Do MVPs Work for Blogging? Heck No, and Here’s Why

Let me tell you a story. A while ago, I tried using “minimal viable posts” (MVPs) to grow my blog.

Some people said, “Just target some easy keywords. Make a simple post to rank for them. Then later you can add more to the post.” Sounds good, right?

Yeah, not really.

It turns out making quick, skinny posts is a bad way to hurt your blog. I learned that the hard way after watching my posts drop down the rankings faster than you can say “but I followed the advice!”

See, MVPs don’t work because Google is smart. If you make bad posts just to target keywords, Google will toss you aside like last week’s leftovers.

I wanted blogging to be my full-time job, but because of the MVP mess up I was stuck at my regular job. And let me tell you, listening to Susan from accounting talk about her kitten’s potty training was boring.

The good news? I realized MVPs are bad for blogging. Now I make good, detailed posts on stuff I know really well. And you know what? It’s working.

If you want to grow a successful blog, take my advice: Skip the MVPs. Make awesome content instead.

Before We Get Started, What is an MVP Anyway?

Before we get into why MVPs are bad for blogging, let’s go back a bit. Where did this whole “minimum viable product” idea come from? And how did it make the jump from business to blogging?

The MVP concept started with startups. The idea was to test a new product idea with just the minimum features needed to see if customers liked it. This way startups could get feedback fast without spending lots of time and money on a product no one wanted.

Makes sense for new businesses trying not to go broke, right?

Well, some smart bloggers decided MVPs could work for content too. Just make some simple posts targeting easy keywords, they said. If the posts rank, expand them later. If not, no big deal.

On paper it sounds clever. But in real life? Let’s just say I tried it and it was a mess.

The problem is blogging isn’t like most startups. Quick, low-quality content that kinda “answers” a search but leaves readers unsatisfied hurts your brand. And Google doesn’t like it either.

But I’m getting ahead of myself! Stick with me to see why MVPs are a rookie mistake, and what you should do instead to grow an awesome blog.

For now, just know that while MVPs might work for some products, they fail hard when it comes to good blogging.

Now, on to the story of my own MVP disaster…

My Own MVP Trainwreck

Let me tell you about my actual experience trying MVPs and how it backfired.

Early on, I published a post called “Best Long Form AI Writing Tools.” At the time, I knew nothing about SEO best practices. I just plugged the keyword phrase into Google and saw only one other site ranking for it.

“This is a prime opportunity!” I thought. I imagined the traffic and revenue potential.

But I overlooked one critical thing — that other site had authority on AI content tools. I had zero. Their post started as an MVP but was now comprehensive and helpful. Mine was shallow, basic, and added no value.

The result? My site didn’t even rank. Despite barely any competition, Google saw right through my weak content.

I made a similar mistake with an “Autoblogging.AI Review” post. I cobbled together a bare-bones article by summarizing other people’s reviews. No original insight, just basic features listed. I even used AI to write parts, not grasping prompt engineering at the time.

These MVP posts tanked fast. And worse — they hurt my site’s credibility with readers and Google.

The lesson? I should have built authority on the topic first with in-depth, valuable content. Google rewards sites that truly help users, not those gaming the system with fluffy content.

The Flawed Assumptions Behind MVPs

The reason I and so many others tried the MVP method is it plays on some common blogging myths. Let’s debunk those.

Myth #1: Any content will rank for low-competition keywords

This is false. Just because a keyword has low competition doesn’t mean any weak, thin content will start ranking. Google still expects a certain quality level.

As I showed you above, this didn’t work for me. My bare-bones MVP didn’t even hit the first page. The existing top results were still decent articles from authoritative sites.

Myth #2: You can expand and improve the content later

In theory, this sounds reasonable. But in reality, few MVPs ever get expanded because it requires redoing all the work. It’s faster to just create great content from the start.

Plus, most readers bounce quickly from MVP pages, signaling to Google the content is low-quality. Even if you improve the page later, the initial bad signals remain.

Myth #3: Any content is better than no content

I used to believe this and justified publishing any junk articles as “better than nothing.” Wrong!

Low-quality content damages your site’s user experience and authority. It’s better to have no content than poor content on a specific topic.

