Steve, How important is showing your identity in a blog?

[sam260689]

I'm starting a blog at the moment (have used SBI, it seems very good) but to start with I don't want to put my picture up and say who I am etc because I'm 20 years old...people might decide that I'm not wise enough yet to be taken seriously. I don't see the benefits in showing my identity at this stage, so my question is, are there any big disadvantages to just going by an alias?
If it's going to cost me dearly, then I'll just have to put up a profile I guess.

Also, how did you get to 1st or 2nd spot in the google search for "personal development"? Do you pay for that or is it just that you understand how google works and have written your page in a way that you catch google's eye?!

Thanks Steve,

Sam

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by sam260689

Also, how did you get to 1st or 2nd spot in the google search for "personal development"? Do you pay for that or is it just that you understand how google works and have written your page in a way that you catch google's eye?!

Thanks Steve,

Sam

I'm pretty sure he's #1 on Google for almost all of his blog posts' keywords, because his home page has 35,800 inbound links!

That is just crazy.

[lasti]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

his home page has 35,800 inbound links!

How did you find out that?

[Andrew Brunelle]

You should say a little about yourself. You don't have to post a picture or say how old you are, but you should be honest about who you are as a blogger. You should blog about topics you care about and feel a passion for. It shouldn't matter what your age is, and if you feel that others will think your content is not worthwhile because you are so young, then you will attract that into your existence. But that all depends on the advice you are giving. I wouldn't take your advice when it comes to raising a family or growing a business from the bottom-up unless you've already done it.

[Brutha]

I'm starting a blog at the moment (have used SBI, it seems very good) but to start with I don't want to put my picture up and say who I am etc because I'm 20 years old...people might decide that I'm not wise enough yet to be taken seriously.

In terms of Personal Development for Smart People that translates into:
I don't want to put my picture up because I'm not aligned with the principle of authority.

If you make the conscious choice to hide your identity that will make it harder for you to build relationships with your readers.

How did you find out that?

Tools like Backlinks Checker Tool - Backlink Watch

[James81]

Originally Posted by Brutha

If you make the conscious choice to hide your identity that will make it harder for you to build relationships with your readers.

That's simply not true. Most people online don't really care who you are.

While I don't doubt that it would be hard for someone to figure out who I am given the sheer volume of stuff I've posted online over the years, I've never openly shared my identity with anybody. And there are only a handful of people who know my true identity and they are mainly people that I feel I can trust.

However, I have built several close relationships with people online over the years. Most readers who comment on my blog (past and present) tell me that they appreciate the openness and honesty I share with them and that my writing makes them feel very comfortable. So much so that I'm constantly getting people in PMs on various boards asking my advice.

And really, I'm not HIDING who I am (I don't care one way or the other if people discover my true identity), but I'm certainly not the type of person who is just going to put it all out there in one neat little package for everyone to see either.

And that mindset hasn't hindered my relationships with people at all. Mostly because I make no bones about who I really am (i.e. I don't tell people I'm some wildly successful guru, but, rather, I explain that I'm just another fellow human trudging through life trying to figure things out).

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by sam260689

I don't want to put my picture up and say who I am etc because I'm 20 years old...people might decide that I'm not wise enough yet to be taken seriously.

Well, do you think you are wise enough? It seems like the problem is not with your age, but with how you feel about it.

I don't think that hiding your age will cost you anything. People will connect with you and your material better when your personality comes through, not your age.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Shiny

People will connect with you and your material better when your personality comes through, not your age.

I think this is a good point.

Another thing to remember: blog from EXPERIENCE first, book knowledge second.

Delve deep into the things you have experience with that you know works (or doesn't work) because you've done/tried it. Don't just read a bunch of books and convey what you learned from those books. A lot of the books (and material) out there is pretty much just keyboard jockeying and theory. People are wanting stuff they can use. Stuff that works and works well and can be proven to work well.

I'd also add in the element of passion. You have to be passionate about what you are writing or it will come off as flat. You'll get readers, but you won't connect with them. The most successful people out there are passionate about what they do (Steve Pavlina, Anthony Robbins, etc.). The passion is what drives you to hang in there when things get a bit dry/lean.

[Anna Conlan]

Hi Sam,

I would say that as a blog reader, it's important for me to see who is writing the blog. I like to connect with people, see what they look like and read their bio. I don't think I would follow a blog of someone who had an alias and no pic.

Also, no-one cares about your age. I know of some bloggers who are in their early twenties (like, 20, 21) and they are doing really well and are respected in their fields. People mature at different rates so in my opinion age is not such a biggie.

[Brutha]

And really, I'm not HIDING who I am

Then your argument is besides the point.
sam asks whether it's a good idea to hide his age.

Most readers who comment on my blog (past and present) tell me that they appreciate the openness and honesty I share with them and that my writing makes them feel very comfortable.

The real test isn't whether they comment but whether they link to you.

[Marko500]

I think there are two things when we talk about this

1. You must not lie to people, it is not ok
2. You may have walls around yourself about talking personal information, it is ok

If you lie people about yourself, you're the one who will feel bad in this situation, and those people probably will not listen to you.

You may feel discomfort about how many years you have, but who says that years was a bad thing?

When you're young you have the desire and energy to study new things, it is one of the power of youth, is it not?


Also, this is your blog and your site, these people are only visitors on your site, someone will like you someone no ... My advice is to write as if no one reads it, so you feel relaxed...

[David Turnbull]

Don't be worried about your age. My blog isn't "huge" by my any stretch of the imagination, but I'm 19, publicise it quite clearly (I look even younger in my photo) and as long as you have something interesting to say people will read it.

You just need to clear about where you're coming from. I'm very clear that "I'm just some kid" and there's plenty I don't know, but I feel I have some interesting thoughts that could be helpful.