Is Blogging Social Media? (+ How to Start a Blog WITHOUT Socials in 2023)

Becoming a blogger can be an epic way to become your own boss, be location independent, and make a ton of money!

But a huge question that many potential bloggers have is, is blogging social media?

Social media networks can be a really tough game to understand and it can be hard to grow a following and then monetize it. Is blogging the same way? And do you need to understand social media to be a blogger?

If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog but have had these reservations and questions, then this post is for you.

I’m going to address these questions and give you an answer that hopefully will solidify your decision to start that blog!

Is Blogging Social Media?

There are a lot of beliefs out there that blogging is a type of social media. While it’s easy to understand why people might think this, it’s actually false!

Blogging is not a form of social media. And quite honestly, it’s totally different!

Social media platforms aim to connect people through sharing photos, short-form videos, and personal posts. Many people follow their friends and family to keep up with their life.

Many people also gain a following on social media who are interested in their niche (beauty, hiking, cars, parenting, etc.). The posts are typically fun and for entertainment.

On the flip side, blogging is when someone owns a website and puts content onto the internet for Google to pick up and place in the search results.

People can then search for a topic (ex. things to do in NYC), and Google will spit out a variety of blog posts that include information on the requested topic. These posts are informational.

Below, I’ll go into a few of the key differences between blogging vs. social media.

What is the Difference Between Social Media and Blogging?

Blogging and social media networks are two different types of media and content that people read while on the internet.

But, while they’re both found online, doesn’t mean that they’re the same. There are a few major differences between the two!

Here are the key differences.

Length of Content

Blogs focus on long-form content. What this means, is that you can typically find a blog post that is 1,000+ words. Some might even get up to 10,000 words!

These posts are filled with information that the reader is searching for via Google Search or another search engine.

On the other hand, social media focus on short-form content. Think Instagram Reels, TikTok, Youtube Stories, etc.

A social media post could be as simple as a photo, or it could be a short 1-minute video.

Key Takeaway: Blogs wouldn’t do well with just one image on the page, they are long and informational. While social media influencers would fail if they posted 10,000 words on their Instagram account because people are there for entertainment.

Type of Content

Blogs are filled with informational content that answers the questions of readers who have found their website.

Readers are directed to blogs through a Google Search and what is called SEO (search engine optimization).

For example, if you were to search “things to do in Rome” on Google, you would see search results giving you a list of the best activities in Rome.

Social Media is when you post content for entertainment purposes. While there can definitely be informational content on a social media platform, most people are there to be entertained.

Think of the last time that you logged into the TikTok app to learn something…. No? Nothing? That’s what I thought. Most people go for entertainment.

Key Takeaway: People don’t search Google for entertainment purposes. They visit Google for information, which is found on blogs. People don’t log on to social media to learn. They go for entertainment.

Ability to Gain a Following/Monetize

Blogs are able to be monetized via multiple sources, and bloggers have a bit more control over what happens on their websites.

Ads, affiliate marketing, and digital products are the top ways that bloggers monetize their business. In order to monetize, you need readers.

Bloggers gain readers to their websites through SEO. Your SEO skills will determine how you monetize. But you’ll never have to pay for readers.

You can begin monetizing your blog with as few as 100 readers per month through affiliate marketing!

Social media is much harder to grow on and oftentimes is called ‘pay-to-play’ because of how hard it can be to gain a following.

Many people will purchase followers to gain their following, but this doesn’t help them because they won’t have an engaging audience.

The main ways that social media influencers monetize their accounts are through brand partnerships/sponsorships, creator funds, and affiliate marketing.

However, if you have a small and unengaged audience, it can be a lot harder to land these partnerships.

Key Takeaway: Bloggers are able to monetize sooner and easier through affiliate marketing. Social media influencers may have to wait longer to grow a following in order to land partnerships.

Length of Time Content Stays Relevant

Blogs have content on them that stick around for years after they’re written! Once it’s been published and indexed by Google, that post could rank #1 in the search results for years!

This means that spending a few hours writing a good quality post can bring years of traffic and income to a blogger. Passive income, baby!

Social media, on the other hand, has posts that typically only last for a few days. After you’ve published something on Instagram, it goes through people’s feeds and eventually disappears.

If a post was published 2 years ago, chances are, it’s not bringing in much more engagement or income.

Key Takeaway: Blogs can provide long-lasting income on Google search results. Social media posts last for a few days and then fall off of social feeds.

What is Blogging?

If you’re shocked that the answer to the question, is blogging social media, is no, then you may also be wondering, what the heck is blogging then?!

Blogging is a type of online writing that seeks to inform, entertain, and engage an audience.

It typically involves sharing stories, opinions, thoughts, and experiences, as well as offering advice and answers to readers’ questions in an engaging way.

When you type something into a Google Search, a lot of times what you see in those results are blogs!

This website that you’re reading right now, Kassidy’s Journey, is a blog!

