How can you optimize your guest post for SEO and lead generation?

1 Choose relevant and reputable sites

The first step is to find and pitch to sites that are relevant to your niche, audience, and goals. You want to guest post on sites that have high authority, credibility, and traffic, as well as a loyal and engaged following. This way, you can leverage their existing reputation and reach, and benefit from their SEO performance and backlinks. To find such sites, you can use tools like Moz, Ahrefs, or SEMrush, or search for keywords related to your topic and see which sites rank well.

2 Use strategic keywords and topics

The second step is to choose keywords and topics that are relevant, valuable, and searchable for your guest post. You want to target keywords that have high search volume, low competition, and high intent, meaning that they match the needs and interests of your ideal audience. You also want to choose topics that are timely, informative, and engaging, and that showcase your expertise and value proposition. To find such keywords and topics, you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Answer the Public, or BuzzSumo, or analyze your competitors' content and see what works well.

3 Optimize your title and meta tags

The third step is to optimize your title and meta tags for your guest post. Your title and meta tags are the first things that search engines and readers see when they encounter your guest post, so they need to be catchy, clear, and relevant. Your title should include your main keyword, a benefit, and a hook, and be between 50-60 characters. Your meta description should include your main keyword, a summary of your content, and a call to action, and be between 150-160 characters. To optimize your title and meta tags, you can use tools like CoSchedule Headline Analyzer, Yoast SEO, or Portent SERP Preview Tool.

4 Format your content for readability and SEO

The fourth step is to format your content for readability and SEO for your guest post. You want to make sure that your content is easy to read, scan, and understand for both humans and search engines. To do that, you should use headings, subheadings, bullet points, lists, images, charts, and other visual elements to break up your text and highlight your main points. You should also use short paragraphs, sentences, and words, and avoid jargon, fluff, and passive voice. To format your content for readability and SEO, you can use tools like Hemingway Editor, Grammarly, or Yoast SEO.

5 Include a compelling author bio and CTA

The fifth step is to include a compelling author bio and CTA for your guest post. Your author bio and CTA are the main opportunities to generate leads from your guest post, so they need to be persuasive, relevant, and enticing. Your author bio should include your name, credentials, value proposition, and a link to your website or landing page. Your CTA should include a clear and specific offer, a benefit, and a sense of urgency, and a link to your lead magnet, opt-in form, or contact page. To create a compelling author bio and CTA, you can use tools like HubSpot CTA Generator, OptinMonster, or Leadpages.

6 Promote and monitor your guest post

The sixth and final step is to promote and monitor your guest post. You want to make sure that your guest post reaches as many potential leads as possible, and that you measure its performance and impact. To do that, you should share your guest post on your social media channels, email list, and online communities, and encourage your host site and your audience to do the same. You should also track and analyze your guest post's traffic, rankings, backlinks, engagement, and conversions, and use the insights to improve your future guest posts. To promote and monitor your guest post, you can use tools like Buffer, Mailchimp, or Google Analytics.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?