What is the Optimal Guest Post Byline?

[SparkplugDigital]

Hi Moz Community!

What do you think is the optimal guest post byline or bio paragraph at the end of a guest post.

Is it better to link to your homepage with your site name as anchor text AND a deep page with a target keyword phrase?

Or is it better to just use one link to a deep/money page on your site with a keyword phrase?

[BailHotline]

Hi Sparkplug,

My first thought was to check to see if the guest post links had a rel="nofollow" attached to them, which by looking into SEOMOZ blog disclaimer, their Guest Post guidelines, as well as some of the code in the actual gust post page, it doesn't look like they add it (as far as i can tell). The only thing I can see that they mention is "Affiliate links are not allowed in YouMoz posts."

So it looks like you good on that, but now for your question.

I do believe its best not to go crazy with the linking, and one link should be fine that is optimized with a keyword phrase and having the link, link to page with relevant content as your blog post might help as well.

I do state again though, I'm still now sure about the nofollow... hopefully someone has some more insight on this as well.

Hope this helps!

[poolguy]

I think the quick answer is two links (if you can do that) with varied anchor text and varied deep/pages.

I'd link with your exact anchor text 1 in 5 guest posts, MAX, then I'd use variations in the other 4 w/ my brand name in the anchor in a couple.

All this depends on what you have going on currently though.  If you have 500 root domains linking in to the site, with 490 of them pointing to your home page, then I'd say you need to link to a category page or other deep page on your next guest article.

Similarly, if your top 5 anchor text links coming in to your site are keywords (non-branded), then I'd use your brand in the anchor text on your next guest article.

[jeffreytrull1]

I'm not aware of any sites that use a rel="nofollow" for guest post links. After all, one of the principal reasons to write guest posts is to get followed links!

[BailHotline]

Jeffrey,

Thanks, never submitted anything to a guest post before, but thanks for the info.

[jeffreytrull1]

I'd say 2 links in the byline is typical. Some allow links to your site in the text if it provides useful information.

Targeted anchor text is great if you can get it.

Don't forget that you want to link to pages that provide useful content for the readers, too. The blog owner will appreciate that more than just seeing that you're trying to pump the post with convenient links back to your site. Instead, make the guest post and the resources it links to valuable for them and not just valuable for you.

[jeffreytrull1]

Sure, I highly recommend it if it's something you're able to do!

[poolguy]

I've seen nofollow in a bio at the bottom of guest articles, it can happen