How to get bylines when you’re starting from scratch

Not to be dramatic, but I wouldn’t have the writing career I have now if not for guest posting.

I come from a statistics background. So, I didn’t have marketing connections or a fancy writing degree. I also live in Nigeria, where only a few companies care about creating website content.

All of these made my start to SaaS content writing un peu difficile (don’t mind my French 😅).

When companies ask for writing samples on “relevant websites,” all I had were Medium links and Google Docs. Those pieces might’ve been good, but they didn’t signal professionalism.

They didn’t have the bylines, the established audiences, the credibility.

That’s where guest posting changed everything for me.

I’m not saying you can’t build a successful writing career without it. Thousands of people do. However, if you’re starting from scratch, as I was, especially if you’re in a place without built-in advantages, guest posting is one of the fastest ways to get your foot in the door.

Here’s what it does for you:

It builds your portfolio. You get real bylines on real websites that companies recognize.

It’s rejection therapy. You’ll get ghosted. You’ll get nos. It’s part of the process. It helps you build a little bit of thick skin.

It sharpens your skills. You learn to research, find relevant topics, and write for different audiences.

It builds connections. Some of the editors you write for might hire you later. Or recommend you to someone who will.

For me, guest posting for G2 and CoSchedule opened doors I didn’t even know existed. Those bylines directly led to paid work.

So here’s how you actually do it.

I started by following writers I admired. People like Elise Dopson, Kaliegh Moore, and Lizzie Davey.

They were all writing for B2B software companies, so it made sense for me to build up a list of companies that fit that profile.

My list included: G2, CoSchedule, Buffer, SEMrush, and HubSpot.

If you don’t have a list yet, here’s how to find companies that accept guest posts:

Try these Google search operators:

Here’s what I did. I found the person closest to the content.

Not the CEO. Not the VP of Marketing (unless it’s a small company). I connected with:

Why? Because they’re more likely to respond. And if they’re not the decision-maker, they can easily connect you with whoever is.

When I reached out, I kept it simple.

I used either a variation of:

“Hi [Name], I’ve been following [Company]’s blog and love the content you’re putting out. Are you currently open to guest posts? I’d love to contribute if there’s an opportunity.“

Or,

“Hi [Name], how’re you doing?

I would like to ask about writing content for [company name].

Is there a provision for that? If so, who do I talk to?

Thanks.”

Here’s an example of a message I sent to Rebecca, who was managing the G2 blog at the time.

Like Rebecca, some responded positively. You only need 2-3 yeses.

This might sound obvious, but you can’t ask for a guest post opportunity and then submit mediocre work.

If you’re writing for free to build your byline, the least you can do is match (or exceed) the publication’s standards.

I treated every guest post like a paid assignment. Research, structure, sourcing images, editing, and distribution. The whole process.

If your free work is subpar, you won’t be invited back. And you’re definitely not getting referred to other opportunities.

Keep in mind that guest posting isn’t the end goal. It’s the bridge to paid work.

There are two ways to do this:

Option 1: Follow up with the same company

Wait three months after your post goes live. Then message the editor or content manager:

“Hi [Name], just wanted to check in. How’s the post performing? I’d love to hear how it’s doing in terms of traffic or engagement.

If it’s working well for you, I’d be open to pitching more ideas. This time as a paid contributor.”

More often than not, they’ll say yes. Because businesses are willing to spend money if they know they’re getting value from it.

I did this with CoSchedule. Here was the message I sent to my contact a couple of months after the post went live.

And another message I sent some time after that.

While they didn’t have the budget at the time, it eventually led to paid work.

Option 2: Use the byline in your pitches

Instead of saying “I’m a freelance writer,” you can now say:

“I’m a freelance writer with bylines on G2, CoSchedule, and Buffer.”

Even better if you have stats to back it up. “My post on [Topic] for [Publication] drove X traffic” or “ranked on page one for [Keyword].”

That credibility opens doors.

I get it. You might be thinking, “But I don’t have samples yet. How do I even get the guest post in the first place?”

Start smaller. Look for:

Pitch there first. Build a few samples. Then pitch the bigger publications.

As a lil boost, here are some websites I found that accept guest posts.

Guest posting won’t solve everything. But it’ll get you in the room. And that’s half the battle.

Any questions? Hit reply. I’d love to hear where you’re stuck.

P.S. If you land a guest post from this, let me know. I want to celebrate with you.