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Want to know how to promote blog posts on social media to get free traffic? Wondering how to effectively share your blog across the internet? I got you.
Here are my top methods of blog post promotion on social media, in groups, on forums, and various other places online. I'll also include a few ways to promote your blog offline.
I'll start off with the three major social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
These are the most obvious places to share your blog and drive traffic to your posts. I'll share how I use different techniques for my social media strategy, depending on the features of each platform.
With that said, let's get started with the guide on how to promote blog posts on social media for free, organic traffic. Whether you're a new blogger with only a few blog posts or someone who has been blogging for years, it's worth investing time in your social media presence.
Your Blog Facebook Page
If you want to use an Instagram Business account, you need a Facebook Page.
Personally, I haven't been the best at promoting or using my blog's Facebook Page compared with other platforms.
To be quite honest, reach on Facebook is pretty bad if you don't pay for ads. For me, it's not worth spending a lot of time with Facebook.
I combat the poor reach on Facebook by sharing my blog posts on there more than once.
To save time, my blog Facebook Page is set to automatically share blog posts using the free Revive Social WordPress Plugin. Yay, automation!
While I don't receive an abundance of traffic from Facebook, every click counts right?
Blogging Groups on Facebook
Blogging Groups are the main reason I still use Facebook. There are so many blogging groups out there to help with promotion, engagement, and SEO advice.
Some are region-specific groups, some feature collaborative or sponsored blog post opportunities, and others teach design or marketing tips.
Facebook groups are an excellent way to connect with other bloggers and ask for help when needed.
They're also ideal for talking about things you may not want to share publicly on platforms like Twitter, such as what rates to charge for sponsored content.
If someone asks for advice about something you've written about or have expertise in, you can help someone out and share a relevant article you've written.
Many of these groups also have sharing threads, where you can share your latest blog posts and engage with others. Win-Win!
Great Blogging Facebook Groups To Join
Pro Tip: You can now join Facebook Groups with your Page, rather than your profile if you prefer. This helps maintain a bit of privacy!
Twitter is a very 'immediate' platform, and much less curated than an Instagram feed.
The short-form nature of Twitter makes it ideal for sharing your blog posts.
Make sure to find a balance between tweeting your blog posts and sharing valuable content, as well as engaging with others.
Don't just spam the timeline with links, because people will mute or unfollow you. It's annoying!
A great way to get Twitter engagement and blog views is via thread writing.
How To Write a Twitter Thread
It used to be more of a challenge to write a Twitter Thread, but thankfully Twitter has added a built-in thread function. This means you can write a full thread of connected tweets and publish them all at the same time.
The Anatomy of a Twitter Thread
I've briefly outlined the basic anatomy of a Twitter thread in the graphic above.
Start writing your tweet and click the + icon. This adds another tweet below it, creating a 'thread'. Once you've finished writing all of your tweets, click 'Tweet All'.
Tips for Writing a Twitter Thread
- Don't make it too long, because readers may lose interest. If you provide all of the information in the thread, why would anyone click through to your blog post?
- Provide a concise overview, then link your blog post in the final tweet.
- Feel free to add images or GIFs. I like to add an image to the first tweet in a thread.
- You can number your thread tweets like I have, e.g. 1/5, 2/5, 3/5. This isn't completely necessary, but helpful in longer threads.
- The thread emoji is often used as an indicator in the first tweet. Again, this isn't necesssary, but worth a mention! Alternatively, you can just write the word 'thread'.
- Make sure the first tweet has a relevant title. People need to know what the thread is about, otherwise they'll just scroll away.
Remember that the goal of your Twitter thread is to provide value to the reader, and encourage them to read your blog post.
Crafting an informative or entertaining thread is a great way to boost your engagement and get blog views.
It also has the potential to reach a new audience, as others in your niche might retweet your thread if they think it's valuable.
Scheduling Tweets
Scheduling your blog post promotion tweets is a huge time-saver. There are various ways to do this, which I will outline below.
Some scheduling platforms are manual, meaning you will bulk schedule a bunch of tweets yourself, whereas others are automated.
As this blog post is all about how to promote blog posts on social media for free, I won't be sharing any paid tools here. However, if you're interested in which blogging tools I recommend investing in, have a look at my resources page.
How To Schedule a Tweet on Twitter
Twitter now has an inbuilt scheduling function. To use this, all you need to do is write a tweet, then click the calendar icon. Then you can choose a date and time for your tweet.
There's nothing wrong with using Twitter's native scheduling tool, but it can be very time-consuming. With this method, you can only schedule one tweet at a time manually.
