Is Blogging Dead? 3 Reasons Blogging Matters
by Lisa Appelo
In an age when podcasting is exploding and TikTok is turning authors into overnight sensations, blogging can seem so 2019. It’s tempting to chase the newest social media channel (we see you, lemon8) or pivot to what’s getting the buzz right now.
I want to make the case that blogging isn’t just hanging on, it’s thriving. Let’s look at three reasons blogging still matters if your goal is to freelance, guest post on larger sites, or publish your work.
- Blogging helps you find new readers. None of us read blogs like the daily diaries they were in 2010, but plenty of us still read blogs. Statistics show 77% of people regularly read blogs. I’ll use my site as an example. Some readers regularly read posts as they’re published, and fewer will click through social media to read the full post. But a large majority of my blog readers come through a Google search directing them to my site.
We can get visitors every day from all over the world who come to our sites because they search a key phrase or question online. When they land on our sites for the first time, they’re introduced to our content and have multiple opportunities to opt in to an email list. Dozens of times each week, a reader searching for encouragement or help finds a post I wrote and ends up joining my email list to become a regular reader.
- Blogging helps you practice long-form writing. Social media is a great place to create a community and write short-form posts. But platforms like Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn limit the word count for each post. While Facebook allows longer posts, Facebook readers won’t tolerate it. Thus the invention of TL;DR (too long;didn’t read).
Blogging lets us practice long-form writing. We can develop content, see what resonates and link to other relevant posts. Blogging helps develop our voice and the craft of writing.
- Blogging helps you own your words. While we own every word we create under copyright regulations, we don’t own the social media platforms they’re posted on. Writing exclusively on social media runs the risk of losing those words. Writers have lost Facebook author pages or Instagram accounts because they were hacked or accused of violating policies. Sometimes accounts were frozen for a month; sometimes pages were restored after enormous angst and numerous emails, but sometimes their accounts were forever gone. Poof.
When we buy a domain and set up a website, we own it. We won’t wake to a changed algorithm that shifts who sees our posts or a social media glitch that takes down our page. We have a permanent hub to house our words, share our work, and invite readers to an email list.
Blogging is what drew me into the world of writing nine years ago, and while it’s changed, it’s still very much alive and well. If you’re blogging too or thinking about launching one to jump-start your writing, don’t let the naysayers discourage you. As Mark Twain famously said, “The reports of my death have been grossly exaggerated.”
Blessings,
Lisa Appelo
Are you a blogger, or have you been thinking about blogging? Share your thoughts on blogging with us! We’d love to hear!
Lisa Appelo
Lisa Appelo inspires women to deepen faith in life’s storms and is an ECPA bestselling author of Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart. A former litigating attorney, Lisa is passionate about rich Bible teaching. She writes at LisaAppelo.com, is founder of hopeingrief.com, and serves on the Executive Team for COMPEL with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her work has been featured at Life Today, Insight for Living, Ann Voskamp, Christian Parenting, Risen Motherhood and more. As a single mom of seven, Lisa’s days are filled with parenting, ministry, and long walks to justify lots of dark chocolate. You can connect with Lisa on Instagram @lisaappelo.
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The three compelling reasons you’ve highlighted make a strong case for the importance of blogging in today’s content-driven world. Your insights on building trust, authority, and community through consistent blogging are spot-on. Thank you for reaffirming the value of this timeless medium and providing a fresh perspective on why blogging still matters. Your expertise shines through, and it’s greatly appreciated!
Thank you!, I have been blogging for 18 months (Kathchats) and wondered if I came late to the party. So many friends like pod casts better. I do not like pod casts. I read. I thought there must be women out there like me. Thank you for the encouragement. I needed that.
“…wondered if I came late to the party.”
Kathie, I’ve only been at it since May, and you captured my sentiments exactly! I have so much to learn and discover as I hone my writing. I’m grateful for this message, too!