Contextual backlinks — guest posts and niche edits

Two contextual backlink types

• Guest post — publishing a new article on another site with your backlink inside it.
• Niche edit — adding your backlink inside an article that is already published on another site.

Both improve rankings, traffic, and authority.¹

Prospecting: finding target sites

1. Copy competitors' backlinks using an SEO tool (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest).
2. Filter to one backlink per domain, and backlink type = in-content link.
3. Export the filtered list.
4. Repeat for each competitor.

Aim to collect 1,000+ candidate sites across all competitors combined.

Organizing the data

Build a spreadsheet with columns: Website URL, Domain (convert URL to domain with a formula or an AI tool), DA/DR/Traffic, Contact Email, Contact Name, and Notes (editor requirements, costs, follow-up status).

Email hunting

Use a tool like Hunter.io — enter the site URL to find editor emails. If nothing turns up: check the site's Contact Us page, search LinkedIn for editors/writers, or use a browser extension for email discovery. Collect at least 2 emails per site as backup.

Keyword hunting (for niche edits)

Ask an AI tool: "Give me long-tail keywords that are semantically relevant to [your keyword] and address different search intents." Suggest these to editors so the inserted backlink reads as genuinely relevant to their article.

Outreach process

Tools: Mailshake, Instantly, SalesHandy.

1. Create a new campaign in the outreach tool.
2. Import the spreadsheet (name, email, website).
3. Add your outreach email template.
4. Insert personalization variables (first name, website, offer, deadline).
5. Start sending.

Outreach rules

• Send 15–20 emails per day per account, to avoid spam filters.
• Always personalize — never send copy-paste spam.
• Follow up if there's no response.
• Track responses and outcomes in the spreadsheet.

Sample niche-edit email template

Subject: Suggestion for your article on [Topic]

Hello [First Name],

I enjoyed reading your article on [URL/Topic]. It's very detailed and helpful.

I had a quick idea — what if you add an extra resource that could give your readers more value? I run [Your Website], where we recently published an in-depth guide on [Keyword]. It would fit perfectly into your article and help your audience.

Would you be open to adding this resource to your post?

Best regards, [Your Name]

Tips

• Favour quality sites over raw outreach volume.
• Track every outreach attempt and reply.
• Build long-term relationships with editors rather than one-off asks.
• Avoid spammy mass emailing.

Workflow recap

1. Competitor backlink research.
2. Apply filters and export the list.
3. Organize data in a spreadsheet.
4. Find editor emails.
5. Generate relevant keywords for niche edits.
6. Run outreach via Mailshake/Instantly.
7. Send 15–20 personalized emails a day.
8. Follow up and secure the backlinks.

Footnotes

1. iSkills SEO course notes, compiled 2025. ↩