If Everyone Likes Short Videos, Are Blogs Still Effective?
Short answer: yes — and more than ever.
The rise of short videos has created a widespread misconception: that writing is slow, outdated, or no longer worth the effort. That belief isn't just wrong — it's structurally flawed.
To understand why, we need to separate what people enjoy consuming from how information becomes discoverable, trusted, and reusable over time.
Short Videos Capture Attention. Blogs Capture Memory.
Short videos are excellent at one thing: earning attention in the moment. They are fast, emotional, and frictionless. But they have a hard ceiling.
Once a short video is published:
- It lives or dies based on early engagement velocity.
- Its reach depends heavily on the hook and the first few seconds.
- After a short window, it sinks into the feed.
Even good videos, once buried, are rarely rediscovered. Short video SEO is shallow by design.
Why Writing Still Behaves Differently
High-quality writing does not rely on velocity; it relies on Structure. A well-written article:
- Is indexed line-by-line by search engines.
- Ranks for many sub-questions, not just one.
- Compounds traffic and remains discoverable years after publication.
Every header is an entry point. Every paragraph can match a specific search intent. This is why one article can rank for dozens of "long-tail" searches. Serious buyers and sellers still arrive via Google not because the content is viral, but because it answers real questions clearly.
Video SEO vs. Written SEO: The Structural Difference
Short video SEO depends on title, description, and an algorithmic push. Once that push stops, the content has no second life.
Written content behaves differently:
- Indexable Depth: Every point and explanation can be indexed.
- AI Extraction: AI systems (ChatGPT, Perplexity) extract answers from articles and documentation—not TikTok clips.
- Trust: Search engines can verify, trust, and cite structured text.
A Critical Nuance: Platform-Native Text
This does not mean blogs only work on personal websites. A hybrid has emerged: platform-native long-form text. Examples include LinkedIn Articles, Xiaohongshu "Notes," and Substack.
The principle holds: Structured, searchable text creates permanence, regardless of where it lives. The real difference is ownership. You cannot move TikTok likes, but you can export email subscribers and mirror your writing on your own site. Text creates portability.
The Correct Mental Model: Think in Layers
Does this mean you should stop doing short videos? No. That would be misguided. Many people prefer watching and absorbing information emotionally. Short videos are powerful—they just aren't permanent.
Think of them as roles:
- Writing = The Source of Truth: Permanent. Searchable. Citable. Compoundable.
- Short Videos = The Messenger: Fast. Emotional. Disposable. High reach.
The mistake most agencies make is reversing this order: letting their best thinking live only in short videos, then wondering why their authority never compounds.
The Risk of a "Video-Only" Strategy
- Burnout: Constant filming without building evergreen assets exhausts creators.
- The "Vanishing Asset" Problem: After a year of posting, there is no single central asset demonstrating deep expertise.
- Algorithm Dependency: Your visibility depends entirely on rules you do not control.
The Sustainable Strategy
- Write first: Document the real insight, framework, or problem properly.
- Fragment later: Turn that same idea into short videos, carousels, and summaries.
- Let each format do its job: Writing builds Authority; video builds Familiarity.
Final Thought
Trends do not kill fundamentals. Short videos did not kill blogs; they simply exposed who never had substance to begin with.
The future belongs to those who write to build memory and film to borrow attention. If you must choose one, choose writing. If you want reach, add video.
But never confuse noise with permanence.
