Ranking for a high-competition keyword is no small feat—especially when you're up against established competitors with strong backlink profiles. But what if I told you that a single, well-placed guest post helped me secure the #1 spot for a highly contested keyword?
In this post, I’ll walk you through my exact strategy, from keyword selection to guest post execution, and explain how I leveraged this opportunity to outrank competitors with far more resources. Whether you're an SEO professional or a content marketer, these insights can help you replicate similar success.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Keyword
Before diving into guest posting, I needed a keyword that was:
- High in search volume (at least 5,000+ monthly searches)
- Relevant to my niche (to ensure targeted traffic)
- Competitive but not impossible (I analyzed the top 10 results to gauge difficulty)
Example:
My target keyword was "best CRM for small businesses."
- Search Volume: ~12,000/month
- Competitors: HubSpot, Zoho, Salesforce (all with strong domain authority)
- Opportunity: Many top-ranking articles were outdated or lacked depth.
Key Takeaway:
A keyword with high commercial intent but room for improvement in content quality is ideal.
Step 2: Crafting a Superior Piece of Content
Most top-ranking articles followed a standard "listicle" format. To stand out, I created:
- A data-driven guide (surveyed 100+ small business owners on CRM preferences)
- Detailed comparisons (feature breakdowns, pricing, ease of use)
- Actionable advice (step-by-step setup guides for each CRM)
Why This Worked:
Google prioritizes comprehensive, user-first content. By offering unique insights, my piece had a competitive edge.
Step 3: Securing a High-Authority Guest Post Opportunity
Instead of publishing on my own site (which had lower domain authority), I pitched my article to a reputable marketing blog.
My Outreach Strategy:
- Identified sites with high DA (60+) in the SaaS/marketing niche.
- Personalized pitches highlighting why my content would benefit their audience.
- Offered exclusivity in exchange for a dofollow backlink.
The Winning Pitch:
I landed a guest post on a well-known digital marketing blog with a DA of 68. The post included:
- A natural backlink to my target page.
- An engaging, shareable infographic (earning additional backlinks).
Step 4: Maximizing the Guest Post’s Impact
A single guest post wasn’t enough—I amplified its reach:
- Promoted on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter) to drive referral traffic.
- Encouraged engagement (asked peers to comment and share).
- Built internal links from other high-performing pages on my site.
Result:
- The guest post gained 300+ social shares.
- My linked page started ranking on page 2 within 2 weeks.
Step 5: Monitoring and Sustaining Rankings
Ranking #1 isn’t a one-time effort. To maintain my position, I:
- Updated content quarterly (added new CRM options, refreshed data).
- Built secondary backlinks through roundup mentions and HARO.
- Optimized for UX (improved page speed, added FAQs).
Final Outcome:
Within 3 months, my page ranked #1 for "best CRM for small businesses," surpassing HubSpot and Zoho.
Conclusion
Ranking for a competitive keyword doesn’t always require a massive backlink campaign. By strategically:
✅ Selecting a keyword with ranking potential.
✅ Creating a better, data-driven piece of content.
✅ Leveraging a high-authority guest post for a strong backlink.
✅ Amplifying reach through promotion and updates.
I was able to outrank industry giants with just one powerful guest post.
Your Turn:
Have you used guest posts to boost rankings? Share your experiences in the comments!
By following this structured approach, you can replicate this strategy for your own high-competition keywords. The key lies in quality over quantity—focus on delivering exceptional value, and the rankings will follow.
