Many new writers often ask the same question: What’s the difference between writing an article and blog writing?
From tone to research depth, blog posts and articles frequently get mixed up. Even seasoned professionals sometimes blur the lines.
This discussion creates confusion around format and value. Is a blog post an article? Can an article also be a blog post? What separates one from the other? Should one type of writing earn less? Is writing an article more profitable? Can I make money writing either articles or blogs?
This guide explores how blog posts and articles serve different goals, follow different structures, and speak to different readers. Understanding those differences helps writers build better content and potentially earn more.
Writing an article vs. writing a blog post
For years, blog posts and nonfiction articles were distinctly different:
| Blog Post | Article |
|---|---|
| Mostly your own opinion | Your opinion not allowed |
| No interviews or research | Has interviews and research from credible experts and research firms |
| Short | Longer than 300 words |
| Built around SEO keywords | Keywords not important |
| Good spelling and grammar optional | Spelling and grammar are impeccable |
| Casual writing style | More sophisticated writing style |
| No editor involved; self-published | An editor cleans it up for you; published by a print magazine |
| Freelance pay rates usually very low; much work in the $5-$20 per piece range | Pay rates from $0.10-$1 a word and up |
Then something happened, and over the past few years, the lines became blurred.
What is a blog post?
The word blog comes from a blend of web and log—a digital logbook or journal published on the internet. Most blog posts live on personal or business websites and offer short, focused content built around one main idea.
Unlike traditional articles, blog posts often follow a relaxed, conversational tone. Many focus on stories, insights or updates. This narrative form helps writers build trust and spark interest without overwhelming readers with heavy research or formal structure.
Blog article writing serves different purposes. Some posts share personal reflections. Others teach a skill, explain a process or promote a product. No matter the topic, strong blog posts connect with a specific audience and speak directly to their needs.
Most blog posts fall within the 300-word to 2,000-word range. Short paragraphs, SEO optimized headings and bullet points help readers scan content. Blog writing works best when built around connection, clarity and community.
Pro tip: If you’re passionate about blogging, create your own blog and monetize it.
What is an article?
An article is a formal piece of writing built around information, logic and structure. Unlike blog posts, articles dive deeper into a topic, often covering multiple key points rather than focusing on just one.
The article writing process starts with topic selection and thorough research. Writers gather facts, expert quotes and references to support each point. Articles often follow a deductive structure—beginning with a main idea or hypothesis, then building toward a conclusion using evidence and analysis.
Length varies widely depending on the industry, but many articles stretch beyond 2,500 words. This format works well for topics that require depth, such as industry trends, technical breakdowns or academic insights. Strong structure, organized paragraph flow and proper formatting guide the reader through each section with clarity.
Writers usually edit and review articles carefully, checking for grammatical errors, relevance and accuracy. Quality content and backed-up facts set good articles apart.
These pieces often appear in print publications, digital magazines or professional websites.
While blog articles speak more casually to potential customers or general readers, articles tend to target a specific audience with subject knowledge, such as researchers, industry experts or professionals seeking in-depth information.
Whether written for a corporate platform or a scholarly journal, article writing calls for focus, research and precision.
What is the difference between blogs and articles?
Although many use blog and article interchangeably, each style of writing has a different purpose, structure, tone and research level. Understanding the difference between blogs and articles helps writers create better content and choose the right format for each goal.
1. Point of view and tone
Blog article writing usually follows a personal tone. Writers often use a first-person or second-person voice to build a connection with readers. The tone stays casual, warm and sometimes playful, which is ideal for storytelling, sharing updates, or simplifying complex topics.
On the other hand, articles follow a formal tone and third-person structure. Writers avoid personal opinions and instead rely on evidence, data and expert voices. This style creates distance, letting facts take the lead.
2. Purpose and audience
Blogs and articles both educate, but their goals and readers differ.
A blog post aims to attract potential customers, build brand personality, boost engagement and simplify big ideas. Blog content supports search engine visibility and encourages interaction. Readers often include curious individuals, general audiences or early-stage buyers.
Articles focus on delivering deep, structured knowledge. These pieces may appear in journals, publications or professional sites. Readers expect clarity, supporting evidence, and subject expertise.
3. Structure and length
Structure plays a big role in the difference between article and blog formats.
Blog posts usually follow a loose outline: an introduction, a few key points and a conclusion. Lists, bullet points and subheadings help readers scan. The average word count falls between 300 and 2,000.
Articles follow a stricter format: thesis or hypothesis, followed by evidence, analysis, and a logical conclusion. These texts often exceed 2,500 words and may stretch to 5,000 or more, especially when supported by interviews or case studies.
4. Research and sources
Blog writing may include personal experiences, industry trends, or informal sources. While research plays a role, fact-checking isn’t always rigorous. Blog posts often focus on sharing insights or tips in the writer’s own words.
