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Blogging Emotional

February 6th, 2009 | Blogging, How-To


So you want to blog do you? Aspirations of big time fame and fortune got you excited? You’re only going to write about the good stuff, the stuff that drags in 10,000 hits in one day. Fingers ready you commence to writing.

Well, at least that’s the way we imagine it. Most of us think that since we are creative or have a lot of skill or wisdom in an area that we’ll just pull up to the keyboard and pump out those blog posts. We are sure that all of that knowledge in our heads will come flowing out, and we’ll not stray from informative and hard hitting articles.

The truth hurts.

You get a few winners but mostly your blog just sits there. It’s got a good amount information but folks just aren’t that interested, or they don’t know it exists. Your friends don’t read it and you don’t blame them; they don’t care about the Widget Master 2K that you’re an expert on.

So one day you write about that. You don’t mean to but you get frustrated and out it comes. Oh, you start off writing about some geeky thing but your family comes into it. Maybe it’s about your daughter’s lack of getting the widget thing. Maybe it’s your spouse’s drive to get you off the blog horse. Whatever it is, it has emotion in it. It comes from the heart.

That changes everything. You get a comment. Someone in your readership can relate to that emotion. You wonder what’s up as even a few more folks leave a note or link back to your post. This is not the post you thought would draw folks in.

You’ve just learned a valuable blogging lesson. A blog isn’t really alive and interesting until it’s got some of ‘you’ in it. Oh, folks love facts, figures, and anecdotes about their favorite topic, but even more, they love to connect with other real people.

No one loves a brochure site; very few are really looking for more dry textbook style stuff. Facts rarely entertain or make you smile. They often don’t move you in some way personally.

Sharing a bit of yourself though, your personality, now that gets it to click with readers.

My experience has been this way more often than not. Post where I put programming tips might get some hits, but tell a story with it and suddenly the ‘interestingness’ level goes up. If you can relate it to what other people are dealing with, so much the better.

This isn’t saying every post has to talk about your family, friends, or coworkers, or hav a joke. The middle path here is best.

I hope this article has given you something to think about. Perhaps too, it’s reminded you of one of your breakthrough posts you’d like to share. Please jump in!

Cheers,
Todd Jordan
@Tojosan

This post inspired by my friend at Fresh Focus.

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  • It is as if you peered into my brain and wrote about the internal debate that rages within it. I think a lot of bloggers, and I am including myself, struggle between trying to find their own voice and posting things that are just trying bring them traffic. I am starting to think the way to go is to write about what interests you, write from your heart, and to not even look at traffic data, at least not for the first year or so. You can not try to be something you are not, especially just to get readers, because even if that method attracts them once or twice, they won't stay. Just plug away on whatever it is that moves you, and like minded people will find you, and when they do, it will become exponential. But there is nothing you can do, besides write your content, that will be a magic bullet for that process.

    Great post, Todd.
  • Thanks sir! I feel pretty strongly about this one. Dry and technical may be informative but definitely not something folks will remember or feel strongly about.

    Being yourself as a blogger is paramount as you said. In some ways I'm still trying to find my voice. Ha.
  • Excellent post, Todd! I don't get much enjoyment reading a blog that reads like a textbook - I want to know and feel the author's perspective and passion. I'll take that personal touch over generic information any day.

    Big hugs sugar, you are aces in my book!
  • Thanks Marti. I enjoy a good textbook as much as the next person, but I definitely don't prefer that in a blog. Passion is the thing for sure.
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