All right, so here’s how this started. Anastasia Rydaeva dropped a question in the Sisters in SEO Facebook group that a lot of people have been thinking but maybe haven’t said out loud: is blogging still worth it, or is Blogging Is Still a Viable Strategy just a nice idea from the past? Everyone knows I’m not a fan of blogging… clients want customers, not followers and DIYers. That being said… let’s get into this.
“Grow your own blog and show the growth in question as a case study is an advice I sometimes encounter when it comes to tips on making a beginner’s portfolio, but I am now wondering – given that blogs as a format are not nearly as popular now as they were even ten years ago, is it still a viable strategy?”
Fair question. These days, everybody’s either dancing on Reels or letting AI write their emails. Feels like blogs went the way of cable TV, still around, but not exactly “hot.”
Now, I jumped in with what I’ll call my “coffee-fueled truth bomb”:
“Blogging is not write it and forget it… you have all the places you market to… channels, social media, magazines, TV, radio. Relying on organic traffic is a sure way to fail. If you’re wanting to make money, act like a business does. If you’re planning to make a career of it and be an entrepreneur plan to work 12 to 18 hours a day more than you would with a 9-to-5 job. If you’re not putting in that type of effort, how do you expect to succeed?”
Yeah, I said that… and I stand by it.
Blogging’s Not Dead, It’s Just Hard Work
People want to believe blogging’s outdated because it’s easier to say “it doesn’t work anymore” than to admit they never really gave it a real shot. Blogging’s not dead; lazy blogging is.
If you want a blog that grows your reputation or brings in business, you’ve got to treat it like a serious marketing channel. Push your content everywhere, LinkedIn, podcasts, newsletters, guest spots, whatever. Organic traffic alone won’t cut it. You’re not planting magic beans; you’re running a farm.
A Blog Is a Business, Not a Hobby
When I say “act like a business,” I mean exactly that.
Plan your content like you’d plan ad campaigns. Look at your analytics. Test your calls to action. Track what converts. If your goal is to make a living with your blog, expect to work those 12-to-18-hour days when you start, just like any other entrepreneur.
You can’t expect CEO-level returns from part-time effort.
Why It Still Matters in 2025
Now, even with all the flashy platforms out there, a blog is still your best sandbox. You can test SEO ideas, prove your process, and show clients you actually know what you’re doing.
Social posts are like fireworks, loud and gone in 48 hours. A blog is like a wood stove. You keep feeding it, it keeps you warm for years. Make yourself a brand, an Entity, earn your Knowledge Panel and here are some tips to write content worth reading.
Bottom Line
So yeah, blogging’s still viable. But it’s not a lottery ticket, it’s a long game. Publish with purpose. Promote it like crazy. Track the results.
The format might’ve changed over time, but the principle hasn’t changed: if you treat it like a business, it’ll pay like one.