Ghost is the platform everyone forgets about unless they’re a developer, which is exactly why it’s a goldmine for operators.
Its hosted blogs — the ones living on ghost.io — get indexed fast, look inherently credible, and let you place clean, natural contextual links without setting off any alarms.

DA: 85

Ghost is built for writers, not link builders, which ironically makes it perfect for link builders who know how to camouflage their intent.

Niche fit:

  • Thought leadership

  • SaaS

  • Tech-forward content

  • Anything where a “smart operator sharing insights” angle doesn’t look suspicious

This is where you go when you want your links to look like they came from a personal brand with opinions, not a churned-out Web 2.0 drop.

Pro move:
Spin up a minimal personal blog (Ghost makes it stupidly easy), publish industry commentary, and tuck your links into the narrative.
Not stuffing.
Not blatant promotion.
Just strategic relevance.

You’re not “dropping backlinks.”
You’re building authority while slipping in precisely engineered anchors that Google reads as expertise, not manipulation.

Ghost is quiet, clean, and criminally underused — the kind of platform that makes your backlink profile look like it was built by a real operator, not a bot.

9. Write.as

Write.as is the minimalist Web 2.0 that nobody talks about — which makes it one of the easiest places to get clean, fast-indexing support links without any platform noise.

DA: 78

This isn’t Medium, and it isn’t trying to be.
Write.as is built for writers who want to publish without distractions — and that simplicity makes it an excellent environment for stealth SEO assets.

Indexing is fast.
Outbound links slide through without friction.
And the posts look organic because the entire platform is designed around short-form, thoughtful publishing.

Content Style:
Write.as prefers short essays, reflective takes, and lightweight thought pieces.
Perfect when you need:

  • Subtle niche edits

  • Branded mentions that don’t scream “SEO”

  • Natural anchor text baked into commentary instead of listicles

Bonus:
No ads.
No clutter.
And you can publish completely anonymously.

Which is useful when the niche you’re promoting is… let’s call it not brand-safe enough to attach your real name to.

Write.as isn’t your traffic driver.
It’s your clean, quiet, fast-indexing support layer — the kind of link you use when you want Google to see “organic mention,” not “SEO footprint.”

10. Behance

Yes — that Behance. Adobe’s portfolio playground.
Not a traditional blog, not a classic Web 2.0, but absolutely a publishable, indexable asset that SEOs ignore because they assume it’s “just for designers.”

That’s the mistake.

DA: 92

Behance lets you publish projects, and those projects can include:

  • Case studies

  • Visual breakdowns

  • Mini-guides

  • Product workflows

  • Slide-style storytelling
    And inside every project description?
    Clickable, crawlable links that Google treats as part of a high-authority creative ecosystem.

Niche Fit:

  • Design

  • Creative industries

  • SaaS

  • Digital tools

  • Tech-adjacent niches that benefit from visual explanation

But smart operators stretch it further:
If you can visualize it, you can justify it.

Use Case:
Build a value-first visual asset (think: a process breakdown, UX flow, branding teardown, market insight board).
Then slip in a CTA link back to your landing page, blog post, or feature page — framed as “Read the full breakdown” or “Deep dive here.”

Zero resistance.
High trust.
Instant authority association with Adobe’s ecosystem.

Top 100 High DR Free Guest Posting Sites

Alright, now to the real deal, actual guest post sites where your article doesn’t live under a random username. These are editor reviewed, high authority platforms that let you slap a backlink in your author bio or sometimes even in the body (if you’ve got the copy chops).

Here’s where to start…

1. HubSpot

  • DR: 93

  • Traffic: 13M+

  • Why it’s fire: If you land a spot here, it’s like getting a blue tick on your content marketing credibility. Ridiculously hard to get in – but if you do, it prints ROI like a mint.

  • 🔗 https://blog.hubspot.com/

2. Entrepreneur

  • DR: 91

  • Traffic: 875K

  • Why it’s fire: Everyone knows this brand. Your guest post here turns into a lead-gen magnet just by existing. They upsell you for faster publishing, but the free route’s still open (if you’ve got patience and polish).

  • 🔗 https://www.entrepreneur.com/

3. ClickUp

  • DR: 87

  • Traffic: 3.4M

  • Why it’s fire: Their content game is elite. If you’re in productivity or project management, this is where you prove you’re not another Zapier listicle zombie.

