7 "Under the Radar" Traffic Sources for New Blogs

Starting a blog is lonely. For the first 6 months, Google ignores you (the "Sandbox effect"). You need traffic NOW to stay motivated.

Everyone knows Pinterest and Facebook. Here are 7 sources you probably haven't used.

1. Flipboard

Yes, it still exists.

• Why: It’s a content discovery engine. Create a "Magazine" and flip your posts into it.
• Potential: Thousands of visitors if you get "featured" in a topic.

2. Mix.com (formerly StumbleUpon)

Users click a button and get a random page based on their interests.

• Strategy: Add your best posts. It’s hit or miss, but a "hit" can bring 500 visitors in an hour.

3. Quora Spaces

Not just answering questions. "Spaces" are like mini-blogs inside Quora.

• Strategy: Repost your intro and link to the full article.

4. Medium (Import Feature)

Don't write unique content for Medium.

• Strategy: Use the "Import Story" tool. It adds a canonical tag so Google knows your blog is the original. You tap into Medium's audience without hurting your SEO.

5. Zest.is (for Marketers)

If you write about business or marketing, Zest is a chrome extension where pros curate content.

• Quality Bar: Very high. Don't submit fluff.

6. Hacker News (New Tab)

For tech blogs.

• Strategy: Post to "New". If you get 2-3 upvotes, you hit the front page.

7. Web Directories

The classic reliable source.

• Strategy: List your blog on TapJoin's Website Directory under the "Blog" or "Education" category.

Conclusion

Don't wait for Google. Go out and get the traffic yourself.