Believe it or not, the end of 2022 is upon us and we are about to enter another new year. Looking at blogs of today, who would have predicted this blogging trajectory back in the 90s? We are grateful for how far they’ve come and that we get to play a role in the blogging journey of so many.
While we can never predict the future, we can look back and learn from the past and make educated guesses about where we are going, and that’s what this article is all about. Join us as we journey through 2022 and take a look ahead to 2023.
A Review of 2022
2022 was another exciting year for bloggers. Here are the lessons this year taught us:
Content marketing leads the way
Content marketing is here and here to stay. Blogs provide the perfect home for articles, videos and ebooks, and both readers and bloggers benefit from this content. Readers appreciate free gifts in exchange for signing up for email newsletters, and for bloggers, content marketing draws audiences to their site, converts sales, and helps build trust.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is always changing
Just in the last few months, we’ve seen evidence that SEO is constantly changing–read about Google’s most recent update here if you haven’t already. Google is constantly trying to improve its user experience and, as a result, bloggers have been asked to prioritize the reader and to further hone in on a specific niche.
Video content gets more popular
2022 has seen a continued rise in video content production and demand. Many consumers even report that they prefer video content to written content. YouTube and TikTok are huge and bloggers who regularly embed videos into their blogs [link to article on fantastic hip-hop blog] are successfully appealing to this modern-day audience.
Build your brand
Unlike in the early days of blogging, having a stand-alone blog is no longer the goal for most bloggers. Rather, a blog is one part of a greater brand. Bloggers must know their niche and their brand, being intentional about pairing their blog, social media, and other marketing into a cohesive brand image.
Getting Excited for 2023
2023 will continue to build upon the trends and lessons of this year; here are themes we predict will make their mark in the new year:
Quality over quantity
While regular posting is always worthwhile and desirable, especially in niches with quickly changing news, blogs will see an increased emphasis on quality over quantity. Prioritizing the reader means giving clear, detailed, informative, and interesting posts. Writing such thoughtful posts takes more time which may mean fewer total posts. Well-researched posts published once a month are better than shallow daily posts–unless, of course, the mission of your blog relies on daily posting.
Unique content wins
Blogging is no longer in its infancy. Most of what can be blogged about probably has been blogged about. But that doesn’t mean there is no room for more; it just means that blogs need to add something new and valuable. Remember that not all blogs have to look the same. Take a look at some of our featured dotbloggers to see how many amazing and creative blogs already exist. Emphasize what makes you unique and remember to take advantage of adding video content to your site.
Cater to shortened attention spans
Whether we think it is a good or bad thing that attention spans are decreasing, as bloggers, we must keep this fact in mind. When formatting your posts, remember that your readers are used to receiving information quickly. Make it easy for them by utilizing headers, having engaging visual content, and providing summaries. Lists are also a user-friendly way to share information with your readers.
Remember the world outside the Internet
Even though bloggers live online, there is a whole other outside world that is easy to forget. As the peak of Covid continues to become more of a memory than a day-to-day reality, many are eager to meet in person again. Actively look at networking opportunities so that you can connect with and learn from others in person in addition to virtually. Remember that just because your job is online, you too can benefit from the community.
We’re Here Through the Years
The end of the year is always an exciting time to review how you and your blog have grown. It is also a good time to take note of blogging trends that rose or decreased in popularity throughout the past year. In addition to reflecting, we love looking ahead to another year. It’s a time for bloggers to build anticipation and excitement about the new year, set goals and plan for another year of blogging. As we ring in 2023 together, we will continue to be here to support you and are grateful to experience another year of blogging together.
Knock Knock WHOIS There 