Should Bloggers Get Personal?
6 December, 2007 - Blogging - 14 Comments
I’ve been having a little debate with myself for the past week. Should I write the occasional blog post that isn’t related to the topic of this blog?
Example!
Case in point. A couple of weeks ago I attended a party that turned out to be an awesome night. I haven’t been so drunk in a very long time, and it got to a point where I fell over. Twice. I also got picked up and spun around by an ex-professional rugby player, I spilled mint sauce and curry all down my shirt and I dropped my Blackberry on the floor multiple times. Great night huh? As it happens, some photos were taken and later put up on Facebook.
Since that night I’ve been having a debate to decide whether I should post these photos and tell the whole story of my night out.
The Arguments
There are plenty of arguments for both sides. Some of the most popular bloggers seem to post plenty of personal content such as photos from parties. There is also the argument that posting photos or writing about the killer party you just attended adds a little personality to the blog and puts a face behind the name.
But there are also people who say bloggers should stick strictly to their topic. They say that is what the readers subscribed for, so that’s what they should get.
So far I still haven’t made my mind up. If I were to write a personal post, I think the key to its success would be to also write an on topic post on the same day. A balance of business and pleasure.
What do you say? Do you write the occasional (or regular) personal item on your blog? Do you enjoy reading the occasional personal post on blogs you’re subscribed to? And the killer question, do you want to see the photos from my messy night out? 
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Posted on 6 December, 2007 by Jamie Harrop
Filed Under Blogging |
14 Comments»
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Tough one. Sometimes I wonder about doing this too, but then I think of Paul Stamatiou or Glenn Wolsey, etc. So far, I haven’t and don’t think I will. Just a matter of personal preference.
Thanks for the comment, Zach.
[...] Harrop asks the question that crosses every bloggers mind: Should Bloggers Get Personal? Well, I think we all agree at the very least that it depends on the blogger. Chip in your two cents [...]
i agree with zach, it’s up to each person. i think you have to make the decision pretty early on though, only because if you want to be super focused and not stray, there has to be a consistency from the beginning. with that said…i post tons of personal and off-topic stuff all the time, and personally i don’t think it’s a big deal for my blog since there’s only so much you can write about ppc.
i don’t want to be “the” authority on any one thing. if someone wants ppc info, they can go to my ppc category. again, that’s just me…
Yep, I think I would have to agree, Danielle. Maybe I’ll change my personal preference and start to post the occasional off-topic entry.
Thanks for the comment and pingback!
I think it brings a more personal touch to your blog, instead of coming off as a article drone just typing out articles all day. It reminds people that you are still human and your average bloke.
90% of people can relate to wild parties and ‘rough’ nights. The other 10% just suck so who cares about them.
Have it under it’s own category though. Now if you had a video of your drunken mishaps that would be even better.
“90% of people can relate to wild parties and ‘rough’ nights. The other 10% just suck so who cares about them.” LOL
shoemoney posts pics of his partying and it doesn’t affect his blog. in fact, i think it makes it stronger. (of course, 50% of his pics probably aren’t published…)
he’s an all-around great person and i think these peeks into his personal life and his anecdotes makes him even more loveable
side note: you’ll never please everyone, so focus on catering to the masses and pleasing yourself
Do it. You’re already spending this post asking whether you should get personal or not, and that’s taking a bit of a different turn from your normal posting, right? (Yes, I know you’re asking your audience for opinions, but I”m just pointing out that you’re already going off topic a bit by asking if you can go off topic).
Blogs can be ever evolving. If you have something off topic and purely personal but you want to share it with your readers, go for it. I’m guessing from your comments that this would only be an occasional post here or there, rather than a daily event. So I can’t see any readers getting annoyed if 1 out of 30 posts is just some goofy fun.
The biggest thing I’ve learned so far about blogging (and I have way more to learn), is that the more people get to know about you, the more of a real community you can create and grow with. That speaks volumes for loyalty and spreading your name around, etc. Granted, that may not be what you’re looking to do, so as most people have already commented, this is your blog. Do what you want to do, and not what you think you should do.
I for one am looking forward to this personal touch!
Go for it!
Thanks Michael. First personal entry coming soon. I spent the weekend on the East coast.
At first I thought it would be a bit pointless… but I’ve changed my mind.
I agree with most other comments, it’s good, but perhaps in moderation. As long as you’re not going to alienate vast chunks of your reader base with obscure inside jokes or references I think it would only enhance the blog.
I agree with the majority. I feel it lightens up the mood of a blog. I have a few irrelevant posts on my site, and those are the ones that get commented on quite a bit because it gives your loyal readers a break from the serious topics.
Hey J,
Thanks for the comment.
It seems most people agree with you, and with that, my mind is made up. It’s time I introduced a little more personality to the blog with an occasional personal post. 
[...] an article can tend to be unengaging (insightful perhaps, but still not captivating). Jamie Harrop asked whether bloggers should get personal and write about parties and the like. This may be appealing, but it is not the level of depth where [...]