I realize this statement might be hollow coming from a blogger, but I hope you’ll hear me out on this. My perspective on why blogging isn’t dead is much more objective than you might imagine. In fact, I’m quite pragmatic for a creative person. I can detach myself from the fact that I’m a blogger by profession and look at it from the perspective of an entrepreneur. I’m also realistic about how the internet landscape has changed over the past 15 years and how social media has altered the way we ingest content. This post is coming out of several conversations I’ve had with other business owners over the years, one as recently as last week, and I decided it was time to put all my thoughts on this issue in a blog post.
I’ve always struggled with what to put on my business card since I’ve worn a lot of hats – designer, artist, author, writer, paint company owner, antique dealer, photographer, stylist, etc. But, I think what I’m ultimately known for and what has been consistent throughout my 15+ years of business is writing this blog. I started it in 2009 and I have written over 4,000 posts. For the first five years of publishing, I barely missed one day.
At one time or another in my business, I have stopped doing many things, some of which I did for years. I stopped painting murals for clients, I stopped accepting commissioned pieces of furniture, I left retail stores where I sold antiques and furniture, I stopped refinishing furniture to sell, I stopped selling antiques at markets and online, I stopped writing a monthly DIY column for a magazine, I sold my paint line. But, I have never stopped writing on my blog and I have never even considered it.
One reason is that I love it. That is a personal argument that isn’t going to apply to everyone and it’s certainly not a reason that would compel someone else to start a blog. If you don’t love taking pictures and writing about things, you probably won’t love having a blog. It would be a burden and a chore. But, I love it and it has become a part of my creative process. I do things or make things, I take pictures of it, and I write about it. It gives me a fresh perspective on what I make, how I feel about it, and why I make the choices I do. I have learned so much about my aesthetic and myself through this act. I would still take pictures of what I make and write about it even if no one ever read it.
Now that the personal reason is out of the way, let me share the more pragmatic reasons that I think blogging is beneficial and why I would recommend it in some form or fashion to every creative business owner.
it’s your home on the internet
Having a presence on popular social media platforms that make sense with your brand is smart, but your true home should be your own website. It should be your home on the internet that you own, manage, and maintain. If your only internet presence is on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, then you are renting your place on the internet and have no control over the ownership, management, and maintenance of that platform. If you’ve been on any of these platforms since their early days, you have likely experienced the frustration of this arrangement and how changes they made can directly affect your bottom line. You do all of the work to grow your following and they control that following and your access to it. See the problem?
Have a presence on those platforms. Utilize them to your advantage as free advertisement, to reach a broader pool of potential customers, and to funnel traffic to your internet home. Don’t rely on them entirely, though, because they are all about growing their business, not yours.
your work doesn’t die in inboxes & get buried in feeds
I believe in working efficiently and getting the most out of the work I produce. I first explored that philosophy when I was refinishing furniture. How can I make the most money out of one piece of furniture? In many cases, I made money when I sold the piece, I made money when I shared about it on my blog, I made money when I posted a YouTube video tutorial, and I made money when people bought the products I promoted either from my own line or affiliate links. And those additional sources of income had the potential to bring in money long after the piece of furniture was sold, working for me when I was done with the work.
I have never hopped on the newsletter bandwagon because my blog is my newsletter. Why spend the time creating and curating content, taking photos, and writing captions only to have it die in subscribers’ inboxes or be buried in a social media feed by time and competition? When I create content for my blog, it is saved in an archive of over 4,000 posts that is relatively easy for readers to find or revisit. If you have tried searching for a post you saw on Instagram a few weeks ago, you know what a challenge that is! If you want to find out what kind of hardware I used on my kitchen cabinets, you can type “kitchen cabinet hardware” into the search bar on my blog and find posts about it.
