When Instagram and TikTok weren’t popular, businesses, entrepreneurs, and influencers used blogs for marketing and building authority. Blogging was the way to drive traffic and get leads for your business.
So, where did blogging go? Why does it seem like no one reads your blogs anymore?
1. Too Much Content on the Internet
The amount of content on the internet has never been bigger. There’s a sea of blog posts and different kinds of content published daily – it’s so hard for a blog post to stand out.
On the other hand, it’s also so easy to get quick answers. People don’t have the patience and don’t bother to read long articles. They prefer to read on social media, watch a quick YouTube video, or ask AI.
2. Short-form Content is the Craze
These days, it seems everyone has the attention span of a 2-year-old. Platforms with short video content, like TikTok and Instagram, are to blame, because they keep the entire planet hooked with their addictive, engaging videos.
People prefer watching a 30-second reel with quick insights than reading a 1000-word blog.
3. Google’s Algorithm Changed
Writing long blogs and putting as many keywords as possible to make a good SEO is no longer the key to getting good traffic. Google has changed the rules, so you no longer need to be an SEO master to win.
Now, to be pushed by Google’s algorithm, you need to have featured snippets, incorporate AI to give answers, and be an authority site. Without all this, your blog post will be buried deep under dozens of others.
4. Attention Spans Are Shrinking
Most people have trouble focusing on long-form content. Instead, scrolling through bite-size content for hours has become a common addiction. Even if people try to consume long-form content, they get distracted easily.
People are used to getting the “reward” after a couple of seconds into the content they’re consuming. If not, they just scroll away.
5. AI is Writing Content Faster Than Ever
Since AI, especially ChatGPT, has gained popularity, there are more blogs than ever. Why? Because it’s so fast and easy for AI to write a text for a blog. It requires almost no effort.
However, those blogs don’t necessarily do well because they lack originality, and readers can sense when something doesn’t sound human.
6. Video Content is Trusted More Than Text
People prefer video content over text a lot more. That is because it is more engaging and feels personal. The audience values having a personal connection with the creator. It is not impossible, but as a blog, it’s harder to achieve this.
7. Mobile Users Prefer Quick Answers
Most people browse the internet on their phones because it’s the quickest and simplest way to get your answers. If your content isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re at a loss.
What Can You Do About It?
Does this mean blogging is dead? Not exactly. But you have to adapt. Here’s how:
- Write for humans, not for the algorithm. Write something more engaging and more personal. Try to establish a human connection with the audience.
- Make your blogs scannable. Use short paragraphs, subheadings, and bullet points.
- Repurpose your blog content. Writing blogs only is not enough today. Try creating short-form content related to the topic, too.
- Share your true and authentic voice. Drop the dry, encyclopedic explanations – what do YOU really think about this topic? What feelings and reactions does it spark for you? How have your experiences shaped your perspective?
- Implement visual elements. Make your blogs more engaging by using images, infographics, diagrams.
- Optimize for mobile. Considering everyone uses phones more, make sure it is mobile-friendly.
- Promote a lot. Don’t just publish and hope for the best. Hope alone won’t do anything. Instead, utilize other social media platforms and share your blogs there.
Bonus Tip for Protecting Your Privacy and Content:
As a blogger, you likely tend to work from different locations and do a lot of deep research on topics and blog competitors.
Because of this, online security should be important to you, so it is recommended to use a VPN to keep your data secure. Another benefit is that it also helps bypass content restrictions so you can access all information.
Final Thoughts
Blogging isn’t dead, it’s just changed. People aren’t reading blogs like they used to. You need to find your way around it and adapt to the change.
Make use of other social media platforms, and repurpose your blog into different content formats. Study the current consumer behavior and adapt your content to it. And, always focus on engagement and making it fun to read.
Do all this, and most importantly, put your spice and personality into your content and it will be impossible to ignore.