Should you start a blog in 2024?
If you’ve spent any time learning about blogging, you’ve probably already read 5,000 articles claiming blogging is dead.
And, this adage has only gotten worse after the rollout of Google’s Helpful Content Update last year that decimated lots of small publishers (aka bloggers) and tanked their income.
But let’s hold the doomsday talk for a second.
I’m a content marketer in my day job, and if the past year has taught me anything, it’s that blogging is still powerful.
I’ve still brought in leads from my clients’ blogs and people are still searching the internet for answers that they’ll probably find on…you guessed it, a blog.
I even started my own blog in 2024 despite watching several YouTube videos from website owners warning people away from doing so.
So why did I start a blog in 2024 and why do I think you still should, too?
Let’s get into it.
Why Start A Blog In 2024
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My Blog Is My “Library of Proof”
Proving you’re good at what you do through testimonials from clients is definitely important, but there are other ways you can gain people’s trust online, too.
If you want to prove to people that you’re knowledgeable and up to date about what’s happening in your niche, you need a blog.
I started this blog to share my thoughts on what’s happening in the world of content marketing and SEO, and to show that I can explain these things to people outside of the industry who might be intimidated by it.
My blog is the proof I show that I have experience and expertise related to the services I’m selling.
To get potential clients and customers to trust and respect you, you need to showcase your expertise and prove you’re an industry authority. Your blog is the perfect way to do that because you can share your own thoughts on a platform you own.
2. To Attract The Right Opportunities
I’ve been blogging since 2012, and it’s gotten me some pretty cool opportunities.
When I first started blogging, I wrote about books and pop culture. This landed me an internship with a publishing house, and even got me the opportunity to interview for a job on a book bus. Later down the line, blogging is what helped me change careers to content marketing.
Writing online is a powerful way to attract the right opportunities to you because blogging:
- Helps people discover you
- Showcases your expertise and ability to solve their problems
- Shows you take initiative
- Helps people get to know who you are as a person
With the right branding and plenty of content, you’ll be able to attract fewer people you don’t want to work with and more people who “get” you.
3. To Be More Creative With My Content
You’ve all heard it: AI is here. The robot takeover is imminent.
Since everyone can produce content with a single click (not that I’d recommend it…) it’s more important to be creative with your content, offer unique perspectives, and share actual opinions.
It’s not enough to rewrite the same stuff that’s already ranking in search results.
With more and more one-click content generators launching every day (**eye roll**), I know it’s absolutely critical to learn how to say something different that an AI generator CAN’T say.
Instead of looking at AI with a doom and gloom attitude, I’m planning to use it as an excuse to really get clever and creative and create some killer content.
4. To Use Blog Posts On Other Marketing Channels
I find content marketing so much easier when I start with a blog post.
It’s much easier to create a bunch of short-form pieces like LinkedIn posts or Twitter threads or Instagram captions from a piece of content with a lot of meat vs creating all those tiny pieces from scratch.
One blog post can become 5-10 pieces of content that I use on the other channels I’m using to market myself.
Blogging saves me a lot of work when it comes to my other marketing channels because it prevents me from staring at a blank page.
5. I Want A Platform I Completely Own
Owning your own website is never a bad business investment.
Social media platforms can be shut down at the drop of a hat (remember Vine?) but your website is basically forever.
I don’t want to build a huge audience on a single platform and then have something happen to it that would be a major business loss.
The only platforms you really own are your blog and your email list (and I’m not talking about Substack).
Don’t put all your eggs in one social media basket. Make sure that you have an audience on multiple platforms so you can protect what you’ve built.
6. To Help People Find My Business
The truth is, if your business website doesn’t have a blog, you’re losing reach and therefore money.
According to Hubspot, websites with blogs get 55% more traffic than those without.
All that traffic means more people are discovering your business.
Think about it: when you search something on Google, you land on a blog page, right?
Branded searches (people searching directly for your business) are great if lots of people know about you already, but how do you get people to actually find your business who’ve never heard of you before?
The answer is your blog.
You can provide answers to questions people may have about the type of service you provide or about your niche with blog posts.
The more people see your blog posts ranking high in search results when they’re researching the problem you solve, the more they’ll grow to trust your brand.
Blogging helps people find your business and builds your brand’s reputation in the process.
The Best Time To Start Your Blog
…is now!
More people are online than ever before, and they’re looking for solutions and answers they could find on your blog.
Your blog is the perfect way to showcase your expertise and build trust with potential clients and customers.
Blogging isn’t dead, and can still have major benefits to your business in 2024.
Need help getting started?
I work with entrepreneurs to create and manage their content so they reach more people who need their services.
Reach out today to learn more.