I have posted before about blog branding and niches but I have never specifically touched on your bloggy identity. I wanted to be sure to do that during the 31 Days posts.
The way we write, convey a message, and all the silly quirky things we add to our blog posts give it a unique identity; a personality if you will. mmm, hmm. Yes, it does. Think about it. When you imagine what your favorite bloggers must be like in person what do you base that image off of? Their blog, right? You think of the things they say, phrases they use, and you know what style of humor they have. They have conveyed their style and identity through their blog.
Most people prefer bloggers who speak in a conversational tone. It gives a certain level of comfortableness to the reader because they feel as if they are being spoken directly to by a good friend. It is difficult to feel that way when you are reading something that is in a dry journalistic style of writing. Most people are only remotely interested in your factual content. They are mostly interested in your reaction to it.
When you blog with personality (identity) then people are more likely to read through your posts instead of just scanning them. Why? Because they know that you will cover common topics in a way that only you can. Everyone else may be blogging about the current state of our economy but they will read your post about it based on your ability to convey your thoughts about it in a way that makes them feel like they are having a conversation with a friend. You allow yourself to shine through your blog and that is why you develop loyal readers. Simply put: they enjoy your company.
So how do you develop your identity?
Be patient. If you are new to blogging then it will take a bit of time to do. You will need to find that groove that you fit perfectly into. And, that may change a bit over time. Just go with it. Write posts as though you are chatting with someone in particular. Over my years of blogging that one trick has helped me tremendously. I always envision that I am writing to either my sister or to my future daughters-in-law. Then I just type things out the way I would talk to them. Having that visual in my mind helps me to stay true to myself and my way of communicating.
Make sure your posts fit your purpose. If your blogs purpose is to guide and teach young women then writing a posts to adult men might not fit the bill. It would confuse your readers because it would be out of place. That’s not to say we can never venture off course. We just shouldn’t make it a habit.
What makes your way of communicating your purpose stand out? I know in my case that there are hundreds of Christian mommy/homemaker blogs but what makes mine unique is my Cajun heritage. We do things a bit different. We don’t waste much and we love to live a life of joy and fun. That means we work as efficiently as possible to leave time for lots of family gatherings and outings. We also have a variation of the french language that is all our own and most of us still speak some words and phrases from that language. I am also in a blended family and have a child with physical differences. All of these things give me a unique perspective. You have a unique perspective too. If you aren’t fully aware of it yet just pray and ask God to show you. He will.
Enlist help from others. A year or two into my blogging journey I began to share my link with friends and family. The feedback I got from them was priceless. A couple of people commented that I don’t talk like this or that. One noted that I most certainly would have added an “mmm, hmm” after a particular statement. They basically told me where my blog was lacking my personality. That is when I began to fix it. I now type almost just like I talk and I take note when a friend or family member says that they think something was off. Sometimes while blogging we try to change who we are because we feel we may not be accepted. We can’t do this. It is at that point that we lose authenticity; our identity. Stay true to who you are.
Find the rest of the series here: 31 Days to Online Ministry
Also check out:
- Missed BlissDom 2011? Get It Here. It’s just like being there!
- ? 31 Days to Build a Better Blog – Easy step by step ways to improve your blog presence!
- Simple Blogging. – Don’t have 40 hours a week to spend on blogging? This E-book helps you grow your blog with less time on the computer.
Good thoughts as I venture back into the blogging community!!
Amy,
Your instruction on all this bloggy stuff has been so very helpful! I always look forward to reading the next thing. You continue to give me much to think about and questions to ask and answer as I endeavor to go down the road of blogging. For insance, I haven’t thought about writing like I talk. I am going to be more aware of this as I write more, sharing my response on things I talk about.
Thank you, thank you for sharing on this much needed topic! Blessings to you and your family!
“When you blog with personality (identity) then people are more likely to read through your posts instead of just scanning them.” This is so true, and I’d never thought of it. Without personality, a post CAN be scanned, the main points picked out and benefited from. But a post from a blogger with personality is like a rich dessert, begging to be savored. I don’t want to miss even one word.