If youโve been in our corner of YouTube lately, youโve probably heard some say that โblogging is deadโ… but is it, really? Or has blogging shifted so much that we can hardly recognize it when we compare it to what it used to be? Letโs discuss.ย
Was it AI in the Library with a Wrench?
Hereโs a quick roundup of some of the creators whoโve discussed whether blogging is dead:
So when did all this talk about whether blogging was dead start? With the advent of AI like ChatGPT, of course! People began using AI like a search engine, and afterward, some said โBlogging is dead.โ Think about it: ChatGPT offers a lot of answers similar to the ones that you could find on the internet, without the hassle of navigating to multiple sites.
If youโre wondering whether blogging is dead, letโs take a walk down memory lane first.
The History of Blogging: Quantity & Personality
When blogging first started gaining steam (sometime around 1998 or 1999), there werenโt a lot of blogs out there. Because there werenโt many options, the things we bother ourselves with today (formatting, white space, etc.) werenโt a concern.
In the old days, people would read giant walls of text. Theyโd consume an entire online update about what the blogger was doing, where they were, and what they were learning. It didnโt have to be relevant to the readerโs life, it just needed to be mildly entertaining.ย
And because there were fewer blogs, the focus was largely on quality. People who wanted to blog were able to get a lot of traffic on their sites simply by posting often and doing affiliate marketing. They didnโt even have to be transparent about who they were – anonymity was the norm in the early days of blogging.ย
In other words, directionless lifestyle blogs were en vogue, and though people were somewhat mocked for being โbloggers,โ you could make a good amount of money through it.ย
The Future of Blogging: Quality & Precision
Before we go any further, letโs get this settled: no, blogging isnโt dead. At least, not completely. But it has had a major makeover and extends further than it once did.ย
Today, blogging is about quality and precision.
First, precision. Gone are the days of directionless blogs. You need to know exactly who your target audience is, what they like, and how they talk. Then you need to position your blogs to speak to that audience. If you donโt, you wonโt get readers. Personalization is key.
Next, quality. The blog should be easy to scan, with plenty of white space to entice the reader to keep reading. It should also contain helpful and actionable information. Generalities donโt work like they used to – so the more specific your content can be, the better.ย
Finally, blogging isnโt all there is anymore. Blogging (or creating content on your website – whether itโs a blog, a landing page, or sales page) should be used alongside other content strategies if you want to be effective.ย
Online Written Content Thatโs Not Dead
Here are the other forms of written content you should focus on, in addition to blogs or the content thatโs readily available on your website.ย
Social media gets your brand in front of people who may not otherwise know about it. Even people who donโt stumble across your website could see your content online. There are two different approaches to social media: some prefer a widespread approach and others prefer a more specific approach.
People who take a widespread approach to social media create the same basic content, then post it across multiple platforms. This approach is commonly used by marketing companies and professionals who have limited time but want to increase their visibility.ย
Those who take a specific approach specialize in one to three social media platforms and only show up there. This is more of a โdeep diveโ that enables you to get acquainted with the special quirks and features of each platform.
When it comes to social media, you have two options: organic or paid. You can create ads for social media, and thereโs an entire science to that. You can focus solely on organic reach and find success, but if youโd like, you can do both.ย
Video content is an indispensable part of the modern marketing strategy. It builds trust between your target audience and your brand, and it gives potential clients a name to put to the face of your brand. Video content should be engaging, informative, and educational. Well-performing video content is varied – with some pieces of content shot up close, while others are filmed further away. Variety is the spice of life and makes for great video content.ย
You donโt need a professional setup to start – but you will be at a serious advantage if you outsource your video content. Most creators who use video are skilled at repurposing their content for social media, short clips on their website, etc.ย
Freebies like whitepapers, guides, or ebooks are helpful ways to draw traffic to your website. Most creators offer at least one form of freebie to incentivize people to join their email list, attend a valuable video meeting, etc.ย
Want Quality Content? Matcha Design is Here for You
Are you looking for high-quality content? Whether your strategy this year is to create more videos, write and offer freebies, level up your social media game, or continue creating great blogs, you can trust Matcha Design to take care of it for you. Contact us today!
