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Stop Being Afraid of “People Getting in My Business” and Start that Blog!

how personal private should I get on my blog

Fairy BlogMother

CATEGORY

Mar 6, 2020

POSTED

I’d be the first to admit that while I am pretty open about certain aspects of my life on here, I, too, am a very private person and much of what happens behind closed doors, stays there.

Not only is Personal Space the name of my precious series on YouTube where I highlight #girlbosses doing the damn thing, but it’s usually the one topic I have to address when readers of my website stop me to talk about my posts.

“How do you get the courage to let people in so closely to your personal space and share so many private details of your life?” For those interested in blogging, that question is followed up with, “I want to blog too, but I don’t know what to write. I don’t like people in my business.”

As a lifestyle blogger, I’ve made the decision to share many parts of my personal life, work and journey with you. But pulling the covers back and letting strangers in is sometimes a scary thing for most. Trust me, it was scary for me too so I get it!

When I first started dating my husband and we talked about me venturing into the world of being a blogger, my Instagram page was private and he had a hell of a time getting me to make it public. When I did write a blog, it was about something surface level, never letting my readers get the chance to know the real me. I had many reservations, I was on TV every night and I just wanted some level of anonymity. But I knew this was near impossible in my quest to become a blogger.

With lifestyle being one of my niches, I know firsthand the importance of keeping it real, open and honest with my audience and, to some extent, letting them in on some private and personal details of my everyday life.

How Do I Open Up?

It wasn’t until I quit my job and shared the real, raw, nitty, gritty feelings, emotions and truth that came along with that move that people took notice. They saw a girl who was opening up about a very vulnerable part of her life and, in Bahamian society, one that is often kept on the hush. They saw a blogger who was daring and not afraid to spill the tea on being voluntarily unemployed. Honestly, many people told me they saw someone possess the courage they wish they had. So they read and they kept me on their radar.

That honest, real blog post started it all for me. From there I quickly realized that I had a strong audience of women and men who wanted to see someone live their dreams out loud, to take risks, to fail but get back up, to tell the real life story of what life is like for an entrepreneur; every up and every down.

Because I’ve built such a rapport with my readers by being honest, real and, yes, sometimes personal, I find it easy to share my thoughts, my ideas, some inspiration; I share my good days and the not so good ones, products I’m using, trips I’m planning; essentially I share me!

When I’ve been affected by something I’ve experienced, or something someone said, or something I felt and I think to myself “this will hit home with many others,” I automatically know it’s a blog worth sharing.

As they say, the devil is in the details, and I control how personal (or not) I get in my blog posts. And this is power that you also have.

It’s super easy to get a point across, share a story or relive an experience without letting the cat all the way out of the bag, if you don’t want to. The point is to open up to your readers, let them see a more vulnerable side of you; a person who goes through things but bounces back and overcomes.

Don’t wanna share your new boo? You don’t have to!

Don’t wanna show where you work? Don’t have to.

Wanna keep your kid out of the public’s view? You can definitely do that!

If you’re unsure what to write about or how personal to get, ask yourself these questions.

What topics, articles, posts do I share or engage with now that get my followers talking?

What am I comfortable sharing? And how much of it?

Is this an issue I’m facing or recently overcame that can help someone else?

Is this a topic I know a lot of people struggle with, talk about or might need some answers on?

Can sharing this help someone? Can it help me?

Is your desire to remain private keeping you from starting a blog? Let’s chat in the comments!

Stop Being Afraid of “People Getting in My Business” and Start that Blog!

  1. KT says:

    Thank you for this piece. I started a blog a few years ago, stopped working on it and picked it up when I eventually knew where I wanted to take it. I think my problem is being consistent with it. My question to you is how did you keep on going when you lost the desire to post anything?

    • Ianthia Ferguson says:

      Hi! Thank you so much for reading! Consistency is the one thing that will keep your blog afloat, it’s hard but it’s a must! I usually take the time to write a list of possible blog ideas when my brain is ticking, so on the days when I have writer’s block or can’t come up with an idea, I look at that list and bring one of those ideas to life. Hope this helps!

  2. Vanessa says:

    I have these fears! I want to start a mental health and wellness blog (but without food, even though I’m a foodie lol) but I struggle with imposter syndrome and not knowing how to express myself in a way that doesn’t sound like the thousands of others who seems to do it so well. I know there’s room for everyone at the top but I’m afraid I won’t be able to stand out. #socialanxiety

    • Ianthia Ferguson says:

      Oh no! Don’t let that stop you. So many bloggers write about some of the same things I write about but I know I have something special to bring to the table; my voice, my experiences, my writing style, my tone, etc. and you have your own as well. Not all wellness bloggers go through or experience the same things to your input is very valuable! Get that blog started!!!!!!

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