Blog or Newsletter: Why Your Business Should Have Both

How service-based business owners can use blogs, newsletters and Pinterest together to build strong marketing foundations

Recently I was asked on LinkedIn:

Should I have a blog or a newsletter?

It is a practical question. Most business owners are not looking to create more content for the sake of it. They want clarity. They want their marketing to make sense. They want their effort to count.

It sounds like an either or decision.

But the truth is this.

It should be both.

Not because you need more to manage. But because a blog and a newsletter serve different strategic purposes, and when used together, they create structure rather than fragmentation.

Let’s break that down.

What Is the Difference Between a Blog and a Newsletter?

Although they are both forms of writing, they are not interchangeable.

A Blog Is Searchable and Long-Term

A blog lives somewhere permanent.

It is designed to be found through search engines. When someone types into Google:

• Should I have a blog or newsletter?
• Where should my blog live if I do not have a website?
• How do I start a newsletter for my business?

Your blog can answer that question.

A blog builds authority over time. It strengthens your positioning. It becomes part of your long-term marketing system. It works quietly in the background, even when you are not actively promoting it.

It is searchable.
It is shareable.
It becomes an asset.

A Newsletter Is Direct and Relational

A newsletter lands directly in someone’s inbox.

It is not dependent on algorithms or search engines. It is a chosen connection. Someone has actively said yes to hearing from you.

Your newsletter builds relationship and familiarity. It keeps you present in people’s minds. It allows you to speak more personally and reflectively.

Your blog builds visibility.
Your newsletter builds connection.

Both matter.

Why Using Both Creates Structure

One of the reasons marketing feels scattered is because there is no centre.

Ideas are posted on social media. Emails are written separately. Nothing links together. Everything feels reactive.

When you use a one-topic-per-week framework, your blog becomes the centrepiece.

You write one considered blog post answering one clear question.
Your newsletter then points people towards that post.

This approach creates:

• Consistency without constant reinvention
• Depth rather than surface-level posting
• A repeatable structure you can rely on

It becomes a system rather than a scramble.

Where Can Your Blog Live If You Do Not Have a Website?

You do not need to delay writing until your website is perfect.

There are practical options.

1. Substack

If you do not yet have a website, Substack is a strong starting point.

Your blog posts live there permanently. Each one has its own URL. They are indexed and searchable. Over time, you build a visible archive of your thinking.

You can also send newsletters from Substack, which makes it a simple all-in-one option.

2. HubSpot

If you already use HubSpot, your blog can live there.

HubSpot will generate a URL for each post, even on Free or Starter accounts. This means your blog, contact database, forms and emails sit in one system.

From a foundations perspective, keeping your sales and marketing together reduces duplication and confusion later.

3. Other Platforms

You can also publish on platforms such as LinkedIn Articles or Medium. These can work well, but they are not fully owned spaces. If possible, build your core content somewhere you control long term.

Where Should Your Newsletter Be Created?

My recommendation is straightforward.

Where possible, keep your contact database and marketing activity in one place.

If you are using HubSpot, create and send your newsletter from there. This allows you to:

• Store all contacts centrally
• Track email engagement against contact records
• Connect marketing activity to your sales process
• Avoid moving data between platforms

That said, Mailchimp and similar tools are perfectly valid, particularly at earlier stages. The key is consistency and clarity, not chasing the perfect platform.

How Pinterest Strengthens This System

Pinterest is often misunderstood.

Many people assume it is social media. It is not. Pinterest functions as a search engine.

People go to Pinterest to search for ideas, guidance and solutions. They type search phrases in the same way they would on Google.

The major difference is longevity.

Social media posts tend to disappear quickly. A Pinterest pin can surface in search results months or even years after it is created.

How to Use Pinterest Alongside Your Blog and Newsletter

Pinterest can support your visibility without requiring constant content creation.

You can:

• Create pins that link directly to your blog posts
• Create pins that link to a newsletter sign-up landing page
• Create simple branded graphics that reflect your positioning

Each blog post can generate several pins, all pointing back to your content. Those pins continue working in the background, extending the life of your ideas.

Your blog holds the depth.
Your newsletter builds the relationship.
Pinterest increases discoverability.

Together, they create a more complete marketing system.

The Bigger Picture

This is not really about blog versus newsletter.

It is about:

• Being discoverable
• Being remembered
• Building long-term assets
• Creating direct connection

When these elements work together, your marketing becomes more intentional and less reactive.

One thoughtful piece of writing each week.
One email that shares it.
Pins that allow it to travel further.

That is enough.

A Thoughtful Next Step

If you have been trying to choose between a blog or a newsletter, perhaps the better question is:

What would one clear topic a week look like for me?

Start there.

Write with intention.
Send with consistency.
Let your ideas build momentum over time.

And if you would like support putting this structure in place so that it feels sustainable rather than scattered, that is exactly the work I do with service-based business owners.

If you’re building something and want clearer sales and marketing foundations, you can explore how we can work together here.

If you want connection:

If this resonated, come and say hello on LinkedIn. I’d love to know what stage of business you’re in and what you’re figuring out right now.

If you want email growth:

If you’d like more reflections like this, you can subscribe to my newsletter where I share practical thoughts on sales, marketing and building a business that fits real life.