Blogs have changed a lot over the years. Technology and how people use the internet are major reasons for this shift. Many bloggers now use artificial intelligence (AI) to create content. Wix uses AI tools to generate complete blog posts, including images, that are optimized for search engines. The Verge notes that this helps bloggers save time and improve their reach.Despite these benefits, AI raises concerns about quality and authenticity. Pangram Labs and Originality AI reveal that nearly 50% of blog posts on platforms like Medium are AI-generated. This shift sparks worries about losing the personal touch and creativity that make blogs unique.
Still, blogging remains a powerful medium. Globally, 3 billion blog posts are published every year, according to Growth Badger. On WordPress alone, over 70 million posts are published each month, averaging about 2.33 million posts daily. These posts generate an astounding 20 billion page views monthly. Blogs still attract a massive audience. Tumblr hosts over 518 million blogs, demonstrating the ongoing demand for blogging. Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and Tumblr, has recently migrated all Tumblr blogs to a WordPress-based system. This upgrade ensures better stability, more features, and an improved user experience
Blogs are still about sharing ideas, telling stories, and connecting with readers. While technology like AI changes how blogs are made, it doesn’t change their purpose. Blogs continue to adapt, balancing innovation with personal creativity.
Create and Go reveals that blogs are still important. He explains that blogs are great for sharing detailed information, step-by-step guides, and long discussions. While videos and podcasts are growing, blogs stand out by offering content that lasts longer and stays relevant. Create and Go states that well-written blogs with specific and helpful content attract loyal readers. Create and Go also shares that blogs are a strong tool for making money online. He shows how blogs can support affiliate marketing, selling products, and building communities. AI tools and search engines now reward blogs that focus on user needs and quality. Create and Go explains that blogs can work with other content formats, like videos and podcasts, to create a central place for all your content.
I have been running one of the largest blogs in the digital marketing niche for over 10 years (since 2014). Blogging has become much harder than it used to be. I’ve even experienced setbacks from Google updates. That’s why I believe blogging is not ideal for beginners. Now, I focus on an online business model that is far better than blogging.
This article highlights the major developments in the blogging industry. It covers the growth of blogs, their golden age, and the impact of AI and Google algorithm updates. It also explores how blogs have changed over the years. Finally, this article reveals a business model that doesn’t require endless content creation and constant updates.
1.The Growth of Blogs and Bloggers Over the Years
Blogging has come a long way since it first appeared in the late 1990s. What began as a niche activity for tech enthusiasts has transformed over the years. Today, it is one of the most impactful ways people connect, share ideas, and express themselves online.
Blogging has continued to grow and develop over the years.
From its start as a simple form of journaling to its role as a trusted source of information and creativity, blogging proves it is here to stay. For millions of people, it remains one of the best ways to share ideas and connect with others worldwide.
2. The Impact of AI on Blogging in 2024
In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) changes how blogs are created and consumed. Bloggers use advanced tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Writesonic to produce content faster and efficiently. This shift brings both opportunities and challenges to the blogging world.
A report by HubSpot shows that over 65% of bloggers rely on AI-powered tools to help with content creation in 2024. AI tools generate SEO-optimized headlines, write entire articles, and suggest keywords to specific audiences. Wix and Squarespace add built-in AI features for users to create full blog drafts in just minutes. Wix’s AI Blog Writer gains popularity among small business owners. Wix helps them write posts that rank higher on Google with no need for technical expertise. Copy.ai also became my favorite. Bloggers can quickly create email newsletters and social media captions by using Copy.ai.
AI didn’t just speed up content creation; it also reshaped the blogging process:
Not all impacts of AI are positive. Pew Research Center reports that 40% of blog readers worry about the authenticity of AI-generated content. Pew Research Center says it lacks the personal touch and depth of traditional blogging. Medium also sees a 35% rise in AI-generated articles in 2024, with many flagged as repetitive or low-quality.
While AI can be useful for content creation, Nathan Gotch points out that Google prefers high-quality, human-generated content over low-quality AI content. Recent updates on Google’s algorithm show that it can detect and penalize AI-generated content, especially when it’s of poor quality. Gotch emphasizes that websites using spammy AI content often experience deindexing or poor rankings. Human-written content that adds value and relevance tends to perform better. Gotch also highlights that bloggers need to be careful with AI tools. Using AI tools to produce content without human intervention can lead to underperformance. To succeed, Gotch advises bloggers to use AI for generating initial drafts. Then, refine the content with human edits to ensure originality and quality.
