I used to spend lots of time reading magazines. I guess I still do but not nearly as much as I once did (before I discovered blogging). Now whenever I have time to read, it is a blog I am reading. So I got thinking about this and asked myself, why? What is so much better about reading a blog than those stacks of magazines I have?
First off of course it is the interaction. If I am reading a magazine article and have an opinion, what do I do? Maybe find the contact information for the editor of the magazine and write something up? I guess I could, but probably not. The interaction of blogs is one of the best reasons for blogging.
But the reason I think blogs really pull me in and keep me reading is personality. When reading a blog I can get to know the person, get to know their personality, and basically ‘meet them’. There is no meeting going on when I am reading Good Housekeeping! It’s a one-way friendship!
So that leads me to being real and letting your personality shine through. You know that saying, ‘don’t reinvent the wheel’? Well, basically don’t try to be someone you aren’t. Be yourself. That is what people are reading your blog for…your personality. If you are like most bloggers you have your blogging idol. I do believe in reaching for the stars (tell my kids this all the time), but reach for your own stars, not someone else’s. If we try to be someone we are not, we usually fail.
Don’t write short posts if you are long. Don’t be an open-book if you are not. Don’t try to write about a topic if you don’t care to write about it. Don’t try to keep up a rigid posting schedule if you can’t. Don’t try to be witty, if that is not you. Don’t try to be serious, if you are not a serious person.
Write naturally. People will figure out who you are if you just be yourself.
When I first started blogging the first few blogs I followed happened to be very funny and witty. I loved them but thought to myself, ‘oh boy, how will I do this?’ I just have never been a ‘witty’ person. Needless to say my first few posts were quite the challenge…an example of me trying to not be me. I soon learned it was not going to work. I had to put myself onto the pages of my blog, not these other people. I then realized who the ‘blogging me’ was.
So make your blog just that, your blog. Do what comes natural. Let your uniqueness shine through. Do you remember your mom telling you to ‘be yourself’? The same goes for life in the bloggy world, be yourself.
Have you ever found yourself trying to be someone you are not in your blog? Have you found your personality?
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Awesome post! I completely agree with everything said. I can’t imagine blogging about something I wasn’t passionate about. Thanks for sharing such great information.
Julie M.´s last blog ..Daring Bakers Challenge- Swiss Swirl Ice Cream Cake
in the past i have tried to be someone i’m not but no longer. i got the best compliment on my blog today from a real life friend who i didn’t even know had ever visited my blog. she left a message on my facebook wall that says, “I really love your website btw!!! It’s super informative and witty! You have such a great personality and it truly comes out in your writing” and for me that’s just what blogging is all about.
Carrie´s last blog ..Feed your iTunes Library- Risk and Buffy Season 8
I was reading this nodding my head in agreement all the way through.
I agree it’s important to be natural and not try too hard.
Although I stay true to my personality on my blog, I will admit I tend to over exaggerate and over dramatize some things, but I suppose that’s part of who I am.
One big drama queen!
JoJo´s last blog ..Ill Be Back!
This is great advice! I am really enjoying reading blogs too and getting to know other bloggers. When I first started blogging, I was worried too much about what my readers and friends and family would think. And now I don’t care and just write how I feel about topics that I am passionate about. It took a little while but I have now found my blogging personality:)
Anna´s last blog ..Guest Post- 3 Ways to Wear It
I am not sure if I have found a writing style, but I try to keep my blog posts informative and helpful for my readers. However, I am sure some of my personality comes through in my writing.
My Personal Valet´s last blog ..Henderson Avenue…Shopping- Food & Fun
It can take time to find your writing “voice,” but it’s well worth the effort. Keep at it, experiment, and eventually you’ll stumble into it.
I like the blogs because I don’t have to wade through pages of advertising (no matter how beautifully and artfully done!) and I like the personality of the writings.
kathy´s last blog ..Annoying Crap
I try to stay natural, write a draft and delete it the next day if it feels forced.
Rachel´s last blog ..Walk With Me
Personality is key!
Your blog should be like your home. Anyone who walks through the front door should be warlmy welcomed as they take in everything that makes you YOU.
Great post!
