Key Points
- Personalize your pitch with the editor’s name and site-specific details to stand out.
- Highlight the value your guest post offers the site’s audience, not just your own goals.
- Propose specific, relevant topics aligned with the site’s content and readership.
- Keep emails concise, friendly, and professional—around 150-200 words.
- Showcase your credibility with a brief bio and relevant writing samples.
- Follow the site’s guest post guidelines to demonstrate attention to detail.
- Ensure compliance by framing cannabis topics educationally, avoiding legal risks.
Your outreach email to a blog or editor is critical – it’s your first impression.
Busy editors receive tons of generic “Dear Sir/Madam, I want to guest post” emails, and most get ignored.
To break through, your pitch needs to be personalized, professional, and value-driven.
Here’s how to craft a guest post pitch that gets a “yes”.
1. Personalize Your Approach
Always send a personalized email – no generic mass emails!
Address the editor by name if you can find it.
Mention the website by name.
Show that you’re reaching out to them, not sending the same template to 100 sites.
For example:
Subject: Guest Post Proposal for CannabisTechToday – [Topic Idea]
Hi Jane,
I’m a long-time reader of Cannabis & Tech Today and particularly loved your recent article on blockchain in dispensary supply chains. I’m reaching out because I have an idea for a guest post that I believe would resonate with your tech-savvy cannabis readers…
This kind of intro shows you know their content and audience.
2. Highlight The Value For Their Audience
Make it clear why your proposed article will benefit their readers.
Editors care about content that engages their audience.
Explain the topic you want to write about and why it’s relevant, timely, or useful.
For instance, “I’d love to contribute a piece on [Topic], sharing [specific insights].
Given that many of your readers are [mention their audience], I think this would offer fresh value – especially with [tie into current trend or problem].”
Keep the focus on the value to the site and its readers, not just the benefit to you.
3. Pitch A Specific Topic (Or A Few Options)
Don’t ask “Can I write a guest post for you?” without any detail.
Instead, suggest one or two specific article ideas.
Craft a brief headline or title and one or two sentences outlining what the post will cover.
Make sure it aligns with content they typically publish.
For example.
- Proposed Article: “Leveraging AI in Cannabis Dispensary Marketing” – An insight into how dispensaries are using AI tools for inventory management, personalized customer outreach, and compliance, with tips for small retailers to get started.
By providing a clear topic, you make it easy for the editor to say “Yes, that sounds interesting” (or suggest a tweak).
It shows you’ve put thought into what fits their site.
4. Keep It Concise And Friendly
Your pitch email shouldn’t be an essay.
A few short paragraphs or around 150-200 words is usually enough.
Be polite and conversational, like you’re speaking to a colleague.
Avoid overly formal language or hype.
You might close with a line like, “If this topic isn’t the right fit, I’m happy to adjust or consider another angle. Thank you for your time, and I hope we can collaborate!”
This shows flexibility and courtesy.
5. Showcase Your Credibility
Briefly introduce who you are and why you’re qualified to write this post.
You might say, “I’m the founder of [Your Company], a [short description].
I’ve written for [Other Publication] or maintain a blog at [Your Site] where I cover similar topics.”
If you have previously published articles (guest posts or on your own site) that were successful, you can mention or link one.
Don’t overdo it – just a line or two to establish that you’re not a random spammer, but someone with real expertise or experience.
Offering a link to a relevant article you’ve written can act as a writing sample.
6. Follow Their Guidelines
If the site has published guest post guidelines, absolutely follow them.
Many guidelines will tell you exactly what to include in your pitch (such as 2-3 topic ideas, perhaps a brief outline, word count range, etc.).
They might also specify not to be promotional or to include certain information.
Showing you can read and respect their rules is a big plus in your favor.
It proves you’re detail-oriented and serious.
Mention in your email something like, “I reviewed your contributor guidelines and will make sure to adhere to them, including your word count and non-promotional content policy.”
7. Be Mindful Of Compliance And Tone
When pitching cannabis-related content, remember that some sites may have compliance concerns.
In your pitch, you can reassure them subtly by the way you frame your topic.
For instance, avoid overtly promotional or potentially problematic claims (like medical claims if it’s a health site).
Use an educational tone.
Editors will feel more comfortable accepting a cannabis guest post if they trust that you know the boundaries (e.g., no encouraging illegal use, no unsupported medical statements, etc.).
