A couple of months ago I shared a post called 5 Advantages Of Blogging Over Social Media. I absolutely loved your response and had in mind that I wanted to do it the other way around! If you’re interested in this topic, I would love for you to take a look at the prequel to this post once you’ve read this one. It’s linked right here.
So, let’s into it!
1) Instant Interactions
I tend to approach WordPress through the browser, not on the app. Therefore my responses will take longer. Whereas, for the most part, we use social media from our phones. I scroll through Instagram sometimes while I’m waiting for the bus. With some exceptions, Instagram comments tend to be shorter and easier to respond to. There’s an interaction almost suddenly after you post something. However blogs don’t have that element. Both sides are appreciated in their own way, but if you’re looking for instant growth you’re only going to do it with social media.
If I was purely relying on WordPress to promote my blog I wouldn’t be half as successful. But Instagram brought an added layer: more exposure, more traffic to my blog. And at the end of the day, it’s those things that will help you grow.
2) Goes Hand In Hand With Short Attention Spans
TikTok’s fame and phenomenon has not helped the concentration levels of social media users. You watch something for 15 seconds, process it, then move on.
Blogging isn’t the same. You have to READ and RESPOND with thoughtfulness. I feel like TikTok has destroyed the way we approach media but that’s a topic for another day…
TikTok is the best place to share content at the moment due to its success and appeal to the new approach to content consumption.
Let me have a go at explaining this…
You have to be really interested in a topic to take 2-5 minutes to read it (blogging)
But with social media you can see if you like something instantly, within about 15-30 seconds. If you don’t like it the you’ve not ‘wasted’ as much time.
So people prefer social media over blogging/articles/news sites (for the most part)
3) Easier To Gain Exposure
Daily active social media users are soaring to 3.5 billion and above. That’s 3.5 billion people you could be reaching out to. Another mind boggling statistic is an average of 3 hours, per person, is spent on social media every day. They could spend all of those 3 hours on YOU.
On the other hand, there are 500 million blogs existent in the world. Compared to 1 billion Instagram users in the same year. Not all of those blogs are active… so I guess Instagram is the place to head if you want to blow up.
4) Informal Brings Element Of “Friendship” Between Customer and Seller (You!)
I wouldn’t say informal, but there’s more room to be chatty and casual on Instagram whereas blogging feels a tad more formal (this blog isn’t formal of course, I hope none of you are afraid to chat with me!). This relationship dynamic makes it quicker and easier to make bonds, and sales.
5) Snippets Of Info VS Bulky Post No-One Is Arsed To Read
Social media, for the most part, gives a few sentences of easy-to-consume info at a time. Blogging expands on those points more frequently than an Insta post would, bringing more resistance between reading the title and going on to read the post. My content wouldn’t suit solely being on Instagram. It’s really difficult for me to compress what I’m trying to say without skipping over valuable parts of information.
I don’t know if I agree that everything I’ve said makes social media better than blogging. Please leave your opinions down below!
I love blogging and social media equally, and for different reasons. They’re both very versatile. They both make it easy to interact with new people. They both have valuable content. They both have a vast expanse of content.
It’s always a good idea to experiment with both and see what is best for you.
But at the end of the day, what would choose to keep? Blogging or social media?
I’d keep blogging. All the way.
Catherine x
P.S For the purpose of the post, I have discussed blogging not being social media. There’s a similar debate for YouTube. Is YouTube social media? I don’t really know what defines them but I would class them differently. YouTube and blogging in one category, Instagram and Facebook in another. What I said about attention spans leads me to this decision. Instagram and TikTok are quick to consume whereas blog posts and YouTube videos are not. Equal amount of work goes into all of them, however! Just because a YouTube video is 15 minutes and a TikTok is 15 seconds doesn’t make one easier to make than the other!
