Guest posting has long been considered a popular method for link building, but it is important to note that there are right and wrong ways to do it. When done correctly, guest posts can provide quick wins for websites. However, there is a significant amount of money wasted each year on valueless links from websites picked from Google Sheets lists and popular marketplaces.
In a test conducted by Joy Hawkins, it was found that guest posts purchased from an online marketplace were not indexed by Google. This suggests that these posts do not pass any benefits, such as PageRank or brand signals, to the linked website. This is not surprising, considering that the content from these marketplaces is often of low quality and from content farms.
However, if guest posts are from thoroughly vetted websites, they have the potential to help websites rank better. By carefully selecting host websites and avoiding websites with suspicious characteristics, such as fluctuating traffic or a clear focus on selling links, it is possible to increase the chances of guest posts getting indexed.
In a study conducted by a link building team, it was found that only 65% of guest posts were indexed. Upon reviewing the articles, it was clear that many of them suffered from common issues that prevent them from getting indexed, such as targeting difficult keywords or having the wrong format. However, after making changes and aligning guest posts with best practices in SEO-driven content marketing, the team was able to increase the indexing rate to 95%.
While indexing is an important factor, it is not the sole indicator of whether a guest post is helping a website. It is possible that Google considers click data to determine the value of a link, and links that are never clicked may be considered low value. Therefore, it is crucial to not only focus on getting guest posts indexed, but also on getting them to rank and drive traffic.
Tracking the indexing of guest posts can be done manually through Google Sheets, by linking to the URLs and checking if they are indexed. While there are automated methods available, it may not be necessary for low volume guest post link building.
Overall, it is recommended to do guest post link building yourself or work with someone who has high standards for the websites you write for. Purchasing links from websites or using Google Sheets lists is unlikely to yield good results. By following best practices and ensuring that guest posts target actual search terms, align with Google’s ranking preferences, cover topics thoroughly, and have enough search volume to be worthwhile, it is possible to achieve success with guest post link building.
