Everyone wants guest post opportunities, and there's no shortage of lists promising thousands of them. The problem isn't finding a site that says "write for us". It's finding one that's alive, relevant and worth your time, because a post on the wrong site is wasted effort, or worse.

I've been on both sides of this for years: pitching other blogs, and running a blog that gets pitched every day. Here's where the good opportunities come from, how I judge them, and how to spot the ones to skip.

Where do you find guest post opportunities?

There are six reliable sources. Most people only use the first one.

• A live-checked list. My free list of websites that accept guest posts has 3,204 sites, re-checked in September 2026. 2,636 of them were live. It's the quickest way to build a shortlist by niche.
• Search operators. Search your topic with phrases like "write for us", "guest post guidelines", "contribute" or "submit a guest post". Add a niche word to narrow it down.
• Competitor backlinks. Look at where competitors have guest posted. If a site took their post, it may take yours.
• Author bios. When you read a good article, check the author bio. People who guest post a lot list the sites they've written for.
• Editor call-outs. Editors and publishers post calls for contributors on LinkedIn and in newsletters. These are often the warmest opportunities of all.
• Sites you already read. If you read a blog every week, you know its audience and style. Your pitch will be better than anyone's.

How do you know if a guest post opportunity is worth it?

I give every opportunity the same ten-minute check before I write a word:

• Is it live and indexed? Search site:domain.com. If very few pages come up, walk away.
• Is it still publishing? Look at the last three posts. If the newest is a year old, the site has stalled.
• Does the audience match yours? A relevant site with modest traffic beats a big site in the wrong niche.
• What do the other guest posts look like? If every post is a thin article with a link, your post will sit in bad company.
• Is there a real person behind it? An editor you can email is worth more than a contact form that never replies.
• Will the post stay up? Ask. Some sites delete old posts during clean-ups.

If you want a deeper checklist on the link side, I've covered it in how to check backlink quality, and my guide to high DA guest posting sites explains why authority numbers are only one signal.

Free or sponsored: which opportunities should you go after?

Both have a place. Free, editorial guest posts take longer to land and editors are picky, but they build real relationships. Sponsored posts are faster and more predictable, which is why agencies and link builders placing for clients use them. If you're working to deadlines for clients, a sponsored post on a site with a named owner is usually the safer bet.

I've written more about the trade-off in sponsored blog posts or guest posts. If you're on the buying side, how buying a guest post on my blog works is the practical version.

How do you pitch a guest post opportunity so it gets accepted?

• Read three recent posts and mention one of them.
• Pitch two or three specific titles, not "any topic you like".
• Say who the post is for and what the reader will be able to do afterwards.
• Keep it short. Editors skim.
• Follow the guidelines exactly, including word count and formatting.

The pitch that gets ignored is the template that could have been sent to any site. The one that gets a reply shows you've read the blog.

Which guest post opportunities should you avoid?

• Sites that cover every topic under the sun, from casinos to cats to crypto, with no clear readership.
• Sites with a write for us page but no new posts in months.
• Sites whose pages have dropped out of Google.
• Sites where you can't find a name, only a form.
• Offers that won't tell you the exact site before you order.

Guest post opportunities on my blog

lilachbullock.com is a marketing blog that's been publishing since the dial-up days, with thousands of indexed articles. My readers are business owners, marketers and entrepreneurs, with the majority in the USA and the UK. I accept sponsored guest posts, link insertions into existing articles and product mentions in relevant roundups.

Each niche on my blog has its own guidelines page: digital marketing, SEO, SaaS, AI, technology, small business, finance, health and travel. Writers who want to contribute for free can read the guidelines on my write for me page.

How placing a post on my blog works

1. Email [email protected], or start on my write for me page, with your target URL, topic and niche.
2. I reply with whether it fits and which format I'd pick: a new sponsored post or a link insertion into an existing, indexed article.
3. You send the article, or I choose the right existing article for your link.
4. I edit, publish and send you the live URL.

Accepted posts usually go live within 24 to 48 hours of everything being agreed. Placements are permanent. I invoice by PayPal, and if you're an agency, I never contact your client.

Placing at volume? The guest post submission sites page covers how batch orders work.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find guest post opportunities?

Start with a live-checked list, then use search operators such as "write for us" plus your niche, competitor backlinks, author bios and editor call-outs on LinkedIn.

How many guest post sites are still live?

On my list of 3,204 sites, 2,636 were live when I re-checked them in September 2026. About 18% were dead or parked.

Are free guest post opportunities better than sponsored ones?

Neither is better in every case. Free posts take longer and build relationships. Sponsored posts are faster and more predictable, which suits agencies working to client deadlines.

How do I know if a site is worth guest posting on?

Check it's live and indexed, still publishing, relevant to your audience and run by a real person. Then look at the quality of its other guest posts.

Do you accept guest posts on lilachbullock.com?

Yes. I accept sponsored guest posts, link insertions and product mentions in relevant roundups. Email your target URL, topic and niche.

How quickly do posts go live on your blog?

Usually 24 to 48 hours after everything is agreed. Placements are permanent.