If relevant, you can mention that you’ll include reputable sources or follow any necessary regulations in your content.
By crafting your email with these points in mind, you greatly increase your chances of standing out.
In short: personalize it, propose value, and be professional. As one expert advice states, “Introduce yourself, share how you found their blog, and explain why your guest post idea would be perfect for their readers” – that’s the formula to remember.
Also, highlight your expertise and engage with their content to build rapport.
Guest Post Pitch Email Template
Here’s a quick Guest Post Pitch Email Template incorporating the above.
Subject: Guest Post Proposal – [Your Topic Idea] for [Site Name]
Hi [Name],
I hope you’re doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I’m [your title/role] at [Your Company] (we [what your company does], specializing in the cannabis industry). I’m a big fan of [Site Name] – I especially enjoyed your recent piece on [mention something relevant].
I’m reaching out to see if you’d be interested in a guest article I had in mind for your blog. The topic is “[Proposed Title]”, and it would cover:
– [Brief bullet of key point 1]
– [Brief bullet of key point 2]
– [How it adds value or ties into their audience’s interests].I believe this content would resonate with your readers, given [mention why it’s relevant to their audience or a current trend]. I’ll ensure the piece is informative and non-promotional, in line with your editorial style (I’ve reviewed your guidelines).
A bit about me: I [mention your experience or credential, e.g., “run a dispensary in LA and frequently write about cannabis retail trends”]. You can find a sample of my writing here: [link to a relevant article or your site].
If you think this could be a fit, I’d be happy to get started right away. And of course, I’m open to any suggestions or other topics you’d prefer. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to possibly contributing to [Site Name]!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title], [Company] – [Company Website]
[Social media or LinkedIn if relevant]
Feel free to adapt this template to your own voice.
The key is showing you’ve done your homework and you have something valuable to offer their readers.
Outreach Tips Tailored To Cannabis Brands (Tone, Timing, And Compliance)
Beyond the content of your pitch, there are some strategic outreach tips to improve your success rate, especially in the cannabis industry.
Choose The Right Time
If you’re emailing an editor or site owner, try to send your pitch on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, ideally in the morning (their time zone).
Early to mid-week tends to be when people have more bandwidth to handle emails.
Avoid Monday rush or late Friday when your email might get buried or ignored over the weekend.
Also be mindful of holidays or big industry events (don’t pitch an LA cannabis magazine during MJBizCon week – they’ll be swamped).
Use A Professional Email
Whenever possible, use your brand’s email domain (e.g., yourname@yourcompany.com) rather than a personal Gmail.
An official email can lend credibility and shows you’re representing a legitimate business or organization.
It subtly signals, “this is serious, not spam.”
If you’re a solo blogger, your Gmail is fine – but make sure it’s a professional-sounding address (no funny nicknames).
Mind Your Tone
Cannabis culture can be laid-back, but when reaching out professionally, err on the side of friendly professionalism.
Avoid slang or jokes that could be misinterpreted.
You can mention your enthusiasm for the subject, but phrase everything politely.
Think of it as a business email with a warm tone.
Also, be clear and straightforward – editors appreciate brevity and clarity over flowery language.
Mention Location Or Legal Relevance If Appropriate
If you’re pitching a local angle (say, to a regional publication), mention your local tie. E.g., “As a Denver dispensary owner, I have insight into Colorado’s market…”.
This can catch their eye, especially if they cater to that region.
Similarly, if the site is international, be sensitive – for example, CBD is legal in many places but THC content might not be; frame your topic in a way that fits their context.
Stay Organized With Follow-Ups
Mark your calendar to follow up on pitches.
If you don’t hear back in about a week or so, send a polite follow-up note.
Something like, “Just wanted to check if you had a chance to consider my guest post proposal below. I’d be happy to provide any more info. Thank you!”
Often, one gentle reminder can surface your email from the pile.
If another week passes with no response, it’s usually okay to send one more follow-up (some editors genuinely miss emails).
Beyond two follow-ups, it’s best to move on so as not to be a pest.
Sometimes no answer means “not interested” – and that’s okay.
Keep Track Of Outreach Status
In your spreadsheet or CRM, update the status after each outreach and follow-up.
If a site declines, note that politely and maybe why (if they gave a reason).
If they accept, move them to a “writing in progress” list.
Staying organized means you won’t accidentally double-email someone or forget to send the article if accepted.
