Good guest post examples have one thing in common: the article would be worth publishing even without the writer's link. One clear problem, first hand experience, practical steps and a short author bio at the end. Below are guest post examples by format, a sample structure you can follow, an author bio sample and an example of a link placed in context, from the editor who publishes them on lilachbullock.com.
When people search for a guest post sample, they usually want to know what an editor expects to see. So rather than one article to copy, here are the formats that get accepted, with example titles, and the building blocks every accepted guest post shares.
Guest post examples by format
The how to guide
Takes the reader from a problem to a result, step by step, using the writer's own method.
- How I Write a Month of Social Posts in One Afternoon
- How to Brief a Freelance Designer So the First Draft Is Close to Right
The case study
Tells the story of one project: what the situation was, what was tried, what worked and what the reader can take from it.
- What Happened When We Cut Our Service List in Half
- The Onboarding Emails That Stopped Our First Month Cancellations
The opinion piece with evidence
Takes a clear position and backs it with experience, not just a strong headline.
- Why Small Businesses Should Post Less on Social Media, Not More
- The Marketing Advice I Give Every New Client, and Why
The comparison or roundup
Helps readers choose between options. The best ones are written by people who have used each option, and they say who each one suits.
- Spreadsheet or Project Tool? What I Learned Running a Small Team on Both
- The Writing Tools I Kept After Testing Them on Real Client Work
The mistakes and lessons post
Shares what went wrong and what the writer does differently now. Readers trust these because they're honest.
- The Hiring Mistakes From My First Year in Business
- What I Got Wrong About Email Marketing, and the Fix
A sample guest post structure
- A specific title that names the reader's problem or the result.
- An opening that answers the question in the first two or three sentences.
- Short sections with clear subheadings, one idea per section.
- At least one real example from your own work: a before and after, a template or a decision you made.
- A short takeaway telling the reader what to do next.
- An author bio of two or three sentences with one link.
Author bio sample
[Your name] is a [role] who helps [who you help] with [what you help with]. [One line of credibility: a result, a client type or years doing the work.] You can find more of [his/her/their] work at [link to your site or a relevant page].
Keep it short, written in the third person, and point the link at the page that's most useful to a reader who liked the article.
Example of a link placed in context
Editors judge links by whether they help the reader at that point in the article.
- Good: "If you want the full checklist, I've put together a [month end checklist for agencies] you can download." The link continues the reader's task.
- Weak: "Many businesses use [top accounting software solutions online] to manage money." The anchor is written for a search engine, not a person.
- Good: a link in the author bio to your site's most useful page on the topic.
Guest post checklist before you send it
- Does the opening answer the reader's question?
- Is there at least one example only you could have written?
- Would the article still be useful with your link removed?
- Have you matched the host site's tone and length?
- Is it original and unpublished anywhere else?
There's more on the editor's side in quality guest posts and how to get a guest post accepted.
Writing a guest post for my blog
I publish guest posts on marketing, AI, social media, productivity and small business. The write for me guidelines explain what I accept, and the free write for us finder lists other sites that take guest posts in your niche.
Placing content for a brand or a client? That goes through a separate route from editorial guest posts: a sponsored article, a link added to an existing article or a tool placement in a roundup. Agencies can also see white label guest posts.
I've been publishing since the dial up days. I've spent 21 years in marketing, built, scaled and sold a digital marketing agency, and been listed by Forbes in the Top 20 Social Media Power Influencers. I've also reviewed and ranked more than three hundred tools, so I know what readers want to see before they try one.
Ready to start? Use my contact form, my write for me page or email [email protected] with your website, the page you want readers to reach and the topic you have in mind. You'll get a straight answer, usually within a working day.
Frequently asked questions
What does a good guest post look like?
One clear problem, an opening that answers it, short sections with subheadings, at least one real example from the writer's own work, a short takeaway and a brief author bio with one link.
How long is a typical guest post?
Most accepted guest posts are long enough to cover one idea fully with an example. Check each site's guidelines, because length rules vary.
Where should the link go in a guest post?
Most sites allow a link in the author bio, and many allow one relevant link in the body where it helps the reader continue what they're doing.
Can I reuse a guest post on my own blog?
Usually not. Most sites, including mine, only accept original articles that haven't been published anywhere else.
What is an author bio in a guest post?
A short paragraph at the end of the article that says who the writer is, what they do and where readers can find more of their work, usually with one link.
Can I write a guest post for lilachbullock.com?
Yes. Read the write for me guidelines, then pitch one specific idea through the contact form or to [email protected].