Articles rely on detailed research, expert interviews, academic citations and structured arguments. Every claim demands support from credible data or published studies. Many articles include footnotes, references or linked sources.
5. Publication and editing process
Blogs live mostly on websites, especially in the form of blog feeds or update sections. Writers publish their content, often without outside proofreading and editing. This direct route allows fast publishing and flexible updates.
Articles go through formal channels. Editors review, revise, and approve content before publication. These pieces may appear in digital magazines, newspapers, academic journals or trade publications.
6. Language and style
Blog language leans toward simplicity and relatability. Writers choose short sentences, plain language and often use questions or humor.
Article writing uses precise language, technical terms and a structured flow. This tone helps professionals and specialists understand deeper concepts.
7. SEO, visibility, and engagement
Blog articles often include SEO keywords to help search engines index content. Writers use titles, subheadings and links to improve visibility. Comments, shares, and likes contribute to reader interaction and long-term traffic.
Articles rarely focus on keyword placement. Instead, they highlight authority, trust and depth. Engagement stays limited to expert circles or academic responses.
Pro tip: If you’re not familiar with SEO, explore SEO websites to improve your SEO skills.
8. Monetary value
Pay varies between the two formats. Blog writing jobs often pay less, especially when the content is produced in bulk for marketing purposes. Some freelance writers report rates as low as $10–$20 per post.
Articles typically pay more, especially when published by media outlets or academic platforms. Rates range from $0.10 to $1 per word or more, depending on research, subject matter and publication reputation.
Why is the line between article and blog writing blurred?
Over time, the distinction between blogs and articles has begun to fade. What started as two distinct writing forms has slowly converged, creating confusion in content creation, particularly in pricing. This is one of the reasons why freelance writers don’t earn more money.
Blog-article convergence
As blog article writing matured, many blog posts adopted the qualities once reserved for article posts. Short, casual updates gave way to in-depth content, complete with interviews, case studies, and supporting data. Writers extended word counts, sometimes reaching 2,000 words or more, to provide real value and depth. Basic keyword stuffing became ineffective, and quality began to matter more than search-engine tricks.
Meanwhile, blog content began going through editors before publishing. Companies started treating blog posts more like articles—focused, structured and polished.
On the article side, change happened too. Print magazines went digital or reduced word count to fit shrinking space. Some adopted more informal, blog-style writing. Headlines needed to grab attention online, leading to titles that resembled blog formats. Even traditionally formal publications began accepting opinion-driven pieces from professionals and thought leaders.
In some cases, outlets created separate blogs on their websites, giving contributors access to post content directly, like bloggers.
The result: blogs and articles started to look and sound the same.
Client confusion
This shift led to uncertainty in the freelance writing space. Many clients now use the terms blog post and article interchangeably, even when the project scope demands more effort.
Some clients request short, informal posts and call them articles, despite offering low blog-level pay. Others ask for 1,000-word blog articles that include research, interviews, and a structure typical of full articles, then suggest a rate that barely covers basic blog writing.
For writers, this can create tension during project negotiation. Clear expectations often get lost under vague labels.
How writers can earn more
Although confusion exists, the shift in standards creates opportunities. Today, many blog posts look like articles, and the best ones meet high expectations, just like professional content in magazines or trade publications.
Freelancers who understand the difference between blogs and articles and know how to explain that difference can help clients understand what they’re truly requesting. This becomes a critical step toward better pay.
Writers who treat each blog article like a quality content piece with structure, research, clarity, and editing can confidently negotiate higher rates. As blog writing evolves, blog content should no longer be treated as a lesser form.
Which one pays better and why?
In the world of freelance writing, article posts usually command higher rates than blog articles. Blog content often falls in the lower price range, with many writers earning between $50 and $100 per post. For those focused on professional blog article writing, setting a minimum rate, such as $100 per piece, can help maintain value and avoid underpayment.
However, article writing tends to offer greater earning potential. Rates often range from $300 to $500, with some reaching $600 or more, depending on length, subject complexity, and the publication. Business publications, magazines and trade journals frequently invest in quality content that informs and educates a targeted audience. This opens the door for higher compensation.
Smaller newspapers or local media outlets may offer modest rates, sometimes between $75 and $100 per article, but bring other benefits. These projects help writers build strong portfolios and gain experience in structured reporting. Over time, this foundation can lead to premium writing assignments and long-term client relationships.
In short, writing articles tends to pay more than blog posts because of higher expectations around research, structure and editorial quality. For freelance writers, choosing the right type of writing and educating clients about project scope can make a significant difference in earnings.
4 ways to navigate writing an article vs. a blog post
With blurred lines between blogs and articles, clarity becomes a critical step in working with clients or finding better-paying ones. Writers who define project scope clearly, structure their content effectively and explain value with confidence can earn more and deliver better quality content.
