Does anyone remember the glory days of blogs, vlogs, and websites? The internet used to be a beautiful and fun place to join—there was a blog for everything. A blog for your grandma, a vlog for your cat’s daily antics, and a website dedicated to ranking the best pizza toppings. It was the golden era of independent content creation, where anyone with an internet connection could carve out their own little corner of the web and enjoy it wholeheartedly.
Today? Not so much. Things feel… different. Blogs aren’t as easy to set up and grow as once were. SEO, SERP analysis, content marketing strategies—it’s all gotten more technical and a lot less fun. And then, of course, there’s the rise of short-form video content. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts—these platforms have changed how people consume content—users are more inclined to scroll short video platforms for leisure and entertainment instead of the blogs that once dominated the online information space.
Some even perceive starting a blog today as “flying against the wind”—a slow, tedious process with limited results, and truth to point, the process is rather demanding… It’s the era of social media videos, they say. But does that mean blogging is dead? Is there still hope for those who want to start a blog in 2025 and turn it into a side hustle?
Blogging has come a long way since ages past, that’s a given. Once upon a time, blogging was simple: write a post, publish it, and watch readers roll in, ohh how the times have changed.
In the early 2000s, blogs were personal, journal-style pages—fun spaces where anyone could share their interests and easily get noticed. Then came monetisation—ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts—turning blogging into a full-fledged business. SEO best practices took over, Google updates made ranking harder, and social media reshaped content discovery.
In 2025, successful blogging isn’t just about writing—it’s about strategy. You need strong SEO, a clear niche, and a content plan that incorporates different formats (text, video, images), which makes it a lot less fun for the average citizen. A process that could be done by anyone now requires outsourcing creators, SEO experts, and all that with very little chance of success or even earning from the trouble. The days of casual blogging for fun? They still exist, but making money from a blog now requires more effort than ever before.
Is Blogging Still Profitable in 2025?
So, is it still possible to make money from blogging? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but it’s not as straightforward as it used to be.
Ad revenue isn’t what it used to be, and affiliate marketing is more competitive. However, bloggers who find their niche and build a loyal audience can still monetise effectively…albeit with a little more work under the hood.
Selling Digital Products: E-books, online courses, templates—blogs are great platforms to sell knowledge-based products, because, quite frankly, today people hardly visit websites for fun, but for information, services and something of an exchange. They expect knowledge from a website, YouTube shorts and IG reels for fun. So, having a dedicated category that you work on and then having a related product or service offered is more likely to get you returns on the hustle.
Affiliate Marketing: Partnering with brands to recommend products can still be plausible with the right approach. Again, the best way is to specialise in a category so that you get an audience that’s already interested in that particular niche/category you cover.
Freelancing & Consulting: A well-established blog can position you as an authority in your field, bringing in consulting gigs or freelance work. A poet with a great blog will easily get people that view their work and enlist their services here and there, it is one of the reasons many a freelancer will work on creating a personal website as a way to create credibility, but also to showcase ability to visitors.
Subscriptions & Memberships: Some bloggers are turning to platforms like Substack or Patreon for reader-supported content, where they offer subscription packages for content. This has especially been successful for those in the creative video industry, the likes of artists sharing motion picture series or even those that offer tutorials in a certain field, offering subscriptions for more personalised handling.
The key is diversification—relying on one income stream isn’t enough anymore.
Is Blogging Flying Against the Wind in 2025?
The biggest argument against blogging is the dominance of short-form video. People are consuming content differently, and scrolling through quick videos is often easier than reading a 1,500-word article. Social media algorithms also favour video content, making organic reach for blog posts harder.
That said, blogging still holds a unique advantage: searchability and longevity. A TikTok video might go viral for a few days and disappear, but a well-optimized blog post can bring traffic for years. Unlike social media, where trends shift overnight, Google still prioritizes high-quality, informative content. Blogs also allow for deeper storytelling, detailed explanations, and ownership—something social media doesn’t always guarantee.
My verdict is that blogging isn’t “dead”; it’s just different. If you’re expecting instant results, you’ll be disappointed. But if you play the long game and use smart strategies, your blog can still manage to rank and bring in some returns…but again, it’s not a quick results kind of investment or project.
How to Make Your Blog Work in 2025
If you’re serious about making blogging work for you in today’s internet landscape, here are some essential tips:
(1). Prioritize High-Quality, SEO-Optimized Content
Google favours long-form, well-researched content. Make sure your blog posts answer real questions people are searching for and not some poorly prompted AI checklist of keywords to write on baselessly.
(2). Integrate Multimedia
Adding videos, infographics, podcasts, or interactive elements can make your content more engaging and shareable, in turn bringing more traffic to your page.
(3). Use Social Media Wisely
While social media isn’t a direct traffic goldmine for blogs anymore, it’s still useful for brand awareness. Share snippets of your blog posts in a way that connects with social media audiences, it is a very different kind of space, so don’t expect to just drop a blog post link on Instagram and expect to get leads.
(4). Build an Email List
Social media algorithms change constantly, but your email list is yours. Engage with your readers directly through newsletters, by collecting interested emails on your site with offers of newsletters or any such freebies. I cover some of this in Is Email Marketing Still Relevant Today?
(5). Monetize Smartly
As mentioned earlier, rely on multiple income streams instead of just ads. Consider offering services, digital products, or premium content.
Should You Still Start a Blog in 2025?
Blogging isn’t dead, but it’s no longer an “easy money” side hustle—it’s more competitive, and success requires strategic effort as opposed to the aged “just for passion” mindset. However, for those willing to adapt—using SEO, multimedia, and diverse monetisation methods—blogging remains a valuable platform for sharing knowledge, building a brand, and even making some profit.
So, if you’re thinking about starting a blog, go for it! Just make sure you approach it with the right expectations and strategies. The internet still has space for well-crafted, insightful content—and your blog could be part of it, but it is a long-term venture, not something that will yield great and memorable statistics in a few months.
