With so much Instagram content to go through and YouTube videos to watch, does anyone read blogs nowadays? When people need information about something, they tend to get it through social media. Blogs are rarely the first source that comes to mind. But does that mean they are completely out?
Blogging has several benefits that are still valuable. For those who need detailed textual information, a blog is the best platform to provide it. Of course; things have changed. The concept of blogging has to progress along with the new trends.
Let’s discuss the current value of blogs, so it will be easier for you to decide if blogging is worthy of your time.
Are Blogs Still Relevant and Matter?
1. Blog Posts are Resourceful
Social media posts are attractive, but they cannot be compared with well-researched blog posts that support statements with scientific data. When people need such content, they don’t search for it on social media. They use Google to find the most popular and detailed blog posts that answer their questions.
2. Call to Action is Important
When blogging is part of a content marketing campaign, the posts are always written with an intention to trigger some kind of action.
Let’s say you’re a makeup artist who wants to promote a local business. A beauty blog gives you space to answer the most important questions of your target audience. For example, if someone is worried about eyebrow hair loss, they can find answers and tips on your website. But you’ll also lead them to other posts, social media profiles, and YouTube videos. Your content will trigger shares and comments. As a result, it will be easier for you to reach your target audience. As the blog gets more popular, its author will receive sponsorship offers from important brands.
All of this can be done via social media, but blogs are the go-to place for those looking for actual solutions. Google is easier to research than social media, and it prefers delivering in-depth content to its users.
3. Blogging Helps You Generate Leads
When someone likes your content, they can subscribe to your email list. This is an important step forward. At that point, they become more than visitors; they are leads. With good posts and the right calls to action, you can transform random Internet searchers into potential customers.
What Can Make Blogs Irrelevant?
Yes; blogs still have a lot to offer. High-quality content that’s properly promoted can attract thousands of visitors within hours after being published. But some practices are definitely outdated, and you must avoid them if you want to have a successful blog.
1. Plagiarism
Remember the days when website owners used to rewrite and copy the content, suffocate it with keywords, and publish it with the intention to attract more traffic? Those strategies no longer work. That’s why all website and blog owners use a free online plagiarism checker to make sure their content is 100% unique. If you notice any unintentional plagiarism, you’ll have to solve the issues before publishing your content. That’s because search engines sanction websites that feature plagiarized content. Plus, your audience doesn’t want to read the same things over and over again. When they come to your website, they expect to learn something new.
Search engines grew a lot. They came to the point when they are smart enough to tell if your content is valuable for a potential visitor. This is the era of original, creative content that’s worthy of people’s time.
2. Exclusively Textual Content
This may work in exceptional instances when text is all the audience wants to see. In most cases, however, breaking up the text with high-quality visuals is mandatory. Photos may no longer be enough. Perform a simple Google search on any topic, and you’ll notice that the top-ranked blogs usually include video or audio content. That’s how they become and remain competitive.
If you want to boost the effectiveness of your blog, consider filming brief YouTube videos to complement each post. The visitors who want more details can read the text, but the video will be enough for those who need quick answers. Podcasts are also great!
3. Quantity
This is still one of the most important tips for bloggers: create a publishing schedule and follow it! But does this mean you should be writing and publishing new content every single day?
A few years ago, bloggers were occupied with activity. They had to hire freelance writers and editors to manage a tight schedule. Nowadays, their social media activity is a priority regarding frequency. They still publish blog posts, but only when they have something really important to share.
If you just started a blog, you can post on a weekly basis or more frequently. But quality (instead of quantity) should be your guiding point!
Overview: Is Blogging Irrelevant?
Absolutely not… when done properly.
The most popular blogs show no signs of slowing down. Some of them, such as Wait But Why, may have periods of being idle. But they still have the potential to come back, and their audience is ready to accept the content with more enthusiasm than ever.
Blogging is a vital element of any digital marketing campaign. Social media may have become the priority, but blogs are still essential in terms of attracting people to your website, creating leads, and sharing important content with your audience.
If you were having doubts about starting a blog, go ahead and do it. You only need to avoid the outdated practices and focus on the ones that still work.
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