You will be surprised how often I am asked such questions. Here is the short answer: NO! It’s actually a great time to blog, even if you’re just starting out.
I’m excited to tell you why – I’m really passionate about this topic!
The internet is not dead. In fact, more than ever, the internet is where people turn to for both information and inspiration. It is estimated that Google processes over 8.5 billion searches every day (!!!!!!). It could be your blog that shows up in those searches and answers someone’s question.
As long as people use the Internet, browse websites for answers to frequently asked questions or everyday dilemmas, or need inspiration for their lives.
They might be looking for inspiration for a house renovation, what winter coat to buy, or maybe they want to change their hairstyle, etc.) Blogging continues to have a place in the world.
People (now more than ever) actually know what blogs are. There are fewer barriers to getting people to read your blog. When we started blogging, people didn’t always recognize this type of site as a source of information that they thought was legitimate.
I think that feeling has changed. People would rather get information (like setup advice) from a person they like more than from a company website. There is more trust for bloggers than there used to be because it has become more common and accepted over time.
There are SO MANY easy-to-use tools to start and maintain a blog. There are tools we only dreamed of when we started! For me, this is the main reason why it is now easier to start a blog than it used to be.
There are various website platforms, plugins, and entire companies of developers who understand bloggers’ needs (and are ready to serve them). It is great! No need to cobble together website features. It’s like your first car is a Porsche instead of a go-kart.
And along with more tech-savvy tools, there’s simply more community and more readily available information on how to get blogging and how to make it work for you. Our Blog Essentials e-course can help you get started today.
Is blogging worth it?
There are monetization strategies for the community so you don’t have to create your own model. You can monetize a blog in many different ways, but there are so many more readily available options than when you first started blogging.
At A Beautiful Mess we monetize in four main ways:
- CPM-based ads (the ads you see in our sidebar and between content across our site)
- sponsorships
- Affiliate Marketing (like the LTK Network, formerly called RewardStyle)
- Selling our own products (we’ve tried several, from t-shirts to iPhone apps)
And for each of these four ways we monetize our blog, there are SO many more tools and options available than when we started!
Is blogging still worth it?
For us yes. Think about it: sponsors are aware of blogging and social media. Most large companies now have an annual budget to work with influencers. It could be you!
It’s for anyone who shows up regularly, posting quality work, and building their audience.
Is Blogging Hard?
Yes. While it might be a little easier to do (with the advent of so many blogger-friendly tools), it’s more competitive than ever. You have to stand out. You can’t just post whatever comes to mind with a semi-blurred photo… like some of us were guilty of in 2008 (raises hand, embarrassed).
I think that’s the big mistake people make. It’s not that blogging is dead (it’s not), it’s more that blogging is more competitive and requires a lot of hard work over a long period of time.
It’s not something you can start and expect to make an income in the first few months. It takes time not only to get good at blogging but also to grow your audience.
IIs blogging still relevant in 2022?
Yes! It’s probably the most relevant/valuable ever, but it’s also more competitive. Your blog probably won’t explode overnight like it would have in the past, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create something valuable for yourself and your readers.
If you want to learn more about how we blog or are thinking about starting a blog yourself, check out our Blog Essentials course.
We also teach courses on podcasting, Instagram and even how to write and pitch a book idea. You can view all of our course offerings here.
XO, Emma