Blogging Updates - Not Giving Up

Here’s the latest on my blogging updates:

Petting an adorable donkey at Gentle Barn farm sanctuary.

A Break from Blogging

Previously, I wrote about AI killing blogs and the challenges of blogging and freelance SEO writing in today’s digital media landscape. After getting caught up in the drama of Google’s constantly changing search updates and experiencing about a fifty percent reduction in my main blog, Runstreet, I took a break from it all. I focused on my other pursuits with content strategy consulting, freelance writing, and personal finance classes. And fitness things, such as running around the city, going to the gym, etc.

And most importantly, I took a trip and relaxed. Living in New York City and in today’s non-stop digital world, it’s easy to forget what relaxing means. I enjoyed trail runs, visiting the Gentle Barn farm animal sanctuary (which you can read more about in this blog post), and eating lots. Computer-free days were so refreshing. I love just being outside, and I lucked out with great weather.

I had been working seven days a week, rarely giving myself breaks, and I was burned out. My getaway was just what I needed to reset.

Blogging Updates - A New Perspective

The blogging world is constantly evolving.

Once I returned to my blogs, I felt refreshed. And I realized despite the AI-induced loss of traffic and ad revenue, my blog makes up the majority of my income. So why would I give up on it? I have been looking at things from a wider perspective and have begun to work on diversifying my blog revenue, so I’m less dependent on search traffic and ad revenue. I have sold more digital training plans and increased my affiliate income. I also started writing new blogs again on Runstreet. I missed writing and researching, which is actually one of my nerdy hobbies. Maybe it’s the former journalist in me, but I love to research and learn more about topics that interest me.

In any case, I am ramping up my Runstreet newsletter (you can sign up for the Runstreet newsletter here if you’d like fitness and training tips and deals delivered to your inbox) and improving my digital training products and automated email systems.

My dog blog is still on pause while I catch up with some freelance work and finish my personal finance externship this month. And I realize that it’s ok for things to be in states of flux and change. Sometimes, I pressure myself to have everything figured out, but the life of an entrepreneur includes a lot of trial and error, revisions, and pivoting. So, my blogging updates may be changing and evolving. But my entrepreneurial spirit will remain the same.

Content Strategy Services

Originally, once I had mastered my blogging business, I wanted to teach other bloggers how to grow their sites. Although AI seemed to be killing my blogging dreams in the last year and messing up that plan, I have realized I can still help others by offering content strategy services. Content strategy allows me to harness the things I’ve been studying and doing for years - SEO research, SEO strategy, copywriting, content theme generation, keyword research, and content planning.

I have been doing content strategy and marketing for a local business in Manhattan, and it’s going really well. They have hit record sales. I look forward to helping more small businesses with their content strategies to stay on top of content marketing and grow their audience in the digital world.

Related Post: My Top SEO Tips to Grow Your Blog

What Lies Ahead

As I wrap up my personal finance externship and some extra freelance work this month, I will be thinking about what lies ahead. I can’t say that I know what my next blogging updates will include specifically, but I have some projects in the works that I will be able to report back on. In the meantime, I am focused on enjoying the rest of my summer, going to some art, book, and trail running events, and continuing to work on my blogs and media company.

I hope you are having a relaxing summer and are able to find some peace amidst the constantly shifting world we live in. Here’s to living happily in a state of unknowing.

Related Posts: My Top Blogging Tips from Over 10 Years of Blogging, My Experience Writing on Medium

Marnie Kunz is a writer and marketing professional based in Brooklyn, New York. She has a background in small business, journalism, and digital marketing, and is the founder of Runstreet and the Book of Dog.