1. Define the assignment
Whether clients request an article or a blog post, get specific about the assignment. Ask questions about the target audience, expected word count, structure and whether interviews or external sources will be included. Understanding content length, tone and required research helps avoid confusion.
For example:
- Does the content need expert quotes?
- Should the tone feel casual or professional?
- Will the piece follow a step-by-step guide or an in-depth explanation?
Getting clarity at the outset saves time and improves workflow, especially when writing articles that demand more detail and a stronger structure.
2. Reframe the request
Some clients may label something a blog post, even when the project looks like a well-developed article. In that case, make the case for writing an article. Use examples to show the difference between a short post and a structured, informative piece with key details, interviews and analysis.
Explain how articles help build credibility and support long-term content goals. A good article connects with potential customers, answers questions with authority and increases trust.
3. Sell the right format
If a client seems unsure of what their asking for, guide them toward the format that fits their goals. For deeper subjects, data or high-stakes messaging, recommend article writing. Present it as a smart move for thought leadership, professional reputation and search visibility.
Writing articles positions businesses as experts. When well-written in your own words, edited carefully and structured with a clear introduction, body and conclusion, this type of content offers long-term value and stronger engagement.
4. Offer blog upgrades
If the goal involves regular blog posts, suggest taking the blog to the next level. Recommend expanding post length, including real-life examples, or using a magazine-style approach with stronger outlines and more polished language.
Turning casual blog posts into quality content enhances a brand’s online presence. With better formatting, stronger narrative flow and editing, even simple blog article writing can lead to higher visibility and better reader retention.
How do you start writing an article?
Writing an article involves following a process that helps produce quality content, engage readers and meet client goals. Using a structured approach makes the task manageable and effective.
1. Understand the purpose and target audience
Before starting, identify the article’s purpose. Is it to inform, educate or persuade? Knowing this guides the tone, style and research depth. Also, pinpoint the target audience. Understanding their needs, interests and knowledge level helps tailor the content precisely.
2. Choose a strong topic and develop a unique angle
Select a relevant subject that fits the publication or client’s goals. Then find a unique angle or main idea to make the article stand out. This focus helps keep writing on track and provides value to readers.
Pro tip: Use keyword research tools to discover trending topics and popular questions in your niche.
3. Conduct thorough research
Research articles carefully using credible sources, expert opinions, and up-to-date data. Gather facts and examples to support each point. Note key details to reference during writing, which adds authority and credibility.
Pro tip: Keep a research journal or document to organize facts, quotes, and source links for easy access.
4. Create an outline or structure
Outline the article before drafting. Break content into sections: introduction, body and conclusion. List key points under each heading to organize ideas logically. This step improves flow and readability.
5. Write the first draft
Start writing your first rough draft without worrying about perfection. Focus on conveying ideas using your own words. Use paragraphs and subheadings to make the article easy to scan. Include examples or quotes where needed to strengthen points.
Pro tip: Set a timer for focused writing sessions (like 25 minutes) to maintain momentum and reduce distractions.
6. Edit and review thoroughly
Editing articles involves checking grammar, sentence structure and overall clarity. Fact-check all claims and ensure consistency. Trim unnecessary words and improve transitions between paragraphs. Polished language and error-free content boost professionalism.
7. Add final touches and submit
Format the article according to publication guidelines: add links, citations or images if required. Write a compelling title and meta description that summarizes the main idea and entices readers. Submit the article confidently, knowing it meets quality standards.
How to get the win when writing an article or a blog post
The fact is, while you can make serious money blogging, articles and article-style blog posts convey more authority. They impress more of your client’s customers. The projects will result in greater success, and those clients will be more likely to hire you back. It’s a classic win-win: you can charge more at the start, and will likely end up getting more work from the client too, because they’ll be happier with the results they get.
This all sets you up to go after better-paying magazine markets, if this is your goal.
FAQs
What is the format for writing an article?
Writing an article follows a structured format: introduction, body and conclusion. Begin with a strong first draft that presents the main point. Then, organize supporting sections to discuss key ideas. Whether it’s a personal essay or a professional paper, formatting helps highlight important things and ensures the final draft reads smoothly and feels relevant to the audience.
What is the proper structure of an article?
A good article begins with a hook, follows with organized paragraphs, and ends with a clear conclusion. Each section should contribute to the story or subject in focus. The structure supports clarity in writing and allows readers to follow the course of ideas. Before submission, writers should review the draft to polish transitions and remove distractions from the main message.
What is an example of an article?
A single article may look like a detailed guide on how to care for a family member with Alzheimer’s. It starts with a first draft, includes relevant facts and ends with practical steps. Compared to informal blog content, this type of writing contributes depth and earns more money. Articles like this often appear in medical journals, nonprofit newsletters or lifestyle publications.
This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.
