If you want to find guest post sites, there is no single directory that lists them all. Good opportunities are spread across marketplaces, search results, your competitors’ backlink profiles and plain old email. This guide covers each source, what it is good for, and how to make sure you do not pay more than a site is worth.
What to look for when you find guest post sites
Before you start collecting domains, decide what you are looking for. Otherwise you end up with a long list of sites that accept anything and help nobody.
A useful guest post site usually has:
- Content that is clearly related to your topic or your customers.
- Real organic traffic, not just a high authority score.
- Articles written for readers, not a feed of unrelated sponsored posts.
- An audience in the country or language you care about.
For a deeper checklist, see what makes a high quality backlink.
1. Guest post marketplaces
Marketplaces are the fastest way to find guest post sites that are already open to paid placements. Publishers list their websites with a price, rules and some metrics, and you can filter by niche, country and authority.
The upside is speed and structure. You know the price, the turnaround and what is allowed before you contact anyone.
The downside is that the same site often appears on several marketplaces at different prices. If you only look on one platform, you can easily pay more than you need to. Our overview of guest post marketplaces explains what to compare between them.
2. Search operators
Many sites publish a page inviting contributors. You can find them with simple Google searches that combine your topic with common phrases. A few examples:
- “write for us” + gardening
- “guest post” + project management
- “submit an article” + personal finance
- “become a contributor” + travel
- intitle:”write for us” + fitness
Swap in your own topic and try related terms too. Someone selling accounting software might search for bookkeeping, small business finance and invoicing, not just accounting.
Sites found this way are often cheaper or even free, because they want content rather than payment. They also tend to be stricter about quality, so expect to pitch a real idea and write a proper article.
You can also look for sites that already rank for the keywords you care about. Our guide to finding publishers that rank for a keyword walks through that method.
3. Competitor backlinks
Your competitors have already done some of the work for you. Put a competitor’s domain into a backlink tool and look for links that sit inside articles, often with a byline from someone at that company.
These sites have shown they accept contributed content in your space. Some will be on marketplaces, others you will need to contact directly.
A few tips for this method:
- Check several competitors, not just the biggest one.
- Filter out directories, forums and comment links. You want editorial placements.
- Note the date of the link. A placement from years ago tells you less about the site today.
4. Direct outreach
Some of the best sites are not listed anywhere. They do not advertise guest posts, but an editor will say yes to a useful article from someone who clearly knows the subject.
Outreach takes more time. Keep it short and specific:
- Read a few recent posts so you understand what the site publishes.
- Find the right person (editor or content lead), not a general inbox if you can avoid it.
- Pitch two or three topic ideas that fit their audience and are not already covered.
- Explain in one line why you are qualified to write it.
- Follow up once, politely, if you do not hear back.
Some sites will reply with a price. That is normal, and it is the moment to check whether the same site is listed cheaper somewhere else.
Compare prices before you pay
Once you have a list, the next step is easy to skip and expensive to ignore. Before you order, check what each domain costs across several marketplaces.
Price differences for the same site come from marketplace fees, outdated listings and resellers adding a markup. Our post on spotting inflated guest post prices covers the warning signs.
Checking by hand means logging into each platform and searching domain by domain. A free backlink price checker like LinkAcquire lets you paste a list and see offers side by side, cheapest first, with metrics and extra costs such as writing fees.
| Source | Best for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplaces | Speed, clear prices and rules | Same site, different prices |
| Search operators | Editorial sites open to contributors | Time spent pitching and writing |
| Competitor backlinks | Proven sites in your niche | Some links are old or not repeatable |
| Direct outreach | Sites not listed anywhere | Slow, low reply rate |
Keep your list organized
Whatever sources you use, put every domain in one place with its source, price, contact and status. That stops you from pitching the same site twice or paying a higher price you forgot you had already been quoted.
Our guide on organizing guest posting lists shows a simple system with shortlists, tags and notes.
One honest note: Google asks that paid links use rel=”sponsored” or nofollow. Many site owners still buy followed links and accept the risk, so weigh that before you pay for a placement.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to find guest post sites?
Marketplaces are the fastest, because sites are already listed with prices and rules. Use filters for niche and country, then check each domain yourself before ordering.
Are “write for us” sites free?
Some are free in exchange for a good article, while others ask for a fee once you contact them. Always ask about costs and link rules early.
How do I know if a guest post price is fair?
Compare the same domain across several marketplaces and look at real traffic and relevance, not just an authority score. If one price is far above the others, ask why.
Once your list is ready, create a free LinkAcquire account and check every domain’s price across marketplaces before you buy.