Why MVPs Fall Short for Blogging

MVPs have several inherent limitations that make them a poor blogging strategy:

They Have a Short Shelf Life

MVPs have some fatal flaws that doom them to failure. Let me explain in simple terms:

An MVP can only survive on page one if you already have authority on a topic. Say you’ve published tons of content about AI. You’re seen as an expert.

So you write a quick MVP review about “Best GPT-5 Tools.” I know, GPT-5 doesn’t exist yet. But you don’t understand this imaginary topic, so you BS an article.

It somehow ranks #1! Visitors flood in! Then they leave just as quick, realizing your post is useless fluff.

All those disappointed visitors hurt your reputation. The behavioral signals tank your page ranking soon after. Your authority means nothing now.

The problem? You didn’t take the time to deeply understand the topic first. You chased a keyword instead of providing real value.

Rather than tricking Google for a few days, think long-term. Build real authority through comprehensive knowledge. Get rich by helping people, not deceiving them.

They Don’t Build Your Expertise

MVPs are often written by researching basics only. They don’t require deep knowledge or convey authority on a topic.

Readers can tell when a blogger lacks real expertise. So MVPs don’t strengthen your reputation as an authority site readers can trust.

They Create a Poor User Experience

Let’s face it — MVP content is not very helpful, insightful or entertaining for readers. They get little value, if any, from the time spent on MVP pages.

High bounce rates result, signaling to Google the content is not useful. It hurts your site’s ability to rank well and keep readers.

The limitations above make MVPs a losing long-term strategy for bloggers.

The Better Approach: Create High-Quality, Comprehensive Content

Based on my MVP failures, I’ve revised my blogging process to focus on creating high-value content instead. Here is my new approach:

1. Choose Topics You’re Knowledgeable About

Only write in-depth posts on topics you have real expertise in. For example, right now I’m covering AI content detection tools. I don’t just write surface-level reviews. I share comprehensive insights from my experience as a regular user of tools like Originality.AI.

2. Do Extensive Research on Each Topic

Dive deep into research before writing anything. I consult expert sources, studies, data and ensure I understand all aspects of the topic.

3. Create Comprehensive, Well-Structured Content

Focus on giving the reader a concrete, complete answer to their question. I thoroughly research and write detailed articles. If an article is short, I supplement it with useful information that serves a secondary intent.

4. Don’t Worry About SEO Too Much

Don’t emphasize SEO tactics heavily. Yes, you heard me. In the end, thoroughly covering a topic I know well will naturally attract users and rankings. The future of SEO is benefiting readers, not Google.

MVP vs quality approach

	Minimal Viable Post (MVP)	High-Quality Blogging
Goal	Rank quickly for target keyword	Provide value to readers
Topic	Whatever has low competition	Area of expertise
Research	Minimal	Extensive
Length	Minimal, just covering the topic lightly	Comprehensive, in-depth
Content	Basic info, thin detail	Thorough coverage, unique insights
Value	Low — bare minimum info	High — definitive resource
Shelf Life	Days or weeks before slipping ranks	Months or years of sustained ranks
Traffic	Low, high bounce rate	Higher conversion rate
Expertise	None built	Establishes authority
Work Required	Less upfront but no long-term gain	More upfront but compounds over time
Outcome	Temporary boost then fizzles	Long-term growth and loyalty

MVPs Are So Last Year — Just Write Amazing Content Instead

Let’s recap the key points:

• MVPs seem good but don’t really work for blogging. Don’t fall for the myth!
• Trying to cheat with low-quality content just hurts your site. Google demotes shallow posts fast.
• The real key is deep expertise and comprehensive, valuable content that helps readers.
• Take the time to create awesome posts on topics you know inside out. It’s more work upfront but pays off.
• Focus on serving your audience, not gaming the system. Give them more than they expect!

So, fellow bloggers, I hope my transparency about lessons learned the hard way helps you avoid the MVP pitfall.

Don’t waste months spinning your wheels like I did. Just start churning out stellar content right from the start!

The finish line is within reach. Now get out there, forget MVPs, and start writing content so amazing that readers can’t help but share it with everyone they know! This is your time.