You finally hit publish on a blog post you’re proud of. It’s helpful, clear, and written for real people. Then… nothing. No comments, no clicks, no traffic. It can feel like you opened a little shop on a quiet road and forgot to put up a sign.
If you’re a newer blogger (especially if you’re building a simple affiliate income plan in retirement), it’s normal to wonder: should you promote your blog on social media in 2026, or should you just focus on SEO and wait for Google to notice you?
Here’s the honest answer, based on what many people learn the hard way: a lot of affiliate marketers struggle for years because they’re taught the flashy stuff, posting nonstop, chasing trends, pushing links, instead of learning the basics that build trust. Social media can help, but it works best as a bridge to your blog and email list, not as your whole business.
Key takeaways: should you promote your blog on social media?
- Social platforms send about 15 to 20 percent of total web traffic overall (a commonly cited 2026 figure is around 16%).
- Many bloggers use social media to promote posts, you’re not “behind” if you do it too.
- Social is often a strong early traffic source while SEO is still growing and Google is still figuring out your site.
- The best approach for beginners is to pick 1 main platform, post consistently, and use social to move people to your blog and email list (because you don’t own social media reach).
When promoting your blog on social media is worth it (and when it is not)
Think of social media like a busy farmers market. You can get quick attention, but you’re renting the booth. Your blog is your home base. The goal is to bring the right people back to your “house,” not live at the market every day.
Social promotion is worth it when you want faster feedback and you’re okay with a bit of unpredictability. It’s not worth it when it starts eating your week, or when it pulls you away from writing posts that could bring steady traffic for years.
That’s been my personal experience. I enjoy writing for my blog, but I don’t enjoy interacting on social meda, as people keep interrupting me and trying to sell me things I don’t want. (Shiny objects.) I want a business – like email marketing / blogging – that I can run from in a couple of hours a day. And schedule my emails or blog posts ahead of time is I want a week off. I know you can schedule Facebook posts ahead of time, but personal replies to comments and messages need you to be ‘on duty’ daily.
Yes, it took a while to build my email list, and it still needs maintaining, but with social media, if I take a day off, it’s almost back to square one!
A good long-term plan is still built on the basics: helpful content, clear topics, and simple SEO. Google even publishes its own guidance in the SEO Starter Guide, and the advice is refreshingly simple: make pages useful, organize your site well, and help people find what they need.
Good reasons to share your blog posts on social media
You get visibility faster than waiting for Google. SEO can take months, especially on a new site. Social can send your first real visitors this week.
You can test topics without guessing. If a post idea gets comments, saves, or shares, it’s a hint you’re on the right track.
It builds trust before the affiliate click. Most people don’t click a recommendation from a stranger. They click after they’ve seen you help them a few times.
You can repurpose one post into many small pieces. One blog post can become a tip, a short story, a checklist, and a quick “mistake to avoid” post. You can turn blog posts into video with this tool: https://JoyHealey.com/Fliki (affiliate link) Free trial available.
It can reach older audiences on the right platforms. In 2026, adults 50+ are active on social media, and Facebook and YouTube are especially popular for this age group. That matters if your blog helps seniors, pre-retirees, or anyone who prefers plain talk.
Also, you’re not alone in doing this. Most bloggers share their posts somewhere. Social promotion is normal, even for people who love SEO.
Reasons to skip or limit social media promotion
Algorithms change without notice. Your post might reach 200 people today and 12 next week, even if you did nothing wrong.
You don’t own your audience. Your account can get restricted, your reach can drop, or your platform can fall out of favor. I had a page that I have worked very hard on, taken down and I never even found out what I had done wrong.
Traffic can be low quality if your message is too broad. If your content tries to please everyone, you often attract the wrong clicks. Those visitors bounce fast, and it doesn’t help your blog. Try making friends in relevant groups.
It can drain your time. Social media has a way of turning “I’ll post for 10 minutes” into “Where did my afternoon go?”
Affiliate promotion can trip platform rules if you’re too salesy. Some platforms limit reach when posts look like ads, or when you post too many direct offers.
A simple rule that keeps people sane: if posting on social makes you hate blogging, scale it down. Pick one channel and keep it small.
Pick the best social media platform for your blog (simple guide for seniors and beginners)
If you’re technophobic, you don’t need to be everywhere. You need one platform you can stick with, even on days when you don’t feel “creative.”
For many seniors and pre-retirees, the easiest path is:
- Choose 1 main platform you enjoy and understand.
- Pick 1 backup platform only if you have extra time.
It also helps to know this: YouTube is a major traffic referrer across the web, and it’s not just for teenagers. Plenty of adults use YouTube like a search engine, especially for how-to help. And for 40+ audiences, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest often fit better than trend-driven platforms.
