Fine with me.
So I’ve been personal blogging for close to a month now. Actually, if I count my first run at this with the Ramblings of an Articulate Black Guy, it’s been like 7 months but that’s beside the point. The majority of my blog life has been spent in group homes. A love-hate experience it has been. Awkwardly worded but it still makes sense. On one hand, there’s definitely strength in numbers and I’ve been able to reach a larger audience because of 3 Ways (RIP) and SBM. On the other, the sh*t is stressful as f*ck at times — particularly when you’re playing in a specific niche. I probably shouldn’t say this, but here’s an example of how I see the game:
Relationship or Other Generally Sought Topic Blog = Commercial + Money + Fame. Personal Blog = Underground + Cheap Hosting + Passion + Frustration + Coldstone. I like commercial rap, but I prefer underground blogging.
Just because you have a website doesn’t mean it’s a personal blog. If you tailor your content to your audience and focus on specific topics because you’re trying to grow your readership, you’re in a different lane. Personal blogging is a niche of it’s own. It’s one in which the writer isn’t a slave to the comments section or the readership. It’s one in which the writer develops his or her voice and people follow along because they’re interested in what that person generally has to say opposed to a particular topic day after day after day after day. On a personal blog, you learn about the person rather than just being entertained by them…though that happens too. Of course some people reading along may disagree and I’d love to see/hear why in the comments, but it made sense to define personal blogging since I think a lot of people get it wrong.
And moving on with this theme, I’ve put together a list of 5 reasons that personal blogging rocks:
You can be completely f*cking selfish.
If I felt like writing rap lyrics today as a post, I could write rap lyrics as a post. If I wanted to post a picture of a squirrel with gigantic nuts, I could post a picture of a squirrel with gigantic nuts (I tried to find a picture and almost downloaded a virus, so I got nervous and stopped). If someone walks into my e-house and starts going off, I can moderate/curse them out or completely ignore them and it’s okay. There’s no “Nah dog. You shouldn’t be doing that.” If a story came out yesterday or today and I suddenly had something to write about, I wouldn’t have to check with anybody first. I can move sh*t, break sh*t, and walk around in my boxers or butt-ass naked without having to ask anybody what time they’re coming home. This leads me to my next point.
You don’t have to work around anybody’s schedule but your own…unless you have an editor.
One of the great things about group blogging on a regular schedule is that you only have to worry about your post day(s). One of the crappy things about group blogging is that if you suddenly have a great idea or a strong opinion about a story that just broke, you have to switch post days or give up the topic and let someone else have a crack at it because it’s their day. Doing otherwise might infuriate the readers. Sometimes you just have sh*t to say and it sucks to have to wait to say it or be stuck saying nothing at all.
You develop your writing and style.
I alluded to this above, but it’s hard to truly develop your personal style when you’re doing it for other people. It’s certainly not impossible and there are a lot of writers out there that have risen to “fame” quickly behind their wit and ergonomic keyboards, but the majority of us need time before we go off and take the big stage. A personal blog is great for this.
It’s the best for your personal brand.
In my first post here, I talked about how frustrating it was that the Slim Jackson brand got buried in the identity of the group blogs I was writing for. I’d go out and people would call me SBM or ask about life living in ATL when I’d never lived there a day in my life. Simply stated and reiterated, a personal blog is about the person. It’s not about the team. It’s about the I, which isn’t in personal but is in personality. Meet me half way dammit.
You find out who the real fans/readers are.
It’s tough to tell who your real readers are on a group blog. Some people chime in because they’re boning one of the authors, while others are there because of what’s going on in the comments section. Whatever the case, you can learn a lot about the type of people you attract with your writing by having a personal blog. I guess the author of a personal blog could be boning readers, but I heard that only happens in…
So yeah, I like the reach of group blogging but I love the me-ness of a personal blog. I mean…I’m technically an only child. What did you expect? Whatever the case, just do what makes you happy. How’s that for a happy ending?
Personally,
Nice summation! I’m still a little new to blogging in that I’ve only been on one site until just recently. So I appreciated that breakdown.
