Blog Death? How Evolution Will Keep You Alive Online

By: | November 27, 2016 | Tags: , , , |

Blogging has seen many changes since it began, but is it time to discuss blog death?

blog death blog #blogging evolution

Image from Flickr

Contributed Post with an Introduction by Janice Wald

Is it too soon to start thinking about your blog death?

No!

Plan your blog death now.

I will tell you why.

It’s 2020.

Videos grow more important by day.

Podcasts are a new emerging technology.

Pretty soon everyone will have a podcast.

Hey, too vain to go in front of the video camera?

No problem if you have a podcast that’s soley audible.

What other technology may make your blog death imminent?

Instagram, infographics, Slide Share…

There are so many ways to transmit information now, that preparing for your blog death may be called for.

Let’s see what today’s guest author predicts.

Is your blog death imminent?

You will find, if you look, no shortage of articles online talking about the death of the blog. Now, if you move in online circles, you may ask around and see what people think. “So, uh, what do you make of the death of the blog?”

Friend #1, a currently successful blogger, will respond, “The what of the blog?” and check his phone to see if his is still there.

Friend #2, a social media ambassador, will say, “Oh yes, I’ve read about that. Well, I don’t know about death. But with Twitter and Facebook and Instagram, there has been a shift”.

Friend #3, who is eighteen and makes gaming videos for YouTube, will say, “Blog?”, and turn back to their PS4.

There is no doubt, the blog has changed somewhat over the recent past, but to talk about its death is to exaggerate the case to the point of absurdity. There are still blogs. Personal, lifestyle, news, promotional, they’re all still there. They have evolved. In many cases, influential bloggers have ceased operations on their own personal blogs and been given jobs at news outlets. After all, mainstream media never saw a threat without wanting to buy it out like a bank employing a hacker to advise them on web security.

Blogging has certainly changed. And if you’re thinking of starting one, or wondering why you’re not getting the same traffic on your existing one, then you need to change with it.

Why You Don’t Need to Worry about Your Blog Death

First, Cast Your Net Wide

If you have a blog, then you probably already have social media accounts. At the very least, I’d guess you tweet. If you’re not making every post on your blog shareable, then you’re wasting a lot of time and effort. But it’s worth remembering that because of Twitter (and Facebook), people no longer go to blogs for live, up-to-date reaction.

death of the blog #blogging evolution is possible

Image from Flickr

Think of social media as your 24-hour news outlet, and your blog as the daily newspaper. If you’re focused on a particular topic or niche, and events are taking place connected to that, tweet live reactions. (By all means, have a post which updates every time you tweet, for those who don’t use Twitter). Keep at it until the event has passed. Then consider your analysis of the event, write it up and post it on your blog which you then share on social networks to attract the people who liked your tweets.

If You Won’t Start A Vlog, At Least Make Video Posts

We’ve all met people who can express themselves beautifully in the written word, but struggle to hold conversations. It’s not easy to speak directly to people, but there’s a reason vloggers are getting book deals. It’s more immediate, more intimate and frankly, more lucrative. So every time something happens that is too big to ignore, make a reaction video.

Use visual aids. If someone has written a book that you want to take issue with, have the book there with you and brandish it. Open and visibly read it. Everyone’s awkward at first – sometimes that’s a selling point. But done right, this can be evergreen content. And it might attract paid commissions to go on TV or radio. Other ideas for video posts can be found on this excellent list for aspiring YouTubers.

Hail The Power Of Almighty Pod

One source of media which has attracted a lot of former bloggers is the podcast. It could be argued that they are to this decade what the blog was to the 2000s. Just as print media struggled to deal with the rise of the blog, radio is finding it tough to fight off podcasters. Most podcasts are weekly, but the ease of making and publishing them means you can get one online as a reaction to current events. And there is no reason it need be either/or.

death of the blog #blogging evolution

Image from Wikipedia

One little piece of advice here is that, if you have a blogger friend who writes on the same issues, you may want to bring them on board. This is a chance to cross-promote your blogs and social media accounts. It has an immediacy and an energy that blogging can’t provide. And having a second (or third, or more) person there makes it easier to do live podcasts – filling for time is hard if you’re alone. Live podcasting is perfect for events like elections, where you can react to events as they happen.

So, no, the blog is not dead. It does have a more crowded marketplace to work within. It also gives you a chance to explore at length issues you can only touch on in social media posts. It’s great for referencing and building a portfolio of writing. If you want your blog to hit the heights, you just need to know how to keep it relevant.

This post was contributed and made possible by the support of our readers. .

Readers, please share so bloggers know the rumor that blog death is just that– a rumor.

Had you heard that blogging is dead? What do you do in these changing times to keep your blog relevant? Or, is there no way to avoid your website’s blog death?

I look forward to your views about blog death in the comments section.

Related Post:

The death of blogging is a myth.

