You’ve probably heard it before: “Infographics are overused.” Or worse, “They don’t work anymore.” But here’s the twist—they never stopped working. The truth is, infographics evolved. They just needed a new strategy to stay relevant.
That’s where guestographics come in.
A guestographic is a hybrid content format that blends infographics with guest posting. It’s a smart, scalable way to earn high-quality backlinks by creating visual content and offering it to other websites—along with a custom write-up—so they’ll publish it (and link back to you).
If you’ve ever struggled with earning backlinks the ethical, scalable way, you’ll want to read this guide. We’ll break down what guestographics are, why they still work in 2025, and how to execute them step-by-step—plus real case studies, tips, and common pitfalls to avoid.
What Are Guestographics?
Let’s start with the basics. A guestographic is a strategy that combines two proven tactics:
- Creating a high-quality infographic
- Offering it to a relevant site as part of a guest post
You design a compelling infographic on a topic your target audience cares about. Then, you pitch it to bloggers, niche websites, or industry publications. If they like it, you also write a short intro or supporting article tailored to their audience. In return, they publish your content with a backlink to your site.
It’s a win-win:
- They get free, polished content
- You get exposure and backlinks
This approach was first popularized by SEO expert Brian Dean, and it’s stood the test of time. Unlike standard guest posts that rely only on words, guestographics use visuals to increase shareability, engagement, and perceived authority.
Why Guestographics Work So Well for SEO?
Let’s be real—getting backlinks isn’t easy anymore. Link-building is competitive. Publishers are flooded with pitches. And most guest posts look the same.
That’s where guestographics give you an edge. They’re not just “different.” They tap into how content is consumed today.
Here’s why they work:
1. They’re Link Magnets
Studies have shown that blog posts incorporating infographics receive significantly more backlinks than those without. Specifically, articles featuring infographics can attract up to 178% more inbound links compared to standard blog posts. This underscores the potency of visual content in enhancing SEO and link-building strategies.
2. They Increase Topical Authority
By combining helpful data and visual storytelling, guestographics position your brand as a subject matter expert. The more authoritative links you get, the higher you rank for related keywords.
3. They Shorten the Outreach Cycle
You’re offering real value—something ready to publish. This saves editors time and often increases your email response rates.
4. They Scale Well
One infographic can be pitched to multiple sites. Each one gets a unique intro. The graphic stays the same. The result? High-quality backlinks with lower production effort.
How Guestographics Grew Backlinko’s Traffic by 175%
The best proof is performance.
Brian Dean used the guestographic method when his blog, Backlinko, was still new. His strategy:
- Create a high-quality infographic on on-page SEO
- Pitch it to niche blogs
- Offer to write a short customized intro
The result:
- 175% increase in organic traffic
- 53 new backlinks
- Higher rankings for keywords like “on-page SEO,” “SEO checklist,” and more
→ Read the full case study
What made it work? Simplicity. Editors didn’t have to do much. They got a polished visual and a ready-to-publish post. Brian got high-authority links and visibility in competitive search results.
The Guestographic Funnel: A Step-by-Step Framework
Now that you’ve seen what’s possible, let’s walk through the steps to build your own campaign.
Step 1: Choose a Topic That’s Worth Linking To
The success of your guestographic starts here. A stunning infographic is useless if the topic falls flat.
Look for:
- Evergreen content that people search for year-round
- Topics with data, stats, or comparisons
- High link intent—something others would want to use or reference
For example, if you’re in fitness, don’t just do “Benefits of Cardio.” Go for something like “The Science of Fat Loss: What 50 Studies Say”—now that’s link-worthy.
Use SEO tools like:
- Ahrefs (for keyword gaps)
- Google Trends (to check interest over time)
- Reddit + Quora – Identify trending questions people want answered visually
Keep the keyword you want to rank for in mind, but prioritize value over volume.
Step 2: Design a Powerful Infographic
Once your topic is locked in, bring it to life visually.
You don’t need to be a designer—but the quality should be high. If it looks like a PowerPoint slide from 2008, no one’s going to share it.
Design Tips:
- Use short, snappy headers
- Stick to 2-3 colors for consistency
- Use icons or visuals to break up stats
- Include your brand subtly (bottom corner)
- Make it skimmable—don’t overload it
To design effective guestographics, you can use tools like Canva, Venngage, Figma, and Visually.
Step 3: Create a Guestographic Landing Page
Before outreach, you need a home base.
Publish the infographic on your own site first—on a blog post or dedicated landing page. Add a short, optimized summary (400–600 words) explaining the data or topic. This gives Google something to crawl and helps readers understand the context.
