Why I Still Blog in 2026
Someone asked me why I still maintain a blog. “Doesn’t everyone just use LinkedIn or Twitter now?”
Fair question. Let me explain.
The Short Answer
This is my space. I own it. I control it. Nobody can shut it down, change the algorithm, or monetize my content without my consent.
The Longer Answer
1. Permanence
I’ve been blogging since 2020. Six years of thoughts, experiments, tutorials, and reflections. It’s all here.
You know what’s not here? My old MySpace posts. My early tweets before I deleted them. That forum post from 2008 on a site that no longer exists.
Digital permanence is an illusion, but owning your platform gets you closer than renting space on someone else’s.
2. Writing Clarifies Thinking
I don’t fully understand something until I try to explain it. Writing forces me to organize thoughts, identify gaps, and articulate clearly.
Half my blog posts teach me more than they teach readers.
3. Search Works
Need to remember how I solved that Azure Function issue last year? I search my own blog.
It’s my external brain. Better organized than my notes app, more permanent than Slack messages.
4. Portfolio
When someone asks “Can you help with Azure OpenAI?” I send them three blog posts. They get to see:
- My depth of knowledge
- My communication style
- My approach to problems
That’s worth more than a resume.
5. Community
The most interesting conversations happen in blog comments and emails. Not Twitter arguments, not LinkedIn humble-brags. Actual thoughtful exchanges.
6. No Algorithm
I don’t have to game engagement. No clickbait titles (okay, sometimes). No posting at “optimal times.” No worrying about shadowbans.
I write what’s useful. If people find it, great. If not, it’s still here for future me.
7. Long-Form Thinking
Twitter taught us to think in sound bites. LinkedIn taught us to perform professional-ness. Blogs let you actually develop ideas.
Some things need more than 280 characters.
8. It’s Mine
When Twitter became X, people scrambled. When LinkedIn changes features, people adapt. When Medium adjusts its paywall, writers migrate.
My blog? It’s mine. It’ll be here as long as I want it to be.
The Process
I don’t have a content calendar. I don’t batch-write posts. I don’t use AI to generate outlines (though I use it to edit).
I write when I have something to say. Sometimes daily. Sometimes weekly. Sometimes I go a month without posting.
That’s the luxury of owning your platform.
What I’ve Learned
Consistency beats perfection. I’ve published posts with typos. Posts that aged poorly. Posts I’d write differently now. They’re all still up. That’s fine.
Shorter posts get read more. But longer posts get referenced more. Write both.
Technical posts bring traffic. Personal posts start conversations. Balance matters.
Nobody cares about your setup. Except the 50 people who do, intensely. Write for those people.
The Unexpected Benefits
Job offers. Multiple clients found me through blog posts.
Speaking opportunities. Conference organizers read my blog to vet topics.
Better communication. Writing regularly makes you a better writer. Who knew?
Network effects. Blog posts get shared years after publishing. Good content compounds.
The AI Question
Could I use AI to write blog posts? Sure. Many do.
But that misses the point. I write to think. I write to learn. I write to communicate my actual experiences and opinions.
AI can help with editing, structure, and clarity. But it can’t have my experiences or form my opinions.
To Other Developers
You don’t need to be a “content creator.” You don’t need viral posts. You don’t need thousands of followers.
But having a space where you document your learning? That’s valuable.
For future you. For people facing similar problems. For showcasing your thinking.
It doesn’t have to be daily. It doesn’t have to be long. It just has to be yours.
Why I’ll Keep Blogging
Because in an industry that moves fast, it’s useful to have a record of the journey. Because I learn by writing. Because sometimes people find my posts helpful.
But mostly? Because it’s mine. And in 2026, that still matters.
Start a blog. Write when you have something to say. Don’t overthink it.
The best time to start was six years ago. The second-best time is today.