All right, so here’s how this started. Anastasia Rydaeva asked a question in the Sisters in SEO Facebook group that many people have been thinking but haven’t said out loud: is blogging still worth it, or is it only a nice idea from the past? Everyone knows I’m not a fan of blogging. Clients want customers instead of followers and DIYers. Here is the discussion.
“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. It feels like blogs went the way of cable TV: still around, but not exactly “hot.”
I jumped in with what I call my “coffee-fueled truth bomb”:
“Blogging is not write-it-and-forget-it. You market through every channel you have: social media, magazines, TV, radio. Relying on organic traffic is a sure way to fail. If you want to make money, act like a business. If you plan to make a career of it and be an entrepreneur, plan to work 12 to 18 hours a day more than you would at a 9-to-5 job. If you don’t put in that 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People want to believe blogging is outdated because it’s easier to say “it doesn’t work anymore” than to admit they never gave it a real shot. Lazy blogging is dead.
If you want a blog that grows your reputation or brings in business, treat it as a serious marketing channel. Push your content to LinkedIn, podcasts, newsletters, guest spots, and any other channel you can reach. Organic traffic alone won’t cut it. Think of your blog as a farm that you run every day.
A blog is a business, not a hobby
When I say “act like a business,” I mean exactly that.
Plan your content like 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, like any other entrepreneur.
Part-time effort doesn’t produce CEO-level returns.
Why it still matters in 2025
Even with all the flashy platforms available, a blog is still a strong sandbox. You can test SEO ideas, prove your process, and show clients you know what you’re doing.
Social posts are like fireworks: loud and gone in 48 hours. A blog is like a wood stove: feed it, and it keeps you warm for years. Make yourself a brand, an Entity, earn your Knowledge Panel, and read these tips to write content worth reading.
Bottom line
Blogging is still viable. It is a long game, not a lottery ticket. Publish with purpose. Promote it hard. Track the results.
The format has changed over time, but the principle hasn’t: treat a blog like a business, and it pays like one.