In many cases, the posts that are most popular on my blog are ones I wrote years ago that keep cycling their way through Pinterest or popping up in Google searches. Your content will work harder for you if you post it on your internet home and let it live there.
it’s searchable content
This leads me to a very important point about having your own site/blog – it is searchable. When someone asks how to make a slipcover out of dropcloths or how to make a chair cushion, they might find my blog simply because I have written about those topics. When you type in Google searches, the top results are not from Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. (Unless you’re searching specifically for a viral video on one of those platforms like “Buster the dog who keeps jumping into the pool TikTok video.”) The results displayed are sponsored content, relevant YouTube videos (Google owns YouTube), and searchable websites like mine. The content you’ve made can’t solve a problem, answer a question, or meet a need if people looking for that solution or answer can’t find you. They will find someone else.
you don’t have to play the algorithm game
Social media platforms are for-profit companies and their goal is to get people to use their app as often as possible for as long as possible. They want people sharing on their platforms to create content that is eye-catching, share-worthy, and addictive. Since they aren’t the ones doing the creating and posting, they will do everything within their power to create a system that rewards people who create that way. They will incentivize making content that is more likely to be shared and go viral, even if it’s gimmicky, click-bait, and staged. They will create algorithms that reward and promote content that is addictive in order to keep users on their platform.
If you want people to see your work, you are forced into a creative funnel designed by people who don’t care about your creative voice, the way you want to share your work with the world, the success of your business, or your mental and emotional health. When you post on your own site, you share for yourself and your readers, not algorithms. Yes, there is still SEO (search engine optimization) to consider, but I find that has far less of an impact on what and how I share.
it makes your site dynamic
So, what if you have a website but a blog isn’t a part of your website? You at least have a home and that’s a good thing, but I would make a case for posting on a blog in order to keep your site dynamic. If your site hasn’t changed in months or years, search engines aren’t going to view it as an active site with updated information. Even posting your weekly or monthly newsletter as a blog post will, one – make the most of your content, two – put searchable content on your site, and three – add new content to your site making it more dynamic.
This leads me to the two biggest hang-ups business owners have about posting on a blog. One, they don’t have the time because they are busy running their business. Two, they don’t see themselves as writers. To the first hang-up, I would say that is completely valid. I’ve had this conversation with many vendors at Lucketts who are just too busy running a successful business to add a blog on top of it. What I would suggest is duplicating content you’re already creating for social media sites. Take your photo and Instagram caption and make it into a blog post. It will only take a few extra minutes and will get you posting on your own site. A blog post really can be as simple as a photo and a caption. Or, you can post weekly and combine a few photos and captions you’ve already taken, edited, and posted. Just copy, paste, and post. If your blog is connected to an RSS feed, that post will be e-mailed out to your subscribers and will eliminate the need for a newsletter. You want to put out a newsletter? Put it on your blog and let it go out that way.
The second hang-up about not being a writer is understandable, but it’s also not necessary to be a writer to share what you’re doing on your own website. You can be as brief or as thorough as you want. It can be conversation or formal. It can be mostly pictures or just a few simple facts about what you’re doing, what you’re selling, and upcoming sales and events. It can be whatever you want it to be. It’s a record, a log, a communication tool, not a novel.
Do I think every creative business owner has to have a blog? No. Do I think a newsletter or posting on social media is a waste of time? No. In fact, I think having a presence on as many social media platforms as you can makes good business sense. It’s the village square and community billboard. You want your business there! You just don’t want to put all of your eggs in those baskets for the reasons I shared above.
Blogging has changed a lot in the 15 years since I started writing here, but that doesn’t mean blogs have died. It simply means they’ve changed. Traffic is more diffused, devices are more advanced, advertising is more intrusive (mostly due to smaller screens & ad blindness), and our attention spans are shorter. In fact, if you’ve made it this far, 1848+ words in, congrats! You beat the split-second attention span most of us are developing through high-speed scrolling.
Do I think blogs will ever have the traffic and popularity they did 10 years ago? Probably not. Doubtful. But, I do think there is still a lot of value to them and I hope, if it’s something you’ve been considering, this gives you the push you need to build and move into your internet home and spend a bit more time there.
40 Responses
This. 1000%
Thank you Miriam, very well said.
Argh Marian, sorry darn autocorrect
Thank you for this. Just starting out on IG and Blogging. Some days I don’t see the point and other days it’s sharing what I love. xo
I love blogs and I check yours Monday through Thursday, which is when you typically post. Maybe I am old school but all the videos make me feel jittery and I cannot consume information that way. I like to read and study photos. And the biggest reason is probably the one you point out – it is a reference to find information later. Thanks for sharing your creativity, knowledge, skills and thoughts. I enjoy it and have for many years.
