Homework Challenge: ONE traffic and backlink opportunity

Every now and then, I like to challenge you with a quick and somewhat straight-forward homework assignment. Please listen to the podcast or watch the video for instructions 🙂

Here’s the homework in podcast format:


or listen on \\ iTunes \\ Stitcher \\ Google Play \\ Overcast \\ Spotify

Here’s the video:

Here are my personal notes for this assignment:

Get a guest piece of content. Post or podcast or whatever YOU want.

But DO IT THIS WEEKEND.

1 – Target the right blogs

NOT the huge ones, use mid-tier bloggers in the same niche.

A few different ways to do this:

  1. Head to detailed.com and check out who’s linking to the top 50.
  2. Google “best [your niche] blogs.” Look for round-up posts highlighting the bests.
  3. Pick the non-obvious ones.

2 – Find gaps in their content (semi-optional)

This is actually easy.

  1. Look for the blog’s categories if you can find them. Click through each and look at how often or when the last post was published in that category.
  2. Or, scroll through their 20-25 most recent blog posts, noting the headlines and topics. What topic in their niche HAVEN’T they covered recently?

3 – Jot down 10 topics and/or headlines

Stop being a NON-go-getter, and actually write down the damn headlines and ideas.

Don’t be that internet wannabe person. Do the work.

Once you have 10?

Focus on the top 3.

4 – 2 methods of outreach:

  1. Permission marketing
  2. The cold ask

Permission marketing – reach out NOT via email (preferably Twitter, Twitter DM, FB message, etc etc), and ask something similar to what I revealed in the podcast.

I won’t be sharing copy and paste templates here 🙂 🙂

Important things to include though:

  1. Make the message/email SHORT
  2. Get the point across quickly! Make sure “I’d love to write a guest post for you.” Is bolded and stands out quickly, etc.
  3. Follow that up with PROOF that you know what you’re doing: “I’ve already done a bit of research, and came up with 3 post ideas that I feel covers a few gaps in your topics as of late,” for example.
  4. End with a question: “Can I send you the pitches?” Or “Which of these topics strikes you right now? Can I send over more info for that one?” etc.
  5. Sign-off with your name
  6. Include a “P.S.” with some social proof if you’d like. “Oh, And my blog is doyouevenblog.com, and I’ve written guest posts here and here and here and here, and they’ve all turned out really well for those bloggers.”

Stay accountable, and come join us in the Facebook group:

It’s here.

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12 Responses

  1. Oh, Pete. Homework already?!

    I do think it’s a good idea though. Getting link juice via guest posting is a great way of increasing organic traffic. If you guest post to a blog with a little more authority each time, soon you’ll be pitching to the top people in your niche. Thanks for keeping us all accountable!

  2. Ahhhh!!!! Homework!!!!
    But seriously, this has been being pushed to the bottom of my to-do list for weeks now. This post has lit a fire ….. all PF bloggers beware, I’m getting my sh*t together. (Looking at you, Birds of a FIRE) lol 🙂

    1. DO IT MY DUDE!

      Wait, are you male or female FS? Feel like I should know this. Looking for your name in my gmail 🙂

  3. Thank you for sharing a fresh technique to secure guest posts! I love the idea using detailed.com as a resource but there is no lifestyle/home category. Do you know if there is something like detailed.com for that particular category?

    1. No, but that sounds like the PERFECT niche to hit up Pinterest for 🙂

      I’d search Pinterest for common keywords in home/lifestyle….filter by BOARDS (not pins), open up the first 5 boards, look at the board owners, and if they HAVE a website…they’re most certainly amazing prospects to pitch 🙂 🙂

  4. Dude,

    So cool to spot this link. I was actually reading your site a few weeks ago and going through your income reports.

    I’ve heard about your site so many times but was a little put off by the name (don’t worry, I called myself ‘ViperChill’ after all). It’s a shame as I had been missing your great content.

    Thanks for the mention, and best of luck going forward!

    1. You’re honestly a legend in my book, Glen.

      If you make it back to this comment, can I email along a pitch to have you on the podcast? 🙂

  5. Hi again Pete,

    I feel the same as Glen. I’ve been putting off coming to your blog for weeks after I found out about you and now it’s better late than never lol. I follow your youtube channel as well 🙂 your blog is soooooooo x infinity insightful. Thank you! lol
    It’s good that you give us homework! Us adults have to do something in our spare time…

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