The short version: Several well-known technology blogs still accept guest posts in 2024, including MakeUseOf, HubSpot, Smashing Magazine, and Codecademy. Pay ranges from nothing to $300 per post depending on the site. A specific, personalised pitch beats every template on the internet.
Why guest posting on tech blogs still matters
I know, I know. Everyone says guest posting is dead. I have heard that claim since 2012 and I am still getting clients from articles I wrote for other people's sites years ago.
The backlink is only part of it. The referral traffic is only part of it. What a well-placed guest post on a respected tech site does is put your name in front of an audience that already trusts the publication. That trust transfers. Not completely, not immediately, but it does transfer.
I have built a meaningful chunk of my consulting pipeline from guest content. So yes, it matters. What changes is which sites are worth your time, and how you pitch.
Tech blogs that accept guest posts right now
I have gone through each of these sites in the past year. Submission forms, editorial guidelines, response times where I could find them. Here is what the landscape looks like.
MakeUseOf
MakeUseOf is one of the longest-running consumer tech publications that takes outside contributors. They cover everything from Windows tips to AI tools to gadget reviews. Their guidelines ask for a minimum of 1,500 words, a clear angle that has not been covered to death on their site, and strong screenshots where relevant.
They pay. Rates have been reported at around $100 to $200 per accepted article depending on the topic and your track record with them. They run a contributor application form rather than a cold email pitch, so read their writer page before you send anything.
Best fit: practical how-to content, software comparisons, productivity tools.
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is the gold standard for web development and design content. Getting published here carries real weight in the developer community. Their editorial process is thorough, sometimes painfully so, but the result is that their archive ages well.
They pay between $200 and $300 per article. They want deep, technical, original content. Not "10 CSS tips you probably know already." They want the thing you figured out the hard way that no one has written about clearly yet.
Best fit: front-end development, UX, design systems, web performance.
Codecademy Blog
Codecademy has opened their blog to outside contributors on and off. They are focused on learning to code, career pivots into tech, and beginner-friendly content. If you have a strong story about switching careers into tech or a clear tutorial for beginners, this is worth a look.
They do not heavily advertise a contributor programme but they respond to well-targeted pitches. Check their current blog topics before pitching so you are not sending them something they published three months ago.
Best fit: beginner coding guides, career change stories, learning resources.
HubSpot Blog
HubSpot's marketing and sales blogs occasionally take outside contributors, and their tech-adjacent content around marketing technology is strong territory for pitches. Their audience is business owners, marketers, and salespeople who use tech to do their jobs.
They do not pay cash to contributors but the exposure is substantial. They have millions of monthly readers and strong search rankings, which means a well-placed article can send referral traffic for years. I would not write for free for a small site. HubSpot's audience size makes it a different calculation.
Best fit: marketing tech, CRM tools, automation, AI in marketing.
SitePoint
SitePoint focuses on web development, Python, JavaScript, PHP, and related topics. They have a clear contributor programme and they pay, with rates typically in the $150 to $250 range for technical tutorials.
They want working code, clear explanations, and a completed draft or very detailed outline before they commit. Do not pitch them a vague idea. Show up with a real plan.
Best fit: coding tutorials, developer tools, JavaScript frameworks, web technologies.
Tuts+ (Envato)
Tuts+ is part of the Envato ecosystem and covers code, design, motion graphics, and related creative tech. They pay per tutorial and have a structured submission process. Rates vary but are generally in the $75 to $200 range depending on the type and depth of content.
Best fit: code tutorials, design software, creative tools, Adobe suite walkthroughs.
TechRepublic
TechRepublic covers enterprise technology, IT management, and business software. They have accepted outside opinion pieces and contributed articles, though the process involves reaching out to their editorial team rather than using a self-serve form.
Best fit: IT decision-making, enterprise software, cybersecurity, remote work technology.
The thing most people get wrong about pitching tech blogs
I have been on both sides of this. I have pitched and been rejected. I have also been sent pitches that made me wince on behalf of the person who sent them.
The most common mistake is treating every site like they are the same site. A pitch that works for MakeUseOf will bomb at Smashing Magazine because the audiences, the depth required, and the editorial tone are completely different.
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Before you write a single word of your pitch, do this:
- Read five recent posts on the blog. Not skim. Read.
- Find the gap. What question does their audience have that they have not answered recently?
- Pitch that specific gap with a specific working title, a one-paragraph summary, and three bullet points showing what the reader will walk away knowing.
- Show one or two writing samples that are similar in tone and technical depth to what they publish.
Your pitch should be 200 words maximum. Editors are not reading your CV. They are deciding in thirty seconds whether your idea fits their editorial calendar.