I agree It takes time to think, view and process information Our brains were not designed for constant rapidfire stimulation. I love pouring overand absorbing the information
I for one am so glad you’ve stayed true to your blog. I’ve watched the landscape change and aim not thrilled with the contours. I’ve also watched horrible things promoted while good things are tucked away.
I love that I can search the blog. It’s like a catalogue of design at my fingertips.
I wish I had your talent. But I’m grateful you share it.
Personally dislike short form, click bait-y content. I love blogs and the longer format invites me to slow down. I appreciate bloggers who are still out there doing it.
I’ve been blogging since about 2006 (I think), and yours was the one I’ve read most consistently every week since you started. Your writing inspired me to keep writing.
And I agree with so many others here. I love the long-form story blogs. The popup ads drive me crazy, but too much video content with the flashing screen lights gives me a headache.
Yes! I’m with you, Marian! I’m still a fan of blogging, in fact, I just started my 18th year!
I know many abandoned their blogs years ago for various other platforms but I find so much value in continuing to share on my blog and newsletter.
I am glad I never stopped, and I’m glad you didn’t either.
Great post, friend.
I have been faithful to you for all of those reasons. I understand that people need to make money, and I am for all of that 100% If you succeed, we all get to learn and to benefit from your success.
I do get bored with every other sentence being a sales pitch.
I love your heart, I love your knowledge, and I thank you for staying true to the pregnant girl who scooted around on cardboard to do her floors.
I will always read your every word.
Agreed – I honestly do like to read Blogs – it gives me info that I like/need, where Instagram, Tic Tock and the rest does not.
I love your feeds because they cover an assortment of topics, well thought out and often researched. You provide updates and information on your projects, on your home and all of your wonderful creative endeavors. Well done! You provide something of value – you add something to my day when I read your posts. And, I can go back to your blog is I need to review it again. That works for me.
Now, I like the fact that most bloggers are not spending their time promoting products daily in order to boost their bottom line. Now, don’t get me wrong, promoting products is ok, and a way to generate income – I get it. However, I am quite tired of everyone promoting/posting products at every turn. I really do not need to tell me what to buy at Walmart, Target, Anthropology, Gap, Pottery Barn,…….etc. I can and actually PREFER to shop on my own. I DON”T NEED YOUR HELP. I am so tired of seeing someone in an outfit that they are promoting, seeing them pose (see the ever perpetual head tilt – does anyone EVER really tilt their head like that except when posing for their cell phone camera????)
You do product reviews – nice touch. You look at products, review them given your experiences plus wants/needs. That works (and no head tilt)!
Now, this is my opinion and I am sure there will be many that disagree – and that is ok. I just wanted to give you kuddos on continuing to blog and offering some of us real content.
Gosh, product “pushing” (that is what I call it) is even on tv shows – Today show, Jennifer Hudson, are just a few that come to mind.
At least they are honest that they receive income from their promotions. Most “influencers” out there do not.
thanks Marion for this very well written thoughts and ideas on blogging. I met so many life long friends when blogging and can’t remember now why I quit. But have been thinking more and more about taking it back up again. Thanks for the push… xo lynn
Your blog makes me slow down and read. I appreciate the varied subjects you cover. I have no interest in painting but I love seeing your Paintings. Your design eye speaks to me. I gave up on social media about 8 years ago because it became a misinformation tool. Keep doing what you’ve been doing.
blogs are my favorite way of keeping up with my favorite creatives. I’ve followed you since I discovered blogs. Beautiful still photos, descriptions that inspire, DiY’s with actual instructions and not having to comment a key word to get the supplies! I get that some are earning money and may in fact operate on IG as a business, and need to pay attention to the dreaded algorithm . But Instagram has filled me with contempt more than inspiration lately. It just seems that the majority are there to sell something, or write “real” opinions on things they’ve been given. It just doesn’t seem genuine anymore. Thank you for posting this and voicing what many feel. I still look forward to see your name pop up in my email!
