Blogging Trends You Need to Know with Jillian Leslie

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome back Jillian Leslie to talk about blogging trends you need to know. Jillian has been building businesses on the internet since 2009, from her first blog Catch My Party, which has become the largest party ideas site on the web, to a pop-up app called MiloTree that grows your social media followers for you 24/7. Since then, she’s been building tools that help bloggers, and she’s here to share her knowledge of what blogging trends to look for, now and in the future.

In this episode, Jillian shares about the evolution of blogging she’s seen over the last 15 years, and where she sees the space going in the new year. We talk about the problem with relying on SEO alone, how to think like an entrepreneur in order to monetize your blog, easy ways to get started on your freebie, and how blogging is moving to be more personal in 2025.

Blogging Trends and the Evolution of Blogging

Blogging has changed dramatically over the years, and Jillian has the unique perspective of being in the thick of it since 2009. For those who have been blogging for only a few years, it may feel like the landscape is always shifting, but Jillian assures us that change has been a constant in the industry since the beginning.

People used to focus on SEO and affiliate marketing, but things in the blogging landscape have changed. Now, with AI on the scene, Jillian says blogging is about showing up consistently and always learning – from the experts and your audience.

The Problem with Relying on Traffic Alone

Jillian warns against relying only on traffic from Google and social media. Changes in Google’s algorithms, especially over the last year, have hit many bloggers hard.

Instead of putting all your eggs into the SEO basket, Jillian encourages bloggers to build a business that isn’t dependent on traffic alone. Sell digital products, offer services, and create memberships – and definitely build an email list. They can take away your social media and your search engine traffic, but they can’t take away your email list.

Thinking Like a Business from Day One

Jillian recommends that all bloggers think about monetization from the very beginning of your blogging journey. Here’s how:

Define the Problem You Solve: What problem do you solve for your audience? For instance, instead of thinking, “I like taking pretty pictures of food,” focus on how your content helps your audience—”I help people put healthy, delicious meals on the table in 30 minutes.”

Monetize Through Problem-Solving: Once you’ve nailed down the problem you solve, create a pathway for your audience to solve it, starting with a freebie that addresses a small part of the larger issue. If you’re a meal planning blogger, create a freebie that helps people organize their kitchen to prepare for meal planning – and then sell them a meal plan.

Understand What Makes People Buy: According to Jillian, solutions to problems that fit into one or more of these six categories are the ones that convert:

Helping people make money
Saving people money
Saving time
Moving people toward happiness
Moving them away from pain
Raising their social status

When your offer taps into one of these motivators, it becomes more than just a nice-to-have – it becomes a must-have.

How to Get Started Creating a Freebie

Jillian suggests that bloggers break down big problems into manageable pieces. Then, use those smaller, bite-sized problems and solutions to and guide the audience on a journey that improves their lives.

When you can think of a small problem that’s part of the larger problem you solve, create a freebie that solves that small problem.

Jillian says to keep freebies simple and consumable, like a Hershey’s Kiss. It should give quick, digestible solutions that don’t overwhelm the audience. Things like single-page PDFs, checklists, and short email series that address specific problems are perfect freebies.

Having trouble coming up with ideas for your freebie? Try out Jillian’s freebie prompt generator.

Blogging Trends and Why It’s Essential for Bloggers to Build an Email List

Email is a valuable direct marketing channel. It allows bloggers to connect, give value, and build trust with their audience more authentically than through social media – so you can eventually sell products or services.

Jillian advises bloggers to view themselves as “content marketers” instead of just bloggers. Attach a clear goal to each blog post, like getting someone to sign up for an email list, click an affiliate link, or engage with a sponsored post.

Jillian also urges bloggers not to fear unsubscribers. It helps refine their list to those genuinely interested in their message and offerings.

Blogging Trends: Blogging is Personal

Jillian also explains how blogging has moved from one-to-many content to more personal, one-to-one connections. She suggests going “door-to-door” to talk face-to-face with potential subscribers, even by collecting emails in person at local events where your audience hangs out.

This, along with showing up consistently and constantly learning, will help you grow and adapt to the changing blogging landscape in the new year!

In this episode, we covered:

What bloggers today should focus on
How blogging has evolved over the last 15 years
How to shape your messaging so what you’re selling is a must-have
Why knowing what problem you solve is essential to monetizing your blog
How to decide on a freebie topic based on your niche
Ideas for your first freebie
Why it’s so valuable for bloggers to build their email list
Why you shouldn’t be afraid of unsubscribers
How blogging is moving to a be more personal

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

We loved talking to Jillian about trends she’s seen in the blogging space, and how bloggers can adapt! What did you think of this episode? Send us a DM over on Instagram: @sparkmediaconcepts and let us know!