Pro Tip: Make a Google Doc or Note with evergreen content you want to share on Twitter multiple times. Include links to blog posts and relevant hashtags in this file. This will save a huge amount of time because you can copy-and-paste into Twitter. Remember to slightly change your wording or images, because you don't want to get flagged for spam.
Tweetdeck
Tweetdeck is my favourite way to schedule and manage my Twitter accounts. Tweetdeck is a free tool created by Twitter, which can be used on your browser or as an app.
I prefer scheduling my tweets on Tweetdeck because it's easy to see everything at once. You can also sign into multiple Twitter accounts, which is ideal for those who work in social media or as virtual assistants.
The program is set up in columns like Trello, and these columns are completely customisable. I could write an entire blog post about how useful Tweetdeck is for bloggers (maybe I will!), but I recommend playing about with it yourself!
Optimising your Twitter Bio
Your Twitter bio should include a link to your blog, location, relevant keywords to your niche and your email address.
You might also want to include your job title if it's relevant, for example, if you work as a freelance copywriter, virtual assistant or social media manager.
Twitter allows for a link under your bio, as well as a link in your bio, providing you have enough characters left. This is great if you want to promote your Instagram, Email List or YouTube Channel as well as your blog link.
Your Pinned Tweet
Aside from optimising your Twitter bio, Twitter also has a 'pinned tweet' function. This means that whichever tweet you 'pin' will show up at the top of your profile before your latest tweets.
There are several ways to utilise your pinned tweet for getting blog traffic:
- Link to your latest blog post.
- Include a list of your social media and blog links.
- Write a short intro about yourself and what content people can expect from you, with a link to your blog homepage.
- If you sell any digital products, link to your shop or landing page. Change your pinned tweet whenever you're running a sale or offering a discount code to keep it relevant.
- Write a quick list featuring your top 3 blog posts that you want people to read.
Blogging retweet accounts are exactly what they sound like. Accounts that exist to retweet blog posts.
You can be retweeted either by tagging the account in your tweets or using their hashtag.
Make sure to read the bio of each blog retweet account you want to use. Some prefer to be tagged, while others require you to use their hashtag.
- @FemaleBloggerRT
- @LovingBlogs
- @allthoseblogs
- @bloggershut
- #BloggerLoveShare
- #BloggersTribe
- #LittleBlogRT
- #cosybloggersclub
I'd recommend only using 1 - 3 retweet accounts and/or hashtags per tweet because you don't want to look spammy.
On Tweetdeck, you can add a column for a hashtag to keep up with the latest posts. It's a way I like to involve myself in the community, by engaging with and following other bloggers.
Blogging Twitter Chats
Twitter chats for bloggers used to be a huge thing! I remember logging in for certain times to have a chat with other bloggers about a set topic.
These aren't so popular anymore, but there are a few still out there. @Blogosphere Magazine is an example.
Often the people running these chats and setting the questions will ask you to introduce yourself and your blog. This is the perfect opportunity to link your blog.
Sometimes they'll ask for links to your latest posts at the beginning or end of the chat. This is a lovely way to connect with other bloggers on Twitter, link your blog, and engage with their posts.
Most of us don't have that coveted 'swipe up' feature because 10k Instagram followers is hard to reach! However, that doesn't mean Instagram can't be effective for promoting your blog.
If you're aiming to promote a specific blog post on Instagram, one effective tactic is to use the phrase 'Link In Bio ' in your stories or captions.
For example, if I were to write a book review blog post, I would post an aesthetically pleasing picture on my Instagram feed and stories. Then I'd write Link In Bio as a call-to-action, directing my followers to the blog post.
For the feed post caption, I would share an extract of my review, a description of the book, maybe ask my audience a question, use relevant hashtags... followed by the 'link in bio' phrase. Similar to a Twitter thread, this method provides value to your followers before asking them to read your blog post.
Many bloggers use LinkTree or Carrd in their Instagram bio.
This allows you to include several links, as a landing page. You can use services like LinkTree to promote your various social media profiles, blog posts, your products... Essentially whatever you like.
Why don't I recommend using LinkTree and similar landing page platforms as a blogger? Well, there are three reasons.
- Who gets the traffic? LinkTree. Not your website, unless the visitor then clicks to your blog from the LinkTree. I don't know about you, but as a blogger, traffic is valuable. I want anyone who clicks the link in my bio to go straight to my own website.
- It can look unprofessional. My blog domain name matches my Instagram username, it's part of my brand. Yours should be the same.
