Here's a freebie for you...

Some bloggers don't use guest posts, period, so approaching them is a waste of time.

For those who leave evidence that they use guest posters (like guest posts), study the guest posts and any intro remarks the blogger makes. Do they indicate that there is an existing relationship prior to the guest post? If so, you may have to lay some groundwork before asking to guest post.

You can lay this groundwork by:

> leaving real, valuable, content-enhancing comments without trying smarmy backlink tricks like using keywords as your name.

> reacting to their blog post on your own blog and using the trackback to attract their attention.

> dropping them a personal email and initiating a plain old human conversation.

The only incentive you should have to offer is excellent content that will give their readers a good experience. If you have to offer them money or some other incentive, it's not a guest post, it's an ad and should be identified as such by the blogger.

When you find a blog you want to guest post for, send a proposal email. Tell them you'd like to write a guest post about (your idea) and how you think it will fit into his blog and appeal to his readers. Tell him that if he agrees that his audience might like your idea, you'll be happy to provide links to other writing samples and once you get the go-ahead, you'll provide the guest post.

For results, it beats the heck out of blasting form emails to anyone with a blog. And, as a side benefit, you also get to put your content in front of that blogger's audience with an either implied or explicit endorsement.

Personally, I see that as the main benefit and the link as the bonus, but you said you're an SEO guy, so I tried to put it in your terms...

[DELETED]

I agree that excellent content is the KEY! Also you might want to try to build a relationship with them first. Maybe backlink to their site, or do something nice for them. After you have a relationship they will be more likely to let you submit a guest post.

Comment on their blog or contact them directly and submit. If your article is good they will submit.

Yes, build a relationship first via blog commenting or on facebook. Most people a pretty cool about accepting a guest post from someone that they kind of know but are less likely to be receptive to a bland email. Offer an infographic...people like those.

There are plenty of lists with blogs that accept guest posts - such as The Ultimate List of Blogs that Accept Guest Posts. Target these sites and other sites that have been listed as accepting guest posts and you'll have plenty of choices.

I would search facebook for people who have blogs in your niche and shoot them a quick message and see if they would like you to do a post for them.

Its a lot easier to get people who have lower profile blogs to agree to a guest post from someone who doesn't have a lot of credibility yet.

This has worked like a charm for me in the past, just networking like that on facebook

Tons of good information here guys! I've wondered recently about guest posting too.