Here comes Doug, who hasn’t posted on his blog in about six months, to say: “Hey, you! You should write something on your blog!”
Well, yes...
But hear me out.
Are Blogs Still Relevant?
Let’s reframe this question: Are websites still relevant?
Of course they are!
So why do we perceive blogs as outdated? This thinking likely stems from the belief that social media reigns supreme, rendering blogs—and long-form content like newspapers—misaligned with how modern society consumes information.
We scroll through Instagram and mindlessly trawl through stories, all designed for 5-second attention spans or even less.
But what do you do when you have a question? You Google it.
What do you do when you're considering a purchase? You seek out reviews.
These searches often lead you to highly regarded website content, frequently hosted on blogs.
A blog, much like a website, offers you the opportunity to create, experiment, educate, and entertain within an environment you control—one that reflects your identity. Don’t like how it looks? Change it! The flexibility and personal touch you can bring to your blog simply cannot be achieved through social media.
How Blogs Help You Understand Websites
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share how I personally use my blog: as a platform for experimentation and discovery. It has been the perfect testbed for learning the critical components of running a WordPress website. This mindset is why I don't post much; because I spend more time experimenting with GA4 reports, building GTM events, and trialling new back-end plugins.
Moreover, having a blog that I want to succeed helps me understand the mindset of potential clients who may also wish to set up their own websites to achieve their goals. By grasping their pain points, I can empathise and provide them with the clarity I once needed.
I can’t overstate how much I’ve learned just by setting up a blog and getting it to function. Here’s a quick list of what I’ve gained from this experience, beyond merely posting content:
- The best website hosting providers
- How to migrate domains
- How to create subdomains
- How to host my own WordPress website
- How to install and configure WordPress
- How to set up Google Analytics 4
- How to set up Google Tag Manager
- How to set up Google Search Console
- How to generate leads using a Lead Capture form with ConvertBox
- How to optimise on-page blog content for SEO
- How to structure a blog and website for usability
- The basics of website HTML
Beyond the technical foundations needed to run a blog, you’ll find it offers a chance to flex your creative muscles and start producing content.
Expressing Your Identity with Blogs
Social media is where most of us attract attention.
But did you design the platform, the interface, or the experience of that network?
Where social media falls short, blogs excel: they are an excellent way to cement your professional and personal identity beyond the content you create. You have complete control over your blog’s domain, fonts, colours, and overall aesthetic.
And this is all without talking about what you are writing or posting about, because blogs really are content agnostic. Post about what you want; create as many blog websites as you want; share as much content as you want.
The critical piece here is that a blog is an extension of your identity and an opportunity for you to stand out: I would argue that the majority of the public do not have their own blogs, electing mainly to cultivate their identity through social media posts and comments.
Think of blogs as a way to differentiate yourself, both personally and professionally.
Blogs Are the Whetstone to Our Ideas and Passions
I've always believed that written content requires a more thoughtful, considered approach to a subject.
You can see this when comparing scripted video essays to podcasts—your scripted videos will almost always be more concise, more valuable, and more considered. Perhaps not as raw, but writing your thoughts down will filter and refine your thinking in profound ways that vocalising them typically cannot.
It's one of the reasons that journaling and 'daily gratitude' can be so transformative: we are processing and considering our thoughts.
A blog allows us to extend this to our professional and personal passions.
By blogging, we grant ourselves an avenue to refine our ideas and strengthen our convictions.
But this process is not immediate, which is why I encourage you to start sooner rather than later: writing regularly will hone those muscles and naturally improve our ability to express ourselves.
So if you want to be a thought leader and an authority, then blogging is a way to determine, rationalise, and strengthen your thoughts and ideas.
What About If No One Reads My Blog?
It’s a common fear: what if no one finds my blog?
First, remember that audiences don’t always gravitate toward the loudest or fastest talkers. Focus on developing your content, finding your voice, and sharing it with friends and family.
In the beginning, your blog might feel like a solitary endeavour, but every piece you write contributes to your growth. As you improve, your confidence will grow, and so will your audience.
Engage with others in your niche, comment on their blogs, and share your insights on social media. Building a community takes time, but it can lead to meaningful connections and increased visibility for your work.
Ultimately, the act of writing itself is valuable, regardless of immediate readership. Each post helps clarify your thoughts and refine your skills, paving the way for future success.
What About AI Searching?
There’s a growing theory that AI will soon surpass Google Search results; AI can consume dozens of web articles and resources in seconds, synthesising them into concise packages. So why should I even bother with a website if I can just ask AI to provide me with the information I need?
The truth is that society is still hesitant to embrace AI's web browsing capabilities. We're comfortable letting AI write our blogs, emails, and presentations, but when it comes to browsing the web for us? That’s a realm we still want firmly under our control.
However, when AI-driven searching becomes mainstream, we may need to reevaluate our website content strategies.