29 Apr
Writing blogs can be fulfilling both for personal and business purposes. Once you hit the publish button, you would want people to read them. But with over 600 million blogs around the world, getting noticed can be near impossible. What you need to do is promote your blogs. Here are 20 content distribution channels that can help you get the word around. What’s best is that these are all for free!
What are content distribution channels, and why are they important?
Content distribution is the process of promoting content using a variety of formats and platforms. Writing all day and all night can get you the quality content you need. But without traction, you won’t see it going forward. Here are the free content distribution channels to give you a better idea of why you need them:
1. Your Own Content
Before venturing out, make good use of your existing content and link to them. This gives new life to older yet relevant articles. This also introduces your readers to your other content.
2. LinkedIn
If you find some social media channels such as Facebook commonplace and overused, try LinkedIn. It sends direct notifications to followers when tracked professionals and brands publish new content. Build your network here and immerse yourself in circles within your niche.
3. Medium
This content distribution channel is dedicated to publishing quality content. Medium already has a built-in audience, so getting engagement should be easy. With the right objective and approach, not to mention the site’s interactivity feature, you can generate a good amount of blog traffic.
4. Visual.ly
You can turn your content into an infographic and publish it on Visual.ly. This content distribution channel was founded on the fact that infographics generate 30 times more traffic than a regular, all-text article. This will require a bit of design know-how, but you can check out Penji and its unlimited graphic design service for this.
5. Emails/Newsletters
Statistics tell us that email is one of the most used forms of communication today. With over 4 billion users, this is a great distribution channel you shouldn’t ignore. Research shows that your followers are 3x more likely to share your content than random blog visitors. Send that email newsletter today!
6. Email Signature
While we’re on the subject of sending emails, your email signature is another way to promote your content. Add a link to your article in your email signature to let the people on your list know about it.
7. Quora
With its mission to share and grow the world’s knowledge, Quora is an excellent place to promote your content. It has blogging features and a Q&A section that you can use to build authority and garner trust. You can blog here and link to your articles. Readers can upvote your answer to a question, thus generating new leads.
8. Other People’s Blogs
Most blogs today are open to guest blogging. Grab this opportunity to write and be seen in other people’s blogs. You also get the chance to link to your blog site.
9. Top Blogs
Reach out to top blogs such as Huffington Post or Business Insider. Send an application to have them republish your articles. If they see it as good enough, they will publish it.
10. Tumblr
Home to almost 500 million blogs, Tumblr has a broad reach that you shouldn’t think of missing. Create a blog here and include links to your articles on your own blog site.
11. Pinterest
A social media network, you can also use Pinterest as a content promotion platform. It is used by well-known brands such as Apple, Lowe’s, and Wal-Mart, so it’s time you should, too. Create pins of your articles’ featured images and add the corresponding links to them.
12. SlideShare
Upload articles, infographics, videos, and documents that others can see on SlideShare. You can convert your blog articles to slide format and post it to SlideShare. With 80 million users, it’s still a content distribution channel worth your while.
13. Reddit
Another platform where readers can upvote or downvote content, Reddit is an excellent place to boost your presence. It has a Hot page where content with the most upvotes ends up. This gets wider reach as users who may have missed your content are reminded of them.
14. Instagram 14
Drive traffic to your blog site via Instagram. With roughly a billion active monthly users, it can help you reach Facebook users as well, as it was bought by the social media giant in 2012.
15. Podcasts
Studies show that podcast listeners have grown by 37.5% from 2017 to 2020. It’s also predicted to increase as its popularity continues to rise. You can reach out to podcasters and promote your blog, or you can create a series of your own.
16. eBooks
You can compile your articles or write a single topic and convert it into an eBook. Promote them on your social media platforms or have them accessible for download on your blog site. This helps you establish an authoritative image. It’s also suitable for providing valuable information that can help you connect with your fans or subscribers.
17. YouTube
Having the title of the second most crucial channel for influencer marketing, according to 70% of respondents, YouTube deserves its place on this list. Create short videos about your blog articles, add links to them, and share them on your social media platforms.
18. Slack Communities
Spread the word around about your blogs through Slack. Find the ones that are related to your niche and join groups. You can start with Slofile and Standuply.
19. Forums
Find forums where discussions about your niche abound. You’ll find an audience that is most likely to find your content relevant. Litmus and Unbounce are some examples.
20. Telegram
Gaining traction in the messaging app landscape is Telegram. This content distribution channel has public platforms where you can promote your blog content.
Final Thoughts
Researching and writing your blog posts takes time, energy, and your all-out efforts. It would be a waste if no one would ever see them. Ensure that they are placed in front of the right people when you use these content distribution channels we listed here.
