Do you want more people to read your writing? Posting your blog content on other high-traffic sites can help expand your reach. But figuring out the best places to publish blog posts as a guest author can be tricky, especially if your goal is finding free blog posting opportunities.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore some of the top free blog submission sites and guest post directories to help amplify your articles across the web. From niche-specific indie blogs to wide-reaching article directories, read on to discover some of the best platforms to post your articles.
Why Guest Blog Posting Matters
Before we dive into the myriad blog posting options, let’s review some key reasons you should care about guest blogging and submitting posts to other sites.
Benefits include:
- Drives new visitors back to your website through byline links and author bios. This builds credibility and grows your audience.
- Helps improve domain authority and page rank by scoring fresh backlinks and increasing indexing.
- Showcases your expertise to relevant audiences outside your own readership. Expands your professional influence.
- Provides publication credits to demonstrate your writing chops for career opportunities like freelance gigs.
- Gives your existing content expanded reach which pays dividends for SEO. Repurposed articles can find new life!
Essentially, guest posting checks all the boxes when it comes to content marketing and search engine optimization. By sharing your articles on complementary sites, often with backlinks, you compound the impact for both visitors and search ranking.
Now let’s explore the many avenues to publish blog posts as a guest contributor.
Guest Posting on Niche Blogs
One of the best ways to reach a targeted audience with your articles is to identify blogs in your niche and pitch relevant guest posts. Taking the time to research sites related to your topics and verticals can pay off hugely.
Consider industry blogs, popular sites covering your content area, and publications with existing audiences that align with your own. For example, a few guest post targets could include:
- Industry publications or association blogs showcasing insider expertise
- Well-trafficked hobby blogs that welcome contributors
- Complementary business or service sites that accept expert articles
- Cause-based blogs that accept personal experience stories or advocacy pieces
When conducting research, prioritize sites related to your brand, business or interests. Make sure they accept and actively publish guest contributions. Record submission guidelines for pitches.
pro tip: Spend time nurturing relationships with niche blog editors to become a trusted regular contributor!
the platform where you can unleash your creativity and share your thoughts with the world. Website is designed for anyone who has a story to tell, knowledge to share, or ideas to express. We offer a user-friendly interface for you to write and post your blogs, articles, or any content you'd like.
Benefits of publishing on themyword
SEO friendly website
Get dofollow links on your keywords
Backlinks to your site via author bio
Medium Publications
With its expansive user base and channel-like format, Medium offers extensive reach for your writing. The platform allows anyone to create an account and publish their own stories. But Medium also hosts thousands of publication profiles you can pitch to directly.
These publications function like focused online magazines, newspapers or journals covering every topic imaginable. Find publications aligned with your blog’s category and check submission guidelines. Then, pitch well-crafted articles showcasing your expertise!
Benefits of publishing on Medium:
- Broad reach potential thanks to Medium’s large readership
- Backlinks to your site via author bio and byline
- Added credibility through association with established publications
- Expanded writing portfolio from story views, reads and claps
Example publications: Marketing Brew, The Writing Cooperative, Age of Awareness
LinkedIn Publishing
Expanding your professional presence? Then share your blog posts directly through LinkedIn’s own publishing platform. Available to those with registered LinkedIn user profiles, you can upload articles to share with your network.
Better yet, your posts have the potential to be featured more widely. LinkedIn displays top stories in its curated content feeds. Additionally, posts can get shared to interest-based LinkedIn Groups which are communities focused on certain industries and topics.
Benefits include:
- Immediate access to your network of contacts
- Backlinks to your website in the reader view card
- Demonstrates your thought leadership to connections
- Potential for virality through LinkedIn’s content algorithms
Example groups to share your posts in: Content Marketing Professionals, Blogging Enthusiasts, Freelance Writers, etc.
HARO Sourcing Platform
While not a direct blogging platform itself, Help A Reporter Out (HARO) offers stellar opportunities for guest article placement. HARO runs a journalist sourcing service where writers submit “queries” detailing stories they are seeking expert sources for.
As an expert source responding to media queries, you earn potential inclusion in forthcoming stories and interviews—with backlinks!
Create a free account, set filters for relevant queries, then carefully craft solid pitch responses. Follow up promptly with reporters. With some effort responding to media queries, you can land valuable guest blogging placements.
HARO benefits:
- Pitches journalists seeking sources from your niche
- Backlinks included from reporter bylines in published pieces
- Broadens your media imprint through contributor credits
Niche Article Directories
Article directories remain a popular platform for hosting contributed pieces in just about every category—with backlinking opportunities. Directory sites organize posts by topic rather than following a typical blog format.
Staples like Medium allow you to self-publish easily. Other aggregators like Blogarama rely on RSS feeds. But old school article directories still rely on manual submissions.
While directories don’t boast the largest readership numbers individually, they attract visitors searching for specific information. Targeted traffic coupled with backlinks make them worthwhile for guest posting.
When researching directories, carefully evaluate quality based on domain authority, page rank, trust flow metrics and editorial standards. Prioritize sites relevant to your blog’s niche and audience.
Examples include: Shopify’s Experts Archive, Business Know-How, International Living, TheIndyChannel.com
Web 2.0 Platforms
A more unorthodox option for article sharing—Web 2.0 sites. These platforms encompass a range of wiki sites, bookmarking sites, profile pages and beyond that allow users to generate and share content while networking.