Compliance Sensitivity
When communicating, be aware that some recipients may have concerns about cannabis content (depending on their company’s policies or location).
You can proactively address this by emphasizing the educational or compliant nature of your content.
For example, if pitching a mainstream wellness site, you might mention “Of course, the article would adhere to all guidelines and not make any unsubstantiated health claims about CBD.”
This shows you get it and eases any fear that publishing your post might get them in trouble.
Network In The Cannabis Community
This isn’t a direct email tip, but worth noting: being active in the cannabis industry (events, online groups, LinkedIn cannabis marketing groups, etc.) can lead to more warm outreach.
If an editor recognizes your name from a conference or a LinkedIn discussion, they’re more likely to open and consider your pitch.
So, engage with the community – share others’ articles, comment on posts, build relationships.
When you do reach out with an ask (guest post or otherwise), it’s coming from a known contact, not a stranger.
Tailoring your outreach with these tips will improve your hit rate.
Cannabis is a unique industry, but at the end of the day, editors want great content and professional contributors – show them you’re both, and you’ll land those opportunities.
Following Up And Tracking Your Guest Post Efforts
Securing a guest post is wonderful, but the process isn’t over once you get a “yes.”
How you handle what comes next can influence the success of that post and your chances of future collaborations.
Here’s how to follow through.
Deliver High-Quality Content
This should go without saying, but make sure you knock it out of the park when writing the guest article.
Follow the agreed topic and any guidelines to the letter.
Double-check for spelling, grammar, and factual accuracy (especially in cannabis, ensure any stats or claims are backed by reliable sources – it builds your credibility).
Submit the article in the format they requested (Google Doc, Word attachment, via a CMS, etc.), and include any extras they need (author bio, headshot image, meta description – whatever they ask for).
Be Timely
If you committed to a deadline, meet it.
If you’re running behind, communicate proactively.
Editors appreciate reliability.
Being someone who is easy to work with increases the likelihood they’ll accept future posts from you.
Promote The Published Post
Once your guest post goes live, promote it on your own channels.
Share it on your company’s social media, your personal LinkedIn, include it in your email newsletter – spread the word.
This not only drives more traffic to the host site (which they will love), but also maximizes the benefit you get from the post.
Tag the publication when sharing, and they might re-share or engage.
This can also attract the attention of other sites that see you contributing content.
Track Performance
Use tools to monitor how your guest post is doing.
Check Google Analytics on your site for referral traffic coming from the guest post URL.
See how many visitors and any conversions resulted.
Also, use an SEO tool to ensure the backlink appears and is indexed.
You might even track if your organic search rankings improved for certain keywords after gaining that link (though that can be hard to attribute directly).
Keep a log of these metrics in your tracking sheet:
Guest Post URL Date Published Referral sessions (after 1 week, 1 month, etc.)
Backlink status (dofollow? indexed by Google?)
Any change in domain authority after link (if you monitor DA)
Social shares or comments on the post (qualitative engagement)
For example, you might note: “Published on Cannabis Tech Today 5/1/2025 – got ~300 referral visits in first month, link is dofollow, DA of my site went from 32 to 34 the next Moz update.”
It’s rewarding to see those results and helps in refining where to focus next.
Maintain The Relationship
If the guest post experience went well, send a thank-you note to the editor after it’s published.
Express that you’re happy to contribute again in the future if they ever need content (and don’t forget to actually engage with that article’s comments or social media).
Continuing to interact with that site (comment on new articles, drop the editor a line if you see a piece you liked) keeps you on their radar.
They might invite you back or think of you for a quote in an article.
Log Future Opportunities
Sometimes one guest post leads to another.
Maybe a reader reaches out to you for their blog, or the site itself offers you a regular column.
Keep track of these and evaluate them like you did before.
Over time, you may build a portfolio of “go-to” publications where you contribute periodically.
Use Tools To Simplify Outreach Management
If you’re scaling up your guest posting (reaching out to dozens of sites), consider using outreach tools or CRM software.
Tools like BuzzStream, Pitchbox, or even a simple Trello board can help manage the workflow of who’s pitched, who replied, content in progress, etc.
However, for most cannabis businesses, the volume is manageable with a spreadsheet, unless you’re outsourcing to an agency or doing a big campaign.
Remember, each published guest post is an asset for your brand’s SEO and credibility.
Treat it with care – nurture that content and relationship post-publication.
