Web 2.0 sites are platforms where anyone can publish: blogging services, newsletters, article networks and site builders. They are useful for reaching readers and supporting your main site. They are not a place to churn out thin “tier 2” pages with spun text and links, which is a spam pattern.
Platforms with real audiences
| Platform | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Articles and thought leadership | Built-in readership. Republish thoughtfully and set a canonical link to the original where supported. |
| LinkedIn Articles | B2B and professional topics | Reaches your network. Good for expert commentary. |
| Substack | Newsletters | Own your email list while publishing in public. |
| Hashnode | Developer blogging | Technical writing with a developer audience. |
| DEV Community | Developer tutorials and discussion | Active community with good engagement on useful tutorials. |
| WordPress.com | Full blogs | Free hosted blogs. Better to publish on your own domain when you can. |
| Blogger | Simple blogs | Free blogs from Google. |
| Tumblr | Short posts, visuals and communities | Suits creative and lifestyle topics. |
| Google Sites | Simple informational pages | Useful for lightweight resource pages. |
| Notion public pages | Guides, templates and documentation | Easy to publish and share resource hubs. |
How to use them properly
- Write original content for each platform. Do not copy the same article everywhere.
- Add value first, links second. One relevant link to a useful page is enough.
- Treat each profile as a brand asset. Complete the bio, add a logo and link to your site.
- Be consistent. A few active channels beat twenty abandoned ones.
Free platforms can change rules, add ads or shut down, so keep the original on a site you control.