We have all heard the old adage, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” I’ve often wondered about that. Do you think they said that in Rome, out of frustration, as it was being built? (As in, “I wish Rome could have been built in a day – I’m so tired of the constant construction zones and having to take my chariot through detours!” – Ah, now you’re wondering, too, aren’t you?)
Well, it wasn’t built in a day and neither will your blogging style. Good things take time to develop and not even seasoned writers can sit down to begin writing a new blog (not just a post, but launch a new blog) without having to feel around for how they want to show up in their blog.
Did you stress about what to write, how to start, how to finish and how to sound? This last part is your voice.
If you’re not being authentically YOU, how do you think people will respond to what you write? This doesn’t mean write about your latest bunion flare-up (unless your site happens to be about bunions), but it does mean share yourself with your readers.
Nobody likes an automaton. If you write in a stiff, formal way, that’s fine. . . if you’re stiff and formal. That’s what people would expect. But if you’re fun, engaging, humorous, sensitive, gentle, snarky or a smart-ass, your readers will want to see that in your writing.
Blogging is about engaging and connecting. Educating is in there, but readers want to see “behind the curtain” to who you are, too.
As you’re starting out, you may flounder a bit as to how you sound. That’s okay. We all did at one time or another.
How will you know if you’ve found it? There are two ways. (OK, there are probably more, but these count for a lot.)
- Do a gut check. Do you agree with what you’ve written? Does it flow almost as if you’d said it versus typed it? Does it feel authentic? If you can answer these questions and your gut agrees, you’ve found it!
- Reader comments. Are they increasing? Is your audience growing? Are people coming back? Are comments thoughtful and relevant? If any of these are true, you’re being true to you and people are resonating with that.
But here’s the kicker. It takes time and several posts to get into your groove. Just as if you were speaking in public, it takes time to find your style, tone and voice. Since this is true, experiment. Stretch yourself. Let a little bit of YOU out to see what happens.
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Everyone likes feeling safe. I have to admit I love to be in the comfort zone, to be in a place where I feel safe and secure when it comes to blogging. But I felt like I’m going around and around in circles never getting anywhere.And now I like blogging my own stories. It’s not really that scary as it may seem but really bringing out to your readers who you really are is a great help to build credibility and trust.
Lynne
You’re absolutely right. It can be scary, but it shows that there’s a person behind the blog, not just someone spouting off information.
Hi Lisbeth,
It is a very nice and interesting post. Thanks for giving the tips. In my opinion authenticity is very important to be successful.
Hi Lisbeth
Getting that blog out there certainly takes time.
You have to built your own community – find blogs you enjoy, leave comments and get involved.
Also – reply to every comment and then leavev a comment on the other person’s blog.
If a blogger supports you, go and support them.
Easy for me to say now, but I can remember leaving my first comments.
What feeble efforts they were. LOL
Takes time and we all have to start somewhere.
Keith – I totally agree. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! Much appreciated.
Thanks for the tips. My blog is so specific that I’m having difficulty getting the word out. Any help with this?
Casey, I took a look at your blog and you’re right, it is very specific. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find an audience for it. One suggestion is to look for blogging comment tribes on Facebook. The point of these is to create an instant audience for your blog, which means you get to list your newest post, but you also must visit others’ blogs to comment on theirs. Even if people don’t quite fit your genre, you gain some followers and receive good constructive feedback. One to check out is The Blogging Mastermind Comment Tribe. You can ask to be added using this email: blogtribe@groups.facebook.com. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I wish you the best!
Great post, Lisbeth! I think that it is so important to be authentic, and the point about whether or not you agree with something is great! I think that too many people post something that they think that they should say. There are others who seem worried about whether they should say something because they think it is unpopular. (For example, I write about personal development and business, and there is a book that a lot of people like that I think is just awful. I tend to avoid mentioning the book by name, but I do say what I don’t like about it.) Sometimes, it’s better to say something that might not be popular if that’s the truth. You might be surprised how many others say, “It’s about time someone said it. I wish I had the guts to say it first.”
Thank you, Steve! I could guess the book, but it’s probably a secret, right?
You bring up good points – it takes guts to write a blog and be authentic to your beliefs and speak your truth.
Love It! This is so right on. When I first started blogging I was wasting too much time trying to sound ‘professional’ and figuring out how to get people to ‘like’ me so they would want to come back.
This kept me all tied in knots. Then I realized that when I was reading other blogs I was bored to death with the ones that people build that drag on and on, because they wanted to sound important. I do not mean to belittle anyone’s blogs. I’m talking about people I know personally. I’d read their blogs and it went on and on and on and it just was not who they were!
