*Are bloggers that post pictures of themselves and loved ones more popular because readers feel as if they get to know them better? Are they viewed as more open and inviting simply because they show their faces? I would like to think that I am able to be more open because as far as I know, I don't have family and friends reading. Thus I can talk about whatever I want. But do I have less of a connection with readers because they don't know what I look like?
*I sometimes wonder what readers think of me when reading my blog. I form opinions when reading other blogs....but I wonder if my personality comes out through my writing? I don't think that my humor does because that is something that is more spontaneous and in person. CP is able to come up with witty and sarcastic comments when writing something....I am the complete opposite. I think that my writing is more to the point. I'm not even sure that I come across as that emotional in my writing. I think law school got rid of any flowery language that I did have....but does that mean that my posts are cut and dry and boring?
*I am still nervous that someday someone that I know in real life is going to come across my blog. Oddly enough a friend of mine from college knows LiLu in real life and I saw that she had voted for her via Facebook. So yeah. Makes me a bit nervous.
*I still haven't told CP about this blog. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but every once in a while I feel like I am hiding something from him and feel bad. But after two years of blogging, how do I just bring it up like it's nothing? If I do tell him, will he search for it? He knows that I read other people's blogs all the time and thinks that is weird. I just don't think that I can convince him that I have kept the blog anonymous enough. He certainly won't understand me talking about our life to random people on the internet.
*However, I think that now is an important time for me to continue to be a blogger. You guys were helpful yesterday. I can't talk to my mom about trying to get pregnant because CP and I promised that we wouldn't tell anyone that we were trying. I can't ask my friends any questions because then they would know that we were trying. Ugh. So while I could troll random message boards, I would rather talk to people that I trust and/or have some relationship with- even if it is just through blogging.
*I get jealous that other bloggers have met each other and become friends. To meet other bloggers I would have to crawl out of my anonymous shell... Am I willing to do that?
8 comments:
Pictures are always nice, but I don't think they make or break a blog. Did you ever read ClinkNY? She was hugely popular among 20-somethings and she was completely anonymous and did not post pictures of people.
One thing I've found about pictures--they don't even have to be of you (or your own) to make a difference. Not that I'm good about this on my own blog, but I've seen studies that show that any pictures help a reader to be engaged. I'm paraphrasing GREATLY, but it was something to the effect of even if you're using stock imagery, photographs help a reader to want to read more.
But I read lots of blogs without people's pictures, in the end it comes down to whether the writing is compelling for me!
i've had some very same thoughts. I had told t about my blog for years, apparently he hadn't heard me, and then he goes on the internet one day and "finds" me. it was hilarious.
I think that you have verbalized (in writing of course) what a lot of us think.
for me, my blog represents what I can talk about. Mu hubs knows and reads my blog and often quotes me back to me but, he knows about it from day one.
I would like to add photos to my blog but, I am lazy.
I would love to write about a few things that I want to be open and honest about but I have to take into account his feelings on the subject (read....babies)
I do wish that I can be more anon and more open.
I always like to see photos, but I've been reading you for over a year now and I'm still here! ;-)
I'm very much the same as you when it come to writing - I don't think my personality comes out that much through my writing. I feel like I'm much funnier and wittier in person!
When I told the scientist that I have a blog, he didn't even bat an eye. He did think it was cool that his nickname was being spread all over the internet, though - The Scientist is what a friend of mine has been calling him since we first started dating. But he really isn't into the whole blogging thing so I don't think he would ever go out of his way to read or search for it.
I'm far from a popular blogger, but I've blogged long enough to know what seems to work and what doesn't. I don't think photos or anonymity really have much to do with popularity. But, there are two things that do stand out.
I think putting yourself out there does. And by that, I mean, the more blogs you read and comment on, the more readers and comments you'll attract to your own blog.
Second, I find bloggers who don't have a point of view to be far less interesting than those that do. By that, I mean, bloggers who merely talk about what they ate for dinner and what they did over the weekend are far less interesting than bloggers who are opinionated about something. It can be TV and movies and all things pop culture. Or it can be food and restaurants and cooking. Or it can be politics and policy and world events. It doesn't matter what your niche or even whether you have only one ... the point is to be a thinker and not try to appease everyone all the time.
Oh and I guess one other thing. Sex sells. There are some bloggers who find their riches, so to speak, spilling intimate details of their lives.
BTW, I can't imagine Sweets NOT knowing about my blog. Don't get me wrong - he doesn't get blogging, kind of thinks it's weird and doesn't bother reading mine ... but, the idea that I couldn't ever talk to him about it would sadden me, I think.
I know, I wish I could meet other bloggers too! I can be quite anti-social though so I don't think I'm open enough.
I don't know if posting pictures helps to form a more personal connection, I like to think that my personality comes out in my writing...but having said that, pictures are worth a thousand words, and I know some of my posts would not have been the same without them (for example - if you're interested, check out my post titled "The Real Reason I Came To New Orleans" - its all abut the pics).
I would also love to meet other bloggers, in fact my Hubs and I are planning a holiday and I am seriously considering certain places because a blogger that I enjoy lives there. Although, I am painfully shy and don't know if I would actually follow through with it).
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