The Smart Way to Use Guest Posts for SaaS SEO - SaaSRaptor - Actionable SaaS and Digital Marketing Insights

What Is Guest Posting in SEO (and Why It Still Works)

Let’s start simple.

Guest posting means writing and publishing an article on someone else’s website or blog. In return, you usually get a byline and, more importantly, a backlink to your website.

There’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about whether guest posting is “dead.” But let’s be honest, those headlines are mostly clickbait. Yes, Google discourages spammy or low-quality guest posts that exist only to dump links. But genuine, valuable guest content is still very much appreciated and rewarded.

Why Guest Posting Still Works:

Earn High-Quality Backlinks: Backlinks from real websites with strong DR can seriously boost your own site’s authority.
Build Thought Leadership: Publishing on reputable sites builds your personal and brand image in your niche.
Reach New Audiences: Tap into someone else’s community and bring them to your SaaS platform.
Improve Brand Credibility and Topical Authority: The more you’re seen talking smart stuff across the internet, the more trusted you become.

So no, guest posting isn’t dead. But yes, it has evolved. And smart SaaS founders are using it more strategically than ever.

The Strategic Side of Guest Posting for SaaS

Guest posting isn’t just a numbers game anymore. Gone are the days when you could just submit a post to any blog with a “write for us” page and expect meaningful SEO results.

Here’s what you should focus on instead:

Relevance Over Volume: It’s better to write for 5 niche-relevant blogs than 50 general tech sites. One backlink from a tightly relevant source often carries more SEO value.
Target Industry Blogs and Partner Websites: These are already trusted by your potential customers. Their backlink = credibility in your domain.
Don’t Ignore Niche Directories and Communities: SaaS-specific sites and even startup-focused directories accept guest content and can drive targeted traffic.
Topical Authority Bonus: Internal links on your blog that connect to the guest post topic help Google understand your expertise on that subject.

Think of guest posting as not just about link juice, but a full-blown branding and SEO combo move.

4. How to Find High-Quality Guest Posting Opportunities

The quality of your guest posts depends on where you publish them. Finding the right blogs is half the battle won.

Here’s how to do it smartly:

✅ Prospecting Tips:

Google Search Operators: Try these:
- “write for us” + SaaS
- “submit a guest post” + marketing software
- inurl:guest-post + product management tool
Check Competitors’ Backlinks: Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush let you peek into where your competitors are getting guest posts.
Use Marketplaces Carefully: Some platforms like Collaborator.pro or Adsy can be useful, but double-check traffic and DR before paying.

📊 Metrics to Consider:

Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA) – Aim for 40+ for decent results
Organic Traffic – A high DR with no traffic? Red flag.
Niche Relevance – Stay close to your product category.
Spam Score – Avoid sites that accept everything under the sun.
Outbound Link Quality – If a site is linking to shady or irrelevant content, skip it.

Put simply, don’t just chase DR, chase good company.

Crafting a Pitch That Gets Accepted

Outreach is where most SaaS founders mess up. Sending cold, generic emails that scream “template” won’t cut it anymore.

Tips for a Pitch That Works:

Personalise: Use the editor’s name. Reference their recent blog post. Show you’ve done your homework.
Show Your Value: Mention your expertise in SaaS, link to your blog, highlight past guest posts (if any).
Suggest Unique Topics: Don’t just say, “I’d love to write for you.” Suggest 2–3 relevant topics that haven’t been covered yet.
Keep it Short & Human: 150–200 words. No jargon. Just friendly and clear.

Writing Guest Posts That Drive SEO Results

Okay, now that your pitch is accepted, what’s next?

Time to write a guest post that not only gets published but delivers SEO benefits.

How to Write a High-Impact Guest Post:

Pick a Topic That Aligns With Your Product: If you sell a CRM, write about lead nurturing or email segmentation, not generic productivity hacks.
Insert Backlinks Naturally: Avoid stuffing multiple links or over-optimising anchor text.
Link to Internal Resources: Share valuable guides, case studies, or tools from your site.
Focus on Value, Not Promotion: Teach something. Help solve a problem. That’s how you build trust.
Add a Soft CTA: Instead of “Buy our tool,” try “If you’re struggling with X, here’s a resource that might help.”

Remember, the better your guest post, the more clicks (and conversions) you’ll get.

Tracking ROI from Guest Posts

Guest posting takes time and effort. So how do you know it’s actually working?

Here’s how to track performance:

Backlink Monitoring:
- Use Ahrefs or Google Search Console to see if your link is indexed and active.
Referral Traffic:
- Check if people are clicking through to your site from the guest blog.
Keyword Ranking Improvements:
- Over time, check if your target keywords are moving up in rankings.
Conversions:
- Use UTM parameters to track leads, signups, or trials that come from guest posts.

Track Both Short and Long-Term ROI

Some posts bring quick traffic. Others keep sending SEO value for months. Measure both.

Mistakes to Avoid in Guest Posting

Even good strategies fail when done wrong. Avoid these common blunders:

❌ Buying Cheap Guest Posts – These might come with high DR, but zero actual traffic.
❌ Over-Optimised Anchors – Repeating the same keyword-rich anchor text gets you flagged.
❌ Same Bio Everywhere – Mix it up. Add context relevant to each publication.
❌ No Real Engagement – Publishing on ghost-town blogs = wasted effort.
❌ No Promotion – Share your guest posts on your socials, email list, and communities. Don’t let them sit idle.

Scaling Guest Posting Without Burning Out

Once you start seeing results, the next challenge is consistency. But guest posting can become exhausting if you’re doing it all solo.

Smart Ways to Scale:

Hire SEO Agencies or Freelance Content Partners – Focus on strategy while they handle execution.
Build a Contributor Network – Team up with other SaaS founders and trade guest slots.
Maintain a Content Calendar – Plan topics, deadlines, and follow-ups in advance.
Repurpose Ideas – Turn one post into multiple assets (LinkedIn posts, tweets, YouTube shorts, etc.)

Work smarter, not harder. Quality + process = scalable results.

Guest Post Pre-Publishing Checklist

✅ Is the site niche-relevant?
✅ Is the DR and traffic decent?
✅ Is your pitch personalised?
✅ Does your backlink flow naturally?
✅ Did you include a soft CTA?

Pitch Template:

Subject: Guest Post Idea for [Blog Name

Hi [Name],

I’m [Your Name], a [Job Title] at [Your SaaS Company]. I’ve been following your blog for a while, and loved your recent post on [Topic].

I’d love to contribute a guest post to your blog. Here are a few topics I think would fit well:

- [Guest Post Title 1]

- [Guest Post Title 2]

- [Guest Post Title 3]

Let me know if any of these sound interesting, and I’ll send over an outline.

Thanks and cheers,
[Your Name]

Conclusion

Guest posting isn’t just an SEO trick, it’s a brand-building machine. When done right, it helps your SaaS grow authority, build trust, and drive the kind of links that Google (and your users) love.

But it’s not about chasing dozens of backlinks. Be selective, strategic, and consistent.

Start small: Aim for one high-quality guest post per month. Choose the right blog, pitch smartly, and write with value at the core.

And remember, guest posting isn’t a one-time tactic. It’s a long-term play. The more you do it the right way, the stronger your SaaS brand becomes online.