Blogging Basics: Your Voice
Why not jump right in to the educational posts, right? And, the first series of posts all consist of great tips to get you on the path to blogging successfully. Because, at the end of the day it should be easy – just an extension of the day-to-day tasks you already manage.
For most, finding the right voice for blogging is hard. Do you take on a serious tone, add a bit of humor, or what? One of the most important factors in blogging is to think about how you sound when you have a conversation with friends. Because blogging is simply an extension of your social voice (which we’ll soon talk about), there should be familiarity in the tone to your readers.
So, how do you channel your “friendly voice?”
1. Remain authentic. Don’t try to sound like your friends. Don’t try to write like another blogger. Be you. This is true in every aspect of your business, but especially important in your writing and online. It’s often the first time a client, reader or vendor will first interact with you, and you want them to get a taste for who you are.
2. Write as if you were chatting with a friend. Why? Because, in all honesty, that’s how you speak. And, because blogging is the online social extension of an in-person conversation. Also, see the first point.
3. Think about what your brand represents. If your brand were a person, who would it sound like? Pick a few adjectives, and keep those in mind each time you write. Again, see the first point.
4. Write. And write some more. Your voice will only become more clear, authentic and refined the more you make a commitment to blogging. And, you’ll begin to feel more comfortable.
Have you found your blogging voice? What was your biggest hurdle in establishing the tone of your blog?
Brit Stewart is the editor of the Landlocked Bride, a modern wedding blog dedicated to Midwest and Mountain West couples. She is also the owner of Brit Stewart Weddings, a wedding design and styling boutique in Denver, CO.
13 Comments
Thanks for this post, like others here I’m also struggling with this. And think you are right about writing more bringing that voice out. When I was just starting out, my husband had a great idea. We recorded me just talking about my blog topics…though it’s sometimes hard to listen to my speaking voice (“I sound like that!”) it was helpful in getting me to relax in my writing.
Loving all the new posts here in Twips! I think finding my voice for my personal blog was really easy but I still feel I need to find my voice and path for L&L. Lot’s of thinking ahead for me!
My blogging voice is third person idiocy, I have promised myself if I ever refer to myself in the third person in company… I’ll have to knock it on the head!
This is such a great post! Not trying to by like everyone else is big. Not everyone is meant for the funny writing, so it’s good to not have to feel pressure to be any certain way. If you just stay true and comfortable to yourself it will be perfect.
Great tips! Something I am working on refining. I come across comical and silly in person but I always write very “professional.” I’d love to find that middle ground where I can do both!
Great post!! This is something that I struggle with often. I find it hard to go between my blogging voice which I feel I have a great grasp on and my actual writing voice. Since I’m doing more writing for articles and things like that, I can’t use my blogging voice so I’m working on creating a happy balance between the two.
Awesome post! Fortunately, I majored in English so this hasn’t been as hard for me as most people. I had a personal blog that was actually pretty popular before I switched it to my business blog. I think the most important thing is to make it fun. Your blog is your chance to throw in a little bit of your personality which will, in the end, make people feel more connected to you.
Great post Brit! Letting my own voice shine through was something I struggled with when I started my first blog 4 years ago as I really wanted to be “like” other bloggers who were funny. I envied them because I felt their blogs had character and I wanted that too. Then I realized I’m funny in my own way and I have character too. Now I tend to write as if I’m talking to my sister or dear friends. It’s me in writing, just the way a blog should be
Awesome post Brit! I think my biggest hurdle is wanting to say so much, and then getting discouraged that I don’t have time to do that. I’m trying to be better this year, one of my goals for 2012! Thanks for the reminder to be authentic; I would agree that’s so important!
This is such a great post!
One of the best things to hear when meeting with bloggers in person is – “You talk EXACTLY like you blog… I feel like I know you!”
Great post! (and thank you for making the body text darker!)
Finding “my blogging voice” is something that I am struggling with as I refine my blog. I am somewhat jealous of the bloggers who seem so open and comical in their writing. For me, I think to many years of formal academic writing gets in the way of a more conversational style. Something I will continue to work on!
Great post! Sometimes I think many of us are hesitant to let our personalities shine through on our blogs but it really makes a difference when we do. People are getting to know the real you and that’s the reason blogs started on the first place….to voice your opinion to the masses. Great post, Brit!
Very helpful post. I really enjoy reading other people’s blogs and like you mentioned, making it your style is key. People like Allison with http://theknottybride.com and Cris of http://www.kissmytulle.com are hilarious and really let their personality shine thru their posts which keeps you going back for more. I like it when people ask questions to their readers and the comment feeds respond back and you can see all the interactions. Thanks for sharing.