Cultivators,

Today is National Bloggers Day, and I know nobody talks about blogging in the same way that they used to… today its all about video and Tik Tok type content. There was a time when blogging was the gateway to being a creator.

I am in Puerto Rico winding down from a conversation with my dear friend Eileen Campos from MommyTeaches.com via voice notes about the good old days, when we had spaces that helped us develop our craft, create connections and attract opportunities.

I started Sofrito For Your Soul back in 1997, it was the first “cultural online magazine” of our time. Modeled after some of my favorite magazines… I decided to create a space that was ours… open for anyone to contribute and collaborate.

Blogging was called journaling and this was way before “content creator” was a job title.

I just did it…

I didn’t have a marketing degree.
I wasn’t trying to go viral.
I just needed a space to share our stories — our real stories — in a world that barely acknowledged we existed.

Believe it or not, I truly believed (and still do) that it was a way to inspire others to do the same. 25 years later… you would be hard pressed to find someone who is not a creator of some kind.

Sofrito was my digital griot, a place where I poured culture, identity, struggle, pride, food, art, and memory into every post. I also found a way to make a living doing this in many different capacities.

Guess what… This website, SiembraConnect.com is very much a blog… even though today’s trend has it labeled a newsletter. This is the evolution of what we started in the 90’s… we just have a deeper connection with our readers.

Why? because people kept coming back and the community got stronger. I just adapt to what the needs are… and the need today is for people to learn how to do what they love and monetize it so that they can live more abundant lives.

What I Learned from 25+ Years of Blogging

Blogging gave me:

• Visibility when mainstream media didn’t see us

• Opportunities I never imagined — from brand deals to speaking gigs

• Community that’s stood by me for decades

• Revenue that still comes in from old posts that solve real problems

I have built brands (for myself and others), I have build capacity for organizations that serve our community, I have worked to address emergencies in our community, I have build organizations that united bloggers & creators with brands…. I have created spaces where gatekeeping does not exist and we help each other get access to opportunities…. and it all started with a blog post called True Boricua… a poem I wrote in 1995 but shared online in 1997.

Owning a blog is critical in a time where we are being deplatformed from spaces we helped build but do not have trie equity in… I said the following ten years ago in a different way.

Today we say… do not build your kingdom on rented land.

So in the spirit of National Blogging Day…. in the final minutes let me share a little bit of what can be done… if you think Blogging is for you.

How to Monetize with Blogging (Yes, Still)

Here’s how creators are quietly building income streams from their blogs in 2025:

• Affiliate Links: Recommend tools you already use

• Digital Products: Ebooks, templates, workshops

• Service Funnels: Use blog posts to drive coaching or consulting inquiries

• Newsletter Growth: Convert readers into subscribers, then clients

• Sponsorships: Brands still pay for blog mentions in niche spaces

Do You Want To Blog?

If you've been putting off starting a blog, let today be the day.

Write one post.
Tell one story.
Solve one problem.

And if you already have a blog?
Clean it up. Update an old post. Add a product or opt-in. Give it some love.

Blogging isn’t dead.

Everything you do today is some type of blogging…

Twitter / Threads = Microblogging
Short, punchy thoughts, rapid updates, opinions, and commentary—like bite-sized blog posts in real time.

Instagram Captions = Visual Blogging
Image-first storytelling paired with thoughtful, engaging captions. Think of it as blogging through photos and mini essays.

LinkedIn Posts = Professional Blogging
Business insights, career advice, thought leadership—tailored for industry peers. It’s like publishing a business blog one post at a time.

Facebook Posts = Legacy Social Blogging
Longer personal reflections, storytelling, and life updates. This is where the early blogging spirit lives on for everyday users.

TikTok Videos = Video Blogging (Vlogging)
Quick, personal video updates or educational series. Think of it as a blog post delivered through a camera lens—especially when a message unfolds across multiple parts.

YouTube = Long-Form Video Blogging (Vlogging)
Full-length, topic-driven videos with structure, storytelling, and value—akin to writing a detailed blog post but on camera.

Pinterest Boards = Curated Blogging
Visual bookmarking with themes—like blogging through inspiration, mood boards, and resource sharing.

Instagram Stories / Reels = Episodic Blogging
Behind-the-scenes looks, tutorials, or ongoing mini-series. These short-form formats mirror serialized blog updates in a faster, more casual format.

Email Newsletters = Personal Blogging (Inbox Edition)
Direct-to-reader blogs with updates, recommendations, stories, and value drops—delivered on your terms.

Podcasts = Audio Blogging
Verbal storytelling, opinions, interviews, and commentary. The blog becomes a conversation instead of a post.

Medium / Substack / Beehiiv = Classic Blogging Reimagined
Platforms built for long-form writing—but now integrated with monetization, subscription models, and community. This is what I am doing here…

Let’s keep writing.
Let’s keep growing.
Let’s keep telling our stories.

Happy National Bloggers Day.
—George

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