- Too many calls-to-action can be overwhelming, causing the visitor to click off. If you're on Instagram, I'm sure you've experienced this. I certainly have! Sometimes I'll click the link in a blogger's bio, only to find that their LinkTree is absolutely full of links to every single social media platform, blog posts, affiliate links, mailing list their products... it's too much. Make it simple. Where do you want your visitors to go? If you have a shop and a blog, link to both. If you're trying to grow your YouTube channel or TikTok, link to those. Cut out the rest.
So, what do I recommend instead of LinkTree or Carrd?
You've probably guessed it already: make your own landing page. Put it on your blog. Give it a simple URL, e.g. /hello, /welcome, /start-here, /links, or even /instagram.
If you're using self-hosted WordPress.org for your blog (which I highly recommend!), you can easily create a landing page using Gutenberg blocks.
Some premium WordPress themes for bloggers even come with landing page templates.
Remember to set up your landing page as a page in WordPress, not a post. Essentially, it'll serve as a list of links you want to promote, so you don't want to make it long or wordy. Using buttons for this is great, as well as removing your blog sidebar from the page. Your landing page needs to be as simple as possible.
Don't forget to test your blog landing page on mobile, because it'll serve as a bio link for your Instagram, TikTok or Twitter. People clicking on these links are likely to be using their phones.
Features of My Blog Landing Page
- A short bio about myself and my blog, with a link to my contact page.
- A link to my categories page for visitors to browse.
- A few featured blog posts.
- Social media buttons and a mailing list sign up form.
Since I created a landing page, Google Analytics shows me that visitors from Instagram spend more time on my blog than when I simply linked to my homepage.
Phew, that was a lot of information.
Now that we've gone through the three major social media platforms for blog promotion, I'll move on to my number one free organic traffic source: Pinterest.
Pinterest is incredible. I really enjoy curating my own boards, checking out other people's blog posts, and finding recipes to try. It's definitely my platform of choice because it's a very inspiring and positive place.
Pinterest is also the best way to share your blog posts and reach millions of people, without even needing followers. I currently reach 1.2 million monthly views on Pinterest and get around 45,000 blog pageviews solely from Pinterest.
The main thing you need to know about Pinterest is that it is a visual search engine. SEO is important. Make sure to use relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions, optimise your bio and use alt-tags on your images.
I pin vertical photographs from my blog posts as well as 'pinnable' graphics and short videos. I make videos on Canva using their easy animation tool.
A pinnable graphic is a vertical image with your blog post title (or a variation of it) clearly visible. Clear, high-quality images are key. Make sure the text is easy to read and would encourage someone to read your article.
Sometimes a pin will go viral (it's happened to me several times now!), causing a huge surge of traffic. Their algorithm knows how to reach people who will be interested in your content.
Pinterest is a long-term platform. You never know when a pin from months ago could go viral! This makes your content is more evergreen on Pinterest, compared to Facebook or Twitter.
It can take a lot of work before you start getting big traffic from Pinterest, but it's worth the time in my opinion. I don't think it's necessary to invest in a Pinterest course or ebook, but I will say that the Big Pin Energy ebook was definitely worthwhile for me. My Pinterest account blew up after following Emily Dyson's advice.
Anyway, if you're struggling with growing your Pinterest, you can find some tips below.
Pinterest Tips
As Pinterest is such a visual platform, most users won't read your descriptions. This means that creating vertical graphics with easy-to-read text is imperative.
Pinterest recommends using images of 1000px x 1500 px. Vertical pins are not only recommended by Pinterest, but they also take up more space in the feed.
I have a routine of manually pinning my content, as well as scheduling on . Tailwind is a paid tool, and while it's convenient, it's not 100% necessary. In fact, Big Pin Energy recommends manual pinning directly on Pinterest.
Manual pinning does take more time, so I like to batch upload pins and schedule them to different boards while watching Netflix. Let's be real, it's tedious work!
Create multiple pin designs for the same blog post. Canva is the best place to do this. They have an abundance of pin designs, completely customisable to fit your branding. Switch out the images, text, colour schemes... then check your Pinterest analytics to see what works for you.
I've also invested in Canva pin templates designed for bloggers, but that's certainly not necessary. If you have the time, creating your own pin designs on Canva or Photoshop is a great way to stand out from the crowd.
Don't pin blog posts to irrelevant boards. Trust me, it'll mess up your Pinterest account. If you've written a blog post about how to make money blogging, don't pin it to a recipes board! Each of your boards should exist for a specific reason, e.g. it's related to a topic you write about. I don't write about food, so I don't pin meal ideas. The more focused your Pinterest account is, the better.
