- From 2022 to 2026, 100 previously successful blogs were analyzed; the median lost 85% of Google search traffic, with over half experiencing catastrophic declines.
- Only 21 out of 100 blogs continued to grow, characterized by firsthand experiential content (e.g., recipes, DIY projects, travel) that cannot be AI-summarized.
- Key survival traits included demonstrating irreplaceable experience, building an owned audience (e.g., email list), productizing (e.g., books), and having brand equity.
- Google's updates (e.g., E-E-A-T, Helpful Content Update, AI Overviews) devastated summarizable, informational content in niches like finance, health, and fashion.
- AI Overviews reduced clicks to top organic results by ~58%, with Reddit and community platforms increasingly cited, undermining traditional affiliate/ad-based monetization.
- For future blogs, focus on niches requiring firsthand proof, treat search as an acquisition channel, and avoid relying solely on rented audiences or AI-driven content.