Meg [Life of Meg]´s last blog ..Operation Beautiful
Ironically, my post from today is my own psychotic tale of just this subject….the struggle of keeping topics on the forefront of my head, but the confusion it causes when I have so many things I could write about…ending up in not writing anything!
Oh, the rollercoaster of blogging!!
Candace´s last blog ..What am I writing for
I tried to be a serious writer or one that only talked about the positive things in life. Once I excepted that I’m corny and that I have a weight loss blog so um…yeah there should be a negative post every now and then, life has been great.
I now write how I talk. I use fragment and run on sentences when I speak. Sometimes I start sentences with “and” or “but” so why should sentences in my blog be the same way. I’ll never win an award but I’m so much happier.
Adrienne´s last blog ..Red in a Sea of Gray
Such great advice Dalia! I often have to ask myself, is this something I would say in “real life” and not just on paper? I was just thinking this the other day and reminding myself to be me and not try to overthink it.
If a topic or tone of a post doesn’t feel right…I delete it. I suspect I will need to remind myself every now and then about staying true to myself. Thanks
Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom)´s last blog ..The Lazy Moms Guide to Potty Training
I think my personality definitely shines through on my blog. I am who I am and it would be very difficult to try and be someone else.
Tammy @ Not Just Paper and Glue´s last blog ..Moving Party Winner 2!
When I first started I wasn’t sure about how personal I wanted to be so the early posts were mostly informational in nature, not a lot of my personality shone through.
But as I’ve been posting more and getting to know the people who are reading and commenting on my blog my personality has come through more and I am writing more from the heart and letting a lot more of me in.
{Grow With} Stacy´s last blog ..Is The Blog You’re About to Comment on a ‘NoFollow’ or ‘DoFollow’ Blog
I made a promise to myself when I started blogging to blog it my way. I would not be nearly as please or feel a real connection with people if I did not feel as though I could be my self.
Heidi Walker´s last blog ..BAM! Just like THAT!
Really great post! I am a “witty” person…..and a very corny one too. LOL And that’s how I write. I can be serious, when it’s called for, but most of my posts are light-hearted and fun. I do tend to get rather lengthy, and I’ve always worried that I was boring everyone to death.
Otherwise, I do stay true to myself, even with Reviews/Giveaways…I will choose NOT to do a review of a product if I don’t like it.
Tree´s last blog ..Where Are ALL My Blogmaniacs!Get Your 8 Bonus Entries!!
Excellent post, too often we try to be something we are not, to satisfy all those demands (you must post once a day, etc.) It’s far more important o be yourself!
Shelley´s last blog ..Favorite Things Week 3- 4 & 5
Great post. I agree blogs are so much more fun to read than a magazine.
I get really, really personal in some (not all) of my posts. When I decided to start blogging on dangerous teen trends (mainly because my daughter had experienced quite a few) and letting parents know what they need to be on the lookout for (in their tween/teen), I talked to my daughter and asked if she cared if I wrote about our experience, what she did, why she did it, how we took care of it, and she said I could.
There are a few of my posts (on self mutilation, emotional abuse & suicide) that I was crying while I was writing them, but I want my readers to see that personal side of my blog. Like the above posts says, it lets them know who I am. I don’t try to be anybody else but myself.
(Now some of the posts, I didn’t have personal experience with. Luckily, my daughter didn’t try everything.)
This is one reason I stopped doing one of my blogs a few months ago. I felt like I just wasn’t “in” to it anymore and felt as if i had to force myself to post in it. I have 3 other blogs that all showcase a side of my personality and I really enjoy doing them. I think if you try to be something that you are not, you will end up regretting it and not enjoying it.
Deanna´s last blog ..Review of Kitchen Cabinet Kings
AMEN to this!! I have been reading so many posts about what to do and not to do as a blogger, and I basically said if I followed all the rules I would be untrue to myself. So I am me. On my blog for all the world to see. Some days I am up, others down. Some days I am long, as you put it, others , well not so much. I just start to type and let whoever me is that day come through.
I no longer worry if I get comments ( though they are nice) I no longer worry about my grammar and if it is correct, I just type, express, share and hope I touch someone. I basically do it for me, and it seems to be working out.
Getting to know my followers and bloggers is the cherry on top !
Stephanie Ruby Feldman´s last blog ..The long and short of it and A question to the readers
I couldnt have said it better!!!!!!
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