What I really love about your personal blog is not a contest for funniest or most profound comment. I like group blogs because it gives you variety, but also it can get repetitive. I love randoms thoughts and people ( I am in the psych field) so reading personal blogs are a good way to learn the person and necessairly the brand. When you blow up (cause you will) on your personal blog, ill probably go into lurkerville, but for now I am loving your transparency and your expression. How many do you have left for the 30 in 30?
As of the moment I'm leaving this comment, I still need to come up with 4 posts. It's gonna be a hustle!
Hustle on sir, just no more of the bubbly
I love the raw honesty in this post…i also like your blog
I love sbm but I prefer reading your blogs here…i feel like the writing here is straight with nos chaser
*embarrassed sigh* make that NO chaser
There are no grammar or spelling police here. I think you’re good.lol
Well, a friend of mine is a slave to blogs. I resisted because it seemed like she had a crack addiction, and that is not attractive to me. However, she forwarded me one of your blogs from SBM and I thought it was interesting.
I think I have been consistently reading them for about 2 weeks. I read you and SBM daily and check in with a few others from time to time. I have to admit I am also a little intrigued because I think you are from my hometown of Albany, NY. So you also get the hometown love
I do not always agree with what you write, but I appreciate your honest and raw opinions.
Keep doing you! Maybe one day I can be considered one of your real readers?
Albany-born indeed. CBA for HS. Watch it turn out we went to elementary school together.lol
LOVE it!
I’m a personal blogger as well. I love the “all about me” ness of it b/c it’s the only time something really is JUST about me and me only
My audience is still fairly small, which is fine with me. I write because I love it and it’s a passion of mine. It’s also therapeutic for me
I enjoy the group blogging sites b/c of the variety of topics but with a personal blog you can, as you said, get to know the blogger on another level. Find out the things that interest them, topics they feel are important
I was trying to figure out what type of blog I had and you explained it. I was just talking to someone about the direction my blog was going in but since its personal I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT lol!
There was a time that I'd put out notes on FB every now & then and long ass comments everywhere else, so it was naturally assumed that I would eventually end up with a personal blog. I came *this* close to kicking one off this past weekend, and then I said eff it. There's too much that goes into blogging, personal or group, and I'm taking the easy way out and continuing life as a random commenter. Heck, I haven't even gone through 85% of the blogs that I've bookmarked, and I usually like being thorough (that's how I managed to stalk ya ass all the way back to Articulate Black Guy those months ago). As a matter of preference, I'm partial to personal blogs.
lol at stalk back and living life as a random commenter
You should've launched the site! It's only as much work as you want it to be! Of course if you wanna have a ginormous audience, it will probably become work.
lol True, but I also wince at the constant struggle that I would encounter in terms of limiting what I put out there. I wouldn't really be writing for me if I had to filter myself beyond a certain point, and at the same time, I can't just start typing all willy-nilly. I've already had someone I know send me a link to a comment I made on SBM, and I'm just thankful that I'm honest but mindful of the things I say.
That….and I don't have enough interesting things to say to keep up regular postings. So yep, I'm just gonna keep living vicariously through you. Do it for us, Slim! lol.
I started off blogging in 2005 on myspace where there was only personal blogging. Once that got old and blogger and wordpress became popular platforms, I started noticing the group/themed blogs. They are aight, but I have always enjoyed reading and writing personal blogs more than anything. It definitely makes you have a closer relationship with your followers and provides for a wider range of topics to be discussed, including the minute details of life, which may not be as huge as the current hot topics in social media, but still may be as interesting and entertaining because..well…its life. And usually everyone can identify with…life lol .
I linked up with a few of my favorite personal bloggers for a themed blog and we couldn't keep it going mainly because we're so used to doing our own thing. Its like being an only child for 6 years and suddenly being thrust into a family with 4 step sisters…no ma'am. Lol
Thanks for this…this is just the push I needed to continue my own personal blog..I took it down for a minute because I didn't know what direction it was going, it was just reading like a diary of sorts, which is cool for me, but I'm somewhat new to the blogging world and didn't know quite how that works..But now I see i'm going in the right direction…thanks!