If you want a bigger picture view of platform trends, Pew Research Center’s internet and technology research is a reliable place to check.
Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, which one fits your niche
Facebook: Great for community. If you like conversation, groups, and longer captions, Facebook can work well. It’s also strong for local and interest-based groups (gardening, travel, health routines, budgeting).
YouTube: Best for trust-building. A simple 5 to 8-minute video can create a stronger connection than ten text posts. It also works well for “how to” topics and product walkthroughs.
Pinterest: Works like visual search. Pins can send traffic for months, sometimes years, especially for recipes, DIY, home, crafts, printables, and lifestyle content. It’s a good option if you don’t want to “perform” on camera.
Instagram: Better for quick tips and personal updates. It can work for health, hobbies, and lifestyle, but it often asks for consistent posting and visuals.
TikTok: Fast discovery, short videos. It can work in almost any niche, but it usually rewards frequent posting and quick hooks.
LinkedIn: Best for business and career topics. If your blog covers consulting, resumes, leadership, or professional services, LinkedIn can be a good fit.
Choose based on what you can repeat weekly, not what’s trending.
A low-stress 30-minute plan to promote each new blog post
You don’t need fancy tools. Use this simple workflow every time you publish:
- Pull 3 key tips from the post, write them in plain language.
- Write 1 short story about why the post matters (a mistake you made, a result you got, or a lesson learned).
- Create 1 simple visual (a basic quote graphic, a screenshot, or a short vertical video with text on screen).
- Add one clear call to action that sends people to the blog (example: “I wrote the full step-by-step here”).
- Reply to a few comments for 5 minutes, then log off.
That’s it. No fancy editing. No daily pressure.
How to promote your blog on social media without sounding salesy (especially with affiliate links)
If you’re building an affiliate income stream, trust is the whole thing. The “truth” many people don’t hear early enough is simple: steady help beats constant pushing. You don’t need to act like a salesperson to earn affiliate commissions, and you shouldn’t.
A safe structure that works for beginners:
- Help first on social
- Invite them to read the full post on your blog
- Recommend products inside the blog post, with context, pros, cons, and clear disclosures
Also, keep your affiliate disclosures clear and easy to understand. The FTC explains the basics in Disclosures 101 for social media influencers. You don’t need legal wording, you just need honesty people can see.
The 3-post balance that keeps trust high (help, story, recommend)
If you want a simple rhythm that doesn’t feel fake, try this weekly pattern:
Help post: One tip from your blog, written in your normal voice.
Example prompt: “If you only fix one thing on your blog this week, fix this…”
Story post: A short personal lesson.
Example prompt: “I wasted months doing this the hard way, here’s what I do now…”
Recommend post: A soft recommendation that fits your audience.
Example prompt: “If you want the tool I use for this, I listed it in the post.”
Real, creator-style posts often do better than polished “ad-looking” posts, especially for older audiences who can spot hype fast.
Turn social followers into blog readers and email subscribers (so you own your audience)
Social reach can drop any time. Email is different because you control it. That’s why the smartest goal of social media promotion is not likes, it’s moving people onto your list.
Simple calls to action that don’t feel pushy:
- “I made a one-page checklist, it’s free on my site.”
- “Want the steps? The full post is linked in my bio.”
- “Comment ‘checklist’ and I’ll send the link.”
Your lead magnet can be tiny. A checklist, a short “starter plan,” or a simple worksheet is enough. Then place signup boxes on your homepage, at the end of posts, and on your “Start Here” page.
If you want email stats and common benchmarks to set expectations, Mailchimp’s email marketing resources are easy to read and practical.
FAQs about promoting a blog on social media
Do I need social media to make money from a blog?
No. You can earn from SEO traffic, email, and direct visits. Social media can speed up early traffic and help people trust you faster. The best results usually come from mixing social with SEO and email.
How often should I post on social media to promote my blog?
For most beginners, 3 to 5 posts per week on one main platform is enough. Consistency matters more than volume. If you can only do three, do three.
Should I post my affiliate links directly on social media?
Most of the time, it’s better to send people to a helpful blog post (or a simple landing page) first. It’s often safer for platform rules, and it feels better to the reader. Too much direct selling can also hurt reach.
What if I hate being on camera?
You have options. Use text posts, simple images, screen recordings, slideshow videos, voiceover, or Pinterest-style graphics. Pick one format you can repeat without stress.
Conclusion
Yes, you should promote your blog on social media if it fits your time, comfort, and audience. Keep it simple, pick one platform, and treat social as a bridge that brings people back to your blog and onto your email list. Use the help, story, recommend rhythm for your next post, then track clicks for 30 days and see what actually moves the needle. Build trust first, the income follows.
