10 Free Platforms Every Writer Should Use Before Starting a Blog

Ever wanted to publish your ideas online…

But the “start a website” part stops you?

I’ve been there.
Writer’s block? No.
Tech block.

So today, I’m breaking down 10 free ways to publish articles online even if:

You can’t afford hosting

You don’t want a website yet

You're still learning

You just want readers fast 

This is the same playbook I used before I built my blog.

Let’s dive in.

What It Means to Publish Articles Online

Publishing online simply means putting your content somewhere readers can find it.

No domain.
No hosting.
No WordPress stress.

Just you → platform → readers.

And here’s the secret:

You don’t need a website to be a writer.
You need distribution.

And these platforms give you exactly that.

Why Publishing Online (Without a Website) Matters

Here’s why this is a game-changer:

• You move fast
• You get real readers
• You build your writing confidence
• You create samples for clients
• You test content ideas
• You warm up an audience before starting your actual blog
• You avoid the technical headache

And the biggest benefit?

You build authority before you build a website.

This is how smart creators win.

10 Ways to Publish Articles Online for Free

1. Medium

This is the easiest platform for beginners.
You can write today and rank tomorrow.

Pros:

• Built-in audience
• Clean editor
• Great for storytelling
• Easy to monetise with Medium Partner Program

Cons:

• Your articles must be high-quality
• Competition is high

2. LinkedIn Articles

LinkedIn is underrated.
If your content is career, business, or money-related, this is the spot.

Pros:

• High virality
• Professional audience
• Great for clients

Perfect for building authority in your niche.

3. Quora Spaces

Quora is not just Q&A anymore.
Spaces let you publish full articles.

Why it works:

• You get traffic instantly
• Your content stays evergreen
• People search for answers — you supply them

4. Substack

The newsletter king.

Substack lets you:

• Publish articles
• Build a mailing list
• Monetise your writing

It’s basically a blog + email list without being a blog.

5. Blogger (Google’s Free Platform)

Yes, Blogger still exists — and yes, it’s powerful.

You can:

• Publish articles
• Add AdSense
• Customise templates
• Rank on Google

Perfect for beginners who want to start monetising with zero cost.

6. Tumblr

You can post articles, photos, quotes — whatever you want.

Pros:

• Super easy
• Searchable content
• Young audience

If your niche is creative, Tumblr fits perfectly.

7. Steemit

A crypto-based writing platform.

Write → people upvote → you earn.

Yes, you literally get paid to write.

8. Facebook Notes / Facebook Page Posts

This is huge because you already have an audience.

Pros:

• Zero friction
• Instant eyeballs
• Great for sharing long posts

Just make sure your writing is clean and value-packed.

9. Reddit Communities

This is the secret weapon.

If you pick the right subreddit:
You can get 10k+ readers overnight.

Avoid:

• Self-promotion
• Spam
• Posting links without context

Instead:
Publish full value FIRST → drop link later.

10. Google Docs Public Sharing

Yes, this is real.

You can:

• Publish a doc
• Make it public
• Share it as a “mini-article website”

Perfect for beginners who want a simple, clean way to publish writing.

How to Choose the Best Platform

Here’s what I tell every beginner:

• If you want readers fast → Medium, Reddit
• If you want professional credibility → LinkedIn
• If you want SEO traffic → Blogger
• If you want emails + fans → Substack
• If you want money quickly → Steemit

Start with 2–3 platforms.
Don’t overwhelm yourself.

How to Repurpose One Article for All Platforms

Here’s my 10-minute process:

1. Write the main article once
2. Shorten it for LinkedIn
3. Convert it into answers for Quora
4. Break it into posts for Facebook
5. Turn the key ideas into a Substack newsletter
6. Paste the full article on Medium
7. Share a summary on Reddit

One article → 7 platforms → triple the readers.

Affiliate Links You Can Add to These Platforms

Here’s what performs well on writing platforms:

• Grammarly
• Jasper AI
• SurferSEO
• Canva Pro
• Bluehost (for when they finally want a real website)

Add 1–2 per article.
Don’t overload it.

FAQs About Publishing Articles Online (for SEO)

1. Can I publish articles online for free?

Yes. Platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, Blogger, and Substack let you publish without paying.

2. Do I need a website to publish my writing?

No. You only need a platform that allows article publishing.

3. Which platform is best for beginners?

Medium and Blogger are easiest.

4. Can I make money without a website?

Yes. Medium, Substack, and Steemit all offer monetisation.

5. Will my articles rank on Google?

If you post on high-authority platforms, they can rank quickly.

Conclusion: Start Publishing Today

You don’t need a website.
You don’t need a domain.
You don’t need hosting.

You just need the courage to publish articles online and let the world read your ideas.

Start small.
Start free.
But start today.