# How to Pitch Guest Posts to Small Business Blogs
The short answer: Find blogs that publish content for your target audience, study their top posts, pitch a specific title with a one-paragraph outline (not a full article), follow up once after 5 business days, and write something genuinely useful if they say yes. The blogs that accept guest posts are looking for content that helps their readers, give them that and you will get published.
Step 1: Find the Right Blogs to Target
Not every blog is worth pitching. Target blogs that:
- Serve your target audience (small business owners, entrepreneurs, local businesses)
- Have real traffic and engagement (check their social media for comments and shares)
- Accept guest contributors (look for "Write for Us," "Contribute," or "Guest Post" in the footer)
- Have published content in the last 3 months (dead blogs waste your time)
Where to look:
Search Google for: `"write for us" + "small business"` or `"guest post" + "web design"` or `"contribute" + "entrepreneurship blog"`
Make a spreadsheet. You need at least 20 targets to get 5-10 acceptances.
Step 2: Study Each Blog Before You Pitch
Spend 10 minutes on each blog before reaching out:
- What topics do they cover most?
- What is the tone (professional, casual, data-driven, story-based)?
- What articles got the most comments or shares?
- What topics have not been covered that their audience would benefit from?
Step 3: Write a Pitch That Gets a Response
Your pitch email should be short, 5-7 sentences maximum. Include:
1. One sentence on who you are and what you do
2. One sentence on why you read their blog (be specific, mention a real post)
3. Two to three specific article titles you could write for them
4. One sentence on what their readers will learn from each
5. A link to one writing sample or your website
What NOT to do:
- Do not attach a full article
- Do not pitch a topic they have already covered
- Do not make it about you ("I want to build backlinks")
- Do not send a generic template with no personalization
Step 4: Follow Up Once
If you do not hear back in 5 business days, send one follow-up. Keep it to two sentences: "Hi [Name], just following up on my pitch from [date]. Happy to adjust the topic if anything feels off. Let me know either way."
Do not follow up more than once. Move on.
Step 5: Write Something Worth Publishing
If they say yes, write the best article you can. Hit every point you pitched. Include real data, real examples, and a clear structure. Make the editor's job easy, submit clean copy with headings, short paragraphs, and no grammatical errors.
Include one natural link back to your website where it genuinely fits the content. Do not force it.
What You Get From Guest Posting
- A backlink from an authoritative domain (improves your SEO)
- Brand exposure to an audience that matches your ideal client
- Credibility ("as featured on...")
- Referral traffic from readers who want to learn more
One well-placed guest post on a domain authority 40+ site can move your rankings more than months of other SEO work.
Guest Post Pitch Template
Subject: Guest Post Pitch: [Article Title]
Hi [Name],
I'm [Your Name] from [Company], we help [who you help] with [what you do].
I've been reading [Blog Name] for a while and really liked [specific post]. I noticed you haven't covered [topic] in depth, and I think your readers would find it valuable.
Here are three angles I could write for you:
1. [Title 1], [One sentence on what readers will learn]
2. [Title 2], [One sentence on what readers will learn]
3. [Title 3], [One sentence on what readers will learn]
You can see my writing at [link]. Let me know if any of these feel like a fit.
[Your Name]
Guest posting is a slow burn, but the compounding SEO and credibility benefits are worth the effort. Start with 5 pitches this week.