Some bloggers use their websites for personal reasons like sharing stories with family members while they travel.

But most bloggers who actually monetize their websites are sharing detailed information and answering readers’ questions.

So when asking are blogs social media, we can see that the answer is no. They are rather sources filled with useful information.

Can You Be a Blogger Without Social Media?

YES! You can absolutely be a blogger without social media! In fact, your social media following will impact your blog very little.

And vice versa! The readers on your blog won’t necessarily always follow you on your social media platforms.

Readers on your blog are typically there to find information to benefit them. They aren’t necessarily there to follow your life.

I run this blog (Kassidy’s Journey) and while I do have social media, I don’t post that often! I actually have under 500 followers. Yet I get thousands of views per month on this blog!

(Want to know how I do it? Click here for a FREE training!)

There are tons of bloggers out there that make their entire living off of blogging, yet have never touched social media. So don’t be fooled by the question are blogs social media. They aren’t!

How to Start a Blog WITHOUT Social Media

Many people believe that you have to be good at social media in order to be a blogger, and that just isn’t true. You can totally start blogging without any social media!

Yep, you heard that right! Let me tell you how to do it.

1. Decide on a niche and blog name for your website.
2. Choose a self-hosted hosting provider, such as A2 or Bluehost.
3. Set your website up using a fast theme, such as Kadence, on a blogging platform such as WordPress.org.
4. Learn SEO from a coach and course, such as my favorite, Scale Your Travel Blog to Six Figures.
5. Create a Google Analytics & Google Search Console account to track your stats.
6. Start publishing high-quality, SEO-optimized content that targets low-competition keywords.
7. Build backlinks to your content.
8. Start earning money through affiliate marketing and grow your traffic to apply to an ad network.

Is Blogging Better Than Social Media?

Both blogging and social media are worthwhile avenues to try to monetize and become your own boss!

When people ask is blogging social media, they may also wonder which one is better.

While both of them are great in their own ways, blogging has become the clear winner here.

Here are a few of the reasons why I think that in a test of blogging vs. social media, blogging wins.

• Provides readers with long-form informational content
• Lasts for a long time and can bring in readers for years to come
• Multiple options for monetization (ads, affiliate marketing, digital products, sponsorships, etc.)
• Can become a passive income source
• Can leverage with companies that you know SEO and can get to the top of Google
• Can create a loyal email list to sell products to
• You don’t have to pay for Google traffic

Of course, social media also has its perks, but these are just the reasons that I think blogging is better and more rewarding than social media.

How Does Blogging Affect Social Media?

Quite honestly, blogging and social media really don’t affect each other much at all. Which may be surprising to some!

As I’ve mentioned a few times, readers on blogs are there to find information. They’re looking for an answer to a specific question.

They aren’t really there because they like your aesthetic or your style or your pictures. Sure, some readers might be loyal to bloggers and keep coming back.

But that’s more so what Instagram is for. People go to social media networks for entertainment and because they like a certain person’s aesthetic or niche.

You can be a blogger without social media, just as easily as you can be a social media influencer without a blog!

Has Blogging Been Replaced by Social Media?

No, blogging hasn’t been replaced by social media, and quite honestly, I don’t think that it ever will be.

When people are searching for information, they almost always turn to a search engine such as Google to get that info.

Blogs are typically the first websites to pop up in the search results, as they provide some of the best info with first-hand experience!

So, no, social media has not replaced blogging. And blogs will be around for a long time to come!

If you want to jump on the blogging train and be relevant for years to come, check out how to do it at this free training!

FAQs

Can Blogs and Social Media Be Linked?

Of course! You can link your blogs and social media. I do this by putting a link to my blog in my Instagram bio. I also put a link to my Instagram account on my sidebar and in my menu bar.

What Kind of Media is a Blog?

Blogs are a type of online journal and information source where bloggers share their advice, personal experiences, and answers to readers’ questions.

Is a Blog a Type of Social Media?

No, when we look at blogging vs. social media, we can see that they are two different forms of content on the internet. Social media provides entertainment, while blogs provide informational content.

Is Blogging Dead?

No, blogging is not dead, and quite honestly won’t be for a long time! People are always using search engines to look for information, and blogs provide that info.

Is Blogging Worth It?

Yes, blogging is totally worth it! It offers chances to monetize and become self-employed. You can become location independent and there is no cap on what you can earn. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work, but in the end, it’s so worth it!

Is Social Media Better Than Blogging?

Both are great, but no, social media is not better than blogging. Each has its own ways to monetize, but blogs are longer lasting and have more earning potential.

Wrap-Up: Is Blogging Social Media?

If you’re thinking of starting up a blog but find yourself wondering, is blogging social media, I hope that this post has helped clarify that question for you.

While the two are similar, they are also very different and each has its own pros and cons.

You can absolutely start a blog without social media, and with the help of this training, it will become apparent and easy how-to!