  • 🔗 https://clickup.com/blog/

4. Techopedia

  • DR: 88

  • Traffic: 1.1M

  • Why it’s fire: Heavy on AI, dev, and security content. Bonus: they’re actually responsive to good pitches. Bring stats, stories, and avoid the fluff.

  • 🔗 https://www.techopedia.com/

5. Hackernoon

  • DR: 88

  • Traffic: 395K

  • Why it’s fire: HackerNews vibes with way more reach. Great for pushing crypto, tech, or your startup’s thought leadership narrative.

  • 🔗 https://hackernoon.com/

6. YourStory

  • DR: 86

  • Traffic: 808K

  • Why it’s fire: Huge in India and Southeast Asia. Perfect for international SEO or startup storytelling.

  • 🔗 https://yourstory.com/

7. Cloudways

  • DR: 90

  • Traffic: 289K

  • Why it’s fire: Big SaaS audience, cloud-hosting nerds, and surprisingly open editorial process.

  • 🔗 https://www.cloudways.com/blog/

8. G2 Learning Hub

  • DR: 91

  • Traffic: 278K

  • Why it’s fire: One of the few big SaaS sites that still accepts external writers. Great for B2B, tools, and software content.

  • 🔗 https://learn.g2.com/

9. DataScienceCentral

  • DR: 76

  • Traffic: 27K

  • Why it’s fire: If you’ve got AI, ML, or data analytics knowledge – this is where the nerds will read, link, and actually care.

  • 🔗 https://www.datasciencecentral.com/

10. FinancesOnline

  • DR: 87

  • Traffic: 78K

  • Why it’s fire: B2B SaaS + FinTech hybrid. Plug in product comparisons, feature guides, or startup ecosystem articles.

  • 🔗 https://financesonline.com/

11. Outbrain

  • DR: 92

  • Traffic: 127K

  • Why it’s fire: Marketing-focused distribution engine. Great for native ad nerds or performance marketers wanting exposure.

  • 🔗 https://www.outbrain.com/

12. Edutopia

  • DR: 84

  • Traffic: 258K

  • Why it’s fire: Huge in education. K-12 focused but also open to innovative content on learning, productivity, and future of work stuff.

  • 🔗 https://www.edutopia.org/

13. Visme

  • DR: 86

  • Traffic: 1.3M

  • Why it’s fire: Top-tier for visual content creators. Ideal if you’re writing about data viz, infographics, or presentations.

  • 🔗 https://www.visme.co/

14. PageFly

  • DR: 78

  • Traffic: 54K

  • Why it’s fire: Shopify app devs and ecom marketers eat this up. Perfect for conversion-focused, CRO, or UX content.

  • 🔗 https://pagefly.io/

15. Wakelet

  • DR: 85

  • Traffic: 48K

  • Why it’s fire: Think Pinterest meets Notion. Insanely loyal user base. Publish thoughtful curated content, sneak in links.

  • 🔗 https://wakelet.com/

16. Fylehq

  • DR: 71

  • Traffic: 69K

  • Why it’s fire: Perfect for FinTech content, especially if you’re doing corporate card or expense automation SEO.

  • 🔗 https://www.fylehq.com/

17. MobileAppDaily

  • DR: 73

  • Traffic: 38K

  • Why it’s fire: Big on app reviews and developer tools. If you’ve got mobile SaaS or dev case studies, drop them here.

  • 🔗 https://www.mobileappdaily.com/

18. OpenSource.com

  • DR: 83

  • Traffic: 316K

  • Why it’s fire: Pure dev goldmine. Ideal for content around open-source libraries, case studies, or frameworks.

  • 🔗 https://opensource.com/

19. SurveySparrow

  • DR: 80

  • Traffic: 210K

  • Why it’s fire: You’d never expect it, but this survey SaaS is killer for B2B content marketing if pitched right.

  • 🔗 https://surveysparrow.com/

20. Clutch.co

  • DR: 90

  • Traffic: 839K

  • Why it’s fire: The go-to review site for agencies. Guest blogging here gives you the holy grail of link trust.

  • 🔗 https://clutch.co/

These are all of the high DR sites, but for most sites you want to make sure you are niching down properly!