Also, include an embed code below the graphic. Make it easy for others to copy and paste your content (with a backlink embedded!).
Step 4: Find the Right Sites and Pitch
Now comes the outreach. This is where most campaigns fail—not because of bad content, but because of poor targeting or weak emails.
Here’s how to fix that.
Finding Sites:
- Use search operators like “keyword” + “write for us”
- Look for blogs that publish roundups, stats, or visual posts
- Analyze your competitors’ backlinks to find prospects
Pitching Tips:
When you’re reaching out, your email outreach needs to stand out—fast. Editors get dozens of pitches a week, so your message has to feel personal and valuable right off the bat.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Start strong with relevance. Mention something specific from their recent post or site—show you’ve actually read it.
- Position the infographic as a resource. Don’t ask for a favor. You’re offering a visual asset that enhances their content.
- Make publishing effortless. Offer to write a short custom intro tailored to their audience. Editors appreciate done-for-you content.
- Give them a quick look. Include a link to your infographic’s landing page so they can skim it immediately—no attachments needed.
Step 5: Build the Link and Nurture the Relationship
If a site agrees to publish it, great! Now send over the custom intro and confirm they’ll include your link (usually to the infographic source or a related blog post).
After it’s live:
- Thank them
- Share the post on your socials and tag them
- Stay in touch—they may accept future pitches too
This step turns one backlink into a relationship that could lead to more in the future.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Guestographics
Even though guestographics are relatively straightforward, many campaigns underperform due to avoidable missteps. If you want your strategy to work, don’t fall into these traps:
1. Choosing Topics That Nobody Wants to Link To
You might be passionate about your subject—but is it useful to others?
Editors and bloggers want content that adds value to their readers. Avoid company-focused or overly promotional topics. Instead, prioritize data-backed, industry-relevant, and solution-oriented content.
2. Overloading the Design
A great guestographic is simple, clear, and focused. If your infographic looks like a poster from a conspiracy theory movie—with walls of text, inconsistent icons, and ten different colors—you’re not getting that backlink.
Stick to minimalist, modern design principles. Keep whitespace. Make it digestible.
3. Weak or Generic Outreach Emails
“Hi, I love your blog. Here’s an infographic I made. Please link to it.”
That’s a no.
Cold emails should never feel cold. They should feel helpful, personal, and specific. Editors can spot mass outreach from a mile away. You’ll either get ignored or marked as spam.
4. No Supporting Content or Context
Some marketers create infographics but forget the context. Editors don’t want to figure out where to place it or how to explain it.
Always offer a short intro paragraph, optimized for their blog’s tone. Make the publishing process seamless.
When Guestographics Make the Most Sense
This strategy isn’t one-size-fits-all. So, when should you prioritize guestographics?
Use them when:
- You’re in a competitive niche and need editorial links
- You have unique data or insights to visualize
- Your brand is new, and you need awareness + SEO
- You’re launching a product, tool, or campaign
- You’re in industries like SaaS, health, marketing, education, or B2B—where stats and visuals work well
Avoid them when:
- Your topic is too niche for a visual approach
- You’re targeting highly technical audiences (who prefer in-depth text)
- You don’t have time or resources to do outreach properly
Remember: guestographics are an awareness and link-building strategy—not a direct sales tactic.
Conclusion
Let’s recap. Guestographics are still one of the smartest, most scalable ways to earn backlinks—without shady tactics or spammy outreach.
You’re offering value first:
- A data-rich infographic
- Custom-written content
- A simplified publishing process
This isn’t old-school guest posting. It’s not link begging. It’s modern content-led SEO, where visuals do the heavy lifting and quality relationships lead to results.
If you’ve been struggling to earn quality links or stand out in a noisy niche, now’s the time to try guestographics. One well-done campaign can boost your authority, grow your traffic, and open the door to lasting partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are guestographics still effective in 2025?
Yes. If anything, they’re even more effective now due to content overload. Editors appreciate pre-packaged, visual-rich content. Just make sure the execution is modern and relevant.
2. How many backlinks can I expect per guestographic?
It depends on outreach volume and topic appeal. On average, expect 5–15 high-quality links per well-executed campaign.
3. Can I pitch the same infographic to multiple sites?
Absolutely—but always offer a unique intro or summary. And don’t pitch competitors in the same batch.
4. Should I use branded or unbranded infographics?
Use subtle branding—like your logo in the footer or a color palette that aligns with your brand. Too much branding can feel promotional and turn off editors.