The Digital Gold Rush Is a Mind Trap—Here’s the Real Gold
30 Years Online Has Taught Me that Blogging Wins Over TikTok Fads, AI Hype, and Beyond
These are my thoughts on the state of today's digital gold rush. For years, people have been saying that bloggers are dinosaurs but just don't know it. Every year, something new comes along, and everyone says this is where to be if you want to make money.
The digital space is a constant cycle of "next big things", from Facebook to Instagram, Twitter (now X), TikTok, and now AI agents like those from Relevance, n8n, or ChatGPT Agents. Each platform or tool gets hyped as the ultimate money-maker, pulling the herd in that direction. I have been in an AI Agent crash course for the last week and a half. Not because I am chasing the money, but because I truly do have Shiny New Thing Syndrome (SNTS). These agents are another set of "Power Tools" that I am going to use to advance my blogging.
Blogging is Not Dead
Blogging success comes down to mastery, not chasing the latest fad. Blogging, despite being declared "dead" for a decade, remains a cornerstone for many online marketers, acting as a central hub, a "storefront," as I like to say, and using other platforms to serve as "billboards" that drive traffic.
The resilience of blogging makes sense. According to a 2024 report by Orbit Media, over 77% of bloggers reported that blogging still drives results, with niche blogs and affiliate marketing continuing to thrive (Orbit Media, 2024 Blogging Statistics).
Thousands of new blogs do indeed launch daily; data from WordPress alone shows over 500 new sites are created daily on their platform as of early 2025. Blogging’s staying power lies in its ability to provide evergreen content, build authority, and integrate with SEO, affiliate marketing, and other monetization strategies. My strategy of using a blog as the hub while leveraging other platforms for traffic is a proven model, often referred to as the "hub-and-spoke" approach in digital marketing.
The Digital Gold Rush Mind Trap
The TikTok frenzy has been amplified by the uncertainty around its potential ban in the U.S. under Trump’s administration. In 2024, TikTok saw a surge in users and creators as people flocked to the platform amid the drama, with estimates showing U.S. user growth to over 170 million by late 2024 (Statista, 2024).
That was so last year! The "place to be" shifts rapidly; now it’s AI agents, which are gaining traction for automating content creation, customer service, and marketing tasks. Companies like Relevance and n8n are leading the charge in no-code AI workflows, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agents (released recently) are making waves for their ability to handle complex, multi-step tasks autonomously.
It is not just the new that makes money. Platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, and even Facebook are still profitable for those who’ve mastered them. For example, YouTube remains a goldmine for creators like Mikael, with the platform paying out over $70 billion to creators in the last three years through its Partner Program (YouTube Official Blog, 2024). Pinterest, too, continues to drive significant e-commerce traffic. with over 450 million monthly active users in 2024, and 80% of them using the platform to make purchasing decisions (Pinterest Business, 2024).
The key is mastery. The people succeeding on these platforms aren’t jumping ship every time a new trend emerges. They’ve doubled down on what works for them.
Google Search and AI: A Paradigm Shift?
Upon the release of ChantGPT in November 2022 and my AI bot adoption in May 2023, I saw the writing on the wall.
Google Search Is Dead! The Largest Casualty of the AI Revolution
I made a bold claim. AI tools like ChatGPT, Grok, Cluade, Perplexity, and other conversational AI models are reshaping how people access information. Instead of sifting through Google’s search results, users are increasingly turning to AI for direct, synthesized answers. A 2024 study by Gartner predicted that by 2026, the volume of traditional search engines will drop by 25% as conversational AI takes over.
Google has been scrambling to integrate AI into its ecosystem. We see it in all of their AI Overviews and the push for Gemini models to compete. But the shift is undeniable.
However, Google Search isn’t "dead" just yet. It still commands over 90% of the global search market as of early 2025 (StatCounter, 2025), and its ad revenue remains a juggernaut. That said, the rise of AI-driven tools is forcing marketers to rethink SEO strategies, focusing more on conversational queries and zero-click searches. But still a 25% loss in traffic for Google is significant.
AI is redistributing the digital landscape, and those who adapt will thrive. Before chasing the herd, where should you be looking?
The Future: Web3, Decentralized Digital Identification, and AI Agents
I have taken a stance that Web2 (Centralized Data Centers) will give way to Web3 and Digital Decentralized Identification (DIDs), and the adoption of AI Agents is on the new horizon. Both can lay waste to the TikTok craze.
Let’s unpack these:
- Web3 and Digital Decentralized Identification (DIDs) are unhackable. Web3, with its focus on decentralization, blockchain, and user sovereignty, is gaining momentum. DIDs, in particular, are a hot topic as governments and organizations explore secure, privacy-first identity solutions.
- I have taken this one step further and am tying DIDs to voter registration. There will be new voter laws in the US. Let's put an end to questioning eligible voting once and for all. I created a plan for blockchain-based voting systems that would reduce fraud and increase transparency.
