Blogging Basics: Nothing Trumps Authenticity and Sincerity in Blogging
Welcome back for part 14 of the Blogging Basics Series! If you haven’t yet subscribed to my blog to keep up with this series, it’s something you won’t want to miss. Above my smiling face to the right are great ways to connect with me, or you can hit the follow button for email to the top left on my homepage, or hit the “follow” button on the bottom right of the page. I’m sharing blogging tips from A-Z based my personal experiences, because I love the blogging community and want to add value to the bloggers working hard every day to entertain their readers. Now for today’s topic:
N is for Nothing Trumps Authenticity and Sincerity in Blogging
Sincerity and authenticity are vital to successful blogging.
If you are a newbie blogger or haven’t decided what you want to blog about, give careful consideration to what your interests, hobbies, and loves are before you launch a blog. I’ve posted on how to spruce up bland blog posts and the importance of editing, but if there is no authenticity or sincerity in your posts, that advice won’t help you at all.
If you lack passion for the topics you blog on, your readers will know it and lose interest. You will eventually lose interest, too, and the blog will end up in the blogosphere graveyard with millions of other failed blogs. The key to a successful blog is authenticity and sincerity, and here are a few things to seriously mull over before venturing into the blogging world:
Passion
You need passion for a specific topic or several topics if you want to be more of a general blogger. If you love dogs, you’re not going to want to blog about cats, even if it’s easier to market cat blogs. If you’re going for popularity and not passion, it will be evident in your bland posts and serve as a reader repellent.
Are you blogging about what inspires you? There are days when every blogger just doesn’t feel like posting, but they’ll be more likely to commit themselves to the task if they are blogging about something inspiring to them. Lack of inspiration leads to lack of consistency, and this will result in massive blog failure. Always remember readers love consistency, so you have to be willing to give them that before you decide to become a serious blogger.
Sincerity
If you are inspired and passionate about what you post, the evidence of your sincerity will shine through to your readers, and you will build a strong readership of those sharing similar interests. Even if the results aren’t what you desire initially, sincerity will ultimately pay off in terms of subscribers and traffic to your blog.
The final, and most critical part, is authenticity. If you’re passionate, inspired, and sincere about a topic or topics, but have no expertise, you need to brush up on your research. Read other blogs and books on the topics you love, take classes, find mentors, and learn as much as you possibly can. Only then should you begin blogging in earnest. If you want to be taken seriously and not be crushed with negative comments by people with true expertise, you need to become a heavyweight yourself, and that takes training. Nothing trumps sincerity in blogging, but it is hollow without a strong underlying foundation of authenticity.
That’s all I have for this topic. Is there anything else you would add? Tell me in the comments!
If you’ve missed other parts of the Blogging Basics Series, catch them all here:
1. A is for (Google) Analytics
2. B is for Blogging Platforms: The Good, The Bad, and The Awesome
3. C is for Community Building
4. D is for Do’s and Don’t’s of Blogging
5. E is for Editing is Evil but Necessary in Blogging
6. F is for Five Ways to Find Blogging Motivation
7. G is For Giveaways are Annoying but Effective When Done Right
8. How to Bring the Fire to a Bland Blog Post
9. I is For Incredible Blog Post Images DON’T Have to Cost a Penny
10. J is for 5 Jewels of Blogging Who Will Make You Better Bloggers
11. K is for Kickass Ways to Structure Your Blog Posts
12. L is for Links are Love for Your Blog
13. M is for Making the Most of Social Media for your Blog
Please use the sharing buttons above or below to share the love with other bloggers who might benefit from this post!
Read the last post here: Travel to Goa and Seek Indian Relaxation
Make sure to visit my homepage for more great posts on travel, blogging, social media, humor, parenting, and more. There is something for almost everyone!
Feature image courtesy of Free Digital Photos. Click image for photographer portfolio.
Related Posts
-
4 Sanity Saving Tips for Personal Bloggers #blogging #tips
Posted on Mar, 13, 2013
-
10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Blogging
Posted on Feb, 28, 2013
-
Avoid The Common SEO Pitfalls In 2013
Posted on Jan, 14, 2013
-
12 Blogs of Christmas: Tasty Traditions (Second Helpings)
Posted on Dec, 19, 2012
Tags
Share This
I couldn’t agree more! I started out with a tumblr blog (which I still have) with the intend of writing for my son as a gift to him for later in life. I soon discovered than many people on tumblr enjoyed what I had to say and have developed a large following. I have been told more than once,I have passion and a sense of genuineness when talking about my son and children in general. They are subjects I want to talk about and love to talk about.
I went to school for social work and have done child abuse investigations. It is through this I have knowledge that not many people will ever experience. It allows me to have sincerity and authenticity in things I write about. Some of my highest quality work is based on life experiences from my own past. Inspiration is easy for me. All I have to do is watch my son and the things he does and I am inspired. I am inspired to share things I know, things I have done and things I hope I never do again.
Aaron, then I have no doubt you will go far in your blogging, and Xander will appreciate your Tumblr blog later!
