Is “blog” a dirty word?

The Atlantic seems to think so. Though web content management software and blogs are as popular as ever, the word “blog” still evokes images of high school slam books and clickbait listicles for some people. In a post titled, “What blogging has become,” an Atlantic writer suggests “web writing” should be the more acceptable term for conversational-yet-informative web content. (You know, what you’re reading right now.)

Whatever you call it — and we’re not judging — there’s no denying the ubiquity and value of this content in 2019. If you’re a marketer, thought leader, full-time freelancer or simply a writer at heart, blogging (yeah, I said it) is a wonderful tool for getting your writing to the web-connected masses.

There’s no denying the blogging realm is constantly in flux. Since the advent of the medium, there’s been routine transformation in preferred websites and content platforms, style rules and reader behaviors. If you’re wondering how to start a blog or how to make money blogging, understanding the current landscape (or blogosphere) is crucial. Tens of millions of blog posts are published each day, and standing out from the crowd takes sincere effort.

For our blogger friends, and business owners plotting a content marketing strategy, we’re rooting on you to keep blogging alive. We’ve compiled some blog-related statistics and highlighted some notable points related to writing and readership.

As highlighted in certain stats, a successful blog approach can be a game-changer for your business, regardless of your industry. If you’re unsure where to start, consider outsourcing with blog writing services providers. Whatever you do, don’t let your content ideas drift into the abyss. Every showstopping blog begins with a single step.

General blog statistics

• The number of active bloggers in the U.S. is estimated at around 31.2 million. (Statista, 2019)
• According to bloggers, writing one post takes an average of 3 hours, 28 minutes. (Orbit Media, 2018)
• Half of all bloggers report it takes less than 3 hours to write a post, while 1 in 8 bloggers say it takes them more than 6 hours. (Orbit Media, 2018)
• 38.9 percent of bloggers who average more than 6 hours per blog post report “strong results.” (Orbit Media, 2018)
• 25.8 percent of bloggers who average 3–4 hours per blog post report “strong results.” (Orbit Media, 2018)
• The average blog size has increased 42 percent since 2014, growing from 800 words to 1151 words. (Orbit Media, 2018)

• Around 55 percent of bloggers average fewer than 1,000 words per post, while 1 in 5 average more than 1,500 words per post. (Orbit Media, 2018)
• More than half of the bloggers who average more than 2,000 words per post report “strong results,” but only 8 percent of all bloggers write that amount. (Orbit Media, 2018)
• 23 percent of bloggers publish several posts a month, while 2 percent of bloggers publish on a daily basis. (Orbit Media, 2018)
• Bloggers who publish at least weekly are nearly 2.5 times more likely to report “strong results.” (Orbit Media, 2018)

Blog statistics for popular sites

• More than 130 million blogs were published using WordPress.com in December 2018, nearly double that of the previous month. (WordPress, 2019)
• WordPress users published an average of around 75 million blogs per month in 2018. (WordPress, 2019)
• Medium has approximately 90 million unique monthly visitors. (San Francisco Chronicle, 2019)
• As of November 2017, 148 billion posts had been published on Tumblr. At the time, the company reported that more than 31 million posts were being added each day. (Adweek, 2018)
• In April 2017, Tumblr had nearly 345 million registered accounts and 738 million unique visitors worldwide. (Statista, 2019)

Content marketing statistics

• You have a 434 percent higher chance of being ranked highly on search engines if your website features a blog. (HubSpot, 2018)
• 52 percent of content marketers say that blogging is their most critical content marketing tactic. (HubSpot, 2018)

• Around 72 percent of marketers have a content strategy in place. (Forbes, 2019)
• Only 30 percent of marketers make a point to document their content strategy. (Forbes, 2019)
• Companies with active blogs produce 67 percent more leads than those without active blogs. (Entrepreneur, 2019)
• Companies with active blogs receive 97 percent more links to their website than those without active blogs. (Entrepreneur, 2019)
• Companies with active blogs generate twice as much email traffic than those without active blogs. (Entrepreneur, 2019)
• Companies with active blogs score five times more conversions than those without active blogs. (Entrepreneur, 2019)

Other findings

• 10 percent of Google users’ daily information needs involve learning about a broad topic. (HubSpot, 2018)
• Blogs are the fifth most trusted source for accurate online information. (HubSpot, 2018)
• One in 10 blog posts are “compounding,” with increased organic visits over time and a positive impact on domain authority. (HubSpot, 2018)
• 38 percent of total blog traffic is generated by compounding posts. (HubSpot, 2018)
• Blog headlines with 6–13 words draw the most, and the most consistent, traffic. (HubSpot, 2018)
• 43 percent of blog readers skim posts, while 29 percent consume them “thoroughly.” (HubSpot, 2018)
• 29 percent of readers say they want to see more blogs in the future. (HubSpot, 2018)

Blogging has become universal. Whether you want to share recipes, document experiences or position your brand as an industry expert, starting a blog is a natural move to make. Heck, even the world’s richest man blogs.

Call it web writing, bloggercizing, whatever floats your boat, just don’t call it out of style. There’s never been a better time to use your words and your own unique voice through personal and professional blogging.

For a good starting point in your blog journey, explore web content management software and website builder software options, along with verified reviews from bloggers and marketers around the world.