How to Write Guest Posts That Get Accepted: Expert Tips with AI Assistance

Learn how to write compelling guest posts that editors love. Discover actionable tips, proven strategies, and how to leverage AI for pitch-perfect content creation.

December 5, 2024

How to Write Guest Posts That WOW Editors and Get Accepted Every Time (with AI as Your Secret Weapon)

Guest posting is one of the most powerful tools in your digital marketing toolbox. It boosts backlinks, improves SEO, and gets your content in front of new eyes. But let’s face it—standing out from the crowd of pitches editors receive daily can feel like climbing a mountain.

The secret? Writing posts so compelling that editors not only accept them but eagerly publish them. And guess what? AI can be your co-pilot through this entire journey.

Let’s break it down step by step, with tips on how to use AI to make the process even smoother.

Step 1: Pick the Right Target

Not all blogs are created equal. Find blogs that:

Are relevant to your niche.
Accept guest posts (look for “Write for Us” pages).
Have a DA score appropriate to your current standing (20-50 for beginners, higher as you grow).

AI Boost:

Use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm relevant niches or search terms for finding blogs.
Let AI help you write personalized emails for outreach to blog owners.
Use AI tools like Hunter.io or FindThatLead to locate the contact details of editors.

Step 2: Understand Their Audience

A blog editor’s first question is: “Will this post resonate with my readers?” Your job is to show that it will. Study the blog:

What kind of topics do they cover?
Who are their readers (beginners, pros, hobbyists)?
What’s the blog’s tone (professional, casual, humorous)?

AI Boost:

Use AI to analyze their recent blog posts. Paste a few into a language tool and ask for insights on tone, style, and key themes.
Ask AI to suggest post ideas that align with the blog’s focus.

Step 3: Nail Your Pitch

Your pitch is your first impression. Make it count! Here’s how to craft one:

Subject Line: Clear and catchy, like “Guest Post Idea: How to Leverage AI for Digital Marketing Success.”
Body:
- Compliment the blog. (“I loved your post on [Topic]—it inspired me to rethink my strategy!”)
- Introduce yourself briefly.
- Outline your guest post idea in 2-3 sentences.
- Include links to previous work (or a writing sample).

AI Boost:

Use AI to generate multiple versions of your pitch email. Then choose the most compelling one.
Ask AI to summarize your expertise in a professional yet conversational tone.

Step 4: Write a Post That Shines

Once your pitch is accepted, it’s time to deliver! Your post should:

Start with a hook to grab attention (an intriguing fact, question, or anecdote).
Deliver actionable insights and valuable content.
Stay true to the blog’s tone and style.

AI Boost:

Use AI to brainstorm outlines for your guest post. It can help structure your content logically.
Ask AI to generate ideas for your introduction or subheadings.
Let AI suggest metaphors, analogies, or even jokes to add personality to your writing.
Let AI write your post.

Step 5: Format Like a Pro

Presentation matters. Editors love posts that are clean and easy to read:

Use short paragraphs (3-4 lines).
Include subheadings, bullet points, and visuals.
Proofread carefully to catch typos and grammatical errors.

AI Boost:

Use AI to rephrase sentences for clarity and conciseness.
Run your draft through tools like Grammarly or Hemingway for additional polishing.
Ask AI to suggest alternate titles or subheadings for variety.

Step 6: Be Easy to Work With

Your attitude can make or break the experience. Be:

Responsive and professional.
Open to making edits.
Thankful for the opportunity to collaborate.

AI Boost:

Use AI to track communication and draft polite follow-up emails.
Ask AI for professional ways to handle revision requests.

Step 7: Promote Your Post

Once your guest post is published, shout it from the rooftops!

Share it on your social media channels.
Link to it on your website.
Send a thank-you email to the editor.

AI Boost:

Use AI tools like ChatGPT to craft compelling social media captions.
Ask AI to draft an email template to thank the editor and include a link to the post.
Analyze post performance with AI-driven analytics tools to understand what resonates with audiences.

Bonus Tips for Winning Guest Posts (with AI Help)

Be Original: Don’t recycle content. AI can help you brainstorm fresh ideas.
Link Strategically: Use AI to identify which pages on your site would benefit most from backlinks.
Keep Pitching: Create a spreadsheet of potential blogs and use AI to track your progress or follow up on pitches.

The Bottom Line

Guest posting doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. With AI as your sidekick, you can research faster, pitch smarter, and write posts that editors can’t resist. It’s all about delivering value, being professional, and letting your creativity shine.

Now go forth and pitch your heart out. Your next guest post could be the one that takes your blog to the next level. Happy writing! 🎉

Kent Lundin

Kent Lundin is a faculty member in the Department of Marketing at BYU-Idaho. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA in quantitative analysis from Brigham Young University. Before joining BYU-Idaho in 2001, Kent had extensive industry experience, including serving as a vice president of marketing at CapSoft Development Corporation and teaching business and computer classes at the College of the Sequoias. In addition to teaching, he has served as department chair and remains actively involved in initiatives like the Snake River DMC. His academic interests include digital marketing, leadership, and management strategies.

KentLundin.com