So, here’s a niche specific list of the next 70+ best sites I’d recommend you outreach to and get free guest post links from:

Niche URL
Tech/Dev https://colibriwp.com/blog/
Tech/Dev https://dzone.com/
Tech/Dev https://www.wpexplorer.com/
Tech/Dev https://stackify.com/
Tech/Dev https://www.technologynetworks.com/
Tech/Dev https://jaxenter.com/
Tech/Dev https://www.getastra.com/
Tech/Dev https://geekflare.com/
Tech/Dev https://www.softwaresuggest.com/
Tech/Dev https://levelup.gitconnected.com/
Tech/Dev https://cms2cms.com/
Tech/Dev https://appuals.com/
Tech/Dev http://simpleprogrammer.com/
Tech/Dev https://www.wpblog.com/
Tech/Dev http://blog.bitsrc.io/
Tech/Dev https://www.codility.com/
Tech/Dev https://magnetoitsolutions.com/
Tech/Dev https://fitwp.com/
Tech/Dev https://specopssoft.com/
Tech/Dev https://ourcodeworld.com/
Business/Startup https://mashable.com/
Business/Startup https://www.huffingtonpost.com
Business/Startup https://blog.recruitee.com/
Business/Startup https://articles.bplans.com/
Business/Startup https://www.purevpn.com/
Business/Startup https://www.mitel.com/
Business/Startup https://www.motocms.com/
Business/Startup https://devrix.com/
Business/Startup https://frontapp.com/
Business/Startup https://www.carbonblack.com/
Business/Startup https://www.smallbizdaily.com/
Business/Startup https://www.liveplan.com/
Business/Startup https://www.smartdatacollective.com/
Business/Startup https://www.businesswest.co.uk/
Business/Startup https://www.smartbizloans.com/
Business/Startup https://www.companybug.com/
Business/Startup https://startupmindset.com/
Marketing/SEO https://martechseries.com/
Marketing/SEO https://www.blog2social.com/
Marketing/SEO https://60secondmarketer.com/
Marketing/SEO https://blog.netop.com/
Marketing/SEO https://www.trickyenough.com/
Marketing/SEO https://www.reputationrhino.com/
Uncategorized https://blog.flock.com/
Uncategorized https://www.successfulblogging.com/
HR/Productivity https://www.recruiter.com/
HR/Productivity https://blog.proofhub.com/
HR/Productivity https://www.paymoapp.com/
HR/Productivity https://www.paldesk.com/
HR/Productivity https://desktime.com/
HR/Productivity https://blog.sage.hr/
HR/Productivity https://www.getkisi.com/
HR/Productivity https://www.goosechase.com/
HR/Productivity https://sparkbay.com/
HR/Productivity https://cloverleaf.me/
Data/Analytics https://survicate.com/
Data/Analytics http://insidebigdata.com/
Data/Analytics https://www.insightsforprofessionals.com/
Finance/Fintech https://www.paymentsjournal.com/
Finance/Fintech https://www.credibly.com/
Finance/Fintech https://paymentcloudinc.com/
Security/Privacy https://www.ifsecglobal.com/
Security/Privacy https://www.stickypassword.com/
Security/Privacy https://www.scam-detector.com/
Misc/Other https://tallyfy.com/
Misc/Other https://innotechtoday.com/
Misc/Other https://www.viima.com/
Misc/Other https://www.jasonfox.me/
Misc/Other https://www.yoh.com/
Misc/Other https://www.nichemarket.co.za/
Misc/Other http://dianakelly.com/

I hope these can be a starting point to begin building guest post links for your site from, and it’s likely that you may never dozens more opportunities than just this – You can always check out out guest posting service.

It’s all well and good giving you an infinite number of domains or URLs to get links from, but if you don’t know how to outreach to the sites in the first place then this entire article has been pointless.

How to Actually Do Outreach to Free Guest Post Sites

Alright, now that we’ve served up more free guest post opportunities than a 2015 niche edits Skype group, let’s talk about what 99% of SEOs still get horribly wrong… Outreach.

You’ve seen the damage:
“Hello dear sir, I write for high quality site. Please publish my post, I wait your reply.”
– Some guy who just tanked his domain with spun AI content and a Fiverr order.

So, here’s how you actually get published on these free-but-editor-reviewed platforms without sounding like you’re scraping and spamming with a Gmail alias.

Rule #1: Ditch the “Free” Mindset

Just because it’s a free guest post site doesn’t mean your content should be free-tier garbage.

These sites may not charge a fee, but they’re still selling attention, trust, and editorial integrity. You’re paying with quality — not cash.