20 Blogging Myths That Will Make You Blog Worse contains 20 additional myths about blogging.


  1. Kevin

    The overwhelming majority of my blog’s content consists of my poems, which are automatically shared on Twitter and Facebook. Other sharing buttons exist on my site allowing the sharing of content on other platforms. From where I am sitting the blog certainly is not dead and to misquote Mark Twain, “reports of the blogs death have been greatly exaggerated”! Kevin

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Kevin,
      I enjoyed reading your comment when it came in last weekend. Yours was first, so you didn’t get to see all the Mark Twain jokes left here.
      Happily, reports of the blog’s death have been greatly exaggerated. I used to teach Twain, so I know the quote. Thanks for writing.
      Janice

  2. Kate

    I love my blog and I do use Twitter (though could use some tips on Twitter – i seem to be calling into the void a little there) Pinterest and Instagram. Pinterest and Instagram are natural allies for my blog because I have a highly visual base of photos and creative memes which work well on those platforms together with excerpts or shorter poems. In my case these two other social media platforms enhance my blogging experience rather than detract from it though I don’t know if either of them are successful in attracting new readership to my blog as it is still early days. I really enjoy your support and insights. This is a great blog and very useful to the wider blogging community as a guide, thanks for the very valuable work that you do here.

    • Priscilla King

      I’m not the expert on Twitter marketing (actually only joined Twitter for car-pool purposes) but have learned a few things about making Twitter fun and useful…actually too many to fit into this “reply” box. (Since it’s an Amazon affiliate post, this link has been disabled.)

      https priscillaking blogspot com /2016/11/twitter-for-fun-and-profit.html

    • Priscilla King

      Kate’s comment prompted me to post some Twitter tips…I think this site ate the reply that contained a link because the Commentluv system is supposed to contain the link. Or was it because Blogspot is converting from http to https? (New posts are supposed to be formatted as https. I don’t know–that’s Google’s job.)

  3. John T. M. Herres

    I have not heard anything about blogging being dead, and I should hope it isn’t, for it’s my only outlet right now besides the social media sites. The option for vlogging, though is not an option for me. I might be a little clever, so to speak, in my writing, but when it comes to speaking, I stammer, stutter and loose my place all too often. On the page, I can see what I say, and change it if needed before anyone else sees it.
    I won’t tell you how many times I altered what I just typed here, for what I said I could unsay before y’all “hear” it. If you know what I mean.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi John,
      I do know what you mean. I have a marketer friend who keeps encouraging me to promote my blog via YouTube videos. I cringe each time I watch one. Thanks for writing me.
      Janice

  4. Sandy KS

    Blogging can die as easy as they start. Much effort needs to put in to as much as promoting it. I love your tips.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Sandy,
      Thanks for the compliments on my tips. I owe you another thank you as well. Someone commented that you told them about my blog– thank you so much for the good word of mouth.
      Janice

  5. Jen Ambrose

    This is something I’ve thought about, as someone who started a new blog – I’m worried I’ve missed the boat! I’ve been wanting to try my hand at video though, this is another great reason to do it!

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Jen,
      I’ve written a few posts about the need for video. This article, written by my guest author, confirms the need. I have more video posts in the works! Stay tuned! Thanks for writing.
      Janice

  6. Hector Sampson

    Brilliant Janice, Thank you wonderful info as usual!
    I do not believe Blog is death at all!
    New options appear every day but blogging still remains.
    They said that Radio was death when TV appeared the first time and there is still a huge radio audience around the world.

    Long live King Blog!

    • Janice Wald

      Viva la blog? I don’t know French, but it sounds applicable! Thanks for writing Hector. I haven’t seen you in a while. Happy belated Thanksgiving to you. Great to see you. Thanks for writing.
      Janice

  7. dgkaye

    Fantastic article. I intend on getting more involved with podcasting in the new year. 🙂

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Debby,
      Thanks for writing. Great to see you. I’d like to learn more about podcasting.
      Janice

  8. Melinda Mitchell

    What?? The blog died?? And no one sent me the obit, so I could send a sympathy card!
    Oh whew, the reports of its death are greatly exaggerated! Good thing I kept reading!
    Thanks, BBFFJ!!

    • Janice Wald

      LOL! =) No wonder everybody loves you. You are SO funny. I got dibs on the BBFF.
      BBFFJ

  9. Sue

    thanks for the tips Janice. I’m actually reviewing my blog at the moment hope I don’t need a funeral service for it LOL:) #bloggerspitstop

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Sue,
      Reading these comments are so entertaining! Many death of the blog and Mark Twain jokes! Thanks for writing.
      Janice

  10. Dara

    I had not heard that blogging was dead, but I have been hearing that video is where it is at right now. I keep toying with the idea of making a video post but…it makes me feel very nervous. Although, hitting publish that first time caused a little anxiety as well. Perhaps I will just go with it. Sigh, another skill to learn, right?

  11. Leanne

    I may become one of the extinct eventually because I HATE twitter and I have no intention of vlogging or doing live facebook posts. I hope there’ll still be people like me out there who are happy to read and write and we’ll grow old together 🙂

  12. Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle

    Thanks for all this information that we need to hear. I guess nothing stays the same and like any business, they need to change or die. We keep looking to you to keep us informed. I just had to do a review of an obituary site and even they have had to change their format to stay relevant. LOL

    Keep up the great work Janice.

  13. Tianna

    awesome commentary on this issue. I love blogs and blogging and don’t see myself stopping unless I do more videos/pods then probably that lol. but I don’t see blogs dying anytime soon.

    • Janice Wald

      Early reports of the blog’s death have been greatly exaggerated? LOL!
      Hi Tianna, thanks for writing. I would also like to delve into podcasts.
      Janice

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