Speaking of social media… find me elsewhere on the Internet:
Instagram: @cathjaneblog
Goodreads: @cathjaneblog
Pinterest: @cathjaneblog
Email me! cathjaneblog@gmail.com
The Ecolytical 
Blogging. I’ve also in Tiktok, but I haven’t visited for so long because despite having very short contents hour seem to disappear in 15seconds haha 😀
I also have a WP app in my phone but I don’t pay attention to it. I have a set time to visit and most of the time I use the browser. It’s easier sharing my thought when I’m tapping on a keyboard 😁
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I couldn’t agree more Jessica – I find it easier to connect with people on my laptop because the app still feels like a casual social media (but I want to put real responses and effort into my blog!) TikTok is so addictive. I used it in lockdown to pass time but it wasn’t doing me any good. The content is becoming more and more toxic – but I least I recognise that. What happened to Lil’ Pumpkin Friend from 2 years ago? That was better TikTok in my opinion x
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Yes, I noticed it too, the toxic effect of Tiktok, which was why I needed to distance myself from it. Never saw Lil’ Pumpkin Friend, but I search it. It look fun! 😀
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It really was! I love using the word balance to describe my relationship with social media. And balance is what we all need ❤ x
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I would much rather blogging than social media. When I read a blog post I feel more connected to the writer. Social media can be too short to feel that connection. I guess it’s the long posts that draw me to blogs.
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That’s interesting! So do you find my chatty posts more intruiging than say… an informative post like this one? I’d love to know how you feel about that. I love all range of blog posts – and I’m definitely more intrigued by what bloggers have to say rather than Instagram influencers ❤ x
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I don’t know if I could choose. I find chatty posts interesting but it’s also nice to learn things.
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Thank you for your honest answer 🙂 x
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I understand all these points, but I’d choose blogging especially because I also consume more content via blogs. As you said, social media is for short attention spans but I find myself not liking those content because it’s not fleshed out or informative enough. 15-30 seconds is not enough for me. I like blogging because it’s fully informative and feels like a conversation. I also like comprehensive content over short content. It all comes down to preferences, though. I know that I’m losing out a lot by not putting more effort on social media but in the end I’m blogging as a hobby, and not looking to make it into a brand or a business. So it’s not important for me.
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This is so interesting – thank you for sharing your perspective. Your comment just proves the point that blog posts start conversations – more so than social media. Honestly – you shouldn’t worry! You do what’s best for you. Blogging is a hobby for me also but I wouldn’t be opposed to making it lucrative since it’s something I enjoy so much ❤
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Reblogged this on .
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This is so true; social media is definitely better because of fast growth! However, because of this I find it more rewarding growing using my blog! What about you? Great post! x
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I completely agree. WordPress growth is slower – but like you say, more rewarding. Of course, you can grow completely organically on Instagram but – without meaning to sound rude – 1 WordPress followers equates to 5 Insta followers. Thank you for reading! x
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I would deffo choose blogging over social media. Yes, I love social media but people online can sometimes be toxic – I feel like the blogging community is a much more supportive place. I only ever go on Tiktok if I’m really bored 🤣
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Blogging is a long-term commitment, and I feel like that’s why I get along with so many of you. Bloggers are very ambitious. I’m not doubting that Instagram influencers are too, but social media is used mostly for personal reasons. I can see where you’re coming from!
Thank you for reading and leaving a thoughtful response 🙂
It means a lot to me ❤ x
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I recently quit all social media. Those “interactions” we have with people are less genuine for me. Plus I’d rather not watch forced ads so some big company makes money while algorithms are being written to keep me hooked on to their app for longer durations. I was averaging 20 hours just on Instagram every week. That’s almost a full day and it didn’t add anything to my life. So I got rid of all my social media. I post my thoughts, the photos I take here now. I feel they are more appreciated here where someone has to stop and take notice, not just double tap and move on. And anyone who has to reach out to me will have to use their words, not double taps on a screen. That, I believe, is a real human interaction.
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You really proved your point with this thoughtful comment. I love the way you’ve responded to this point! They both have their perks. Good luck with your detox! I hope you find more time for blogging + things you love ❤ 🙂
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Thanks Catherine and wish you the same.
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I loved this post, Catherine! I’d definitely choose blogging over social media in a heartbeat, mostly because there are so many supportive people! I admit that I only had TikTok at the beginning of quarantine and it’s super addictive. However, social media is amazing for gaining traffic for blogs, it’s much better than gaining followers through WordPress I feel like.
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This is a very comprehensive explanation – and I completely agree with you on every point! Social media has so much attention these days – it’s very easy for anyone to go viral. I love Instagram dearly but blogging would be my no.1! Thank you so much for reading x
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You should mix the two together as you can use social media to drive traffic to your blog
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Of course – thank you for reading
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