Most link building agencies treat guest posting as a series of one-off campaigns.
They identify prospects, pitch topics, write content, and then repeat the entire process again for the next campaign.
The problem?
Every campaign starts from zero.
New prospects. New outreach. New relationships. New negotiations.
While guest posting remains one of the most effective link-building tactics, the traditional process is inefficient and difficult to scale.
So we developed a different approach.
A system that turns a single piece of content into an ongoing source of guest post opportunities.
We call it the Guest Post Engine (GP Engine).
What is a Guest Post Engine?
Guest Post Engine, or GP Engine, is a link building framework developed by Position Digital.
It involves creating onsite content about a topic, inviting potential prospects to contribute, and publishing guest posts of that same topic to each contributor’s website.
Each guest post then repeats the same process: inviting experts to contribute in exchange for a guest post opportunity on their site.
Over time, the system compounds.
Every contributor becomes a potential publishing partner, every guest post introduces new contributors, and every campaign expands the network.
The result is a scalable link-building engine that continuously generates relevant guest post opportunities while strengthening your topical authority.
How the Guest Post Engine Works
Here’s the 6-step process of the GP Engine:
- Brainstorm ideas for the onsite content + guest posts
- Gather a list of potential experts
- Invite them to contribute
- Publish the onsite content
- Notify the contributors and offer to write a guest post on their site
- Repeat the above process for each new guest post opportunity
Step 1: Brainstorm Topic Ideas
The main topic should be:
- Relevant to your product or service category
- Broad enough to support multiple sub-topics and content angles
This matters because the GP Engine isn’t built around a single piece of content.
It’s built around a topic cluster — one central theme that can support multiple onsite articles and multiple guest posts over time.
After the main topic is defined, brainstorm sub-topic ideas for the guest posts. This will dictate the prospecting angle.
Here’s an example:
Main topic: SaaS Content Marketing Strategy
GP topics:
- Content Refresh Guide for SaaS Companies
- How to Create a SaaS Content Plan
- 12 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating SaaS Landing Pages
Step 2: Gather Potential Prospects
Each expert contributor should operate within the same industry or niche as your business, but should not be a direct competitor.
For example, if you’re a SaaS company, suitable contributors might include:
- Tech blogs & publications
- Software review websites
- SaaS consultants and agencies
- Tech influencers and thought leaders
The goal is to build relationships with websites and individuals who share a similar audience but don’t compete directly with your products or services.
Use tools like Hunter and Apollo to find the email address and LinkedIn profile of each expert.
Step 3: Invite Them to Contribute
After compiling a list of prospects, send a LinkedIn connection request to each person.
Once accepted, send a DM explaining exactly why they should contribute their insights to your article.
Here’s an example of my LinkedIn message:
Hi [first name],
I hope you’re well! Thanks for accepting my connection request.
I’m working on an article called [OnsiteArticleTitle] for the Position Digital blog.
I’d love it if you could contribute insights.
Are you able to share any specific tactics and tools you’ve found particularly effective?
In return for your insights, I’d be happy to provide a quote, include a backlink to your website/Linkedin in the published article, and share your insights across our channels.
We’re also aiming to get a version of the article published in a couple of SEO publications, too.
Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Sean
If they don’t accept your request or reply to your DM, try sending an email instead:
Subject: Inviting expert contribution for my article
Hi [first name],
I reached out to you on LinkedIn but thought I’d try your email instead. I’m looking for industry experts to contribute insights for an article that I’m writing called [OnsiteArticleTitle] for the Position Digital blog.
If you’re interested, please provide a paragraph or two on sharing your strategies and insights.
In return, I’d be happy to quote you and include a backlink to your website/Linkedin in the published article, as well as share your insights across our channels.
If you’re interested, please let me know ASAP.
All the best,
Sean
Create a spreadsheet tracker to monitor responses. Note who has replied, who hasn’t, and what they contributed.
This is essential, as you’ll need to send follow-ups to non-responders later.
Step 4: Publish the Onsite Content
Now that you’ve got expert insights, you can write and publish the article.
Once live, we also create a LinkedIn post to promote the content, tagging each expert that has contributed their insights.
This will encourage them to like, share, and comment on the LinkedIn post.
Step 5: Turn Contributors Into Guest Post Partners
This is where GP Engine differs from traditional guest posting.
After the onsite article goes live, reach out to each contributor again. Ask whether they’re open to a guest post on their site.
Because the relationship already exists, response rates are often significantly higher than cold outreach
Few tips to get a higher success rate:
- Suggest several topic ideas (based on your brainstorm sessions)
- Explain why you have the experience and expertise on the subject
Here’s an example of a pitch we sent:
Hi [first name],
Good news, the article is now live!
Please like, share, and comment on the LinkedIn post, so it reaches more people. Here’s the link: [insert link]
I’d also like to write a similar article tailored to your audience and contribute it to your blog. In return, I will promote the article to our audience, showcasing your brand to potential customers.
Here’s what you can expect:
- A unique, well-researched, and SEO-optimized article
- I’ll share the article with my 8,000 LinkedIn followers and promote it to our 1,500+ SEO email subscribers.
Here are some topic ideas that might work for your audience:
- SEO & Content Marketing Tips for MarTech Companies
- SEO for SaaS Companies: A Complete Guide to Driving Organic Growth
- B2B SaaS SEO: How to Build a Strategy That Drives Pipeline
For reference, here are some articles I’ve previously written:
- Content Refresh Guide: How to Improve Your Search & AI Visibility
- How to Create a SaaS SEO Strategy That Drives Traffic
- How to Optimize Technical SEO for AI Search
If you have any other topic suggestions, please feel free to share them as well.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Best regards,
Sean
Step 6: Repeat the Process
When a contributor agrees to a guest post, repeat the same process:
- Invite experts to contribute to the article. Source new prospects and re-approach previous contributors who didn’t respond.
- Write the guest post, publish it, and share it on LinkedIn — tagging the contributor and encouraging them to engage with it.
- Offer to write a guest post on the contributor’s site.
Each campaign expands your contributor network, creating a growing pipeline of warm prospects and future placement opportunities.
Over time, the system becomes increasingly efficient — you’re no longer relying exclusively on cold outreach, because every campaign leaves behind a warmer pool of contacts than the one before it.
Ready to Get Started?
The real power of the GP Engine is that it creates a flywheel.
Onsite Content → Expert Contributions → Guest Post Opportunities → Links → More Contributors → More Opportunities → More Links
Each campaign strengthens the next one.
Instead of building links one placement at a time, you’re building a network that continuously generates new opportunities.
But it’s a complex process. If you don’t have the time or the expertise to execute it, partner with Position Digital instead.
The GP Engine tactic is already included in our link building and digital PR services.
Book a free consultation session and let’s explore how we can help you!
