Personal Info on Your Blog - How Much is Too Much?
I’ve had business bloggers ask me whether it is okay to post off-topic occasionally. They worry that if they post something personal, or funny, or non-businesslike that they will lose their credibility.
My response is that this is a personal decision for each business and their blog. If it feels right to you - go ahead and do it. In my personal opinion, I enjoy a bit of humanity even in a blog that is otherwise “strictly business”.
How much you share is up to you, but here are my personal guidelines:
- Personal stories are okay as long as it doesn’t embarrass anyone you know - I’ll share stories about my spouse, children, pets, friends, and family of origin - but not if it makes them look silly.
- Generally identifiable information is okay but I wouldn’t give away anything that could cause my identity to be stolen. For example, I give my name and the city I live in, but not the names of my family members, my birthdate, my address, my phone number or of course, my social security and banking info.
- Humor is fine, but I wouldn’t do it at the expense of my own credibility. If I were trying to establish my credibility as an expert on organization, I probably wouldn’t want to write a post (no matter how funny) about wasting a day looking for my car keys and wallet, only to find them in the freezer.
- Negative emotions tend to backfire. Anger. Jealousy. Contempt. Fear. I don’t feel these emotions have a place in blogging. If I wouldn’t feel comfortable displaying the emotion in question in a professional setting - then I won’t display it in my blog. It’s too easy for the message to get lost in the emotion.
- Positive emotions on the other hand, are infectious and draw people closer - so happiness, joy, enthusiasm, delight, wonder, compassion, empathy - are all good emotions to draw on. Just be sure that you are being sincere. It’s easy for people to dismiss you if they think you are not.
- Hobbies and personal interest are fine if they are consistent with your image. Pretty much any sport, creative pursuit, travel interests or collections are fair to talk about and add depth to your character. But I wouldn’t discuss anything that is potentially embarrassing, illegal or immoral.
- Politics, religion, sex and stories about your ex-spouse are off-limits. Again, if you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) discuss the topics in a professional environment, don’t do it on your blog. Unlike conversations around the water cooler, blog posts live forever. Be kind to your future self and don’t say something you’ll regret later.
- Balance is important. Keep the content focused predominantly on your business. Don’t let your personal interests take over the site. If you want to write about your hobby or passion - do it on another blog. Restrict your personal posts to one informal post per week, or interject your personal info within posts that relate to your business topic.
With all of these caveats, why bother to take the risk to say something personal?
- It can make you and your blog more interesting for your reader
- It can help develop emotional connections with your customers
- It can make blogging more enjoyable, because it allows you to be more yourself
What about you? What guidelines do you follow when blogging for business?
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9 opinions for Personal Info on Your Blog - How Much is Too Much?
Jennifer
Apr 26, 2008 at 1:48 am
Holy smokes - I had almost this exact post thought out in my head and was just about to write it out. I kid you not. You did a good job though. I suppose it’s less work for me to just link to you.
We agree on most of this - although, I don’t think it’s an issue to use names or birthdays. If a co-worker at work could know this stuff than so could people reading your blog. Oddly I’m weirder about where exactly I live. Like I think I usually say Pacific NW or WA vs. my city.
I also agree about the balance. That’s important. I hate business-mined blogs that are utterly stale with biz only. I like to feel I know someone. However, I do not want to read about cat litter issues and every little personal detail - just the stuff that makes you human.
Nicely done, I liked this post a lot :)
John
Apr 26, 2008 at 3:15 am
I disagree about humor and credibility - I think admitting to past mistakes and explaining what you learned from them can enhance your credibility.
@Jennifer, I wouldn’t include birthdays as too many badly thought out schemes rely on date of birth as a check on a persons identity.
Bridget
Apr 26, 2008 at 5:32 am
And I think that discussing things like politics, sex and religion are fine - - within context and etiquette. Those topics are the meat of some blogs. And in some instances, the conversation cannot be avoided. But, what folks should practice while they discuss these things is sensitivity and tact. There’s a way to say anything if you say it right.
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Jennifer
Apr 26, 2008 at 11:41 am
@John I should have said I’ll say my birthday day but not the year - although it’s not that hard to find this stuff out though. Even if I didn’t say that my birthday is in Nov at my blogs people could easily find out.
Laura Spencer
Apr 26, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Great comments!
Deciding what to include and what not to include is one of the toughest decisions that a blogger has to make. When you decide what to include be sure to consider facts like Internet safety and whether or not the material might be construed as being offensive.
In the end, the decision will be different for every blogger.
Lisa Callsen
Apr 26, 2008 at 7:36 pm
This is a great post. I strive to myself in the most respectful, clear but “with my tone” kind of way while bloggin’ (and leaving comments). I think my blog is an extension of myself, why I am following my passion of Deaf and sign langauge awareness. I too believe that personal facts should not be discussed, but technically if you are marketing online for any part of your business, someone could find you!
I agree with Laura, the decision comes from one’s moral fiber.
Liz Fuller
Apr 27, 2008 at 8:00 pm
@Jennifer - that’s funny that you had the same thought for a post at the same time (blogger synchronicity!) Based on the comments - It’s obviously a topic people have a lot of opinions on - so I bet there’s plenty more you could discuss in your own post!!
@John - I think humor is good as long as it isn’t taken too far - I think there is a balance that needs to be maintained - but given my choice, I’d rather work with someone with a sense of humor, especially about themselves.
@Bridget - some people feel so strongly about religion, politics or sex that they don’t mind losing some customers who might prefer to do business with people with opposing views; if people feel it is compromising their integrity to avoid those discussions - then I think they should discuss it; but I personally still see this as the exception rather than the rule
@Jennifer/John - the birthday advice is exactly what you said - a concern about avoiding identity theft; although it isn’t that difficult to find out; and as far as the location, I think if I lived in a smaller town I’d be more concerned about giving out the city and be more vague. You don’t exactly want someone showing up on your doorstep!! :)
@Lisa - thanks for your comments - I like your observation that your blog is “an extension of yourself”. I think that thinking of a business blog as “an extension of the business” helps provide a natural guideline as to the appropriateness of content.
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May 14, 2008 at 1:19 am
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