Do People Still Read Blogs? Truth & Data Revealed
The rise of artificial intelligence, social media, and short-form video has sparked one of the biggest debates in the digital space: Do people still read blogs?
For content creators, businesses, and individuals considering blogging as a career or side hustle, this is a very valid question. If AI gives answers instantly and YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels dominate attention spans, is blogging even worth the effort anymore?
The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Let’s break it down.
Why People Assume Blogging is Dead
Over the last few years, online behaviour has shifted dramatically. When you Google something, the first thing you see is often a quick AI-generated response box. This creates the impression that users won’t bother scrolling down to read blog posts.
Similarly, platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have turned people into quick content consumers. With so much focus on short videos and bite-sized updates, many believe reading long articles is outdated.
But here’s the truth: blogs are not dead, they’ve simply evolved.
Why People Still Read Blogs
1. AI Answers Are Too Generic
While AI can give a neat summary, it often lacks context, examples, and depth. A user who’s trying to compare two mutual funds, learn step-by-step how to file taxes, or find personal experiences will not stop at an AI summary. They’ll click through to a trusted blog for details.
2. Search Intent Matters
Not all searches are the same. If someone types “what is SIP in mutual funds?”, an AI summary may suffice. But if they search “best mutual funds for retirement in India 2025 with 10-year returns”, they want comparisons, charts, and real data, something blogs do best.
3. Blogs Build Trust
Unlike AI responses, blogs often come with a face, a voice, and an experience. For instance, when a finance blogger shares tax-saving hacks with personal insights or mistakes to avoid, readers trust that information more than a faceless AI response.
4. Blogs Have Evergreen Value
News-based content may fade quickly, but evergreen blogs like “How to Save for Retirement” or “Best Small Savings Schemes for Senior Citizens” remain relevant year after year. These posts continue to attract traffic long after being published.
5. Readers Want Resources
AI doesn’t provide downloadable checklists, templates, calculators, or case studies; blogs do. That’s why people still land on blogs when they need practical tools.
Stats That Prove Blogs Are Still Relevant
- According to Demand Metric, companies with blogs generate 67% more leads than those without.
- A HubSpot study found that 60% of people read a blog post at least once a week.
- In India, with over 750 million internet users, searches on personal finance, education, career, and lifestyle topics continue to generate significant traffic to blogs.
So, while social media dominates attention, blogs continue to thrive in niches where depth, detail, and decision-making matter.
Why Blogging is Actually More Profitable Now
One overlooked fact is that blogs attract higher-quality traffic than short-form content. Someone who spends 10 minutes reading about tax-saving options is much more likely to invest, buy a course, or sign up for a newsletter than someone who double-taps a reel.
This is why ad revenue (RPM/CPM) is often higher for blogs in niches like finance, career, health, and education compared to generic entertainment blogs.
How to Make Blogs Work in Current Times and Beyond
If you’re considering starting or reviving a blog, here are strategies that actually work today:
Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Instead of broad topics like “mutual funds”, target searches like “best mutual funds for retirement planning in India 2025”. These bring in highly motivated readers.
Provide Depth + Tools
Offer step-by-step guides, calculators, downloadable resources, or comparison charts. This makes your blog more valuable than a quick AI summary.
Connect With Your Audience
Add personal experience, examples, or opinions. Readers don’t just want facts; they want relatability.
Repurpose Across Formats
Turn your blog into a YouTube video, a LinkedIn post, or an Instagram carousel. This multiplies reach while driving traffic back to your blog.
Final Thoughts
So, do people still read blogs? Absolutely. But they no longer read blogs for shallow content or generic summaries. Instead, they turn to blogs for depth, trust, and practical value that AI or short videos cannot fully provide.
If you’re in niches like personal finance, career, education, or health, blogging is not just alive; it’s one of the smartest ways to build long-term authority and passive income.
In short, blogs aren’t dead; lazy blogging is.