Think of Web 2.0 properties like supercharged social networks centered around content community creation...quite often with questionable metrics. But the ability to freely publish articles with backlinks keeps them in the guest posting rotation.
Drawbacks involve murky traffic claims and relying on automation. However, reputable players following ethical practices can still deliver SEO value in moderation as part of wider blogging strategies.
Examples include: Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, Scoop.it, WordPress
Guestographic Opportunities
Here’s a targeted guest posting approach—connect with fellow bloggers writing in your space. Develop relationships and propose content trades called “guestographics.”
It simply means exchanging blog posts along with backlinks between your respective sites. You write a stand-out article for their blog tailored to their audience, linking back to your site. In return, they pen an awesome post for you citing their site.
Everyone wins! Guestographics represent an easy way to directly collaborate on content while harnessing SEO gains. LimitPotential factors include: guest posting to reputable blogs helps avoid exploitation.
Start by identifying quality sites covering related topics and complementary products/services. Reach out to propose collaborative post ideas that celebrate both brands. Slowly nurture partnerships with consistent value-driven content.
Examples: a marketing consultant exchanging posts with a web designer, a fashion blogger co-authoring with a photographer.
Article Directories with Backlinks
Earlier we covered the ongoing potential of niche-based web directories for housing your republished articles. However, another flavor of online directories exists specifically facilitating backlinked guest posts.
These platforms encourage contributors to submit articles on any topic which citing their website. In exchange, writers can score valuable backlinks which accumulate as more pieces get hosted on the directory.
Quality varies widely, so be selective when assessing directory options. Verify site metrics like DA and traffic numbers. Review existing articles for standards. Start slow submitting to evaluable directories before expanding to a larger index.
Examples: BlogSpots Directory, WebArticlesDirectory, The American Chronicle
Contributed Article Sections
Many popular mainstream publications accept open submissions to dedicated sections featuring contributed articles. These are specifically seeking pitches for one-off posts by guest writers versus staff reporters.
For example, The Washington Post hosts contributions to its Made by History section (with nearly 1 million monthly visitors). The Week maintains an “Opinion Essays” column accepting 600-word pitches from experts.
So research top-tier publications related to your content niche and determine if they host open contributed sections. Craft compelling pitches that cater to respective editorial guidelines and slots. Securing a guest post not only provides a marquee byline—you earn major backlink credentials too.
Contributed Article Examples: Entrepreneur’s “Expert Forum,” Fast Company’s “Have An Idea”
Business News Outlets
Another road to explore for quality guest posting options—local business journals and news outlets. Think regional publications focused on chronicling events impacting metro areas from policy headlines to startup launches.
These news sites are often eager to source locally-tied stories from contributors—especially subject matter experts with professional credibility. So identify reputable outlets neighboring your geographic area along with niche topical sites.
Example publications: AustinInno, Albuquerque Business First, Baltimore Business Journal, etc.
Most outlets actively list editorial submission guidelines. Follow these cues to shape locally-angled pitches. Weave in your experience along with backlinks where appropriate. Partnering with editors to provide regular guest columns also works!
Reddit Forums & Subreddits
Dive into niche-specific Reddit subgroups known as Subreddits which feature forums dedicated exclusively to certain topics. These communities are moderated by their own administrators and members who vote up or down on content submissions.
Post your articles to relevant Subreddits to tap into audiences passionate about focused issues and willing to engage. Successful posts spur comments/discussions while failures won’t gain any traction—so choose communities closely matching your blog.
Benefits of Reddit content marketing include potential virality, search indexing, and driving referral traffic. Use select subreddits in conjunction with wider guest posting tactics.
Examples: r/Blogging, r/Content_Marketing, r/selfpublish
Industry Forums & Groups
Don’t overlook online forums and groups centered around particular industries, interests or business types. These communities allow members to network and exchange resources through message boards.
Post your article links directly where the forum guidelines permit to access niche readers. You can also volunteer as a subject matter expert on panels related to your experience. Active contributors are often provided site profiles with backlinks.
Examples: Digital Photography Review, Growth Hackers, Warrior Forum, etc.
Comment Posting
While not traditional guest blogging per se, consistently commenting on blogs can generate impressions and sites links as well. Leverage substantive, value-adding remarks directed at influencers or publications closely covering your content area.
Reply to recently published stories or join relevant conversations. Share insights and expertise. Blog owners often manually approve quality comments—and readers take interest in what outside experts have to contribute.
Strategically insert backlinks within remarks pointing to your top performing articles or resource pages. Commenting secures contextual backlinks versus intrusive advertising. Just stick to reputable sites and ensure commentary genuinely enhances the discussion!
Publishing Research Reports
Here’s an outlier option—publish in-depth research content associated with a reputable brand within your industry. For example, SEMrush releases an annual study centered around content marketing trends which bloggers eagerly cite.
Similarly, HubSpot annually surveys website visitors regarding preferences report frequently referenced in posts. Look for potential openings to have your original research content syndicated or featured. Consider associating with an established brand/outlet for expanded reach.
Having an enterprise level company share or co-opt your research adds major credibility along with backlinks as secondary sources digest the intel.
Conclusion
The opportunities highlighted only skim the surface of potential blog posting options for amplifying your articles. As a basic rule of thumb, identify reputable sites closely matching your content vertical and tone.
Vet guest posting policies and editorial standards. Shape pitch angles catering to respective audiences and guidelines. Interact sincerely with the community. Finally, focus on quality over quantity regarding placements.