Yes, but only in a narrow form. Guest posting still earns links and exposure when you write something useful for a relevant site with real readers. Guest posts placed in bulk just to get a link are a weak bet, and I wouldn't make guest posting your only tactic.
When it's worth doing
- The site's audience overlaps with yours, not just its topic.
- The site has editorial standards and turns some pitches down.
- You have something specific to say, such as original data, a process you actually use, or a well-argued opinion.
- A link to your page fits naturally in the article.
When to skip it
- Sites that publish anything for a fee, with no disclosure.
- Sites with "write for us" pages covering every topic imaginable.
- Offers where the link is the whole point and the article is filler.
Google's published guidance treats paid links as something to mark with rel="sponsored", and it warns against large-scale guest posting campaigns built for links. Check the current wording yourself before committing to a paid approach.
Recommended for youHow to Build a Repeatable Link Building Process: A Step-by-Step WorkflowA practical workflow
- Build a list. Look at sites that already run contributor content and at where competitors have been published.
- Qualify each one. Check topical fit, whether the traffic looks real, and whether the site links out to sources.
- Pitch topics, not requests. Offer two or three specific ideas that fit their existing coverage.
- Write for their readers. Link to your own page only where it helps, and use plain or branded anchor text.
- Track outcomes. Record the reply rate, the time spent per placement, and whether the link stays live.
The trade-offs
Each placement takes a lot of time, and there's no guarantee a pitch gets accepted or that rankings move. Here is how it compares with other common tactics:
| Tactic | Works best when | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Guest posts | You have real expertise to share | Time-intensive writing and pitching |
| Resource pages | You have a genuinely useful asset | Depends on finding fitting pages |
| Broken links | Your content matches a dead link | Matches can be scarce |
| Digital PR | You have a newsworthy angle | Hard to predict coverage |
For a fuller side-by-side, see Link Building Tactics Compared: Guest Posts, Digital PR, Broken Links and Resource Pages.
Related
- Link Building Outreach Workflow: From Prospecting to Follow-Up
- How to Find Link Building Opportunities: Methods and the Tools Behind Each
- How long does link building take to improve rankings?
- Link Building Strategy & Use Cases
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