In the world of SEO, General Guest Posting is the "Swiss Army Knife" of link building.
Unlike niche-specific sites (like "Plumbing Weekly"), general news and business sites carry massive Domain Authority (DA). A link from a site like Forbes or TechCrunch passes authority that lifts your entire domain, regardless of your specific industry.
However, because these sites are so powerful, they are also the hardest to get into. You cannot simply pitch a "Top 10 Tips" listicle. You must frame your content as a business story or a news event.
This guide is your vetting manual. It details exactly how to find, pitch, and secure general guest posts that build world-class authority for your brand.
The General Guest Post Cheat Sheet
Here is the executive summary for PR managers and SEOs:
- The "Angle" Rule: Never pitch a niche topic directly to a general news site. Frame it as a business trend. (e.g., Don't pitch "How to bake bread" to Forbes; pitch "The Economic Rise of Artisan Bakeries").
- The Authority Metric: For general sites, look for DA 60+. Anything lower isn't worth the effort of a complex editorial pitch.
- The Cost Reality: True editorial links (like The Guardian) are free but require PR-level quality. Guaranteed placement on sites like Yahoo Finance or AP News is done via paid Press Release wires, typically costing $300 - $1,000+.
- The Warning: Avoid "General News" sites that have no clear focus and post 50 times a day about random topics (Casino, CBD, Crypto, Roofing). These are often "link farms" in disguise.
On This Page
- Step 1: Vetting Metrics (Authority & Trust)
- Step 2: The "Business of" Strategy
- Step 3: Paid PR vs. Editorial Pitching
- The Ultimate List: 100+ General Guest Post Sites
- The Buyer's Checklist
- General Guest Post FAQ
- The Strategic Bottom Line
Step 1: Vetting Metrics (Authority & Trust)
For General sites, you are looking for Mass Appeal and Editorial Integrity.
The "Real News" Test
Look at the homepage.
- Good: Headlines about global markets, tech innovations, or major policy shifts.
- Bad: Headlines about "Best Online Slots" mixed with "Plumbing Tips." Legit news sites rarely mix these topics so carelessly.
The Traffic Source
Use SimilarWeb to check traffic.
- Target: For a "General" site to be valuable, it should have 50,000+ monthly visitors. If a general news site has low traffic, it has no authority to pass.
Step 2: The "Business of" Strategy
If you have a niche site (e.g., "Vegan Dog Food") but want to post on a General Business site (like Forbes or Entrepreneur), you must change your angle.
The Strategy:
Don't pitch a product. Pitch a trend.
- Bad Pitch: "5 Healthy Recipes for Vegan Dogs." (Rejected by business sites).
- Good Pitch: "How Sustainable Pet Food Brands Are Disrupting the $90B Pet Industry."
- Why it works: This turns a niche topic into a business story, allowing you to link back to your niche site from a high-authority business domain.
Step 3: Paid PR vs. Editorial Pitching
- Editorial (Free): You pitch an editor. They accept based on merit. The link is usually high-value but not guaranteed.
- Sponsored/PR (Paid): You pay a distribution service (like PRWeb or a specific vendor). The post is marked "Sponsored" or "Press Release." These are great for guaranteed visibility and reputation management.
The Ultimate List: 100+ General Guest Post Sites
I have separated them into "Free/Editorial" (sites that require high-quality pitches and expertise) and "Paid/Sponsored" (sites that generally charge a fee for publication).
Part 1: 50 Free Guest Post Sites (Editorial & Authority)
These sites generally do not charge a fee but require high-quality, non-promotional content. You are "paying" with your expertise.
Top Tier Business & News
- HubSpot Blog | Marketing & Sales
- Forbes | Business Opinion
- Entrepreneur | Leadership
- Business Insider | Tech & Finance
- Fast Company | Innovation
- Inc.com | Startups
- The Guardian | Opinion / Contributors
- HuffPost | Personal Stories
- Mashable | Digital Culture
- The Next Web | Tech & Startups
- VentureBeat | Tech Innovation
- ReadWrite | IoT & Connected World
- Success.com | Personal Development
- Addicted2Success | Motivation
- Lifehack | Productivity
Marketing & SEO Authority
- Moz | SEO Industry Standard
- Search Engine Journal | SEO News
- Search Engine Land | Digital Marketing
- Search Engine Watch | Search Analysis
- Social Media Examiner | Social Media Guides
- Content Marketing Institute | Content Strategy
- MarketingProfs | B2B Marketing
- Copyblogger | Copywriting
- Social Media Today | Social News
- Convince & Convert | CRO & Strategy
- CoSchedule Blog | Marketing Schedules
- SmartBlogger | Blogging Tips
- JeffBullas | Digital Growth
- ProBlogger | Monetization
- Single Grain | Growth Marketing
Tech & Software (SaaS)
- TechCrunch | Startups & Funding
- G2 Learn Hub | B2B Software
- Clutch | Service Providers
- HackerNoon | Developer Community
- DZone | Software Development
- SitePoint | Web Development
- Smashing Magazine | Web Design
- A List Apart | Web Standards
- Speckyboy | Design Resources
- WebDesignerDepot | Web Design
- Hongkiat | Tech & Design
- MakeUseOf | Tech Tips
- TechRadar | Reviews
- Digital Trends | Tech Trends
- SlashGear | Gadgets
General Business Blogs
- AllBusiness | Small Business
- Business2Community | Business Trends
- MyCustomer | CX & Service
- CustomerThink | Customer Strategy
- SmallBizTrends | SME News
Part 2: 50 Paid/Sponsored Sites (News & PR)
These are often used by SEO agencies for guaranteed placement via "Press Release" or "Sponsored Content" packages.
