When you first meet me, it's likely that I will do some kind of dance move within the first hour or so. If I'm excited, or in a good mood, or just had a glass of wine, I express myself by shaking my shoulders or doing a little body roll. It's weird, but I'm sure it leaves an impression.
The same can be said of your online presence. What stands out gets remembered.
A lot of “serious” bloggers tend to hold back. Because their blog is their business, they are afraid to let their personality show online. Bloggers and business owners alike believe that if you show any of your faults, mishaps, or just flat out weirdness, you can no longer be taken seriously and therefore, people won't want to buy what you're selling.
Wrong.
And here's the reason why: personality and your inherent qualities are what people remember.
There are a lot of blogs out there. How can you possibly stand out from the rest?
Admit it, a lot of people are talking about the same thing. And that's okay! There is room for everyone's unique thoughts and expertise.
The way to stand out in a crowd and grab people's attention, is to be yourself.
When I first met a fellow blogger a few months ago, the first thing she said to me was that she loved the dressed up pictures of my dogs (#SulaKids). Like most dog owners, I'm dog obsessed. And I'm not going to hide that part of my personality from my blog. Talking about my dogs doesn't make me lose authority. Just like my weird snapchat stories of me talking to my dogs doesn't either.
When you think of Lady Gaga, you might think of her as wearing a “meat dress” to an awards show. While she is eccentric, she's never afraid to be herself, and people remember her for it.
I'm not telling you to start wearing meat or going out of your comfort zone. But there is something to be said about being yourself. It helps you to stand out online. When you want to grow your blog, you want to gain traffic, but you also want your readers to keep coming back for more. If you blend in with the rest, they might forget who you are. But when you stand out people not only identify this, they also remember it.
Being weird on your blog, Instagram, snapchat, whatever, is actually good for your blog.
I'm not saying that you should start Lady Gaga-ing yourself or your blog. But showcasing your personality is a good thing to do.
If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you probably know I'm OBSESSED with electronic dance music. And while you might not remember that I have a degree in corporate communications, you do remember that I listen to a lot of EDM.
I think it's good to be who you are online. Let people know that you drink wine while finishing up the last paragraph of your blog post. Or that you have to have your nails painted because it helps you relax. Or that you get emotional about the silliest smallest thing. Or that maybe you are perhaps not a great driver. (By the way, all of these things describe me.)
When you're weird – or showcase your personality – people will actually identify with this. There is no such thing as normal. When you stand out you connect with others who posses the same qualities.
So be weird! Be your quirky self. Chances are, people might remember it and even, like you more.
