When I first started blogging I thought my users didn’t want to read first-person point of view on my experiences. The longer I wrote, the more I noticed strong responses to articles that show a more personal approach within both this site and around the web.
The public blogosphere is not the place to talk exclusively about personal issues or start feuds with other bloggers (unless of course it is part of a marketing ploy). However, it is the place to speak of personal experience and give advice on subjects we have already encountered.
With that being said, there are certain rules that go with such an ordeal.
- Never, ever give personal information. Names and internet contacts is about as far as anyone should go, and even then it might be a little too much. Harassment is quite common and so is identity theft, don’t get caught up in it.
- Never post about your uncle Ned or sister Joelie, no one cares. If it helps you get things off your chest, fine. But it shouldn’t be on your blog about dogs or SEO.
- Some people try to be someone they aren’t. Why start a blog about grooming a cat when you never owned one in your life? It just doesn’t work that way. Stay within your own specialties.
As a blogger it is important to separate your personal life from your internet life and fantasy from reality.
A few years ago the highest paying keyword on AdSense was Mesothelioma. You might have heard of it. Recently there has been a barrage of lawyer commercials asking those who have it to call them for lawsuit information. In fact, there have been so many commercials and websites speaking of the disease that I could actually spell it correctly without looking it up. Amazing, really!
The majority of Mesothelioma websites were not created by patients, doctors, or even lawyers. The sites were created by ordinary citizens who wanted to make a buck. This sort of webmastering is wrong on two levels:
- The authors had nothing to offer other than what they could find on other websites.
- It is unethical.
Summary:
In summary, stay within your own boundaries. If you have nothing to offer, don’t repeat what has been said a thousand times elsewhere unless you are damn good at it. Keep your blog about pets about pets and your private life on hold for another blog.
Written: Jun 12, 2008
Tags: adsense, blogging, copywriting, writing
Dennis Edell
June 14, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
Amen to #2. Keep your “personal blog info” OFF the business blog…..with the possible exception of things like “someone died, I wont be here for a while”.
Mesothelioma - wasn’t that like 50 bucks a click or something nuts?
Gary R. Hess
June 14, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
Yep. That was a LONG time ago in the Internet world though. When AdSense was still in Beta those sites made a hell of a lot of money (not sure how many people they helped though).
Just two years ago (probably more than that… I’m an OLD 24 year old) I remember clicks going for around $20 each. Then once YPN came out more blogs started writing health articles dilluting it even more. Now, you’d probably be lucky to make $1 off of it.
illiteratepoet
June 20, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
This is good information. I have found making my blog posts a little controversial has helped with receiving comments and blog interaction. I was trying not to offend anyone at first, but soon realized I should speak my mind as long as I can make a good argument for my opinion. Keeping your personal information off the internet is always good advice.
Privacy , A Thing of the Past ? - The Law of Politics
Laura
June 22, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Well,
I have and idea that my next blog is gonna get people yacking….Thanks for the tips. Actually after reading this I am not as hesitant.