Over the last few weeks I have been exploring principles that are evident in many successful blogs. So far we’ve looked at Listening, Trust, Usefulness and Community. Today I want to get personal with you and share a story with you.
The day a reader jumped me
Once, at Blog World Expo, I was walking off the stage after presenting on a panel when out of the corner of my eye I noticed someone moving towards me – fast.
Within a second of seeing movement, I was literally jumped and found myself in a tangle of arms, hair and tears – not being attacked, but being hugged to within an inch of my life.
I didn’t know what to do at first – I didn’t know who was hugging me, but while I was a little shocked at first, I could tell the person was genuine and so was the only thing I could think to do – I hugged back.
After a few seconds of hugging the person walked away. I expected it to be someone I knew, but I realized very quickly that it was a stranger (or at least it was a moment or two ago). She had tears in her eyes and was visibly emotional – I didn’t know why until she started talking.
For the next 4-5 minutes my hugger assailant (reader as it turns out) was talking, almost out of breath. She told me about the first day she read my blog (she remembered the first post), she told me about how it had helped her, she told me about her blogging ups and downs, she told me about her family, she told me about my family, he told me he bought my book, he joined my community, he bought my ebook, he just talked…..
He spoke as if we had known each other for years – I guess in a way we had…
Gradually my new friend started to slow down (and breathe) suddenly she started to become a little more aware. He started to blush a little as he realized how he did what he had just done. I assured her it was okay and in her agitated state she said;
“I just feel like I know you.”
As we continued to talk, I realized that here was someone I didn’t previously know existed (he had never left a comment or said a word on my blog in over 3 years) who ‘knew’ me – at least to some extent.
He was someone who not only read something I wrote every day for years – but someone who had watched my videos, noted when I was going to be a dad, seen when I traveled, noticed my disappearances from the blog when I was unwell.
She didn’t know all this because she was a crazy stalker (far from it) but because I had allowed myself to blog in a personal way.
Not that ProBlogger is a “personal blog” as such (not in the sense that I blog about the movies I watch, the things I eat, or the daily experiences I have) – but I do inject something of myself into this blog:
- I use my real name
- I occasionally share images of myself in posts and on main pages
- I share videos where people can see my face and hear my voice
- I include details about what’s going on in my life and family (usually in passing and as an explanation of something)
- I try to use personal language (most of the time I write in the first person)
- I write in a style that resembles the way I would speak to a person face to face
- I tell stories about my experiences as they relate to my subject
- I use personal examples where I can to illustrate what I am saying
- I’ve done live video Q&A sessions
- I’ve done hundreds of podcasts, talking to my listeners and sometimes hearing from them
I am by no means the most personal blogger out there. Every day I see opportunities to be more personal in reality – but I’ve made a concerted effort over the years to infuse something of myself into what I do. And it has paid off.
It’s paid off not only in terms of knowing strangers when you’re abroad, but also in creating the kind of site people want to come back to, the kind of site people recommend to others and also the kind of site they want people spend their money (remember my friend bought everything I’ve released – she said she did because it was “mine”).
I know that being personal on a blog isn’t something everyone is comfortable with and it’s not everyone’s style – but it’s something I’ve seen happen on many successful blogs.
How are you? Are you taking a personal approach with your blog?
POSTSCRIPT: a tip – when it comes to personal character, I would suggest that bloggers think a little bit beforehand about what they will and will not reveal about themselves, their family and their lives. Having some boundaries for personal safety can be a worthwhile thing – it doesn’t mean you’re not personal, just that you’re smart and exhibit some personal safety.
Further reading and listening:
PB109: 15 Reasons Why You Should Consider Having a Personal Blog
11 Tips to Create a Personal Connection with Your Audience
PB127: How to write in a more personal and engaging voice
