This Flipboard master class featured an in-depth interview with Michael Dinich, who shared his process for generating millions of free website visits each month via Flipboard.
Dinich explained tactics for setting up Flipboard magazines, curating content, and optimizing for high engagement, alongside strategies for outsourcing and scaling the process.
The discussion covered the comparative benefits of Flipboard vs. other platforms, insights on account types, and advice for publishers affected by recent Google updates.
Attendees included Michael Dinich and the interviewer (name not provided).
Action Items
No explicit time-bound action items were assigned, but the following operational steps were recommended for participants:
Create or adjust Flipboard profiles: Set up 10 high-level magazines per site, and curate/post daily (at least one flip per magazine).
For those outsourcing: Train a VA or team member (potentially teenagers or interns) to manage Flipboard profiles, targeting consistent daily activity.
Track and analyze conversions: Implement pop-ups or other methods to move Flipboard traffic to owned assets, especially email lists.
If interested in Flipboard coaching: Reach out to Michael Dinich via LinkedIn, Twitter (@MichaelDinich), or email ([email protected]).
For further learning: Follow major publishers and Michaelâs Flipboard profile (Wealth of Geeks) for example strategies.
Flipboard Traffic Generation Process
Flipboard is a content curation and discovery platform that, unlike other social media, openly sends significant traffic to external blogs and websites.
Dinichâs sites average 500,000 to over 1 million page views per month from Flipboard.
The user base is smaller than platforms like TikTok or Facebook, but its audience is highly targetedâmostly readers seeking new articles.
To maximize reach, create high-level magazines (about 10 per site, matching site categories) and post at least once daily to each.
Magazines should not be too narrowly niched; broad topics attract more followers and facilitate larger top-of-funnel engagement.
Magazine Setup and Content Strategy
Set up one Flipboard magazine per major site category, ensuring each gets regular updates.
Activity is crucial: inactive magazines lose traction and followers.
If content volume is low, manage fewer magazines to ensure consistency. For large sites with more content, managing more than 10 is possible.
Content can be repurposed: Clone high-performing articles, update headlines and images, then canonical link to the original and flip as new content when seasonally relevant.
Flipboard prefers fresh content; reposting old articles with prior Flipboard dates is less effective unless repurposed.
Visual engagement matters: Use compelling images and âpunchyâ headlines. If your niche is not visual, use AI tools to generate attractive images.
Curation and Community Building
Share not only your own content but also curate and flip articles from others (approx. 300 flips/day is Dinichâs model).
Flipping trending or viral content increases profile engagement, builds followers, and boosts visibility for your posts.
Activity can be batchedâe.g., in three 20-30 minute sessions per day. The process can be easily outsourced.
Building a Flipboard following is a long-term strategy: Expect results within 6-7 months of consistent, daily engagement.
Sharing curated content drives faster follower growth and community engagement than focusing only on self-promotion.
Outsourcing and Process Scaling
Flipboard account management can be effectively outsourced, even to teenagers or VAs, as the technical barrier is low.
Manual management is superior to automated RSS feedsâmanual flipping allows for headline/image quality control and better magazine placement, increasing success rates.
Bulk curation focuses on non-competitive but relevant content, driving engagement without aiding direct competitors.
Flipboard Account Types & Platform Nuances
Three account types exist: Basic, Publisher (currently not accepting new applications), and Creator (offers verification and group magazine participation).
Publisher status was intended for high-frequency media organizations and is being phased out for small blogs.
Manual effort is encouraged; automation leads to complacency and lower results.
Channel Diversification & Traffic Quality
Flipboard has allowed Dinich and others to largely recover Google traffic losses post-SEO updates, suggesting it's a viable alternative or supplement to Google for publishers.
Flipboard-generated traffic converts wellâcomparable RPMs to Pinterest and other social media.
Moving Flipboard visitors to owned assets (email, notifications, etc.) is strongly advised for long-term business stability.
Other platforms (YouTube, TikTok) are discussed as additional diversification options, but Flipboardâs blue-ocean nature is particularly emphasized.
Tips for Success and Growth
When designing magazines, consider not just primary site topics but related interests your audience might have (e.g., a Jeep dealer also covers fishing and road trips).
Follow and study large publishers in your niche on Flipboard for ongoing strategy inspiration.
Remain adaptable, as platform opportunities can disappear; invest in multiple traffic and revenue streams for resilience.
Decisions
Focus on manual, daily activity over automation for Flipboard marketing â Manual process yields higher quality, more engaged traffic and improved performance over RSS feed automation.
Commit to a 6-7 month growth period for Flipboard strategy â Consistent effort is needed before significant results manifest.
Integrate Flipboard into broader traffic diversification and retention processes â Move visitors to email and other owned channels for long-term business viability.
Open Questions / Follow-Ups
Will Flipboard reinstate Publisher account applications for small blogs/creators in the future?
What long-term impacts will Google's new updates (e.g., site reputation abuse, manual actions) have on independent publishers and media giants?
Will other AI-driven search engines or platforms arise to further disrupt Googleâs dominance?