Premium News & PR (High Cost)
- MarketWatch | Sponsored PR
- Yahoo Finance | PR Wires
- Benzinga | Financial News
- AP News | Sponsored Content
- Street Insider | Market News
- Digital Journal | PR News
- International Business Times | Global Business
- The Jerusalem Post | Global News
- Times of India | Brandwire
- Hindustan Times | Brand Post
- Deccan Herald | Indian News
- Outlook India | Product Reviews
- NDTV Profit | Business News
- LiveMint | Financial News
- The Hindu | National News
- DNA India | General News
- Mid-Day | Local News
- Tribune India | General News
- The Week | Magazine
- News18 | Breaking News
Tech & Business Sponsored Blogs (Medium Cost)
- TechTimes | Tech News
- TechBullion | Fintech
- Science Times | Science News
- CryptoMode | Crypto PR
- Latin Post | Latin Markets
- Fashion Times | Lifestyle
- Travels World | Travel News
- Film Daily | Entertainment
- Kulture Hub | Culture
- Grit Daily | Startups
- Vents Magazine | Pop Culture
- HackerNoon (Brand) | Paid Brand Content
- TechRound | UK Tech
- London Loves Business | UK Business
- European Business Review | EU Business
- Global Banking & Finance | Banking
- Finance Digest | Finance
- CEO World | Executive News
- Entrepreneurship Life | Business Lifestyle
- Small Business Bonfire | SMB Tips
Distribution Services (Paid)
- PRWeb | Press Releases
- Newswire | Media Distribution
- Accesswire | Distribution
- Business Wire | Corporate PR
- PR Newswire | Major Media
- Globe Newswire | Global PR
- BrandPush | Site Reseller
- MarketersMedia | Media Distribution
- EinPresswire | Press Wires
- Linking News | White-Label PR
The Buyer's Checklist
Before you finalize any deal, run this 4-point check:
- Traffic Source: Use SimilarWeb to ensure traffic isn't fake. A site like TechTimes should have mostly US/UK traffic. If it's 90% from irrelevant regions, the traffic might be bot-driven.
- Indexing: Search site:domain.com "guest post" on Google. If nothing shows up, Google might have de-indexed their sponsored content.
- Link Type: Ask if the link is DoFollow or NoFollow. Most PR wires (like Business Wire) are NoFollow by default. This is fine for brand awareness but less useful for pure SEO authority.
- Duration: Confirm if the post is Permanent. Some cheaper PR packages archive or delete posts after 12 months.
General Guest Post FAQ
Q: Are press releases good for SEO?
A: They are great for Brand Signals and Diversity. While many PR links are NoFollow, having your brand mentioned on Yahoo Finance or AP News builds trust (E-E-A-T) with Google. It shows you are a real, active business.
Q: Can I just pay to get on Forbes?
A: Not directly. You can pay to join the Forbes Councils (approx. $2,500+/year), which allows you to publish content. Alternatively, you can pitch their contributors for free, but they must genuinely like your story.
Q: Why are some "General News" sites so cheap?
A: Be careful. If a site covers "Casino," "CBD," "Crypto," and "Roofing" all on the homepage, it is likely a Link Farm. These sites are cheap because they accept anything. Google often penalizes them. Stick to reputable names.
The Strategic Bottom Line
In General Guest Posting, Reputation is everything.
Rely on Paid PR for guaranteed visibility, product launches, and reputation management.
Commit to Editorial Pitching for the highest-value SEO links. A single earned link from The Guardian or TechCrunch can define your brand's authority for years.
Audit the site, craft a "Business" angle, and never pay for a link on a spam farm.
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