Content Strategy

Expert Roundup Posts: How to Create, Promote, and Get Results

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

10 min read

Step-by-step guide. Follow it to get results.

An expert roundup post collects insights from multiple industry experts on a single topic. Done well, it builds authority, earns backlinks, and expands your network, all from a single piece of content.

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What Is an Expert Roundup?

An expert roundup is a blog post where you:

  1. Ask a focused question to 10-30+ industry experts
  2. Compile their responses into a single, organized post
  3. Publish and promote it, with each expert sharing it to their audience

Why it works:

  • Experts bring their audience to your content
  • Multiple perspectives make the post genuinely valuable
  • Contributors naturally link to and share posts they're featured in
  • You build relationships with influential people in your niche
Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

What makes expert roundups effective for link building?

💡
Hint: Think about it from the expert's perspective. Would you share a post you're quoted in?

Step 1: Choose the Right Question

The question makes or breaks your roundup. It needs to be:

Specific enough that answers are actionable, not generic.

  • Bad: "What are your best marketing tips?"
  • Good: "What's the one social media tactic that delivered the best ROI for your brand in the past 6 months?"

Broad enough that different experts give different answers.

  • Bad: "What's the best Instagram posting time?" (everyone says the same thing)
  • Good: "What's one unconventional strategy that grew your Instagram following?"

Timely so the content feels current and search-worthy.

  • "What's your top content strategy prediction for 2026?"
  • "How has the algorithm shift changed your approach this year?"

Step 2: Build Your Expert List

Aim for 15-30 experts. More than 30 gets unwieldy. Fewer than 10 doesn't feel like a true roundup.

Where to find experts:

  • LinkedIn thought leaders in your niche
  • Podcast hosts and frequent guests
  • Authors of popular blog posts on the topic
  • Active social media voices with engaged audiences
  • Speakers at industry conferences and influencer partnerships
  • Your own network and past collaborators

Mix seniority levels. Include a few big names for credibility and several rising voices for fresh perspectives. Lesser-known experts are more likely to respond and often give better, more detailed answers.

Step 3: Outreach That Gets Responses

Subject line: "Quick question for an expert roundup on [Topic]"

Email template:

Hi [Name],

I'm putting together an expert roundup on [specific topic] for [your site]. I'd love to include your perspective.

The question: [Your question]

A 2-4 sentence response is perfect. I'll include your name, title, and a link to your site/profile.

Deadline: [Date, give 7-10 days]

Would you be up for contributing?

Tips for higher response rates:

  • Keep the ask small (2-4 sentences, not an essay)
  • Set a clear deadline
  • Show who else is contributing (social proof)
  • Follow up once after 4-5 days if no response
  • Make it easy, they can reply directly to the email

Expect a 20-40% response rate. If you want 20 contributors, reach out to 50-60 experts.

Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

How many experts is the ideal sweet spot for a roundup post?

💡
Hint: Think about how much you'd actually read in one sitting.

Step 4: Structure the Post

Option A: Grouped by Theme

Organize answers by common themes. Add your own commentary between groups.

## Theme 1: Focus on Video Content
[Expert 1 quote + bio]
[Expert 2 quote + bio]
Our take: ...

## Theme 2: Community Over Followers
[Expert 3 quote + bio]
[Expert 4 quote + bio]
Our take: ...

Option B: Numbered List

Simple, scannable. Each expert gets a numbered entry.

## 1. [Expert Name], [Title, Company]
[Quote]
[1-line bio with link]

## 2. [Expert Name], [Title, Company]
[Quote]
[1-line bio with link]

Option C: Key Takeaways First

Start with a summary of the top insights, then show the full quotes below.

Best practice: Add a table of contents at the top so readers can jump to specific experts. Include headshots for visual appeal.

StructureBest ForEffort Level
Grouped by ThemeTopics with clear camps/approachesHigh (requires editorial curation)
Numbered ListLarge roundups (20+)Low (straightforward assembly)
Takeaways FirstReaders who want the summary fastMedium (write analysis + compile)

Step 5: Promote for Maximum Impact

Notify Contributors

The moment you publish, email every contributor with:

  • The live link
  • A pre-written social media snippet they can copy-paste
  • A direct link to their specific section (anchor link)

Social Media Promotion

  • Tag each expert when sharing on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram
  • Create individual quote graphics for each expert's contribution
  • Post a carousel highlighting the best insights
  • Use relevant hashtags

Repurpose the Content

One expert roundup can become:

  • 15+ individual social media posts (one per expert quote)
  • An email newsletter highlight
  • A podcast discussion topic
  • An infographic summarizing key themes
  • A video featuring the top 5 responses

For more content promotion strategies, see our full guide.

Common Mistakes

Asking a boring question. If you wouldn't click on it, neither will anyone else.

Too many contributors. A 50-expert roundup is exhausting to read. 15-25 is the sweet spot.

No editorial structure. Just pasting quotes in order of response time is lazy. Group, curate, and add your own analysis.

Not promoting to contributors. If you don't make it easy for experts to share, most won't. Give them copy-paste snippets and tag them.

One-and-done. The best roundup strategy is recurring. Quarterly or annual roundups build anticipation and strengthen expert relationships over time.

Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

After publishing your roundup, what's the single most important promotion step?

💡
Hint: Would you share a post you're featured in if someone handed you a ready-to-go snippet?

Conclusion

Expert roundups are one of the highest-ROI content marketing formats when done right. They build backlinks (similar to the skyscraper technique), expand your audience through expert networks, and position your brand as a hub for industry knowledge. Ask a great question, make contributing easy, and promote aggressively after publishing.


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