Is blogging dead? Why the written word still matters online

I just typed “is blogging dead” into Google (yes, that is how I research things) and this is what their new AI Overview came up with: 

• No, blogging is not dead. 
• It’s a relevant and profitable content marketing channel that can help SEO. 
• It’s evolved. (Now includes images!)
• It’s still popular—there are 600 million active blogs that produce 6 million posts every day. 
• It’s influential, niche blogs especially. 
• Even Gen Z read them. 

That’s that—article done. Blogging is still relevant! 

But in all seriousness, let’s dive a little deeper into this topic. Blogging—writing a blog post that appears on a company, organization, or person’s website—is one type of content marketing. And, I’d argue, an important one. 

So let’s talk about it—why blog writing and all other forms of content marketing are relevant, impactful, and necessary for success in today’s online world. And, we’ll look at why hiring a pro (spoiler: me!) can help you get a couple of steps ahead. 

The world of content marketing

The first important question to address is: what is content marketing? Or more specifically, what is content writing? 

We typically distinguish writing as either content writing or copywriting. The difference is: 

• Content writing aims to educate, inform, inspire, or explain. 
• Copywriting aims to sell or provoke specific action. 

For example, a long-form blog post explaining the different types of dog collars and which is best for your breed is a type of content writing—the goal is to educate readers. An email from a dog collar company launching a new product is a type of copywriting—the goal is to sell you a collar. 

But, alas, the lines are not always so clear. Because, of course, a company can write a blog post with strong calls-to-action (CTAs) to buy a collar throughout… it’s a little bit content, a little bit copy. 

In general, though, content writing is for education, learning, explanation, etc. And not all content is writing—content also comes in forms of videos, podcasts, social media posts, infographics, and so much more.

All of these, along with writing-based content (eBooks, blog posts, case studies, whitepapers, etc.) fall into the realm of content marketing—essential for any person or organization with an online presence today.

What blogs can do for you

I’ve written at least 1,000 blog posts over the last 3.5 years as a content writer. The vast majority are ghostwritten for clients in industries like coworking, personal finance, real estate, and more. 

Add to this the thousands of emails, newsletters, social media posts, reports, and websites and you can say I’ve been busy! 

But why do it? 

Well, clients work with me for a few reasons: 

1. They have something to say. They have a message to share with their audience, but don’t want to (or can’t) write it themselves—I can help with that.
2. They want to sell something. They have a product or service that they want to sell, but know it needs to be attached to some clever and interesting content/copy—I can help that.
3. They want to increase their online visibility. They want to show up in search engines and get more clicks with a better SEO strategy—I can help with that. 
4. They want to educate, inform, and add value. They have information and knowledge they want to pass on (paid or free)—I can help with that.

I think these are the four reasons why blogging, specifically, and content writing more generally is still relevant and important today. 

Good content: 

1. Inspires others with new ideas, thoughts, or perspectives. 
2. Sells services and products. 
3. Boosts online visibility through SEO. (This is a great article on why SEO is important in 2024.)
4. Informs people of important information. 

Some of these goals can be achieved through other mediums as well. Audio, video, or images are all powerful tools in your arsenal. But, the written word is still essential. Just imagine your favourite brand, influencer, company, or organization communicating with you with zero words. It would be weird, right? We need words.

And you, reading this post right now, are the ultimate proof that content writing matters—you’re reading this blog after all. Is blogging dead? Apparently not.

So, if you’re sold on the fact that content writing is needed but just don’t want to do it yourself… let’s talk. You don’t have to go at it alone! I know how to write content that specifically aligns with your strategy so we can reach your goals together.