SERP Insight Guest Post: Tips, Benefits & SEO
Some aspects of guest posting haven’t evolved since the practice was invented, and one of the examples would be the process of writing an article, throwing a link into it, and then waiting for the clicks. The guest posting technique we’ve been using at Wallpostmedia, the SERP Insight technique, has been very different to traditionally used guest posting techniques. We’ve dedicated some more time to explaining what exactly is in the SERP Insight guest post, how it works, and what it does.
What Is a SERP Insight Guest Post?
A guest post in the SERP Insight style is more of a real-time description of the articles that are currently trending on Google for a specific keyword or on a specific topic that are then written as a guest post. In traditional guest posts, people have however taken the creative liberty of guessing the topic of the article and then optimizing it.
Instead of filling the posts with guesses and ideas, our team studies the pages that are currently topping the charts for a specific keyword, and analyzes the different formats that respond to the various types of intents expressed in Google searches. From there, you build a guest post that fills a real gap in that existing search landscape, rather than duplicating what’s already ranking.
This is important because Google has been transparent about stating that large-scale guest-post campaigns are link spam, especially when over-optimized anchor text is used. Using the SERP Insight model, we are able to build guest posts that do not serve as mere link-building tools.
How It’s Different From Traditional Guest Posting
| Traditional Guest Posting | SERP Insight Guest Posting |
| Pick a topic based on instinct | Pick a topic based on live SERP Insight data |
| Write first, optimize later | Structure follows what’s already ranking |
| Link feels bolted on | Link feels editorially natural |
| Hit-or-miss ranking results | Built around proven intent patterns |
Traditionally guest posts, the data is used mainly for guiding the choice of the keyword, but in a SERP Insight style guest post, the data is used mainly for guiding the choice of the angle, the structure of the guest post, and the keyword.
Why Guest Posting is Good for SERP Insight (SEO)
Even with constant changes to Google and search engine algorithms, guest posting endures as one of the better white-hat SEO strategies. Here is why:
1. Links still matter. Backlinks are still one of the sought after ways for a posting to rank in search engines. They are especially desirable when they come from an authoritative site and fit naturally in the content as opposed to being a forced content.
2. Guest-posting usually has a higher conversion rate and engagement than search traffic, since those who click the link were likely very interested in the topic that was just posted.
3. Having your content placed on several authoritative sites in your field helps frame your site as an authority on the topic, which is one of the many closing factors when search engines determine the trust level of a site.
4. Guest Posting exposes your site to an audience that does not know your site and helps frame your site as an authority on the given topic.
- The method in general has the following steps:
- Utilize the keyword or the topic cluster you’re targeting.
- Analyze the top-ranking result pages for that query– Look into their structure and depth, and the angle from which they approached the topic.
- Find the content gap– Think of something that the top-ranking pages are not covering or something that they are yet to present.
- Write a guest post that fills the content gap and answers the query the same way the users intend to (the intent can be informational, or commercial, etc.)
Naturally incorporate the link you are placing. Make sure the context you are providing is beneficial and do not leave it as an afterthought.
Pitch or submit your guest post to a publisher that is trustworthy, relevant, and has a niche audience that overlaps with the topic you are writing about.
Things to Avoid
There are things that you can do even with the data that can mess up guest posts. Some examples are:
Over-optimizing anchor text– An exact match keyword anchor that is included in many guest posts is a clear indicator of sketchy link building.
Neglect search intent- Post an article that is a list when the top results are detailed guides (or the opposite). This completely defeats the purpose of writing a post that is driven by the SERPs.
Post on off-topic sites- Getting a link from a site that has no relevance to your topic is of no value to your authority and will likely be an unnatural link.
Post for the sake of linking– An article that is not useful for the readers of that site will not be published by a quality site and it won’t help the article even if it gets posted.
Who is this for?
Whether you are a solo blog post author and you want to build credibility to your writing and/or from an SEO perspective and you are managing link building for your clients, and/or you are a business owner and you want to diversify your audience and generate traffic that is not from a direct search, using the Guest Posting approach that is driven by the SERPs is worth a try.
What’s valued over all else, and what’s found apparent in all, is the anticipation for quality, valuable content, and not the typical, expected lazy comment with a link.
Final Thoughts
Guest posting still holds a lot of merit. What has lost achievement value is the aged “reach and link in hope” tactic. A SERP Insight guest post works due to the fact that it is in essence the SERP Insight. It gives readers quality, in-depth content, as opposed to thin content with a lot of keywords in hopes of getting the post ranked. A good guest post earns good backlinks that appear to be earned, and in fact, do belong.
Also Read: What is BFDI?
