This Overlooked Social Media Site Can Drive Tons of Traffic and Sales

When you think “social media,” what comes to mind first?

Facebook? Instagram? Twitter, perhaps?

These are all super popular platforms, where having a presence and building a following can be a big source of leads and traffic for online businesses.

But there's one platform that, chances are, you're overlooking. It's very popular and widely used, though it doesn't get as much media coverage and hype as other platforms like Snapchat and Instagram.

Believe it or not, Tumblr is still a thriving social media platform with millions of users.

These users love to reblog content, sharing it with their own followers. It's especially valuable for companies targeting people in the 14-25 age group.

And one of the best things about the platform is that brands are welcomed with open arms as creators.

If you create the right kind of content with the right appeal for your audience, your Tumblr blog will be embraced by the community.

Of course, along with posting original content and reblogging relevant posts, you can also use paid advertising on Tumblr to reach more people.

Tumblr calls these “Sponsored Posts.”

In a recent article, Hootsuite explains how to create engaging Tumblr Sponsored Posts your audience will love.

Sponsored Posts work, as Tumblr explains, because “brands are welcomed as creators themselves with content users want to see.” Sixty percent of users who have seen a Sponsored Post report finding the content fun, engaging, and of high quality. Out of the consumers who have seen a Sponsored Post, 70 percent say they perceive the associated brand more favorably as a result. Over half of the Tumblr audience took action and went on to research the sponsor afterward.

Like advertising options on other social media platforms, Sponsored Posts can be targeted with parameters such as gender, location, and user interests. They can also be syndicated to Yahoo for further visibility and reach.

To create and share engaging Tumblr posts:

Carefully consider your audience: Millennials account for 69 percent of Tumblr’s users, so create content that resonates with this demographic. Pay attention to what they’re posting and reblogging for an idea of what they find interesting. Check out our post Marketing to Millennials: Why Your Content Should Reflect Your Values for more tips on connecting with this cohort.

Answer questions: Tumblr’s “Ask” function is a great place for customers to ask questions and share concerns. Take time to regularly answer these questions and share the interactions to your Tumblr page. Not only will you be providing great customer service, you’ll be saving your business time by avoiding having to answer the same question over and over again.

Understand the tag: Tags—Tumblr’s version of hashtags—let users who aren’t following your blog find your content. Use tags that are relevant to your industry and describe the post accurately.

Cross-promote your content: There are clear similarities between Instagram and Tumblr which makes the platforms ideal for cross-promotion. Share your best visual content to both platforms to reach a larger audience.