The free article submission sites that still get your writing read are Medium, LinkedIn articles, Substack and Blogger. Old-style article directories and bookmarking sites are a different story: Google's spam policies list links from low-quality directory or bookmark sites as link spam, so submitting to them won't help your rankings.
Article submission used to mean pasting the same article into dozens of directories to collect links back to your site. That stopped working a long time ago, and Google now names it in its spam policies. What does work is publishing useful articles on platforms with real readers, so people find you, follow you and click through. Here's where to do that for free, and what to avoid.
What Google says about article and directory links
Google's spam policies give examples of link spam, and one of them is low-quality directory or bookmark site links. It sits in the same list as hidden links in widgets and links spread through the footers of lots of sites. In plain English: a link from a site that exists only to host submitted articles counts for nothing at best.
Google's own guidance on outbound links also recommends that sites mark user-generated links, such as comments and forum posts, with the ugc value, and use nofollow when other values don't apply. A platform that follows that advice will mark the links you add yourself. So treat any link in your own article as a way for readers to reach you, not as an SEO boost, and judge each platform by the readers it brings.
Free platforms where articles still get read
These are in no particular order. Each one is free to publish on, and each has its own audience.
| Platform | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Reaching readers who follow topics | Add topics when you publish so the right readers find it |
| LinkedIn articles | B2B, consultants, professional services | Can't be written in the LinkedIn mobile app |
| Substack | Building your own email list | You own what you publish and can export your list |
| Blogger | A simple free blog of your own | Run by Google, with control over who can read and edit |
How to publish on Medium
- On your Medium homepage, click Write to start a draft. Drafts save automatically.
- Add a title and subtitle at the top, then write your story.
- Click Publish in the top-right corner to open the publish menu.
- Add topics, adjust the title and subtitle shown to readers, or schedule it for later.
- Click Publish now to make it visible to anyone.
On the app, tap your profile picture, then the green plus button to start. If you're in the Medium Partner Program, the publish menu also lets you paywall a story so it can earn based on engagement. If you're choosing between the two big newsletter-style platforms, my Substack vs Medium comparison sets out the differences.
How to publish a LinkedIn article
LinkedIn lets every member, and admins of a LinkedIn Page, publish articles, which then appear in the Activity section of your profile. This feature isn't available on the LinkedIn mobile app, so use a computer.
- Click Write article in the share box near the top of your homepage.
- If you manage a Page, choose whether to publish as yourself or as the Page.
- Add a cover image above the title, then type your title and article.
- Publish it, and share it with a short post so your network sees it.
LinkedIn also lets you publish an article as a new edition of a newsletter if you run one, which sends it to your subscribers.
How to publish on Substack
Substack works best if you want readers to subscribe by email. Substack says anything you publish is yours to own, and you can download your posts and subscriber list from Settings, then Exports. That makes it a safer home for your writing than a platform you can't take your audience away from.
How to publish on Blogger
Blogger is Google's free blogging tool. You can create and manage your own blog, choose who can read and edit it, and change its design. It's basic, but it's a quick way to get a simple blog online without hosting.
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What to publish so it works
- Write something new for each platform, or adapt it heavily. Copying the same article everywhere spreads your effort thin.
- Answer one specific question your customers ask, with examples from your own work.
- End with one clear next step, such as a link to a related guide on your website.
- Publish regularly on one or two platforms rather than once on ten.
What to avoid
- Article directories that accept anything and exist to host links.
- Social bookmarking lists sold as SEO.
- Spinning one article into dozens of near-copies.
- Paying for packages that promise hundreds of submissions.
If what you need is for your website to be found, a listing in web directories with real visitors is a better use of time. My free website directory is a good place to start.
My advice
Pick the platform where your customers already read: LinkedIn if you sell to businesses, Medium or Substack if you sell to consumers or creators. Publish one useful article a week there for three months before you judge it. The reward is readers and enquiries, which is what article submission was always meant to bring.
Frequently asked questions
Do article submission sites still help SEO?
Not the old directory kind. Google's spam policies list low-quality directory or bookmark site links as an example of link spam, so they won't help your rankings.
What are the best free sites to publish articles?
Medium, LinkedIn articles, Substack and Blogger are all free and have real readers. Choose the one where your customers already spend time.
Can I publish LinkedIn articles from my phone?
No. LinkedIn says writing articles isn't available on the LinkedIn mobile app, so you need to use a computer.
Do links in Medium or LinkedIn articles pass SEO value?
Treat them as links for readers. Google recommends that sites mark user-generated links with ugc or nofollow, so don't rely on them for rankings.
Is it OK to post the same article on several sites?
It spreads your effort thin. Write something new for each platform, or adapt it heavily, and focus on one or two platforms.
