I first learned about blogging back in early 2000. I was a curious woman, newly married and ready to start a family. In my search to find answers to my questions, I found forums and boards of women talking about the same things I was interested in. The stories, fears and challenges they shared were just like mine. What a haven it was at the time. From there they started blogging and I was then introduced to the blogging community. Those women would move from the boards I originally found them on and over to a blog. “I’m moving!” They would announce. They were welcomed and loved because of their every day divulgence of their every day thoughts and so they instantly had a following on their blogs.
But, blogging was different back then than it is today (at least how I remember it). People were anonymous on the board and they remained anonymous on their blog. They kept their ‘username’ as their identity. They wrote posts nearly every single day. It was really a journal and those of us who read it would be privy into this anonymous person’s life. We knew their faults. We knew their families. We knew their best friends and their enemies. We knew everything! A lot of times those people posted pictures, but never their names. I fell in love and connected with so many women and I still don’t know their actual name, but I knew them.
For many bloggers, they became so popular that their real identity was eventually discovered and often those women made a fortune on their blogs just through advertising because of the following they gained. It was awesome! Stay-at-home moms pulling in $40k a month for just…. being themselves.
Today blogging has become such a great tool in building brands, people start by using their real name. They want that following. At the same time, the risk for being judged or attacked is greater when you lay it all out. Introducing yourself for the first time anonymously gives you more freedom to be honest. Those of us who blog using our real identity, don’t reveal as much. Yet, we connect with those that are transparent.
Do you blog? If you do, how open are you with your audience?
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