Best Medium Alternatives to Get FREE Blog Traffic in 2025
If you want free traffic to your blog posts, articles, landing pages, or website without paying for ads, there are several platforms you can use to publish content, grow an audience, and drive organic referral traffic. Below we share the best Medium alternatives and how to use each one effectively.
Quick Strategy Before You Post
- Focus on niche topics and use strong visuals to stand out.
- Link back to your website or landing page instead of direct affiliate links to avoid bans.
- Republish or adapt content across multiple platforms to maximize reach.
- Promote your posts on social media to boost initial engagement.
1. Vocal Media
Vocal lets writers publish for free inside topic communities, offers monetization, tipping, and supports images and embedded videos.
How to publish on Vocal:
- Sign up and click Create Story.
- Enter your title and subtitle, add a cover image (upload a file, embed a video, or pick from Unsplash).
- Paste your article content and format it properly.
- Insert links using anchor text pointing to your website or landing page.
- Submit to the appropriate community/tag for discovery.
2. HubPages
HubPages can rank in Google like Medium. Its audience is smaller, so promotion is key. It also provides SEO control and structured article templates.
Tips for HubPages:
- Sign up, click Write, and choose a relevant category and subcategory.
- Pick an article layout (Basic or Tutorial) and complete the required summary (140–170 characters).
- Add a profile photo and a short article-specific bio for credibility.
- Add a cover photo, paste your article, and hyperlink keywords to your website or landing page.
- Remove unused capsules or callouts to keep the article clean.
3. Substack
Substack is known for newsletters but works well for blog-style posts. It helps build an email-based audience for repeat traffic.
How to use Substack effectively:
- Keep posts short (around 100 words) for quick engagement.
- Create a mini website with posts, pages, and media to act as your content hub.
- Add cover images and link externally to your site or landing page.
4. LinkedIn Articles
Ideal for professional, B2B, or thought leadership content. Leverage your network to increase visibility.
Best practices for LinkedIn:
- Write articles related to your professional niche.
- Include a cover image, headline, and summary, and hyperlink anchor text to your website.
- Post consistently and encourage connections to engage for higher reach.
5. Blogger
Blogger is a free Google-owned platform where you own your content. Use it as a main content hub.
How to set up Blogger:
- Create a new blog and select an available URL.
- Click New Post, add your title, article, and images.
- Hyperlink keywords to your landing page or website.
- Customize themes and layout for a professional, mobile-friendly look.
6. Steemit
Steemit is a blockchain-based platform rewarding content and engagement with crypto.
How to grow on Steemit:
- Post regularly and engage with other writers by commenting and upvoting.
- Include clear titles, cover images, and participate in community discussions.
- Consistency is key for visibility and meaningful earnings.
7. Quora
Quora allows you to write blog-style posts and link back to your site. Answers are highly SEO-indexed for Google.
How to use Quora effectively:
- Post helpful, keyword-rich answers and link to your blog only when relevant.
- Create and manage Spaces to centralize niche content and followers.
- Focus on delivering value first to avoid account removal.
Platform Tips & Best Practices
- Always use anchor text links instead of raw affiliate URLs.
- Use free image libraries like Unsplash for cover images.
- Customize content format and length per platform.
- Cross-promote on social media to kickstart engagement.
- Monitor platform rules to avoid bans or content removal.
Summary
Medium isn’t the only way to get free blog traffic. Platforms like Vocal Media, HubPages, Substack, LinkedIn Articles, Blogger, Steemit, and Quora each have unique strengths. Choose platforms that match your niche, optimize visuals and metadata, link smartly to your website rather than direct affiliate links, and promote across social channels. Consistency and value-first content can drive reliable free traffic to your blog.
Read more about blogging strategies on Adsens Mobile.