- Estonia has been a pioneer in this space, using blockchain for e-governance since 2016, and several U.S. states are piloting similar initiatives as of 2025 (Forbes, 2025). However, challenges like scalability, public trust, and regulatory hurdles remain.
- Imagine sitting at the forefront of this adoption. My interest in this area could position me quite well as these technologies mature.
- AI Agents: The next frontier. They’re evolving from simple chatbots to autonomous systems capable of handling entire workflows. Think marketing campaigns, customer support, or even content creation.
- Imagine simply giving Atlas (the name of my AI agent in the design phase) an SEO optimized keyword. It turns around and creates a great blog post, repurposes it from Long form to Medium form to Short form, all while creating 15 Pins and 30 "Tweets", and it will generate relevant AI-generated images. Oh, and it will schedule the post to be published at the perfect time. AUTOMATICALLY!
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agents, for example, can now execute multi-step tasks like booking appointments or generating reports with minimal human input (OpenAI Blog, 2025).
- Platforms like n8n allow users to build custom AI workflows without coding, democratizing access to automation.
As I dove into my crash course on AI agents, I found tools like Zapier’s AI integrations, Make.com, and Microsoft’s Copilot for Business useful as well.
Practical Advice: Blogging, Billboards, and Video Gear
My advice to "pick a system, master it, and stick with it" is timeless. Well, maybe just the last 20 years or so, but timeless to many of you. It is like opening a restaurant and placing 1000s of "billboards" on platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, or YouTube to drive traffic back to your blog. This is a smart strategy.
For example, a single viral TikTok video can generate thousands of clicks to a blog, especially if it’s optimized with a clear call-to-action. Tools like Canva and CapCut help create engaging short-form videos to amplify your reach on these platforms.
As for video gear, I would like to give a shoutout to MetricsMule on YouTube! I have been hooked on his channel. He has great tutorials on creating AI-generated videos. For example, MetricsMule has videos on using tools like Runway or Synthesia to produce high-quality videos without expensive equipment (MetricsMule, 2025).
If you’re looking to start, you don’t need much, just a decent smartphone (like an iPhone 14 or Samsung Galaxy S23 for good video quality), a budget tripod (e.g., the UBeesize 67” tripod, around $30), and free AI tools like Lumen5 or InVideo for editing. AI can handle scripting, voiceovers, and even animation, making video creation more accessible than ever.
Final Thoughts: Stay Positive and Focused
My philosophy has always been "You Do You". With 7.9 billion people in this world, there is only one you. Take pride in that simple fact. What you know and what you have learned through experience is priceless. Find your voice and tell the world!
The digital space can feel like a relentless rat race, but sustainable success comes from passion and consistency. AI, Web3, and DID are exciting areas that I have found to explore, along with Mastering Niche Blogging for Retirement Income. When you write, write with enthusiasm, for your niches, when chosen correctly, will serve you well.
Keep blogging as your hub, Wealthy Affiliate as your entrepreneurial foundation, and experiment with AI agents to automate tasks, and use platforms like TikTok or YouTube as billboards to amplify your reach.
The future is indeed bright for Setting Points for success in niche blogging and affiliate marketing.
Recent Comments
8
Don,
What an interesting, thought provoking article to start this beautiful weekend. I so like the concept of the relentless rat race, but taking one step at a time.
All the best
Peter
Peter, I appreciate the comment and am glad that I made you think. I owe this post to a person who asked if she would follow the herd to TikTok.
Enjoy the day.
Don
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Hello Mrdon1, I think u are very Intelligent and I like how u express yourself, I like the things that you brought up, pick a system, master it, and stick with it, You Do You"Theres only 1 u, Find your voice and tell the world!
I see so many things LIKE funnels. What do you think of that, Alot of businesses use them
I could tell you many tales about funnel tossing. Good funnels will walk people down a path. But if you don't have the supporting documentation (a blog), people will look elsewhere to confirm that they are making the right choice. It is a numbers game.
I was spending upwards of $200/month pitching funnels on anything from Pheremones to Male Infertility. The whole idea with funnels is to create enough of them that maybe one will hit paydirt and then double, triple, even quadruple down on that topic. The well goes dry when people move on, or the fad evaporates. It is not sustainable as a business.
It was more follow the herd and scoop up the leftovers. TikTok is blazing hot. Tell people how to make money on TikTok, and they will blindly buy what you are selling. It is chasing a fad looking for a big payday.
The real trick is to find something before anyone else does and make a play for that audience. When it becomes the next "it" you will reap the rewards.
Funnels have their place, but blogging is still the hub around which everything revolves.
MrDon
Thanks MrDon, i was involved with someone that taught How to build Funnels, But i was not interested, i didn't take interest, I've always been interested in Blogging.
When funnels first came out, I went to see wht the fuss was all about... Unable to say no, I built up to paying for the email lists. Then it died. Ran straight into a deadend wall.
Rush ended, reality set in, this was fun while it lasted, but it is unsustainable. If you want passive income to keep coming in, we are on a better path.
MrDon