Dear Google, Thanks for Everything (but this is goodbye)
I finally did it——I broke up with Google…well, sort of. I mean, I still optimize for old school SEO (naturally), but I stopped caring or expecting anything in the form of Google traffic.
Google is an unreliable partner for traffic and they seem totally uninterested in me. It seems like they never listen to us or our unique perspectives. And if they do, it’s just to train their own AI responses.
So I’m moving on.
Do I feel a bit jaded? Sure. But I can’t keep running back to them hoping this time will be different or that things will go back to the way they used to be.
They’ve changed. Hell, I’ve changed.
It’s modern times. And if I’m to continue this blogging thing, I need to stop acting like it’s 2016. It’s time to adapt.
This is an open letter to bloggers everywhere. A call to action.
It’s time to break up with the Googs and take back control over your traffic. No more rug pulls, waiting around or hoping for breadcrumbs.
This is the new way to blog.
Table of Contents
Why I Broke Up With Google
In case you didn’t know, Google sorta sucks now (at least, for bloggers).
Still, their UX could use some serious love and the sites they do recommend are usually just big brands.
There are still opportunities with Google (and some sites even crush it), but I’ve spent the past couple of years (since AI entered the scene) trying to figure out this new blogging/SEO era.
And I kept coming back to one uncomfortable truth: I can’t rely on Google for passive SEO traffic anymore.
As a blogger, the traffic I get from traditional search is dismal and the volatility gives me anxiety.
Most searches just show an AI overview with a bunch of ads, rather than something interesting or unique.
But I have to admit, the AI overviews are making it a lot easier to find basic information quickly——rather than poking around 6 different sites (especially when I have a nuanced question…but at that point, I’m portably just going to ChatGPT).
So if AI is doing a “better” job, is blogging dead then?
No! No way.
But blogging for Google like it’s 2018? (while hoping for massive amounts of AI traffic) Yea, that’s pretty dead…
If Not Google, Then Whoogle?
Pinterest. Pinterest will IS giving me traffic now.
Except for that tiny trickle of clicks still coming in from Google, I’m currently getting the bulk of my (other blog’s) traffic from Pinterest.
And I love it.
Why I’m Bullish On Pinterest
Why not Pinterest? It’s an amazing platform for traffic and inspiration.
Here’s why I’m bullish on them as a blogger:
It’s reliable
I know exactly what levers to pull to reliably and predictably get traffic to my site
It’s a visual search engine
Yep, Pinterest is NOT a social media platform
Trends are important, sure, but keywords, SEO and evergreen ranking are very much at work too
It has hundreds of millions of engaged users
Pinterest users are way more engaged than Google traffic ever was (both on the platform and on my site, frequently visiting multiple pages per visit); users are seeking advice and inspiration and they’re often willing to pay for it
Also, I’ve realized something important recently. And I’m not the only once saying this. But Pinterest is a pretty dang positive place.
I don’t feel like I’m doom scrolling on social media or endlessly comparing myself to others. I don’t feel terrible about myself after spending time there.
I feel inspired and happy.
Like I didn’t just waste 25 more minutes of my life.
I usually come away with new ideas or some core tips on a topic I care about.
I also feel creatively free using Pinterest because I don’t stress about Google ranking/deranking me. I feel like I can color outside the lines and build a more holistic brand. And I feel in control of my traffic.
As long as I show up and share quality pins, I get traffic.
I can really lean into multi-niche blogging with more confidence and less worry about confusing Google crawlers.
And finally, Pinterest loves its creators.
The platform supports bloggers and Pinners and elevates our voices. They actively push people off their platform (and to our sites). This is something social media will never do (and Google is doing less of).
Pinterest feels like this greener pasture that’s always been there, calmly waiting. But I kept forgetting about them.
So I decided to actually take Pinterest seriously at the end of 2025.
And after just a few weeks of pinning daily (and not pinning a lot either), my Pinterest account grew by over 2,000% across core KPIs like impressions, engagement and outbound clicks.
I. Am. Stoked.
I feel like I got my blog (and passion) back. :)
(*it’s worth noting that my Pinterest account was not new; I had started the year prior, but was since inactive)
Check out my full Pinterest for blogging guide here.
Anything Else Besides Pinterest?
Honestly, not really. Well, not right now!
Pinterest is my core traffic driver for now (more about this in the last section).
But in a funnily enough, the more engaged traffic you drive to my blog via Pinterest, the better your blog can perform with Google.
Pinterest traffic increase positive engagement signals (plus, you’re likely to start publishing more high-quality content, thanks to renewed motivation).
I might test Facebook after Pinterest stabilizes. And I may do some YouTube down the road too (YouTube is also amazing for evergreen content).
Plus, YouTube supports small creators too (which is sort of weird since Google owns YouTube…but whatever, I’m going with it).
I have another post on the best blog traffic sources if you’re keen to explore more options.
What About Optimizing for AI Traffic?
I’m not banking any future blog traffic on AI. It’s still too early to know how that’ll unfold. But as it stands, it’s not that promising.
I haven’t felt any meaningful traffic from AI overviews or new platforms like ChatGPT (even if I do show up in them).
But I think that’s because my past content was…well…sort of boring and generic.
It was keyword-first (but that’s what worked for the past 2 decades).
Now, search intent and context matter more than ever.
AI has replaced lazy blogging and Google-only traffic strategies.
I don’t see AI ever replacing human driven content with actual personality, experience and unique POVs.
So how am I optimizing for AI? By focusing on building brand recognition and content that people cannot get anywhere else (like an AI overview).
Google Is Still Good (for other stuff…)
Okay, so Google isn’t my favorite robot when it comes to blogging traffic. But it’s still good for other things and they do have some other exciting stuff going on.
Like their new no-code AI tool Antigravity, their classic Workspace tools, Nano Banana and Gemini.
That is, Google is a lot more than just a static search bar.
Also, if you’re building niche tool sites targeting low-competition keywords like “______ calculator” or “_______ generator”, those sites can still get traffic.
Either way, Google is still a core part of my personal creator ecosystem. I just don’t rely on them for organic blog traffic anymore.
Looking Ahead——One Elephant In The Room…
There is one issue with my current strategy. I once again find myself putting all my (traffic) eggs into one basket: Pinterest.
Whoops! lol
I do plan on expanding my traffic sources more (so I don’t end up in the same situation again in a few years), but for now I’m giving Pinterest my full attention.
I’m figuring this platform out and developing a foolproof strategy that I can rinse an repeat for my other projects (and to help others grow their brands too).
So here’s what’s in the pipeline for me (beyond Pinterest):
Diversify my traffic with at least one more source
Build an email list
Focus on establishing brand authority
Grow my other personal brand projects (so I’m not relying solely on a single blog to pay the bills and grow my brand)
This is part of my multibranding strategy, which is the perfect solution if you’re also multi-passionate
So how about you?
What’s your plan for traffic in a post-Google blogging world? And what do you think about Pinterest?
Let me know below :)
Otherwise, good luck out there——later ✌️
