Every so often I read some pundit, or usually a journalist pretending to be a pundit, suggesting that blogs are dead. What can I say? They’re not. Even when other means of expression arise that are not blogs, they are usually blogs by another name, liike Substack. That’s a sort of blog/newsletter/website all in one, which makes it all of those things and none of them at the same time. I use it myself as a low-overhead blog where I can ramble and muse on any subject I fancy. (By the way, I need another 9 subscribers to reach the dizzy heights of having 9 more than I have now, so do pop over there and check it out and, maybe, subscribe (it’s free).)

All of which is to say that twice a year I run a course called ‘Writing for blogs’, and it’s still as popular as ever. I have one coming up, which so far has ten people enriolled on it, which is quite a nice number I think, for an online course.

The last time I ran it, which was in July 2024, I went completely off-piste and we had an extended discussion of the pros and cons of using AI in one’s writing. That was quite interesting, because none of us had the slightest inclination to delegate the writing itself to AI. It was felt, however, that AI could come in handy for generating ideas. I’m not very convinced by that to be honest, because most of the ideas are ones you could come up with yourself and that don’t seem to me to be very interesting anyway.

For example, I asked Perplexity to give me a list of ten topics I could write a blog about on the subject of blogging, and it gave me this:

1. **My Journey to Becoming a Full-Time Blogger**: Share the challenges and triumphs you've experienced on your path to full-time blogging.

2. **Blogging Tools I Can't Live Without**: Create a list of essential tools and resources that enhance your blogging experience.

3. **How to Overcome Writer's Block**: Offer strategies and tips for bloggers struggling with writer's block.

4. **The Importance of SEO in Blogging**: Discuss how search engine optimization can impact blog visibility and growth.

5. **Lessons Learned from My Biggest Blogging Mistakes**: Reflect on past errors and what they taught you about blogging.

6. **Creating Engaging Content: Tips and Tricks**: Provide actionable advice on crafting content that resonates with readers.

7. **The Evolution of My Blog: A Year in Review**: Chronicle the changes and growth of your blog over the past year.

8. **Niche Blogging vs. General Blogging**: Analyze the pros and cons of focusing on a specific niche versus a broader audience.

9. **How to Monetize Your Blog Effectively**: Explore various strategies for turning your blog into a source of income.

10. **Building a Community Around Your Blog**: Discuss methods for fostering engagement and connection with your readers.

Citations:

[1] https://brandwell.ai/blog/what-are-good-blog-topics/

[2] https://www.semrush.com/blog/blog-ideas/

[3] https://www.hostinger.co.uk/tutorials/blog-examples

[4] https://optinmonster.com/50-blog-post-ideas-that-you-can-write-about-today/

[5] https://www.blogtyrant.com/what-should-i-blog-about/

[6] https://blog.storychief.io/blog-post-ideas-b2b

[7] https://thecontentpanel.com/blog-post-ideas/

[8] https://problogger.com/the-only-blog-post-idea-list-youll-ever-need/

Well jolly dee. I haven’t seen so much potential clickbait in one place for quite a while.

I must say, though, that AI was useful when it came to developing personas, or ‘typical target readers’. Personally I can’t really be bothered with such things except in a general sense. By that, I mean that ‘officially’, so to speak, a persona has to be extremely detailed, like this:

Prompt: write a persona for a writer who wants to know more about blogging

Here’s a detailed persona for a writer interested in learning more about blogging:

## Persona: Emily Carter

### Demographics

- **Age:** 32

- **Gender:** Female

- **Location:** Portland, Oregon

- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in English Literature

- **Occupation:** Freelance writer and editor

### Background

Emily has been writing professionally for over five years, primarily focusing on short stories and personal essays. She has contributed to various literary magazines and online platforms but is looking to expand her reach and audience through blogging.

### Goals

- **Build an Online Presence:** Emily wants to establish a personal brand that reflects her writing style and interests.

- **Engage with Readers:** She aims to connect with a community of fellow writers and readers who share her passion for storytelling.

- **Monetize Her Writing:** Emily is interested in exploring ways to generate income through her blog, whether through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling her own writing services.

### Challenges

- **Lack of Technical Skills:** Emily feels overwhelmed by the technical aspects of blogging, such as website setup, SEO, and social media promotion.

- **Content Planning:** She struggles with consistently generating fresh and engaging content that resonates with her audience.

- **Time Management:** Balancing freelance projects with her desire to maintain a blog feels daunting, leading to procrastination.

### Interests

- **Writing Craft:** Emily enjoys reading books on writing techniques and attending workshops to improve her skills.

- **Literary Trends:** She follows literary trends and is keen on discussing contemporary topics in the writing community.

- **Personal Development:** Emily is passionate about self-improvement and often seeks resources on productivity and creativity.

### Preferred Learning Style

- **Visual Learner:** Emily benefits from video tutorials and infographics that simplify complex concepts.

- **Community-Oriented:** She thrives in collaborative environments, enjoying forums or social media groups where she can share experiences and learn from others.

### Blogging Aspirations

Emily envisions her blog as a platform to:

- Share her writing journey, including successes and setbacks.

- Offer insights into the writing process and tips for aspiring writers.

- Create a space for book reviews, recommendations, and discussions about literature.

### Conclusion

Emily Carter is an aspiring blogger eager to learn the ins and outs of blogging while leveraging her existing writing skills. By understanding her goals, challenges, and interests, resources can be tailored to help her successfully navigate the blogging landscape.

As I said, I can’t be bothered with all that. When I write a blog post I just think, “is this likely to be interesting or useful to a writer or reader? In other words, does it solve a problem or provide food for thought.”

However, if you did want to go down the persona route then AI is a massive time-saver. When I wrote a persona, on a course a few years ago, it took me half an hour. It takes AI less than half a minute.

I also tried using Perplexity to render an article suitable for a five year old. It was fast, and worked reasonably well, apart from the fact that it actually did it instead of saying “Five year olds don’t need elevator speeches”. (The article was about elevator speeches.) Still, in principle this would be a good use of AI even though any half-competent writer shouold be able to write for different audiences themselves.