Topi Kettunen

Embrace Authenticity in Your Blog

I’ve been a longtime fan of Julie Evans’ writing and recently stumbled upon a great post of her called Some blogging myths which inspired to me write something about the same topic.

I have always seen blogging or personal websites as this powerful platforms for self-expression, enabling people from all walks of life to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the whole wide world. Beyond that, I’ve never really given too much thought to it.

While it’s true that if you happen to be some sort of artist, or even a blogger, that uses his site for some capitalistic reasons, attracting traffic and engagement is important. This can be seen today in social media. This basically means that people tend to approach blogging nowadays from this mindset. Meaning, that they are only able to write about topics that are popular or, especially in tech world, about topics that they consider themselves being an expert in.

Now I don’t say that you shouldn’t write about these sort of topics if you really happen to be expert in the field in question. But, limiting the topics solely to topics that are likely to generate traffic, you most likely inadvertently stifle your own authenticity. Blog should be a place for you to have freedom to explore diverse subjects that just happens to pique your interest. By doing so, you invite your readers into a genuine and vulnerable space where they can connect with you on a deeper level.

This sort of safe haven fosters a certain trust and connection with your audience. When you write about wide range of topics, even those outside your comfort zone, you invite readers who share those interest or experience to engage with you. This way you create an inclusive environment where your audience can feel heard and understood strengthening the bond between you and them.

While first and foremost blog is mainly about your voice but at the same time it’s also about providing a platform for other to share their stories and experiences. Embracing a wide range of topics sparks conversations that can educate, enlighten, and inspire everyone involved.

I don’t say that if your blog is dedicated to a either popular or very niche topic would be a bad thing. If that’s something that you enjoy, godspeed. The way I see it is that if I would limit the topics written in my blog, I would inadvertently hinder my own personal growth as a writer and individual. Exploring new subjects, especially those that you’re by no mean an expert of, allows you to expand your knowledge, learn from others, and develop new skills. Possibly it can also help you to discover hidden passions and uncover something new about yourself.

When you write about anything that sparks your interest, you also demonstrate that it’s okay to write about anything and to step outside the boundaries of popular opinion or expertise, you empower individuals to express themselves more authentically in their own spheres. This sort of vulnerability and explorations can serve as an inspiration and catalyst for others to break free from limitations and embrace their true selves.