How to Spot Fake Guest Post Sites – Before They Tank Your Rankings
The Silent SEO Killer Hiding in Your Guest Post List
You’ve got a list of “guest post” opportunities. Great. But here’s the brutal truth: Most of them are fake.
They look real. They feel safe. But they’re ticking time bombs — waiting to drag your rankings through the mud.
- Wasted hours
- Lost budget
- Reputation damage
- Permanent SEO decline
Google doesn’t play around anymore. One toxic backlink can poison your entire profile. It won’t just ignore the link — it’ll question your judgment.
So how do you actually know if these sites are legit?
Start by checking their infrastructure.
Shared IPs are a red flag — especially if the same server hosts a dozen other “guest post” clones.
👉 Use this free URL to IP address tool to reveal the hidden connection between lookalike websites.
If multiple guest post sites point to the same IP?
What Exactly Is a “Fake” Guest Post Site?
Fake guest post sites exist to sell links, not share content. They might promise exposure, authority, or SEO juice — but behind the scenes, they’re built on shaky infrastructure, spun content, or hijacked reputations.
Let’s break it down by type:
| Type of Fake Site | What It Looks Like | What It Really Is |
| PBN (Private Blog Network) | High DR, tons of posts | A cluster of sites owned by the same vendor |
| Content Farm | Dozens of articles/day | Low-quality, AI-spun junk |
| Hijacked Domain | High DR, off-topic niche | Expired site re-used for link selling |
| Link Farm | Blogrolls, paid placements | Built solely to trade backlinks |
The Time-Wasting Trap You’re Stuck In
You:
- Export a list from a “guest post database”
- Start checking them one by one
- Realize you don’t know what “legit” even looks like anymore
And guess what? While you’re double-checking, bad vendors are selling the same fake sites to 100 others — all linking to each other, sharing the same IP, and screaming “manipulated network” to Google.
How Can You Spot a Fake Guest Post Site?
Here’s your 7 Red Flags Checklist — based on real SEO signals, not just gut instinct.
Does the Domain Get Organic Traffic?
Why it matters: A site with zero search traffic usually isn’t indexed well. That means Google doesn’t trust it.
What to do:
- Plug it into Ahrefs or SEMrush
- Look for at least 100+ monthly visits from search
- Watch for flat or declining graphs
Is the Backlink Profile Clean?
Why it matters: Links from spammy or unrelated sites mean it’s part of a shady network.
What to do:
- Use Ahrefs > Referring Domains
- Watch for links from gambling, adult, pharma, or other sketchy niches
- Too many links from unrelated countries? 🚩
Can You Find a Real “Author Entity”?
Why it matters: Google looks for authors with a consistent digital footprint. No author = no credibility.
What to do:
- Check bylines
- Google the author name
- Look for a LinkedIn, Twitter, or personal site
- Bonus tip: Use Clearbit or Voila Norbert to match emails to people
Is the Domain Hosting Multiple “Guest Post” Sites?
Why it matters: One IP address hosting 10+ “different” blogs = red flag. It’s probably a PBN.
What to do:
- Use our URL to IP Tool
- Paste 10-20 URLs from your vendor list
- See if they resolve to the same IP — if yes, walk away fast
Does the Content Feel Generic or AI-Written?
Why it matters: Google can detect thin, low-value content. You’re not just risking a bad backlink — you’re associating your brand with garbage.
What to do:
- Check a few articles
- Look for keyword stuffing, awkward phrases, or repeated paragraphs
- No comments, no engagement, no shares? That’s not a real audience.
Is the Domain Recently Rebuilt?
Why it matters: Hijacked domains have historical authority but no current value — they trick SEO tools, not Google.
What to do:
- Use Wayback Machine
- Check what the site was 6 months or 2 years ago
- If it was a pet blog and now it’s a tech site, it’s likely a hijack
Is the Contact Info Suspicious?
Why it matters: A real site has an About page, a team, and contact details. A fake one has a Gmail and a contact form.
What to do:
- Check WHOIS
- Look for company name, phone, address
- Use Hunter.io to check if the email is linked to a real business
Warning Signs by Type of Fake Site
| Fake Site Type | Red Flags to Watch |
| PBN | Same IP across sites, low traffic, links from other PBNs |
| Content Farm | 10+ articles per day, no real authors, low engagement |
| Hijacked Domain | Unrelated past use, sudden content change, recycled DR |
| Link Farm | Blogrolls, weird “sponsored” sections, no internal linking |
Tools You Can Use (But With Caution)
| Tool | What It Helps With | Limitations |
| Ahrefs / SEMrush | Traffic, backlinks | DR/DA can be faked |
| Wayback Machine | Historical content | Won’t show private PBN setups |
| Hunter.io | Email verification | Doesn’t confirm site quality |
| URL to IP Tool | Check same hosting IP | Only flags infrastructure, not content |
No tool replaces human judgment. Use tools for direction, not blind trust.
Watch Out for False Positives
Some real sites may:
- Be new and have low traffic
- Use privacy protection on WHOIS
- Rely heavily on AI assistance for drafts
That doesn’t always mean they’re fake — but it does mean you should dig deeper.
The Final Decision: A Go / No-Go Checklist
Use this framework to confidently approve or reject sites.
| Criteria | Type | Notes |
| ✅ Organic Traffic | Must-Have | Even small sites need some visibility |
| ✅ Clean Backlinks | Must-Have | No adult/pharma/spam |
| ✅ Real Author | Must-Have | Verified “author entity” with a footprint |
| ⚠️ New Site | Minor Concern | Use cautiously with follow-ups |
| ⚠️ Hidden WHOIS | Minor Concern | Not always shady, but worth noting |
| ❌ Same IP as Others | Major Red Flag | Likely part of a PBN |
| ❌ Fake Contact Info | Major Red Flag | Total dealbreaker |
| ❌ Hijacked Niche | Major Red Flag | Manipulated history |
If the site hits all the ✅ and avoids most ❌ — it’s probably safe to proceed. Otherwise? Save your money.
Don’t Burn Budget on Bad Links
Bad guest post sites are everywhere. They’re dressed up with DA scores and pricing sheets — but underneath, they’re a trap.
Start your vetting with the URL to IP Tool — it instantly reveals shared infrastructure across shady sites. Combine that with backlink checks, author verification, and content review.
Your backlink profile deserves better. So do your rankings. Check your list now — before Google does.