Where to get traffic for new sites

Where can I get traffic for my new sites?

Once you’ve launched a new website or blog, your first thought may be to hit the traffic bumpers (paid adverts) to help get your site popularized. But that’s not necessarily the case. There are many free sources of traffic that you can use to gain popularity for your site. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking to grow your site, here are some great places you can get started:

1. YouTube for Beginners

The world’s largest video-sharing site. You can create a YouTube account for free. When you do, you’ll see a dashboard with lots of featured videos from brands and creators you’ll love and want to follow.

If you’ve never made a video before, don’t worry. YouTube can help you produce a quality video with just a few clicks of the mouse. From there, you can take advantage of YouTube’s unique feature that lets you connect your video with various platforms.

One of the best parts of YouTube is how you can gain credibility as a content creator simply by being a decent human being and sharing valuable information with the world. You don’t have to lie about your credentials or pretend to be someone you’re not to get views or subscribers.

On the downside, while you don’t have to pay to use YouTube, the platform takes a cut of any income you make from your videos. Also, if you want to monetize your content, you need to become a YouTube Partner. The good news is you can become a YouTube Partner with no financial requirements whatsoever. Simply become a member of Vimeo (another video-sharing platform owned by YouTube).

2. Reddit

Another massive video-sharing platform owned by Viacom. Reddit’s popularity depends on the subreddits (communities) within the site. For example, if you’re a real Emoji (a subcommunity on Reddit where users discuss the latest in Emoji and UX (user experience design) trends), then you’ll definitely want to be a part of that community.

However, if your focus is on video creation, then you might want to check out Vidyard (similar to YouTube but focused on short-form videos), Douyin (a TikTok-like app that allows users to create short-form videos with effects), or Quora (a Q&A site that’s highly interactive and can help you build credibility as an expert).

3. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the world’s largest business-oriented social media network, designed for professionals. You can create a LinkedIn account for free. Once you’ve done that, you can start connecting with other professionals in your area of expertise to grow your network.

If you have a specific area of expertise (such as SEO, content strategy, or inbound marketing), then you can create a Community of professionals on LinkedIn. Doing this allows you to discuss specific career topics with people who share your passion for that subject matter.

But if your goal is to simply get more traffic to your site, then you might want to check out StumbleUpon (formerly Reddit Stumble Feed). StumbleUpon is one of the oldest content-sharing platforms. But unlike other platforms, the majority of StumbleUpon users are not content creators. Instead, the focus is on discovery. Meaning, users on StumbleUpon want to discover new content that they’ll enjoy.

If you’ve never used a content-sharing platform, then this is a great place to try out. Simply create a free account, add a few popular blogs or websites to your network, and then start discovering content that you’ll enjoy.

4. Quora

An interesting hybrid between a Q&A site and a social media network. You can create a Quora account for free. Once you’ve done that, you can take advantage of Quora’s unique feature that allows you to answer questions and engage with users on the platform.

As a Quora user, you’ll gain credibility as an expert by answering questions and contributing useful information to the platform. This strengthens your ties to the community and helps build trust among your potential audience.

On the downside, while it’s free to create a Quora account, you need to purchase a Quora Pro subscription to take advantage of all the platform has to offer. Plus, while discovery is the main focus of Quora, you also need to build a community of people interested in what you have to say. Doing this on a free account is difficult and could take a lot of time.

5. Medium

Medium is widely considered to be the blogging equivalent of YouTube. You can create a Medium account for free. Once you’ve done that, you can start publishing blogs that you’ll eventually monetize via ads (you don’t have to run ads to publish a blog on Medium).

Like YouTube, Medium is largely focused on content creation. However, unlike YouTube, Medium is more about creating compelling reads. Essentially, when someone lands on your content, they want to read your entire blog post in one sitting. So while you don’t necessarily need to have a specific focus on SEO to succeed on Medium, you do need to be aware of how you can better structure your content to make it more readable.

On the downside, Medium does not allow for submitted advertising. If you want to monetize your content, then you’ll need to move to a different platform.

6. Steam (Beta)

Valve Corporation has decided to join the content creation marketplace with Steam. A video-game distribution platform. You can create a Steam account for free. Once you’ve done that, you can start downloading and playing video games. And when you do, you’ll get tracked visits to your site from the platform’s customers.

If you’re a gamer, then Steam is a must-have. It’s where you get your games, and it keeps track of what you’ve played. So if you ever need to look back on your game history, all the relevant information is right there.

On the downside, while you don’t have to pay to use Steam, you do need to make sure that you keep your account active. Otherwise, you risk losing access to your game library. Plus, the good news is advertisements on Steam are completely free. So if your goal is to make money from an online store, then you can easily monetize your website via Steam. Alternatively, you can choose to participate in Steam Community ads, which lets you earn money via affiliate marketing.

7. Facebook

Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform, designed to help people connect with friends and family. You can create a Facebook account for free. Once you’ve done that, you can start using the service, connecting with people, and sharing content that you think is interesting and valuable. The more you use the service, the more you will find value in it.

If you’ve never used a social media platform, then this is a great place to start. Simply create a free account, add your favorite websites and blogs to your network, and then start engaging with your community on Facebook.

On the downside, like other popular social media platforms, Facebook does not allow for submitted advertising. If you want to monetize your content, then you’ll need to move to a different platform.