Scroll through your favorite social app or newsfeed these days, and you get slammed with slick videos, snappy posts, and endless memes. Yet, there’s something quietly persistent lurking underneath all that noise—the humble blog. People have been predicting the death of blogging for a decade (at least), but that so-called funeral just never seems to come. Here in 2024, with my Sydney mates glued to Instagram Reels and TikTok, you’d think blogs would be ancient history. Not so fast. Turns out, not only are blogs still alive, they’re pulling more weight than most people realize.
Why Blogs Still Matter: Surprising Reasons Behind Their Longevity
It’s pretty wild: even as deepfakes and AI podcasts take over digital spaces, people are still hunting for blogs. Yep, real, old-school, text-heavy blogs. A 2024 SEMrush report showed that 63% of internet users read blogs at least once a week. That’s not a rounding error—it’s a tidal wave, especially when you factor in Gen Z. Want to know why? Blogs dig deeper. TikToks show you a flashy recipe in seconds, but a blog walks you through tricky steps, substitute ingredients, and why your brownies fell flat—straight from someone who’s failed before.
For people looking for honest advice, reviews, or detailed guides, blogs still hold the crown. When it comes to researching a new camera or prepping for a job interview, most folks don’t trust slick influencer deals or random video snippets. They want substance—a first-person, long-form explanation that answers every question they could possibly have. Google knows it, too. Blog posts dominate organic search (65% of the first page results are articles or blogs in 2024, according to Ahrefs). That’s because people click on articles they can scan for details, not the endless video noise.
And here’s something that doesn’t get enough attention: blogs build community. Readers feel like they know the author, especially when writers open up about real struggles or wins. It’s one thing to see a travel vlogger on a sunny beach; it’s another to read a raw story about missing trains in Prague or getting scammed by dodgy taxi drivers. That kind of connection leads to comments, email lists, and real loyalty. Brands are catching on, teaming up with blog writers to add trust back into their marketing, which has never needed it more in this era of paid reviews and fake followers.
What Do Readers Actually Want from Blogs in 2024?
This might shock you, but snackable content isn’t everything. Yes, people still skim, but the most successful blogs this year didn’t dumb things down—they doubled down on quality. Think detailed comparison guides, honest product reviews plastered with real-life photos, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns that influencers would never dare post. Readers crave info they can’t find anywhere else or need a real voice they can relate to. Transparency, not polish, is king.
A cool stat from HubSpot’s 2024 reading survey: readers spend twice as long on blog posts with “storytelling” elements—personal anecdotes, lessons learned, or mistakes made—than dry, info-only listicles. Even in tech and business blogs, readers want to hear what worked, what failed, and hard-earned lessons. That means if you’re writing a blog, don’t just echo what everyone else says. Maybe share your own take, even your own doubts. The best bloggers dive into everyday struggles, whether that’s juggling remote work, finding affordable food in Sydney, or dealing with impossible landlords.
And it’s not just long stuff. Interactive posts—quizzes, polls, and Q&As—are keeping reader engagement alive. Some blogs use quick tip sections or “jump to” links so readers can zip to exactly what they want instead of getting buried at the top. Meanwhile, trustworthiness is a deal breaker. Blog posts with original research or real data shots (even screenshots!) get more shares, especially when readers are suspicious of AI-generated fluff.
How Blogging Changed: From Personal Diaries to Digital Powerhouses
If you peek back fifteen years, blogs were basically online journals with messy layouts and cat photos. Fast-forward to 2024, and blogging is both more professional and more diverse. Gone are the days where only hobbyists wrote blogs. Now, they’re run by experts, journalists, even entire teams. According to WordPress’s 2024 stats, more than 70 million blog posts hit the web every month. Wild, right?
But now, blogs aren’t just competing with other blogs—they’re duking it out with video, audio, and every AI tool on earth. To stand out, writers get smarter with SEO, work with designers for killer layouts, and optimize for mobile-first readers. Blogs aren’t just walls of text anymore. They mix in infographics, podcast snippets, and even short-form video to keep visitors around longer.
Money-wise, blogging’s matured too. It’s not just about banner ads. 2024’s bloggers pull income from sponsored posts, affiliate sales, newsletters, online courses, and even paid communities. Data from ConvertKit suggests the top 10% of bloggers earn more than $9,500 a month. But here’s what matters: most successful blogs focus on a niche and build trust, not by churning out generic posts but by offering real, lived experience.
Check out this comparison of blog traffic drivers in 2024 versus four years ago:
| Year | Top Blog Traffic Source | Share of Visitors (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Google Search | 52 |
| 2022 | Social Media Shares | 28 |
| 2024 | Email Newsletters | 36 |
Email newsletters exploded as a traffic driver. Why? Because people want specially curated stuff from voices they trust, right in their inbox—away from the chaos of crowded feeds.
Tips to Start or Refresh a Blog in 2024—And Make People Actually Read It
Still thinking blogs are just digital journals? That’s leaving readers (and money) on the table. Here’s what separates blogs people binge from blogs they bounce off in seconds:
- Choose a focused topic. Broad, generic blogs don’t cut it anymore. Zoom in: Instead of “travel,” try “budget travel in Australia.”
- Be yourself. Share mistakes, successes, even unpopular opinions. People want raw, real voices, not another corporate robot.
- Use visuals. Mix in infographics, photos, even quick videos. It keeps things punchy, not eye-glazing.
- Optimize for search engines. Sounds dull, but if Google can’t find you, people won’t either. Use natural keywords, descriptive headings, and relevant alt text for images.
- Create a newsletter. The best way to keep readers coming back? Land in their inbox with something genuinely helpful every week or two.
- Engage with your readers. Reply to comments. Add polls or Q&As. Make it a two-way street.
- Stay consistent. Don’t vanish for six months, then wonder why your traffic tanked. Even one killer post a month is better than a flurry then silence.
- Post original data or personal stories. Google’s search quality guidelines love “Experience” in E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
And if you’re just a reader? Find a few bloggers whose voices you love and subscribe to their newsletters. You’ll get the best stuff right away, no algorithm tweaks or endless scrolling.
So, do people still read blogs in 2024? The smart ones do—and if you’re tired of endless clickbait, you’ll probably end up reading (or writing) one yourself.