Beware Of Low-Quality Sites And Link Schemes (What To Avoid)
As powerful as guest posting is, it comes with a caveat: you must focus on quality over quantity.
Google has explicitly warned against manipulative link-building practices involving guest posts.
If you try to spam dozens of low-quality blogs with keyword-stuffed articles, it can backfire.
Here are some red flags and pitfalls to avoid.
Private Blog Networks (PBNs)
These are networks of websites created solely to generate backlinks.
They often masquerade as real blogs but usually have thin content and exist in a cluster (common ownership).
If a site’s content is all over the place (one post about CBD, next about casinos, next about home insurance), or if it has no real social presence or engagement, it could be a PBN or link farm.
Avoid these – a link from such sites can be worthless or even harmful if Google identifies the network.
“Write For Anyone” Sites
Be cautious of general guest post farms that accept any topic under the sun.
For example, a site that has categories for tech, health, travel, casino, CBD, fashion, etc., and seems to publish 10 guest posts a day with exact-match anchors – that’s not a real community, it’s a link mill.
Getting your article on such a site might not bring any real audience, and Google may discount those links.
Paid Links And Placements
As mentioned, paying for a guest post that passes link equity is against Google’s rules.
Some legitimate sites do charge an “editorial fee” – it’s a gray area.
If you do pursue a paid placement, ensure the site is high-quality and consider asking them to mark it sponsored/nofollow to be safe.
But generally, you don’t need to pay for good guest posts; invest your time in good outreach and content instead.
Exact-Match Anchor Text Overkill
One of the things Google explicitly calls out as spammy is stuffing keyword-rich links into your guest posts.
Don’t do this.
It’s fine to link to your site, but do it in a natural way.
Usually, your brand name or a generic phrase is safer as anchor text.
For example, link on “our dispensary’s website” rather than “best Los Angeles cannabis dispensary cheap weed”.
The latter screams SEO manipulation.
Keep anchors organic and relevant to the sentence.
Duplicate Or Spun Content
Never reuse the same article on multiple sites (duplicate content), and don’t use those article “spinners” to create slightly altered versions.
Each guest post should be 100% original and tailored to the specific publication.
Google’s guidelines also warn against using the same content across many sites as part of link building.
That tactic will hurt you.
Likewise, thin content that doesn’t offer value will be rejected by good sites and is pointless on bad ones.
Ignoring Site Guidelines
If a site clearly says “no cannabis CBD topics” or “no promotional links,” respect that.
Pitch elsewhere if your content won’t fit within their rules.
Trying to sneak around guidelines (like inserting a link that was forbidden) will burn bridges quickly.
Also, if a site requires disclosure or certain compliance language (some might require a disclaimer for health content), make sure to include it.
Too Many Guest Posts, Too Fast
If you suddenly build a large number of links from guest posts in a short time, it could raise a red flag.
Natural link building tends to be gradual.
Focus on a steady pace – a few quality guest posts per month, for example, rather than 50 in one blast.
It’s not just about Google’s view; you also realistically can’t maintain quality at a very high volume unless you have a big content team or agency.
The rule of thumb is: if it feels like a “shortcut” or a scheme, avoid it.
Guest posting works when it’s authentic – providing real value to real readers on reputable sites. If you stick to that principle, you won’t have to worry.
Google even states they don’t discourage guest articles that “inform users, educate another site’s audience or bring awareness to your company”.
That’s exactly what you should aim for.
Just steer clear of the spammy tactics (keyword stuffing, low-quality site dumping) that turn a good strategy into a link scheme.
Final Thoughts: Guest Posting That Builds Authority — Not Just Links
Cannabis guest posting is more than just a backlink strategy — it’s a relationship-building, authority-driving, long-term SEO asset that can elevate your brand above the noise.
When done right, it connects you with new audiences, positions your company as an expert in your niche, and helps you earn trust with Google and consumers alike.
But to see lasting results, you must lead with value — value for the publisher, their audience, and the cannabis community at large.
- Personalize your outreach
- Pitch with purpose
- Follow through with professional, compliant, high-quality content
And remember: quality trumps quantity. A single feature on a respected cannabis blog is far more powerful than 20 spammy placements.
Stick to the high road.
Build trust.
Play the long game.
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Check out our Off-Site SEO Services to take the next step in growing your cannabis business the ethical, Google-approved way.