Developing a blogging personality is critical if you want to make money with your writing. Customers don’t buy from a business; they buy from you. Trying to separate the two is impossible.
If every blog post you write is just a review of an affiliate product or an attempt to sell something, your readers will get turned off in a hurry. Obviously you need to do that every now and then, but you need to have a personality as well. Here are three methods to develop your own personality.
#1) Tell stories about your life
Stories are one of the best methods for generating interest. Think about it: during a speech, when do people listen the most? It’s when the speaker is telling a story. This is a great way to get more interest in your business – by getting your readers interested in you!
#2) Don’t be yourself
This one might surprise you. When blogging for business, you no doubt have a certain target customer you are trying to reach. You need to present yourself in a way that will be interesting to them.
For instance, if you are trying to sell to golfers, then you probably shouldn’t talk about the last business seminar you went to. Instead tell stories about golf. Maybe talk about where you shot your last round.
#3) Don’t be afraid of offending people
Master marketer Dan Kennedy says that if you haven’t offended at least one person each day, you haven’t done your job. In other words, you probably shouldn’t try to mellow out and cater to everyone.
Accept that certain people will likely never be your customers. When you really picture what your target audience is like, you can develop a personality that caters specifically to them.
The surest formula for failure in business is trying to please everyone. While you no doubt will turn off a lot of people by telling it like it is, you will attract a bigger group of die-hard customers who will keep buying your products again and again.
Think of the most interesting sales letters you’ve read. Chances are they started out with a story of the writer’s personal struggles in the topic they are describing. Finally they end it with a solution.
If you start telling stories about yourself, while tying it into your marketing, you will probably be amazed at the results. Incorporating the human element is one of the most important keys to making money with blogging.
By consistently writing about yourself and including updates often, you will separate yourself from the other blogs out there. This is how to really step into the world of the elite bloggers.
I’m going to say Thank you. And I’m going to write more stories on my blog, maybe about being an entrepreneur, lessons I’ve learned, three things not to do. Hmm. You’ve triggered something. Thanks again!
I think letting your personality through is one of the hardest things for most people. Especially those of us who work online. We “hide” behind our computers, sometimes thinking no one really wants to know us. I think the Blog Challenge does a great job of blowing that out of the water! The thing I took away from the comments I got as to what people got out of it – connecting with other online entrepreneurs. And when you are YOU you attract even more people. Besides it’s relaxing and fun!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeanette Cates, Karen. Karen said: RT @JeanetteCates: Let Your Blogging Personality Show https://jeanettecates.com/let-your-blogging-personality-show/ #blog30 [Works for me!] […]
You’re absolutely right Jeanette. Most of my blog posts are factual without much story telling. If people only have a passing interest, a dull post will certainly drive them away. Story telling can give that post some life. This is something I definitely need to keep in mind.
Great post Jeanette and I am loving the challenge and what a wat to get my as Connie called it reinventing my passion up and running- what a great group of bloggers
gratitude
Suzie
The surest formula for failure in business is trying to please everyone. And the surest formula for failure in “life” is trying to please everyone!
Jeanette, I can’t help but notice the myriad of blogging personalities we have in this challenge. There’s an incredibly phenomenal mix. A couple of folks may use the same blog theme, but their personalities are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
I’ll be completely open about this. I am definitely magnetized toward certain personalities – certain writing styles, if you will. And it’s not really the topics that stand out, it’s how the information is presented.
For example, blog authors who are good storytellers and those with a wonderful sense of humor will rope me in every time!
Melanie
I think we’re all attracted to good storytellers. That’s the way we’re made. If you think of how cultures were created, it was always through stories. It’s just part of our DNA. I definitely feel like those who tell good stories have an advantage.
George, like you, I tend to write factual posts and articles. I’m really comfortable with the step 1-2-3. Stories are not a natural part of my family dinner table, as it was for some people. So it’s a skill I have to learn and practice more. Like any skill, it sometimes feels awkward when you start. But you need to persist – it’s worth it in the end – because we all love stories!
Jeanette,
Lately I have let my personality through and I’ve even shared my life experiences on-line. It was hard at first, but now it feels that it was the right thing to do and I can continue being ‘honest’ about who I really am and where I’m coming from.
The time when I have connected the most with my readers is when I’m not trying to please everyone. I was upset at first when people unsubscribed from my list. Now I realise that I’m not going to be a great ‘fit’ with everyone – and that’s OK. Those people in my list who write to me, give me the most amazing feedback – so I know I’m doing something right lol
Writing or blogging are just the same as any connection – we all have our favorites. I think that’s natural. We don’t all like the same color, the same car, the same food, the same people – or the same writers. It’s natural that people will “try you out” by subscribing to your list, joining your member site, reading your articles. Those you resonate with will “stick” – others will move on to other choices.
While we would all like to be first choice for everyone, that’s not realistic. So we want people to feel comfortable flowing to where they are comfortable. It’s only natural.
Hi Jeanette,
I totally agree about writing more stories!!
Stories are a door into another “dimension”, so to speak. We’re willing to listen to stories as they have the power to spark our interest and engage our imagination.
I’ve heard from a top motivational speaker that our Universe is actually made of vibrations, words and stories, equally as it’s made of equations, atoms and molecules.
Heather, I know what you mean about sharing your story being hard at first. I had to really step out of my comfort zone to do that. But I’m doing it anyway… I’m sharing my stories and hope people are entertained and enlightened and keep coming back for the next installments.
~Henry~
Hi Jeanette,
Love this post! It’s true that letting our personalities show in our writing helps us to make connections with our readers. It makes writing easier. And it also makes reading all of the wonderful blogs in the challenge so much fun!
Seems like the consistent theme is stories and more stories. I used to keep a story journal now I am motivated to locate and start keeping one again.
Perhaps we can have a story sharing session one day.
It’s so true Jeanette – people buy from you and trying to separate the two is impossible. I’m more of a private person by nature too (online and off) and so it’s taken me several years to get to the point where I felt comfortable opening up online and not being all about business.
But once I did – it felt great!
For me part of it came from all that time in corporate America where you don’t put your personality out there! You’re all about business.
I think Heather makes a really good point too – in that part of our reluctance to put our true personality into our blog posts is the desire to please everybody. And not make anyone mad. (Unless you’re a person who naturally enjoys mixing it up!)
I once heard that you can’t control the experience that people have of what you put out there. You can only speak your truth, and put out there what you know and feel.
Once it’s out there – the way people experience it will be their own.
Thinking you can control what people think of you is an illusion.
And once your true personality comes through you will attract exactly the customers who are right for you!
Lisa
Hi there!
I love your blog. How great and so information filled.
Irene
Jeanette, Wow! This one really seems to hit a nerve. Thanks for the thoughtful conversation.
Bobbye Middendorf
The Write Synergies Guru
Jeanette,
Thanks again for some great information!! This blog challenge has really introduced me to some amazing people whose blogs I plan to follow long after these 30 days!!
Sincerely,
Lesa Antone