It seems to me that the most successful blogs, business or otherwise, are those that have an even balance between the topic and the author’s personal life. Readers like to connect, and unlike traditional print media, authors can connect back.
Adding personal touches
The blogs that interest me the most are those where I feel I know the author and the ones that get the most responses are those that make us feel like we’re a part of something. Lucky magazine has an eBay blog and a while back the blogger got married. While it would have been boring as hell to listen to her talk about her upcoming wedding all the time, the little tidbits she did include made me feel like I had a friend. I realize how corny that sounds, but the more I do this the more I see how useful your life is as a blogging tool.
I often hear people bitch about social media saying, “I don’t care what you had for breakfast!” or “Why do I want to read about what someone did today?” It’s funny because I am definitely guilty of this, but blogs have come a long way and (except for Lamebook) I’ve never actually seen anyone write about what they had for breakfast.
However, where there’s a blog that’s good in it’s own right, personal touches make it that much more successful. Look at Penelope Trunk – she tweeted about her miscarriage and recently posted about her difficult break up. Whether you care or disagree, the point is this: Penelope’s post about her breakup (as of today) has received 267 comments. Her post about being an introvert at work? 80.
Now, 80 comments is nothing to complain about. But Penelope’s blog couldn’t just be about her breakup, there needs to be a balance. People care more about the buisnessy-stuff you have to say when there’s a person behind the advice, flaws and all.
Stories trigger feedback
I admit though, I don’t like to talk about my personal life for the whole world to see. I have a thick skin, but when it comes to my own things, I’d rather keep them private. While that may sound respectable, it’s really because I’m a chicken. That being said, the most responses I’ve received on this blog have been when I’ve mentioned something about my life (getting a job, making a big decision, etc) or when I deliberately try to piss people off. But you will never see me writing about a break up or a fight with my parents (until now apparently, see below). That’s just not how I roll. I’m still unsure whether this is a smart career move, but I feel that after this post I should include some personal information about myself.
A little more about me
A while ago I got tagged on Facebook in one of those list-25-things-about-yourself notes. Here’s an excerpt – it’s fascinating stuff:
1. I hate raisins. I mean, HATE them. Bane of my very existence.
- Two of my awesome brothers (and the dog) sending me a cute message after a surgery last year. Adorable!
2. I have a lot road rage but seriously love to drive. Ideally in no traffic, with the top down and listening to AC/DC.
3. I have three younger brothers who I pretend annoy the crap out of me, when really, they’re the loves of my life.
4. I wish I could get paid to travel. I know there are careers out there, but I’m too lazy for that. I just want to travel and get paid for it.
5. I’ve been a strict vegetarian for 3 years, on-and-off for an additional 4. My grandma’s chicken soup is the only reason I would ever consider giving it up.
6. I want to live out my days in a cabin in the woods. For those of you who have seen the movie Matilda, I want to live in Miss Honey’s cottage forever and ever.
7. Backpacking solo through Europe changed my life.
8. I have a white tattoo on my wrist. If you didn’t know this, you’d never see it. Sometimes though I wish someone would notice so I could look like a bad ass.
9. Am terrified of sharks and have nightmares about them all the time but they also strangely fascinate me and I always go to aquariums when I’m in a city just to see them.
There you go… Feel like you know a little more about me? Of course, the only interesting things that people care about involve deeply personal shit I swore I’d never mention. The facts above are mildly interesting, but noteworthy they are not. While I was still at work I had a long conversation with my coworkers when, after two months, I finally revealed something very personal. The office relationships were instantly altered. I felt like we knew each other better and it was easier to talk to them.
So here’s a very brief explanation of something only people close to me know. Obviously, it involves a relationship (all the good gossip does): I dated this guy for a while. And by a while I mean 7 years. Meaning I was practically in utero when we started dating (ages 13 to 20 to be exact). This relationship was both the best and worst experience of my life. Best because I learned a lot. Worst because it took over my childhood, was abusive, destructive and unhealthy for both parties. Fortunately, we’re now on good terms, but that was only after a bloody 2 year goodbye which broke my heart.
That’s the juicy stuff. Happy now?
