Why Guest Posting Still Works in 2025 (Even After So Many Google Updates)

[Moazam SEO Expert]

First, value trumps spam every time. Google's Helpful Content Update (echoing into 2025) kills thin junk, but rewards expert insights. A well-researched guest post on a niche site adds real help like sharing case studies or tips. I placed one on a marketing blog about post-update link building; it drove 25% more referral traffic to my client's site. Focus on DA 50+ blogs with engaged audiences no more PBN nonsense.
Second, E-E-A-T shines through. Updates prioritize Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness. Guest spots let you prove it: Drop personal stories, data from tools like Ahrefs. My e-com piece ("How I Boosted Rankings 40% Amid Updates") got shared wildly because it was human, not AI fluff. Builds brand trust and natural backlinks Google loves.

 

[T J Tutor]

Do you realize how polluted the guest post industry has become. I get at least 10 to 15 solicitations for guest posts a day. They are being sold, it's an industry, and the SE's know it. Google has algos now that evaluate these guest posts, their relevance, and the value of their source when posting them on our sites. I absolutely never purchase any form of post or article, or any form of content. That is not a good business practice. They always want a link exchange and that is the true purpose of them providing bullshit articles and such. The guest post industry has become a lame and whored out industry!

I have several very well aged and successful content sites in the luxury markets. If I ever let any of those cheap ass and lame article swap link exchanges on my sites I would see an immediate degradation in my rankings. Just calling them a guest post on a site will get you flagged and examined by the SE algos.

True link exchanges of value have always been, and always will be, between companies that are in the same or related industries and have rankings that are similar between the parties.

When the entire purpose of content is to fulfill an exchange of links, you've already lost the juice of content contributions from an outside source. The only true purpose of what one can call a true link exchange is not to exchange a set of links, but to have a true authoritative source partner with you for valuable content exchanges as a partnership of businesses that are in the same industry and the links are tertiary. It's the content contributions of that partner that brings the true value.

 

[Moazam SEO Expert]

Do you realize how polluted the guest post industry has become. I get at least 10 to 15 solicitations for guest posts a day. They are being sold, it's an industry, and the SE's know it. Google has algos now that evaluate these guest posts, their relevance, and the value of their source when posting them on our sites. I absolutely never purchase any form of post or article, or any form of content. That is not a good business practice. They always want a link exchange and that is the true purpose of them providing bullshit articles and such. The guest post industry has become a lame and whored out industry!

I have several very well aged and successful content sites in the luxury markets. If I ever let any of those cheap ass and lame article swap link exchanges on my sites I would see an immediate degradation in my rankings. Just calling them a guest post on a site will get you flagged and examined by the SE algos.

True link exchanges of value have always been, and always will be, between companies that are in the same or related industries and have rankings that are similar between the parties.

When the entire purpose of content is to fulfill an exchange of links, you've already lost the juice of content contributions from an outside source. The only true purpose of what one can call a true link exchange is not to exchange a set of links, but to have a true authoritative source partner with you for valuable content exchanges as a partnership of businesses that are in the same industry and the links are tertiary. It's the content contributions of that partner that brings the true value.

I understand your frustration with the guest post industry spam and low-quality link exchanges have really screwed up the situation. However, I respectfully disagree that the entire process is “backward” or ineffective. If done correctly, strategic guest posting is still a powerful way to build authority and provide value in 2025, with Google’s E-E-A-T and a focus on helpful content.
The key is quality, not quantity. I focus on high DA (50+), niche-specific sites that have engaged readers, and share well-researched content like case studies or practical tips. For example, my recent guest post on a marketing blog was about link building on a post update that brought 25% more referral traffic to my client’s site these are real results, not just links. No PBNs or low-value exchanges here.
Google’s algorithms reward relevance and expertise. A guest post that showcases personal experiences, data-driven insights (for example, from tools like Ahrefs), or a unique perspective is perfectly aligned with E-E-A-T. It’s not about exchanging links, but about creating content that adds value to readers and naturally earns trust and backlinks.
I’d love to talk about working with your luxury market sites authoritative, high-quality content that enhances your reader experience and strengthens your authority. No “cheap” exchanges, just strategic partnerships.
How do you like the idea of talking about content collaborations based on quality and relevance?

 

[T J Tutor]

I understand your frustration with the guest post industry

I don't have any frustration about it. I am very successfully engaged in my industry and very well respected in it. I work in the "private" and "invite only" affiliate programs for luxury brands. I have over 50 years experience in business and corporate environments. I have been in the affiliate industry for 20 years. I have no frustrations, but I do have contempt for those that make unfiltered claims and declarations of being an expert. I have an awesome research team, liaisons in the SE corporations, and close relationships with dozens of the most successful super affiliates worldwide. All of us discuss claims made by "SEO experts' throughout the year and the negative impact they have on our industry. We receive many dozens of emails and messages a day from so called SEO experts. It's the number one abused portion of our industry.

SEO, at its best, is tertiary traffic and filled with landmines due to the pure volume of self proclaimed experts. Those I collaborate with have direct liaisons with the SE's.

I respectfully disagree that the entire process is “backward” or ineffective.

I NEVER SAID THAT! You are making things up.

I’d love to talk about working with your luxury market sites

You and everyone on the planet! Why would I discuss my well aged and successful systems with you. I don't know you. You are not the caliber of individual that would ever be granted permission to look behind the curtains of my business.

You are taking the stand, and representing yourself as an expert, and yet you are promoting link building through guest posts. Something Google publicly denounces when done for the purposes SEO.

Per Google:
"Google's stance on guest posting is that it's a link scheme if the primary purpose is to gain links for SEO, and it's not an acceptable link-building tactic. While guest posting for pure link-building purposes is discouraged, writing valuable content for other sites can still build authority and generate referral traffic if done with the intent to genuinely help the audience. "

The summary is the exact same summary of what I initially stated above, but you then respond with adopting some my position, but from the perspective of SEO. When done for the purpose of SEO then Google doesn't like it. They state clearly, content sharing between professional content sites is well respected, but when it is orchestrated by those claiming to be SEO experts, then they are seeing it as an artificial effort. Their algos detect this.

Anyone that declares themselves as an expert right out of the gate with people they don't know is just trying to promote themselves. We've had a thousand of them come through our community making the same claims.

 

[Graybeard]

Another *expert*
Typical