If you treat them like a backlink dump, don’t be surprised when you end up in their spam folder with the Forex bots.

Rule #2: Match Their Vibe Like You’re Trying to Slide Into DMs

Read their content. Not just one post — three to five. Check the tone, structure, formatting.
If they’re publishing 2,000-word research essays with charts and you send in a 700-word AI blurp about “10 Ways AI Will Change Marketing”… you’re out.

Better yet — call out a recent article you liked and add a specific follow-up suggestion in your pitch. That one line can be the difference between “Delete” and “Interesting…”

Rule #3: Build a Real Brand, Not a Gmail Burner

Use a domain-branded email.
Even if you’re not pitching as “Forbes contributor & marketing coach,” showing you’re from something builds instant legitimacy.

Example:

🟩 Bad: seo.freakz.420@gmail.com
Good: content@yourbrandname.com

If you don’t have a domain based email, go back to the sandbox and buy one. You’ll get a significantly higher reply rate, even if it’s just a fake one page PR firm.

Your Guest Post Pitch Template (That Doesn’t Suck)

Here’s a format you can actually use — with proven conversion on real high-DR guest post sites:

Subject: Guest Post Idea for [Site Name] – [Topic or Headline]

Hi [First Name or Editor Name],

I’ve been reading through your [blog/resource section] and loved your recent piece on [insert article title]. Really liked how you [specific compliment – e.g., “broke down complex concepts with actionable takeaways”].

I’d love to contribute a guest article to [Site Name] – I’ve put together a few ideas based on your recent topics:

1. [Headline Idea #1] – A [benefit-driven angle or hook]
2. [Headline Idea #2] – Based on [recent trend, stat, or insight]
3. [Headline Idea #3] – (Optional more creative or contrarian take)

Each article would be 100% original, tailored to your audience, and formatted like your current posts (with proper sourcing and structure). Happy to include visuals, examples, or even quotes if needed.

Let me know if any of these catch your eye. I’d be happy to get a draft over.

Cheers,
[Your Name]
[Title / Company (if real)]
[Link to Author Bio / LinkedIn or Portfolio]

⚠️ Avoid These Rookie Outreach Sins

  • Don’t mention links in your pitch. If you say “can I include a link,” they’ll assume you’re just another link seller.

  • Don’t attach anything in your first email. Not even a draft. You’ll look desperate.

  • Don’t follow up 24 hours later asking if they saw your email. Give it a week, then follow up once.

Knowledge 💣 Hacks for Outreach

  • Warm up your inbox before sending 100 cold pitches. If you’re on a new domain, Google will throttle you.

  • Use Hunter or VoilaNorbert to find editor emails — never pitch “info@” or “contact@”.

  • Track open rates with tools like Mailtrack or MixMax. If they opened it 3 times and didn’t reply, your pitch sucked.

  • Personalize at scale with tools like Instantly.ai or Smartlead — but don’t template to death.

Final Tip: Get In Before the SEO Crowd Does

You know how you find a good link opportunity, then six months later every SEO and their dog has burned it to the ground?

That’s how most of these “free guest post” sites go.
The window of opportunity isn’t permanent.

So don’t wait.
Pick 10 targets from the niche list I gave you.
Send a custom pitch to each.
Then repeat every week.

Guest posting is still alive. You’ve just got to stop being lazy with your approach.

How to Spot a Quality Guest Post Site

Before you drop 3 hours writing a guest post or send off a pitch, do yourself a favour and vet the site first, even if it’s on this list! Because just having a DR 70 and “Write For Us” page doesn’t mean it’s not just a recycled expired domain linking out to every niche from Viagra to VPNs.

And to stay extra safe, follow my 10 step system:

The 10 Step Quality Guest Post Site Checklist

  1. Indexed in Google
    Drop site:domain.com in Google. If nothing shows up, bounce, it’s either penalized or deindexed.

  2. Real Organic Traffic
    Check on Ahrefs or Similarweb. If it’s got DR 70 but 112 monthly visits, it’s likely a DR-inflated zombie.

  3. Clean Anchor Profile
    Look at their backlink anchors. If 30% is “online casino” or “buy backlinks,” you know it’s been rinsed.

  4. Niche Relevance
    Would your article look natural there? If it’s a pet blog and you’re pitching FinTech, you’re not building a brand, you’re burning one.