I have been reading your blog since almost the beginning and am glad you’re still at it. I have been researching this topic of how to best utilize one’s time as a business owner and creative when it comes to an online presence for myself (antique dealer just starting an IG account) and my artist son (IG account to get his art more visible with thoughts toward what he might do in the future – he’s 12 so we have some time.) It’s fascinating, particularly as people who love old things, to learn new ways to share that love. There are so many choices and things competing for people’s attention, it does take some discernment to determine what is best for one – personally and professionally. I have always thought you have stayed true to your interests and are honest about why you share the things you do. Thank you for that!
Oh, how I miss the days when I could sit down for a few quiet moments after I got the kids off to school and catch up on my favorite blogs – so many of them have disappeared over the years, and I agree with so many followers who have already commented on how much better it was to be able to take your time reading a blog, looking at the beautiful pictures, understanding how something was done or created, and perhaps coming back to read it again later, rather than looking at a quick video or image, and then being passed along to the next thing someone else thinks you’ll be interested in. I so appreciate the time and effort you have put into creating and sharing your blog for all these years, and hope that others follow your lead – thank you!
I always read your blog. I wish others blogged also. I get so much value from a blog. It’s real to me in a way instagram is isn’t . Please dont stopposting.
I still read your blog and always enjoy it. I do not do Tic Tok and not always social media do to all the ads. I can depend on the blogs I follow for the creativity I seek. Thank you so much.
Thank you for this post Marian! I’ve been shifting my business in this direction this year and I truly believe this!!! This is the encouragement I needed! ♥️
Yes! 100% on point
You always present your info in such a relatable way…..I look forward to your insightfulness. Your blog is the 1st one I ever read, been a follower for over 10 years 🙂
Keep it up!
There must be some folks like me who simply Do Not Do ANY social media. I love your blog, always have, and the blog is so much more personal, almost like getting a letter from a friend. I especially love your posts about shells and painting. Keep going!
Yep, I’m one of those too!
I have loved your blog since the beginning and love your point….I can refer back to previous blogs and reread and learn about something new all the time. All good.
Marian, I have been with you since 2009. You were the first Blog I found and I would miss you terribly if i could not read your blog and see what you are up to. You have become part of my life and have been a huge help in helping me find ME! You helped define my style and I have grown along with you. You gave me the courage to paint furniture and do much more. I started selling and opened 3 successful stores because of you! You are my dear friend, even though we have never met in person! To help jog your memory, I am the person who mailed you the cups to match your Blue Devon Cottage plates probably 8 or 9 years ago.
Let just say this first: I subscribe, enjoy and read your blog most every time it appears in my inbox, even after all these years. You make some very good points. I do so admire your work ethic and creative ideas. However, let me also say this: when the fun pastime of blogging became a business for so many instead of just a pleasant way for creatives to connect with one another, that’s when I became disenchanted. I quit, as did many, many others, who were talented and worthwhile in so many ways. We just did not want to compete, or could not, because of the expenditures which became a necessity to keep up what had become a big cutthroat business. So many people I enjoyed getting to know and drawing inspiration from just folded their tents and went away. I eventually did the same. I still read probably three blogs now, so I suppose it says something about your ability to create interesting content in what seems an effortless folksy way, even though I am well area that you work very hard at this and have lots of technical help. Your overall likability and never seeming to forget the roots of how you began are important keys to your continuing success. I certainly cannot say the same for so many of the others I ditched along the way. They became so obnoxious in their quests for the almighty dollar that I just could not stomach them any more.
Marian, Can you give us tips on how to create a blog?
yeah, I realized I completely left that part out! I’m going to write a follow-up blog post giving details on the how. 🙂
All very good points. Another bonus to having a blog is having a portfolio of your work readily available to share. While blogging is still relevant- it is becoming more and more difficult to earn a reliable income from it. So , perhaps blogging in conjunction with another activity that generates reliable income. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Marian, I have read every blog post you have written and look forward to each new one. You interest and inspire me. I don’t own a home, but I nest more beautifully anywhere I am because of your example. I don’t have a garden, but have loved seeing yours thrive. If I ever have the opportunity to refinish or upholster a piece of furniture, your blog is where I will turn to for instruction. I once painted a mural wall because I saw how beautifully yours turned out. I share your love of well-used things and cherish them even more because you articulate their beauty. I don’t oil paint, but I taught myself to paint with watercolor because you demonstrated that practice makes us better. Your 100 Meadows project encouraged me to paint similar landscapes over and over and I improved. I even found the courage to offer my work for sale because of you. Thank you for continuing your blog all these years and know that I am an enthusiastic reader and grateful recipient.
