Blog Income Ceiling

Mark Manson shares insights about the evolution of blogging and content creation, drawing from his experience as a successful blogger turned author. He explains how the blogging landscape has transformed from its peak in the early 2010s to its current state.

Key Points:

• Evolution of Blog Reach:

  • Peak reach was 2-2.5 million visitors monthly in early 2010s
  • Today's blogs are limited to low six-figure audiences
  • Mainstream audience reach is no longer possible like before

• Current Viability of Blogging:

  • Still possible to make a living
  • Must have well-defined niche
  • Requires specific audience focus
  • Limited scaling potential compared to past

• When to Choose Blogging:

  • Need compelling reason to choose blog over podcast/video
  • Must serve very specific niche
  • Should align with particular content needs

• Content Distribution Changes:

  • Pre-social media era relied on SEO and blogroll
  • Facebook/social media era changed traffic sources
  • Current landscape requires different strategies

• Success Metrics:

  • Past: Could gain reach beyond specific niche
  • Present: Success confined to dedicated niche audience
  • Scale: Ceiling much lower than historical potential

This perspective suggests that while blogging isn't dead, it has evolved into a more specialized medium with different success metrics and audience expectations than its golden era in the early 2010s.