  5. Real Author Names
    Do articles have actual names or just “admin”? Real authors = real editorial control.

  6. Fresh Content
    Is the last blog post from 2022? A ghost town is a red flag, even if the DR says otherwise.

  7. Content Quality
    Skim a few posts. If it’s AI spam, poorly formatted, or keyword-stuffed, Google’s already tuned it out.

  8. Link Placement Rules
    Do all guest posts have dofollow homepage links in the first paragraph? You’re looking at a glorified link directory.

  9. Outbound Link Profile
    Too many outgoing links per article (especially unrelated ones)? That’s a sign they’ll publish anything.

  10. HTTPS & Basic UX
    No SSL or looks like it was built in FrontPage ‘98? Google’s not showing it love, and neither should you.

Use this checklist before you waste time, content, or credibility. And if it fails 3 or more of these checks?

Hard pass.

Even free guest post links aren’t worth a toxic footprint that’ll drag down your whole domain for months or even years to come.

How to Write the Guest Post (And Actually Make It Worth the Link)

So you landed a free guest post, congratulations! But here’s where most people fumble the bag:
They either write some lazy, 900 word ChatGPT slop…
Or worse, they use the link to their homepage with “click here” anchor text like it’s 2009!

This ain’t content for the sake of content. You’re placing a strategic asset that you want to pass stacking authority over time.

Here’s how to actually write the piece, pick the URL, and dial in your anchor text like someone who knows what the hell they’re doing:

1. Choose the Right URL

Don’t just link to your homepage or top blog post “because it looks clean.”

Pick a target page based on:

  • Ranking potential: Does it sit on page 2? Good. That means one or two links might tip it.

  • Existing link profile: If it already has 10 exact match anchors, your link should diversify (brand, partial, naked).

  • Conversion or affiliate value: Is the page monetized? No point ranking something that doesn’t make bank.

  • Internal authority: Is it buried three layers deep in your nav? Consider pointing to a hub page instead, and pass the juice internally.

2. Choose the Anchor Text Intelligently

Anchor strategy is where most SEOs go full caveman. You don’t need 20 exact match anchors saying “best SEO tool”, that’s a penalty in waiting.

Instead:

  • Use branded anchors if the site is super authoritative.

  • Use partial match if the linking article is semantically close to your keyword.

  • Use long tail if the target page is weak or new (e.g., “check out our full guide to technical SEO audits”).

  • Use naked URLs when posting on sites that already look suspiciously linky.

3. Write to Serve the Host Site, Not Just Yourself

The content needs to have the ability to get traffic to maximize the likelihood it sends signals.

Write like you’re aiming for page 1, because if the article actually ranks, you’ll double your ROI.

Checklist:

  • Hook in the intro (stats, controversy, case study)

  • Use subheaders every 200–300 words

  • Drop visuals, data, and external sources

  • Link internally to the host site’s older posts (they’ll love you for it)

  • Make your CTA or link contextual, not shoved in like a footer link with a trench coat

You’re not going to drop your best pillar post link on a DA 29 blog that looks like it was built in Microsoft Paint.
Match your link target based on:

  • The DR/authority of the site

  • The estimated value of a ranking bump

  • The number of links you still need to push the page up a few spots

If the ROI doesn’t cover the cost of your time, skip it or tier it.

Smart SEOs don’t just build links.
They build assets with compound interest.

Want a quick audit of which page you should be linking to next based on anchor distribution and ROI? Book a FREE call with our team here.

Final Thoughts: Free Guest Posting Still Slaps

Guest posting’s been dragged through the mud more times than I have on most of these SEO forums… It’s bloated with low quality spam, AI slop, and “DA50 only” sellers on LinkedIn acting like they’re running The Times.

But here’s the truth:
It still works, if you do it properly.

You’ve now got:

✅ A curated list of 100+ legit, high trust free sites
✅ A system for qualifying which ones are worth your time
✅ Outreach strategies that don’t make editors want to delete their inbox
✅ Smart link placement tactics that actually move rankings, not just your ego

So no more excuses.

Build a system.
Track ROI.
Link smart.
And when everyone else is out there begging to get published for $150 a pop on “news” blogs hosted in Ukrainian data centers, you’re gonna be stacking contextual links from sites that actually get traffic.

Oh, and one last thing:

If you do this well, you’ll never have to buy another link off a marketplace again.
(Unless you want to, in which case… You happen to be on the right site!)

Now go build some f***ing links!

Regards,

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