5 Ways to Know If A “Write for Us” Page Is Legit

If you want to get quality backlinks or share your expertise as a guest writer, you often come across websites with a “Write for Us” page. But not every page is built the same. 

Some pages belong to sites that are full of spam and low-quality links. Others come from trusted sites that work hard to maintain their content quality. 

Let’s dive into how you can tell if a site with a “Write for Us” page is legit. We’ll check out both the good and bad signs, look at real examples, and share simple tips to help you choose wisely. 

Remember, most websites add a “Write for Us” page for only two reasons: they either want to work with other writers and experts to give their readers fresh ideas and useful information, or they want to sell links. You should choose sites that care about sharing real knowledge and quality content.

In this article: 

• Why Finding High-Quality Backlink Sources Matters
• Red Flags to Watch Out For
• Signs of a Legit “Write for Us” Page
• 5 Steps to Verify That a “Write for Us” Page is Legit
• Real-Life “Write for Us” Page Examples
• 4 Bonus Tips for a Safe Guest Posting Experience

Why Finding High-Quality Backlink Sources Matters

When you spend time writing a guest post, you want your work to appear on a site that is respected by readers and search engines. A good guest posting site can help improve your website’s SEO, build your brand authority, and drive referral traffic. On the other hand, posting on a spammy site might hurt your reputation and even cause a drop in search rankings.

Using tools like Link Genius, small business owners, and bloggers can remove barriers and streamline their outreach. But before you pitch your ideas, it’s very important to know if the website’s “Write for Us” page is legit. Below, we will share key signs to look for and red flags to avoid.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Not every “Write for Us” page is a sign of a high-quality website. Here are some red flags that suggest you should think twice before you reach out.

1. Offers More Than One Site

Some companies or individuals run several sites at once. When a single “Write for Us” page offers guest posts for many different sites, it can be a sign of a guest post farm. These sites may cover many topics and niches, often without clear focus.

• Why It’s Bad: A site that covers multiple niches usually does not have a clear editorial focus. This can lead to lower-quality content and even spammy backlinks that do not help your SEO.

PRO TIP: Look for websites that have a clear niche. For example, if you write about digital marketing, find sites that focus on marketing rather than a site that posts about food, tech, travel, and more.

2. Has a Payment Link

If the “Write for Us” page includes a payment link or asks for money upfront, that is a major red flag.

• Why It’s Bad: A legit site usually does not ask for payment upfront to publish your post. They want quality content because it helps their brand and provides value to their readers.

PRO TIP: Many sites do ask for a fee to feature your content. Nonetheless, even if you have to pay, make sure the site explains what the fee covers and shows clear quality guidelines. 

3. Posts Multiple Niches

When a website accepts guest posts on many unrelated topics, it can be a sign that they are more interested in collecting links than in providing real value to their readers.

• Why It’s Bad: A lack of focus means that the website’s audience may be confused about the content’s purpose. It also means the backlinks you get might not be as relevant for your niche.

PRO TIP: Search the site to see if most posts are related to one topic or if they jump between many different subjects. Consistency is key.

4. No Clear Approval Process

A poor-quality site may not have any clear process for approving posts before they go live.

• Why It’s Bad: This can lead to low-quality posts and content that is not reviewed for accuracy or relevance. When your guest post is published without any checks, it may not reflect well on your brand.

PRO TIP: Look for pages that mention an editorial process or quality checks before the content is published.

Signs of a Legit “Write for Us” Page

Now that we have discussed the bad signs, let’s look at the good signs. These are the signals that show the website is serious about quality content and maintaining a strong reputation.

1. Clear Quality Guidelines

A good “Write for Us” page will have detailed guidelines that explain what type of content they are looking for.

• Why It’s Good: Clear guidelines help you understand the site’s tone, style, and the subjects they cover. They also show that the site takes quality very seriously.

• Example: Look at the Cloudways “Write for Us” page. They list their content requirements, including word count, style tips, and the topics they accept. This shows a strong commitment to quality.

2. Niche Focus

Legit sites usually have a strong niche focus. When you browse the content, you will see that all posts center on a particular topic or industry.

• Why It’s Good: A niche focus means that the audience is targeted and interested. Backlinks from these sites are more valuable because they are contextually relevant.

PRO TIP: Check the website’s “About” page or review their blog posts to see if they stick to a specific subject matter.

3. Quality Approval Prior to Going Live

A trustworthy website has an approval process in place. They review submissions before publishing them to ensure that only high-quality content appears on their site.

• Why It’s Good: This process protects both the website and guest authors by ensuring that every post meets high standards. It also means your post will be well-edited and more likely to attract readers.

PRO TIP: Look for statements on the “Write for Us” page that mention an editorial review or quality control process.

5 Steps to Verify That a “Write for Us” Page is Legit

Now that you know the good and bad signs, here is a step-by-step guide to help you decide if a site is legit:

Step 1: Do a Quick Scan of the Page

Check if the page has clear submission guidelines. If it lists the topics, word count, and style requirements, that’s a good sign. See if there is any mention of fees or payment links as well. If you find any, make sure they are upfront about how they deliver value.

