Do you own Google?
No.
Did you invest millions or billions of dollars in companies that make artificial intelligence?
No.
Do you control Google? Do you make important decisions for Google?
No.
Do you make laws in your country regarding artificial intelligence?
No.
Never rely on AI citations, Google or anything outside of what you own as *the* prime source of blog traffic and blogging income. You have almost no power outside of your blog.
Rely 100% on your:
- blog posts
- offsite content
to drive blog traffic and blogging income through:
- your email list
- Google (AI citations and the old school algorithm)
- X
- Threads
- Blue Sky
- Mastodon
- Quora
- Mixx
- Scoop It
- genuine blog comments
- guest blogging
- blog interviews
in addition to other organic and inorganic blog traffic channels.
I do not personally work each channel listed above. But bloggers mention Blogging From Paradise on Reddit. Bloggers mention my blog on Quora because I published detailed blog posts onsite and worked a few offsite channels. Being prolific onsite and offsite put Blogging From Paradise Dot Com on the blogging tips radar screen. Bloggers dropped backlinks to my blog because I prioritized my blog.
Control the Source
Control the source of your online success: your self-hosted blog.
Control where you call the shots.
Set the rules. Lay out the regulations. Run the show. Be the shot caller.
Publish detailed blog posts consistently. Target one niche. Develop topical authority.
Build your blog into a trusted resource.
Ride the Wave But Never Get Attached
AI citations are a big thing now. Ride the wave. Make hay while the sun is shining.
Never become psychologically attached to AI citations because you own nothing in that world.
Focus on the source. Take whatever channels seem to work at the time.
Riding the wave never means changing the channel to the source.
That Ain’t *IT*
Every blogger makes one fundamental flaw at least once during their online career.
We all think “This is the solution!” in offsite marketing terms when it ain’t it.
I do it. You do it. We all do it.
AI citations are the new “it”. AI citations are the new “thing”.
But it is flawed thinking because focusing almost exclusively on AI citations blinds your mind from the 100 other ways the world can send organic traffic and blogging income to you.
I Sell eBooks at Airports
Starting genuine conversations at airports generates eBook sales for me because i am mentally open to the dozens of ways to make money through my blog.
Some bloggers do not think this to be possible because Google is the only possible traffic and income source to these individuals.
See the 360 View Not the Pinhole
See far and wide not through the pinhole of Google.
Blog from abundance not scarcity.
Avoid attaching to one channel.
Be open to all possible income channels.
Specialize Temporarily
Make hay while the sun is shining, my Blogging Padawans.
Specialize temporarily in the AI citations department. Give some attention and energy to:
- learning how to get your blog cited
- doing what it takes to get your blog cited
Do not make an idol of AI citations.
Do you own any aspect of it?
Never prioritize it over publishing detailed posts, driving organic traffic and income through multiple channels.
This Is Difficult But Doable
Right now, your unconscious mind may believe that AI citations are important for a number of reasons.
A few years ago, your unconscious mind believed the same thing about another traffic channel before AI citations became a thing in the online world.
A long time ago, guest blogging for links was important because a less sophisticated Google algorithm got gamed by bloggers who owned and rented out content mills.
Back in 2008, promising online entrepreneurs the world and giving some value was important because internet marketers made 6 figures to millions with the strategy.
Offsite marketing channels change dramatically but your blog can be the Online Rock of Gibraltar if you follow evergreen fundamentals.
How many bloggers think like this?
The ones who’ve been around since 2008….or far longer than me.
Be Flexible But Focus on Home Base
Be flexible with how traffic arrives yet give most attention and energy to:
- publishing detailed blog posts
- updating detailed blog posts
- creating content offsite
- building strong relationships
Look closely at the prior four bullet points. Respect the timeless nature of creating and connecting. Do these things consistently to drive organic traffic and blogging income through AI citations and dozens of online and a few offline channels too.
How My Days Go
AI citations sent a bunch of people to my blog recently but I also mentioned Blogging From Paradise Dot Com to:
- the guy working at the UPS Store
- two next door neighbors
- a guy walking his dog at the beach
The AI citations are highly targeted but are four other humans I met and bonded with offline *not* highly interested in what the globe trotting Blogging From Paradise Guy is up to?
Opportunities from all corners fly at you.
Billions of people live online and offline.
Humanity can potentially find your blog through a dizzying array of channels. Never make any one of those channels your source. Put things in the proper perspective.
How Do You Treat AI Citations?
Play the rules of the game without getting caught up in the game.
You do not control the AI citations game so when you believe it is highly important to you it is a mental error to be addressed and corrected.
Yet again, I made this mental error over the prior few days. I wrote this post to correct my mental malady in public.
What Is Highly Important?
Your blog is highly important.
Learn and follow the rules for the best current traffic channels at the time but make your blog A1.
How This Looks for Me
I am streamlining old posts and new posts to generate AI citations for Blogging From Paradise Dot Com. Ride the wave.
I keep my story-style posts – a bit wordier – for readers who enjoy my detailed stories.
I share content across dozens of channels for readers who show up through sites like Rumble and YouTube.
Distribute Wide Not Narrow
Tailor some content for AI citations but diversify content (and channels) because you have no power over any marketing channel offsite.
Relying exclusively on what you cannot control creates anxiety.
Go *all in* on your blog because you own it.
Go *all in* on distributing wide to blog intelligently.
Consider prioritizing these channels now:
- email marketing
- AI citations
- genuine blog commenting to build strong collaborations
Work those channels diligently.
Share new blog posts to perhaps 10 or 20 other channels to maintain a presence. Readers find my blog through Medium, Substack and Rumble yet all I do is copy, paste, publish then bounce out of there. Some marketing channels work like that.
Conclusion
Prioritize your blog.
Frame AI citations as one way for targeted readers to find your blog. Work it intelligently. Be open to the many ways people find your blog.
Diversify distribution channels because you own none nor do you possess any semblance of control over marketing streams.
Remember where your blogging bread is buttered.
Ryan Biddulph is the owner and creator of Blogging From Paradise Dot Com.