I realized I had to just BE ME! It has made all the difference.
Great Article,
Tammy
Tammy – very glad you’ve found your voice and are being true to you!
Lisbeth, this was very affirming to read. Are you familiar with the work of Brené Brown? She advocates using one’s authentic voice for developing resilience and living wholeheartedly. Your blog post affirms that. I’ll definitely be reading more.
Susan, you’re the second person to mention Brene Brown to me. I’ve only watched one video of hers – I’ll definitely go check her out. (Yes, I suppose I need to be told twice.)
Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Lisbeth,
Love your post and how you use Rome as an analogy! I live in Rome and yes there are still a lot of construction zones which we are tired off LOL.
I agree that it’s all about being authentic. I think that was also what made it difficult for me to jump in because I knew I had to share a bit of myself in order for it to feel right. I have a tag line which will soon be on my website and that is “Connect Socially, Market Authentically”.
It’s about being who you are and I feel that my posts are written that way. It’s really the only way for me to write because to sit down and write a 2-3 posts a week without being authentic is like pulling teeth with anesthesia.
Diana – Glad you like my comparison.
Sorry to hear that Rome is still under construction. I love your new tagline! I enjoy reading your blog and I agree – you’re all over it. I personally find blogs more interesting when there’s a personality in the writing. Glad you found your voice!
Oooh .. I love the topic of injecting personality into your blog!
Reminds me of the universal appeal of “human interest stories” in newspapers (for those of us that remember newspapers).
You, me, the lamp post, and everyone in the blogosphere could write about this topic and I’d still want to read more. What better vehicle than your blog to let the real YOU shine through?!
You’re right about the time factor, though. I went through a pretty large space of time before I established a loyal readership. I published lots of posts no one’s eyes have ever set on! But I just kept telling myself I had something of value to offer. Plus I’ve got a stubborn streak that prevented me from throwing in the towel.
*Note* to Michelle Shaeffer: I’d read a post about your ingrown toenail!
Thanks, Melanie, but I don’t think I’ll inflict that on anyone…
Thank you, Michelle. I think I’ll pass on the toenail post.
Melanie – you are the Queen of injecting personality. It’s all over your blog, which is why I love reading it.
I think there’s so much information “out there” that suggests you can’t be “real” in your blog. If I had to stick to only reporting on things and not sharing my experiences, I probably would stop blogging.
Great post. Being yourself = authentic. No one can be you better than you. I actually wrote an article similar to this earlier this week “Authentic Content Is As Easy As Being Yourself” http://www.thesocialmarketingproject.com/?p=78
so I totally agree!
I had someone on another site where I list my posts comment how funny we blogged about very similar topics. I told him that great minds think alike.
Hi Lis:
Of course I love this post and it made me think; I am being authentic but I also tend to free-flow my writing and when I go back some things don’t make sense. (oops!)
Now I have learned to free-flow and then proof and edit!
You’ve hit on the best mix – authentic, free-flowing AND well written and edited.
No sense in sharing too much information.
No one wants to hear about my ingrown toenail? Aw, darn.
Lis, great post. I’m slowly “letting go” a little more in my blog and it’s become easier to write. I am getting more comments and connecting more with readers, too.
Stepping out of your comfort zone can be unnerving. But as you’ve found, people like personal stories and love the chance to get to know “the real you.”
Thank you Lisbeth. Seems like everywhere I go, the theme of “be authentic” is. Perhaps it is a message to let my true nature be more in my posts.
MJ Schrader
MJ – I sit up and take notice when I hear the same thing two or more times in a short time. Perhaps it’s not that you’re being inauthentic, but that the Universe just wants even more of the real MJ to shine through! Let me know if I was right.
Nice job.
Being authentic is being yourself.
There is no better way to be authentic than to tell your own story.
Rob
Here, here! I completely agree, Rob. Thanks for the compliment, too.
You are so right that the process takes time! When I first started my blog, I depended a lot on Carol Tuttle’s blog because I knew I wanted to share what Dressing Your Truth meant to me, but didn’t know how to put it into my own words yet.
Gradually, I began to find what I wanted to say and could write blog posts much more easily. I still love to share Carol’s videos, because they both entertain & inform, but for the most part, my blog is all me now! And how cool is that?
Jeanine
And Jeanine, you are so authentic and YOU in your blog! And you brought up something I hadn’t considered – emulating someone you admire and respect until you find your voice footing. Great strategy. Thanks for bringing it up.
I’ve always said that being authentic is the best tool for “selling” yourself on and offline. People like to relate to others they find human and engaging (and most importantly), not fake.
Great article.
I absolutely agree! People pick up on fake or inauthentic pretty quickly.