Every blogger needs to find their blogging voice.
When it comes to blogging, the temptation to write formally, have exact grammar, and be SEO-sensitive can sometimes be paralyzing. Did I write enough? Do I sound pretentious? Are prepositions something you shouldn’t end sentences with- shoot, I just did!
The conventional wisdom of blogging says, “Blog like you speak”. Public speakers work for countless hours to find their speaking voice: inflections, movements, tones, posture, everything that goes into public speaking. Speakers want people to understand their personality, communicate clearly, and be dynamically effective from their platform. So, how do you find your blogging voice to best fit your blogging platform?
The truth is many of us could use a little help with our speaking voice. Maybe we mix up phrases, use confusing word pictures, and all without the added boundaries of good grammar and punctuation when it comes to writing. This may work well for face-to-face conversation, but blogging is the untamed Serengeti between English composition and public speaking.
It takes time and hard work to find your blogging voice. Here are some easy ways to start finding your blogging voice…
- Write more. Even if you don’t end up posting everything you write, at least get your words on screen. This helps your brain visualize and identify what looks a little out of place, maybe something you never realized.
- Edit more. If you have to choose between writing more or editing more, always choose editing. One of the skills to constantly refine as a blogger is the art of editing, and it truly is an art.
- Study other bloggers you admire. Ask yourself why you admire their blogging. Take notes. Contact them with questions if you want more insight.
- Read your blog posts out loud before you post them. Even if you’re the only one hearing them, it helps hearing what you write to see how it sounds. Our brain naturally verbalizes what we read as we read inside our mind. Hearing it first is a good way to find what might sound clunky in someone else’s mind.
- Get feedback. Ask other bloggers or a trusted capable colleague to do a quick review of your blog posts.
- Hire a blogging coach, like me! I work with a variety of bloggers to help them develop their blogging voice. It takes time to develop, just like any other discipline, but the investment is a smoother reading style unique to your personality and easier on the reader’s eyes. Our initial preview session is complimentary and gives you insight for what to expect.