Can I ask a stupid question? What did you mean by “You want to put out a newsletter? Put it on your blog and let it go out that way.” Thank you. Just trying to get back into blogging and I haven’t been very good at doing that. Trying to get as much information as possible.
Good question! Each of my blog posts goes out in an e-mail feed to my subscribers. I find it to be redundant to send those subscribers blog posts and a newsletter. My blog posts are my newsletter. if I have an upcoming sale, something I want to share, etc., I’m just going to post it on my blog, so it can live online, and it will go out to subscriber inboxes as well. It accomplishes more than a newsletter alone.
Thank you, Marian, I understand now!
Is there a way to get the content actually in the email instead of just a link to the post?
Yes, you can choose to send out the blog posts in their entirety or to have them truncated so subscribers click over to the blog to read more.
Oh, I would hope that blogging would NEVER be dead! It is such a valuable thing!
As a reader of your blog since almost the very beginning, I can tell you that I LOVE your blog posts and they have been a very good creative influence on me all these years. I lament the fact that many other excellent blogs have disappeared and I miss them. I am so thankful that you have kept yours up, going, and improving over time to enrich all of our lives. Like others have said, it is like conversing with a cherished friend every day. You will never know how many lives you have touched and helped for the better, but know that indeed that has happened.
I love this post so so much! Thank you for writing it. It was what my soul needed to hear this morning. I’ve been reading your blog since the early days (2010-ish?) and you inspired me to start my own blog. Lately I’ve been asking myself why I do this, is anyone really out there? And this is the spark I needed to continue on. Writing about treasures found and projects finished is so joyful! Thank you again for the words of wisdom!!
I don’t think blogging is dead, on the contrary, it is alive and kicking. An audience out there that loves to read and is tired of the flashy ego stuff. Not age-related I can assure you. I fell into your blog because you love blue as much as I do. Plus, a mom and an artist.
I love blogs. I used to have at least 15 that I kept up with regularly. This was back in your early days — in Pennsylvania, I think? But yours is the only one that I attempt to read any more because blogs are almost impossible to navigate. I read this post, or most of it, at least, on my phone and while I was reading, Google would swap out one ad for another and if it was a different size it would cause my feed to jump to a different place in your post. There were at least 17, probably more, ad slots that were loading and reloading with new ads while I was trying to find your content. I struggled with that for a while and then assumed I’d gotten the gist of what you wrote, so I started trying to get down to the comment box to leave you this message. It kept erasing what I was typing because the ads loading were causing the post to reload and reformat. So I went to my bedroom, opened up my mobile office bag, and got out my laptop so I could again find your post, again scroll through the loading and unloading ads and find this comment box so that I could tell you: I love your content. It inspires me! It has helped me so much as I’ve been figuring out how to make our home into a place that I enjoy and feel expresses who we are. I love the blogging format. I’ve followed you for SO LONG. But I rarely actually come read your posts unless the email preview is extra enticing because it’s just so dang frustrating to have my screen jumping around and having to wade through the ads. I do want you to get paid for your work. But who has the patience to wade through the jumpy format any more? If there is a trick, I’m all ears! BTW, even on my laptop my screen has jumped me out of this comment box several times. And my phone and laptop are top of the line current technology. If I could get an ad free version…I’d be ecstatic! Or put it in a newsletter, as they say…
I love you wrote this- I learned much!
It’s so hard to navigate and FIND blogs any more, at least for me. That is what I love to glean info from. How does one do so??
( and side notes, it was a long scroll to find where
to post a comment here. And, as I was trying to read your post here, the ads kept popping up and losing my place. Suggestions for that as well?)
Thanks so much! I enjoy your posts!
Blogging is not dead, the problem is that there are so many of them now. Everyone has a blog now. To make a blog stand out and to make money from it, the blogger has to become a brand, market themselves, and make connections. Bloggers need to identify their audienced and engage online with them. Not enough bloggers appreciate this fact. It is not dead, it is just so hard to stand out now. Thank you for posting this.