What to include in your pitch email
Here is the structure I use and teach. It is not glamorous but it works:
- Subject line: Guest post pitch: [Working Title]
- First line: One sentence on who you are and why you are qualified to write this specific piece.
- Second paragraph: The pitch. What the post covers, why it matters to their readers, what makes your angle different from what they have already published.
- Third paragraph: Two links to published work. Relevant work. Not your personal blog from 2019.
- Sign off: Brief, professional, no waffle.
Do not attach a full draft unless their guidelines specifically ask for one. You are selling the idea first. Save the writing for after they say yes.
A word on sites that take your content and do nothing with it
Not every site that says it accepts guest posts is worth your time. Some sites have low domain authority, tiny audiences, and use your content to prop up their search rankings while giving you nothing in return.
Before you pitch, check the site's traffic using a tool like Ahrefs, Semrush, or even the free version of Ubersuggest. If a site claims to be a major tech publication but has fewer than 10,000 monthly visits, your time is better spent elsewhere unless they are paying you well.
Also check when they last published. A site that was active in 2021 but has posted nothing since is not a live submission target no matter what their contributor page says.
How guest posting fits into a real marketing strategy
I want to be clear about something. Guest posting is not a shortcut. It is not going to transform your business in thirty days. What it does is build compounding authority over time.
One strong post on Smashing Magazine or MakeUseOf, combined with a clear author bio pointing to a relevant landing page or lead magnet, can send qualified traffic for years. I have had posts written in 2018 that still bring in enquiries.
The game is consistency and placement quality, not volume. Two excellent posts per quarter on well-matched sites beats twenty mediocre posts scattered across the internet.
Related reading: paid guest posting sites.
Related reading: websites that accept guest posts.
Frequently asked questions
Which technology blogs pay guest writers?
Smashing Magazine pays $200 to $300 per post, MakeUseOf pays around $100 to $200, SitePoint pays $150 to $250, and Tuts+ pays $75 to $200 depending on the content type. HubSpot does not pay cash but offers very large audience exposure.
How do I find tech blogs that accept guest posts?
Search Google for "write for us" plus your topic, check sites like MakeUseOf and Smashing Magazine directly, and use Ahrefs or Semrush to find competitor backlinks pointing to guest posts so you can target the same publications.
Do technology blogs accept guest posts from beginners?
Some do. MakeUseOf and Tuts+ are more open to newer writers who demonstrate strong practical knowledge. Smashing Magazine and SitePoint expect deep expertise and usually want to see published work before accepting a pitch.
How long should a guest post pitch be?
Keep it under 200 words. Include a working title, a one-paragraph summary explaining the angle and why it suits their audience, and two relevant writing samples. Editors decide fast. Give them everything they need and nothing they do not.
Related reading: The Best Blogs for Guest Posting (That Will Move the Needle for Your Business) and Freelance Writing Opportunities That Pay Well in 2026.
Related: this free database of 5,000+ sites that accept guest posts.
Related: Lilach Bullock free list of 5,000+ websites that accept guest posts.
Frequently asked questions
Which technology blog is the best starting point for a small business owner who has never guest posted before?
MakeUseOf is the best starting point for a small business owner new to guest posting on technology blogs, because it accepts a wide range of tech-related topics, has clear editorial guidelines, and does not require deep coding knowledge or a high-profile byline to get accepted. Their submission form is straightforward and they provide feedback more consistently than many comparable sites, which helps first-timers understand what editors really want.
Do any of these technology blogs pay contributors, and is it worth pitching for free?
Yes, some technology blogs do pay guest contributors, with rates ranging from nothing at all up to around 300 pounds per post depending on the publication, so it is worth pitching for both paid and unpaid slots depending on your goals. Smashing Magazine and MakeUseOf both offer payment, but even unpaid placements on high-authority sites can drive consulting enquiries for months or years after publication, which is often worth more than a one-off fee.
How do I choose which technology blog to pitch so I am not wasting my time?
Choose a technology blog to pitch by checking three things first: whether their audience overlaps with your ideal customer, whether their domain authority justifies the effort, and whether they have published content similar to yours in the last six months. A site that has not updated its guest post guidelines or published new contributor pieces recently is likely not actively accepting pitches, no matter what their submission page says.
What is the most common mistake small business owners make when pitching technology blogs?
The most common mistake small business owners make when pitching technology blogs is sending a generic template pitch that could have been written for any site, rather than referencing a specific article the publication has already run and explaining how their proposed piece adds to that conversation. Editors at busy tech blogs receive dozens of pitches a week, and a pitch that shows you have read the site carefully will stand out immediately from one that simply lists your credentials and topic ideas.
