Median 41 days from yes to live link

Median 41 days from yes to live link

We logged the full pipeline on n=156 guest placements across one year to kill the 'guest posting is fast' myth.

Time from positive reply to published link:
— p25: 19 days
— p50 (median): 41 days
— p75: 68 days
— p90: 103 days

The long tail is brutal: 1 in 10 placements took over three months, usually editor turnover or 'next content calendar slot.' Forecasting models that assume 30-day delivery overstated Q1 link velocity by 34%.

We cut the median to 31 days the next year by requiring a draft-attached pitch — editors approve faster when the asset already exists.

Build link forecasts off the p75 timeline, not the median, or you'll miss every quarterly target.