Genuine Blogging

Beth Cougler Blombethcouglerblom.com / sobliss.wordpress.com

Overview

• Fears around starting a blog• What readers of blogs want• Finding your authentic voice• How to decide what to share on your blog• Growing community through your blog

• Discussion

You’re Blogging! You Want…

• To share your opinions• To journal online (eg. travel)• To educate/teach• To help others• To practice the craft of writing• To form a community• To sell a product or service• To keep up with the Joneses

In the Beginning…

• “difficult to put myself out there”

• “worried about people judging me”

• “hard to show my art…like being naked”

• “feel inadequate reading other people’s blogs”

• “found it hard to tell my friends”

In the Beginning…

• “paranoid about who is reading and how it will

be perceived”

• “don’t want to offend anyone”

• “afraid I will be misinterpreted”

• “afraid I don’t have anything interesting to say”

The PR Version of You

“Hi! I’m the Stepford Blogger!”

“As artists, we know that creating

something means opening up the

vulnerable places inside us.

Blogging is no different.”-Rachel, FlyTribe

Blog Readers Want…

• To see a realistic slice of your life• To know who the person is behind the product• To know that they are not the only ones who

are lonely/scared/sick/exhausted/silly/crazy• To find friends (yes, even Internet ones)• To have a conversation• To learn something/be entertained/laugh/feel

Find Your Voice

evolving

personality

challenges/successes

vulnerability

authenticity

YOUR VOICE

“I think the nicest thing someone ever

said about my blog is that sometimes

I make them laugh, sometimes I

make them cry, but I always make

them feel something.”-Jules, pancakesandfrenchfries.com

Deciding What to Share

• Why are you blogging?• Are you telling your own stories?• Will anyone be at risk?• Will anything be at risk?• Are you afraid? Of what?

Deciding What to Share

• Do you need a second opinion?• What’s your tone/mood?• Is it the right time to post?• How open/vulnerable do you want to be? (eg.

blog comments)• Do you need to take a blogging break?

Growing Community

• Find your tribe• Online communities (eg. Ravelry)• E-courses• Blog hops• Group projects (eg. NANOWRIMO, knitalongs,

swaps)• Commenting• Integrating with other social media

“Here’s the thing: you’re not looking

for everyone to read your blog, just

the people who believe what you

believe and who resonate with you in

the way you say it.”-David, davidrisley.com

Discussion

• How much of the “real you” are you showing on your blog?

• What won’t you write about? Why?• When do you feel comfortable/uncomfortable

blogging?• What kind of posts get you the best response?• What kind of blog writing engages you?

“I expose who I am and I care that I am

exposed. I realize that blogging is

much like living. It opens us up to

criticism, correction, appraisal and

encouragement.”-Marilyn, marilynjread.blogspot.com

Beth Cougler Blom Facilitationwww.bethcouglerblom.com

&Shades of Bliss

sobliss.wordpress.com