Finally, make sure to verify your blog with Pinterest, set up a business account to gain access to their analytics, and set up rich pins!
Tailwind Communities
I've already mentioned Tailwind as a way to schedule Pinterest content, but they have another useful feature: communities. Tailwind Communities were previously called Tribes.
A Tailwind Community is a private group, where you can add your pins and re-pin content from other bloggers.
These typically have a ratio requirement, meaning that if you add one of your pins, you need to re-pin someone else's pin from the Tribe onto one of your boards. While I recommend focusing on pinning your own fresh content, I do use communities every now and again.
With a free Tailwind account, you can be a member of up to 5 communities. I picked out ones relevant to my content, e.g. UK Bloggers, Witchcraft Bloggers, etc. I don't re-pin anything that isn't related to my boards, and I check each link to make sure it isn't spam or low-quality.
Is It Worth Joining Pinterest Group Boards?
Another method similar to Tailwind Communities, is to join a Group Board. The difference here is that group boards are public, so they'll show up on your profile and people can follow them.
Pinterest Group Boards for bloggers used to be all the rage a few years ago. Nowadays, they're often rife with spam, and not helpful for growing your Pinterest account.
In 2020, I left all the group boards I was part of, except for one very niche board. If you're a member of many group boards, have a look at the content and see if it's still worth it for you.
Mix
Previously known as StumbleUpon, Mix is a way to find interesting content to read across the internet.
You can curate collections based on your interests, and share your own blog posts.
It's incredibly quick to 'Mix' your blog post, you literally just copy-and-paste the URL and submit it on Mix!
I don't receive a ton of traffic from Mix, but I do get some. It's such a quick thing to do after publishing a blog post, so it won't take up much time at all.
BlogPostVoteUp
This one is very new to me, so I don't have too much to say about it.
Recommended by Bloggers Required, BlogPostVoteUp is similar to Reddit, as readers can upvote blog posts that they find on the website.
It's very easy to submit your blog post, although they have a limit of 1 post per day.
Forums, Reddit, and Quora
Are you an active member of a forum? Make sure to add a link to your blog in your signature, so it shows up on any post you make. Check with the forum's specific rules to make sure this is allowed, but most I've seen do allow this.
For example, if you write a blog about money and you're an active member of a money-saving forum, this is ideal!
The same goes for forums about tech, gaming, books, health, parenting... you'll be getting views from people who are interested in what you write about.
If you're an active Reddit user, make sure to share your blog posts on there too. I personally haven't used Reddit to promote my blog, but it's on my to-do list.
Many bloggers have also found success through Quora. If you have a blog post answering a question someone has asked on Quora, you can briefly give a summary answer to their post and link to your blog post for more information.
Don't forget about email signatures! Always make sure to link your blog in your email signature. I didn't do this for a long time, and I have no idea why. I've finally set up a simple email signature featuring my name and blog link across my email accounts.
Branding
It sounds so simple, but many bloggers don't do this! Use the same profile picture and cover photo or graphic across all platforms.
This creates a cohesive brand and makes you instantly recognisable to people who follow you on other platforms.
You can easily resize your cover picture in Canva to make sure it fits the required dimensions for Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and other websites.
Another way to make your branding consistent is by sticking to a colour scheme across platforms. If you share graphics on Twitter or Instagram, use the same colours as your blog graphics and your Pinterest pins.
Fonts matter. I personally like to stick to the same fonts for my pins, and match them to my blog. Have a read of my post on free Canva fonts for inspiration!
Offline Blog Promotion
If you run a small business, or you're a journalist, freelance copywriter, digital marketer, work in PR... Basically, anything somewhat related to your blog, make sure to add it to your business cards!
If you sell anything on Etsy, make sure to include a note or card with your blog address on it. You never know, you might gain a new reader! A customer may love your handmade products but didn't realise that you also write a blog.
Make sure your blog has a memorable name, or simply use your full name because that makes it easier to remember! Word-of-mouth is a totally underrated way of getting traffic to your blog.
I get a significant amount of referrals from organic Google searches, but this isn't just SEO. When I tell someone that my main blog is called Emily Underworld, they often search Google for Emily Underworld, rather than typing in EmilyUnderworld.co.uk.
That was a long post, but we made it! I hope that you found some useful tips on how to promote blog posts on social media to get free traffic.
It can be a bit overwhelming at first, so don't try to do everything at once. Choose a platform to focus on and master before trying out another!
If you're new to blogging, I've got a blog post for you: 10 tips for new bloggers. Feel free to browse my resources page for all the tools I use.