Step 2: Review the Website’s Content

Browse a few blog posts or articles. Do they all focus on one or two related topics, or do they cover everything under the sun? It’s typically a good sign if there’s focused content that matches your niche.

Additionally, read a couple of articles. Look for spelling errors, poor grammar, and low-quality writing. High-quality sites invest in good content.

Step 3: Check the Website’s Authority

Use tools like Moz, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to check the website’s Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR) and organic traffic. A site with a DA of 30+ and steady traffic is usually a good backlink source.

Moreover, look at the website’s backlink profile. A healthy, natural mix of links from reputable sources is a strong sign of legitimacy.

Step 4: Verify the Editorial Process

Look for any mention that your article will be reviewed before publication. A clear statement about editorial standards is a good sign that the site administrator aims to stay in good standing with search engines and not just to make money from their site.

Step 5: Search for Social Proof

Check if the website is active on social media. Look at their followers, posts, and engagement levels. An active social media presence and positive comments from readers. Search for reviews or comments about the website online. Sometimes, other guest bloggers share their experiences.

Real-Life “Write for Us” Page Examples

Let’s take a look at some real-life examples to see how these good and bad signs play out in practice.

Bad Example: HeavenArticle.com

• What’s Wrong:
  • Multiple Sites: HeavenArticle.com offers guest post placements for many different sites under one umbrella. This lack of focus is a bad sign.
  • Payment Link: The site has a link that indicates you may need to pay to get your guest post published.
  • Multiple Niches: You can see posts on a wide range of topics that do not fit together, suggesting that quality is not the main priority.

HeavenArticle.com is an example of a guest post farm. Even though it might seem easy to get your content published, the risk is that you will receive low-quality backlinks that won’t help your SEO.

Good Examples:

1. Cloudways “Write for Us” Page

• What’s Good:
  • Clear Guidelines: Cloudways provides detailed submission guidelines that explain exactly what they are looking for.
  • Niche Focus: The content on Cloudways is focused on web hosting, cloud computing, and digital marketing, ensuring that their audience is targeted.
  • No Payment Required: There is no mention of any fee for submission, which is a sign of quality and trust.

Cloudways is a strong example of a site that values quality. If you write content that meets their guidelines, your post is likely to be reviewed carefully and published on a reputable site.

2. 3veta “Write for Us” Page

• What’s Good:
  • Quality Approval: 3veta has a clear process for reviewing submissions. They list quality requirements and topic areas clearly.
  • Niche Focus: Their content is centered on specific areas such as SEO, digital marketing, and technology, ensuring relevance for both readers and guest contributors.
  • Editorial Process: The page explains that submissions are checked for quality before being approved, which is a sign that they care about what gets published.

3veta’s “Write for Us” page is a good example of a site that’s serious about maintaining high content standards. They show a clear commitment to quality control, which is crucial for anyone looking to build their online presence.

3. Designs Valley “Write for Us SEO” Page

• What’s Good:
  • Clear and Specific Guidelines: Designs Valley provides specific information about what topics are accepted and the style in which content should be written.
  • Quality Standards: They mention that content goes through an approval process before it is published, ensuring that only high-quality posts appear on the site.
  • No Payment Link: There is no request for payment, which builds trust with potential guest writers.

Designs Valley is another excellent example of a legitimate site with a “Write for Us” page. Their focus on SEO and digital marketing makes it a perfect place for writers in the niche to contribute quality content.

4 Bonus Tips for a Safe Guest Posting Experience

When you have found a “Write for Us” page that seems legit, keep these extra tips in mind to ensure a safe and beneficial guest posting experience:

1. Contact the Editor First

Before you write your full guest post, send a pitch email to the editor. Explain who you are, your expertise, and how your post can add value to their readers. A quick response and a professional tone are good signs.

If you want to make your outreach even more efficient, use Link Genius to find high-quality backlink sources. Just log in to your dashboard, set up a guest post campaign, add your target keywords, and design your email flow. 

Our outreach tool saves you time by showing you potential sites that match your criteria, letting you focus on crafting great pitches and content.

2. Look for Consistency in Quality

Once your post is published, check that it appears well-edited and fits the site’s overall style. This not only reflects well on you but also shows that the site maintains its standards.

3. Have a Backup Plan

If a site looks promising but something feels off during your pitch process, have a list of other potential sites to contact. This way, you won’t waste too much time waiting for a response from a site that might not be as reputable as it seems.

4. Monitor Your Backlinks

After your post is published, use SEO tools to track the performance of the backlink. Check if it is driving traffic to your site and helping boost online visibility through search rankings. This step can help you measure the value of the guest post.

Delivering Quality and Value

Deciding if a “Write for Us” page is legit is not always simple. You need to look at many factors, from the website’s niche focus and editorial guidelines to the presence of any payment links and the overall quality of the site’s content. 

Using these guidelines will help you decide where to invest your time and effort. When you work with a site that takes guest posts seriously, you build valuable relationships and gain quality backlinks.

And with tools like Link Genius, small business owners and digital marketers can simplify their outreach and ensure that every guest post adds real value. Book a demo today!