Just how personal should you be on your blog?
Some say you should never share anything personal online. After all, crooks could take advantage of your personability to steal your valuable information. And creeps could, well, be creepy.
But there’s no denying that the more personal you are, the more people feel connected to you. And, as a result, the more engaged they are with you and your brand.
By sharing personal details about your life, you give your followers a peek behind the curtain, so to speak. You make them feel like they’re actually getting to know you as a person instead of just what you do for your business.
Just a quick look at any influencer’s Instagram or Facebook will tell you that the posts that get the most engagement are the ones that are most personal. And blogs that give you a deeper peek into the writers’ lives tend to perform better too.
I’ve experienced this same pattern. People loved seeing photos of the backyard garden my husband planted. (And I can’t blame them. He did a great job!) And after I posted a heartfelt message about some difficulties I went through in January, people reached out to me saying how much my words meant to them.
But keep in mind that being appropriately personal is not a way to get more followers. It’s a way to genuinely connect with human beings who can benefit from what you have to offer.
So How Personal Is Too Personal?
I actually think the Bible has the perfect answer to this question, so I’ll let the apostle Paul speak to it.
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29, NASB, emphasis mine).
In other words, only share what you believe will build people up and help solve their problems.
Think about it like this: You’re blogging (or podcasting) because you have knowledge or products that meet a specific need. You post content that helps people solve their specific problem or encourages them to move forward in their specific journey.
Let’s use a hypothetical character named Tracey as an example. Tracey is a mom of two kids who have numerous intense food allergies. As a result, she’s had to learn how to cook food that 1) kids actually enjoy and 2) won’t make them break out in hives—or worse.
She turned her expertise and experience into a business by selling allergy-friendly cookbooks and courses to moms who also have kids with allergies. She blogs as a way of expanding her brand’s reach and building a stronger connection with her followers. (And because she’s a smart cookie, she repurposes her content to save time!)
If Tracey applies Ephesians 4:29 to her blog, she would only write what she believes will build up her audience. And on a professional level, that means only what will help her audience better parent and feed their allergy-ridden kids.
So that might mean Tracey sharing a deeply personal story of how she had to rush one of her children to the hospital after they accidentally ate peanuts. But it also might mean she doesn’t share about the horrible fight she and her husband had that same night about a different topic.
When sharing personal information, it’s important to think about your audience and their needs. Ask yourself, “Does sharing this personal experience encourage, inspire or inform my followers in the journey I’m helping them on?” If so, share it!
And this doesn’t mean every single tiny personal detail you share has to directly correlate to your business. But on a whole, your personal sharing should be about building up your readers, not getting something off your chest or showing off.
(I know plenty of people who might disagree with my last point, and that’s totally fine! I’m just sharing what I think works best and honors God and others the most.)
Get Permission From Others
Chances are, if you’re sharing personal information about yourself, you inevitably will share personal information about another person. After all, our lives are intertwined with those of our families and friends.
And for the most part, this is fine. But it’s important to consider the impact or toll sharing someone else’s personal information could have on them.
If you’re going to tell a story about a fight you and your husband had and how you resolved it, make sure you talk to him about it first. Ask him if he’s comfortable with you sharing that story. If not, don’t share it.
If you want to share some advice you gave your best friend when she was going through medical issues, make sure you talk to her first.
Sharing your own information is one thing. But don’t assume you have the right to share other people’s.
It’s better to err on the side of caution here. Some people may not feel comfortable with you talking about them at all to an online audience of total strangers. When in doubt, just ask.
Write Out Beforehand What You Feel Comfortable Sharing
Another good idea is to sit down and write out the things you’re not comfortable sharing.
If you’re married or have kids, do this with them. Ask them what they would feel uncomfortable with your online audience knowing. Ask them what they would like to be off-limits for blogging conversation.
Social media guru Jasmine Star offers one unique way to figure this out: Ask yourself what you would feel comfortable sharing with a stranger on a plane.
Your list might include some personal details that could put you or your family at risk if you publicize them. Or it could include medical issues, moral failures or intense debates within your home. Just get a clear picture beforehand of what you feel is off limits.
Once you have those boundaries clearly defined, write out a list of things that are definitely OK for you to share online. Brainstorm about ways you can work on being more personal with your online audience and build a stronger connection with them.
Speaking of which, if you need help brainstorming in this area or are struggling to get clarity on what is the appropriate amount of personal detail to share with your audience, connect with me at jennyrosespaudo@gmail.com or message me. I’d love to connect with you!
Jenny Rose is a freelance copywriter and content marketer specializing in B2B marketing, real estate, and accounting. She's written for clients like AAA, Edward Jones, Flyhomes, Guild Education, and more. Her writing has also appeared in publications like Business Insider and GOBankingRates.