I love it, Amberr, and totally agree. I also think this could be talked about more
In blogging, or anywhere really, I feel that the more “you” you can be, the grander and more fulfilling the results
I have a post and an exercise that has helped a lot of people discover their passions + purpose, and peeps can check it out here: http://ryzeonline.com/how-to-have-fun-finding-your-life-purpose-with-pretty-pictures
Ryze, it could be talked about more, but I didn’t want to beat the dead horse too much. I’m off to check out your recommended post.
Invaluable, as always! I suppose this is exactly why I started GlutenFreeGratefully on Blogspot in ’06 with one post and didn’t write another until 2010 or ’11 (as well, GlutenNaziMom). I felt like I was an expert on the topic, but I very quickly discovered that I didn’t want it to define me and I couldn’t look forward to writing about it. Same with trying to do distance learning for Holistic Nutrition…it’s a narrow topic I’m passionate about, but I found I just didn’t want to be absorbed in it day in and day out. What I’ve FINALLY discovered is that I can write about almost any topic because IT’S THE WRITING ITSELF I dig!! While we have a lot of life stuff that I can’t share just yet, that’s swirling around, clouding my brain, so that it’s difficult to focus and finish anything else, I’m getting some bits & pieces & starts filed away for inspiration for my (I can proudly say growing and becoming successful!) woman power blog, WestCoastPosse. And that’s thanks in no small part to you and this amazing series, Amberr. I feel like I really am starting to get it; almost like this SAHM is human and part of the “real” world again and my confidence is growing because of it.
Kim, as long as you’re passionate about the writing, your blog will become healthier and bloom quickly. I love visiting you!
It’s a good thing that I travel so much
I always have inspiration to write! But I think a certain discipline is necessary as well. There are evenings when I am too tired to write, but I do it anyway. And afterwards, I am always happy that I did! It’s indeed necessary to have a certain passion, but you have to be passionate about sharing as well!
Ingrid, your passion for both is incredibly evident on your blog!
I couldn’t agree more! great advice xxx
Jen, I’m so glad you enjoyed the advice. It’s always a great thing to see you here on my blog.
I think this is why my ‘Somebody Has To Say It’ posts often generate a lot of traffic and comments. No doubt there is passion, authenticity and sincerity when I climb up on my soap box!
Ciara, I agree and I love your soapboxes. They make me smile every time. You are, without doubt, one of my favorite people.
Fantastic entry, Amberr. I think this is true for all writing – authenticity and passion shines through.
Jonathon, thank you, and I am so glad to see you back on the scene!
Toby Neal left a comment on the Triberr plugin I don’t use, so I am copying it here for everyone to see:
Toby Neal has left a comment on your post.
Great post Amberr! I love your tips and I agree, a “real” voice is totally necessary.
Aloha
Toby
Toby, exactly. Nothing like passion and sincerity, in my opinion. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I enjoy yours, too!
Amberr, I heartily agree with everything you said here. I can’t imagine keeping my blog going if I didn’t love what I write about, or if I did not have the experience I have about my topic. I believe people are smart enough to read through bulls**t.
Thanks for another great one.
Brenda, it is always a pleasure, and yes, most halfway intelligent people can read through the BS. Great comment!
That’s very true. Great tips.
Thanks, Mary!
Great advice for local business owners that haven’t taken the “plunge” into the blogging and social media world. We have found that by being ordinary “people” instead of hiding behind the mask of a corporate business it is easier to “connect” with our clients.
Lloyd, I agree wholeheartedly. People connect with people far more than they do brands and businesses. Great observation.
I am on social networking, a lot – authors are told we “have to” – but I find it fun and a way to connect to readers and as well take me out of my “reclusive” nature. Blogging and other SN has actually helped my shyness so that when I do an event or have to be “around live people” (laughing), I am much more relaxed! Great tips.
Kat, I was rather the same way for a little while. I’ve always been an introvert except for when it came to mortgage sales and marketing in “my other life.” After I left the field I withdrew, but when I began blogging and enjoying social media, all the fun and joy in my heart just couldn’t be contained. It changed me.
YAY, another installment in the series!! And it’s a good one too. I read a lot of inspirational blogs, and nothing’s worse than reading contrived posts. I also like to see bloggers have fun, which is why I like yours. You are DEFINITELY fun
Hugs from VA!
Thanks, Susan, I am so glad you are loving the series. That makes me happy and want to make things even more lively and fun!
This is so true. If you’re going to be spending a ton of time on your blog, you better like it. It’s easier to write and stay committed when you feel passionate about the subject. Thanks for another excellent post.
Maria, exactly! Thanks for being such a loyal reader. I think you’re wonderful.
I love this post, Amberr and out of all your Blogging Basic Series, for me this is the most important topic. Just in my short time of reading blogs, I’ve noted a great many blogs (too many!) that lack that essential ingredient of sincerity. In my opinion, this is more important that the topics people choose, because as long as they mean it, I enjoy reading just about anything. Sincerity comes from passion. All of your points are right on!
And I LOVE your phrase “reader repellent”! Hilarious and so dang true!!
Thanks, Amberr
Hey Amber,
Totally agree. Finding the passion first is key. That’s the driving force, it’s eternal and won’t fade. Actually blogging about something that makes one’s heart sing is success itself.
Your blog is a goldmine for bloggers.
thanks for the share!
Akos
Akos, thank you for the very kind words. I am so glad you think so. I work very hard on this blog and to be acknowledged makes me smile. Cheers!