3. The Impact of 2024 Google Algorithm Updates on Blogging
In 2024, Google releases a series of algorithm updates that deeply impact bloggers. These changes aim to improve search quality but cause many blogs to lose traffic, leaving creators scrambling to adapt.
These updates create major challenges for bloggers. Some lose as much as 80% of their organic traffic and risk disappearing from search results. Even those following the rules need to step up, focusing on producing high-quality, well-researched content to compete.
4. The Golden Age of Blogs
Blogs have come a long way from their early days as personal journals. In the early 2000s, they were the top choice for sharing personal stories, opinions, and even breaking news. Blogger, WordPress, and LiveJournal made it easy for millions of people to publish their thoughts with just a few clicks.
In 2004, blogs were everywhere. That year, "blog" was named Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year. By the end of 2004, over 8 million Americans had started blogs, and about 32 million people were reading them, according to Pew Research Center. Blogs moved beyond personal diaries, shaping public opinion, covering politics, and sharing expertise on topics like tech and cooking. Blogs also influenced traditional media. In 2004, a group of bloggers uncovered errors in a CBS News report about President George W. Bush’s military service. This event, called Rathergate. Bloggers could hold even the biggest media outlets accountable.
5. The Shift from Blogs to Social Media
As platforms like Facebook (founded in 2004) and Twitter (launched in 2006) became popular, the way people shared and consumed content changed. Social media provided faster, simpler ways to connect and interact. Instead of writing long blog posts, people started sharing quick updates, photos, and links. Video platforms like YouTube also gained traction. YouTube attracts audiences who prefer visual content over written articles.
According to a Quora user, blogs remain popular, but the way people consume content is shifting. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become the go-to for quick, visually appealing content. Many users now prefer podcasts for audio content and newsletters for curated, bite-sized information. While blogs are still relevant, the competition for attention is growing. To stay competitive, your content must have more visuals, interactivity, or by repurposing it for different platforms.
Why Blogging Isn’t Dead in 2025?
Blogging isn’t dead in 2025 because it meets important needs for businesses and readers. A HubSpot survey found that 77% of internet users still read blogs. Blogs are a trusted source of information. OptinMonster also reports that 62.96% of readers trust blogs with multiple authors For businesses, blogs are powerful tools to attract and keep customers. TechJury states that adding a blog to a website can increase traffic by 434%, while HubSpot found that brands prioritizing blogging get 13 times more ROI than those that don’t. Even local businesses benefit—BrightLocal reports that 68% of people believe all local businesses should have a blog.
Blogging works because it offers useful, trustworthy content. Blogs also help businesses connect with their audience and improve their online visibility. Blogs remain the go-to for detailed, high-quality information. This is why blogging is not dead—it’s evolving and thriving.
Conclusion: Why Local Lead Gen Is Far Better Than Blogging?
Local lead generation is far better than blogging because it offers faster results, less work to start and lower competition. Local lead generation helps you start earning income much faster than blogging. A well-targeted local lead generation website can rank on Google’s first page in about six weeks. Once it ranks, you can sell the leads to local businesses for a profit. Blogging, on the other hand, takes much longer to bring in money. On average, it takes around 21 months for bloggers to earn their first dollar.
Additionally, creating a local lead generation website is simpler than maintaining a blog. All you need is a basic website with an SEO-optimized homepage, a few service pages, and some blog posts. It doesn’t take a lot of content to get started. Blogging, however, requires more effort. You need at least 50 posts, each with around 1,500 words, before Google will start giving your blog visibility. Additionally, you need to keep adding fresh content regularly to stay ranked.
With local lead generation, you target specific services and locations. This gives you a big advantage because you don’t compete with blogs that cover broad topics. Even if you choose a niche for your blog, you’re still up against a large number of global competitors. Local lead generation allows you to focus on local markets. It is easier to rank high on Google and get noticed by potential customers.
One of the great things about local lead generation is that you can create multiple websites and try different niches and locations. If one site doesn’t perform well, you can easily move on to the next without much risk.
