Getting great placements for your guest blog posts can feel hopeless when you keep bumping against low open rates, low reply rates, and rejections.
To fix this problem you need to perfect your cold email game. Stop blatantly asking for favours and use these templates that will help you find more placements, build more links, and improve your overall DA (or DR).
1. Are you the right person?
We’ve got the inspiration for this template from our lemlister of the week – Alan, although he’s using it to build “direct backlinks” (backlinks without guest posting), we’ve changed it a little bit and made it appropriate for guest post outreach.
This guest post outreach template is based on the initial email and follow-up email.
Let’s see them!
Subject line: editorial inquiry
Bonjour {{firstName}},
Huge fan of your content here! To prove it, here’s the image:
Anyway – to keep this short. Could you please let me know if this is a right address for and editorial inquiry?
If not, I would appreciate if you can direct me to the right one.
Thanks,
Ugi
Short, catchy and simple. Personalized image is there to build a stronger bond, engagement and relationship with our prospect.
But, if someone doesn’t reply or even forget about it – here’s the follow-up guest post outreach template that will make them do it.
Subject line: [Same as above]
Hi {{firstName}},
Not sure you got my last email, but I’ll get back to the point.
As I mentioned – I’m a huge fan of your content, I especially liked your extended piece about {{articleTopic}}, and the way you {{articleBenefit}}.
Anyway, I was wondering – are you accepting guest blog posts?
I’m Ugi – reaching out to you from lemlist – and would like to write an actionable and very deep article about {{desiredTopic}}.
Here’re the three topics I have on my mind:
– {{topic1}}
– {{topic2}}
– {{topic3}}If you want to check the quality of my article, you can see my latest (and one of the best) article here {{yourArticleURL}}.
Thanks and looking forward to our collaboration,
Ugi
As you can see – this guest post outreach template and follow-up are quite personalized.
Yes – they require a bit of work – but the results are amazing.
To be exact – Alan, with a similar outreach template got:
- 69% open rate
- 51% reply rate
- 35 opportunities created
Not bad at all!
2. A missing puzzle piece
This strategy helps you appeal to your leads’ FOMO. Fear of missing out is a strong feeling, and you’ll instantly spark your leads’ curiosity and need for your SEO services.
Subject line: The missing puzzle for your blog
Hi {{FirstName}},
I’ve just checked your content about {{TOPIC}} and I must admit that you did a great job especially with [something unique about his content]
Since I have been exploring and writing about it a lot in the past months, I thought that I could bring some extra value to your audience where I saw that you’re missing an article about {{yourDesiredTopic}}
If you’re interested, I can write one extended, in-depth and highly-actionable guest blog post for {{hisWebsite}}.
I bet it will be a huge value bomb for your audience 😉
Let me know what you think. As soon as I get back from you, I will prepare you an outline so we can be on the same line.
Thanks!
Ugi
Why do we like this template?
Well – before all – it starts with a gentle and positive note in the introduction. After that, it subtly points out to your prospect about the crucial topics he’s missing on his website where you can jump in.
That is the opportunity he won’t be able to resist to – and there’s your chance.
3. Using humor to build relationships
This guest post outreach template is inspired by a cold email template for building backlinks.
To be exact – that email has on average:
- 82% open rate
- 45% reply rate
- And on average – it builds 70 backlinks from 200 prospects. That’s around 35% conversion rate. Insane!
So, we’ve decided to change that email template a little bit, and make another one that’s suitable for arranging guest blog posts.
Although there are a little bit less successful arrangements than with the original template (it gives around 15 – 20 placements on 100 prospects), it still makes great results.
Let’s see it:
Subject line: Super quick question
Hi FName … ha – just kidding!
Hi {{firstName}} – you don’t know me – probably because we’ve never met.
I’m Ugi – Content Marketing Manager at lemlist.
Although this is just going to be asking for a guest blog post on {{hisWebsite}}, I’m gonna do that with a little twist 😉
I would like to write an in-depth and actionable guest blog post for you on {{topic}} – here’re the three articles I have on my mind for you:
– {{topic1}}
– {{topic2}}
– {{topic3}}In return, I’m happy to give you anything from the following – you’re 2/2 – so pick wisely! 😉
– a link back from some of our other guest blog posts
– Mention in our newsletter/social media channels (cca 10k followers)
– An extended trial of our product – lemlist
– My eternal gratitude and monthly funny pics of Zoe :’DHope you liked this weird (and maybe funny :D) email {{firstName}},
Cheers and hope we talk soon,
Ugi
Why do we like this guest post outreach template?
- The intro is funny, catchy and engaging. It breaks the “defensive motive” people have when receiving cold emails
- It offers a fair trade – so it’s a win-win situation for both sides
What makes your guest post outreach templates stand out?
To make your cold emails stand out in your leads’ inboxes, your messages should be:
- Engaging
- Funny
- Catchy
- Relevant
- And most importantly, personalized!
Editors are getting dozens of emails every day – and to be honest – it’s pretty hard to convince them that you are the right person for writing on their blog. So, your guest post outreach templates need to be compelling enough.
Don’t forget to send follow-up emails to make sure that you’re not just forgotten in your leads’ inboxes. To make things even easier, here are our favorite follow-up email templates.
Experience these templates in real-life, and create your personalized images with lemlist today!